Yoga Health Centre, located in Lymington, is led by Hannah Batson, a third-generation yoga instructor with a rich family history in yoga. Hannah's great, great-grandparents were stationed in Almora, India, where they met Swami Vivekananda and became deeply involved in yoga. Hannah's grandmother, Edith Drew-Wills, also dedicated her life to yoga, teaching for 43 years and opening the first yoga and alternative treatment centre in southern England in 1982, called Yoga Health Centre.
Hannah's own yoga journey began in 2013 when she completed a foundation course with Janet Bond through the British Wheel of Yoga. In 2014, she furthered her training by spending three weeks at the Ashtanga Yoga Bali Research Centre in Bali, where she studied the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series in detail.
Honouring the methods and principles of yoga set out by T. Krishnamacharya and his son T. K. V.
Desikachar, Hannah continues to study the Yoga Stra of Patajali translated by them. Her grandmother's retirement at the age of 79 did not diminish her influence as a mentor to Hannah throughout her teaching career.
At Yoga Health Centre, Hannah believes in the power of the traditional practise of yoga to develop patience, perseverance, concentration, and clarity. Yoga is seen as a practical tool that can bring positive changes and inner peace. With thousands of years of history, yoga's physical exercises, or asanas, improve the body's overall function by enhancing circulation, strengthening the nervous system, increasing lung capacity, and positively affecting the glandular system.
Hannah offers group yoga classes suitable for all ages and abilities. In a Hatha Yoga class, participants explore various postures specifically designed to exercise the body. These postures are practised with steady breathing techniques while training the mind to concentrate on a single point. Yoga recognises the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and breath, and aims to harmonise these functions to transform perception and promote overall well-being.
Yoga Health Centre offers classes on Tuesday mornings at the Lymington Community Centre, Tuesday evenings at the Mudeford Wood Community Centre, and Wednesday evenings in Everton. These classes cater to both beginners and those with more experience, allowing anyone to experience the benefits of yoga in a supportive and welcoming environment.