Claire Cunningham gives an insight into the benefits of yoga for dancers.

I discovered Yoga in my twenties when performing with Random Dance Company and I quickly found it to be the most useful resource in my career as a dancer. After one summer holiday during which I had delved deeper into different styles of Yoga I remember Wayne McGregor asking, “What have you been doing? You look great!” And the answer was simple, “Yoga”. You can imagine my delight when I later moved to Belgium to be rehearsal director for Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and I discovered that Yoga was a core part of the training schedule, as was the case for most dance companies in Belgium. I didn’t need to seek out extra classes – this was part of the working day!

So I would like to share the tool kit from Yoga practice and philosophy that supported every stage in my career as a dancer. During the one-week intensive you will experience some or perhaps all of the following benefits:

1. Enhanced physical capabilities such as flexibility, awareness of alignment, grounding, strength, and finding fluidity and range in the spine.

2. Experience the deep relaxation from restorative postures, which will help you to switch off at the end of a working day and hence ensure adequate rest and recovery.

3. Enjoy a safe and fun space for personal transformation, which will bring confidence to your sense of self, and in connecting with others.

In the past, the feedback that I have received from dancers taking my classes is that Yoga has provided a stronger sense of self, both physically and mentally, which is not shaken by the demanding profession of dance nor the highs and lows of auditions or heavy touring schedules.