Dru Yoga
Dru Yoga has its roots in hatha yoga and is derived from the Sanskrit word
A lot of people liken Dru Yoga to Tai Chi or Qi Gong.
Dru was started in 1978 by Mansukh Patel, Chris Barrington, Rita Goswami, Annie Jones and John Jones at Bangor University, Wales, UK and is inspired by the teachings of Francis of Assisi and Mahatma Gandhi.
What to expect:
Dru Yoga typically starts from a standing position and includes classical yoga postures (asanas), pranayama (breath work), mudras (gestures), positive affirmations, empowering visualisations and powerful, flowing, dynamic sequences, known as Energy Block Release sequences (EBR) which are aimed at transforming and releasing negative emotions into positve ones.
Suitable for those who:
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- Are looking for a gentle flowing Yoga style in which the joints are kept relaxed and soft during movement
- Would like to build a heightened feeling of positivity
Benefits include:
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- Reduce Stress, Depression and Anxiety
- Ease back pain and tension
- Injury prevention, management and rehabilitation
- A 2014 case study, Dru Yoga was practised by a professional footballer who sustained five hamstring injuries in a relatively short period of time. The injury was managed successfully with a seven-point programme which included regular sessions of Dru Yoga.
- A 2017 case study showed that an eight week Dru yoga programme, with a 6-month follow-up, for National Health Service (NHS) employees was effective for improving quality of life and reducing sickness absence due to back pain and musculoskeletal conditions.