A yoga teacher from Birmingham is urging budding yoga enthusiasts and newcomers alike to join her in raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK through a one-off yoga session.
Faye Fenton, who runs Barefoot Birmingham Yoga Studio is offering a class as part of Yoga for Alzheimer’s, a national initiative encouraging people to get into their favourite yoga positions while raising vital funds for dementia research.
Faye first got involved with yoga in 2005 while pregnant with her first child, in which yoga provided her with both the breathing techniques and mental preparation for a calm labour.
Now 43, the mum-of-two said she “jumped at the chance” to get involved because her grandad Jim Booth sadly died with Alzheimer’s in his early 80s in 2011.
She said: “I was hooked on yoga straight away after having a really positive birthing experience.
“Alzheimer’s Research UK is also a cause close to my heart after losing my grandad. So Yoga for Alzheimer’s really unites the two and I can’t wait to raise some money for the charity by doing the thing I love most.
“My grandad had dementia for a couple of years before he died. He was the caretaker at Willow Brook Primary School in Keyworth, Nottingham, for more than 20 years, which is where I went to school.
“The school had its own nature reserve and he looked after the animals including peacocks and rabbits. Everyone would always go running over to Mr Booth when they were scared of the geese. He also grew and nurtured the school’s amazing hanging baskets, he was very well loved.”
Faye, who teaches gentle yoga for the over 60s as well as candlelit wind-down yoga, is cancelling her class on 13 June and asking people to attend the Yoga for Alzheimer’s event instead, and is also asking newcomers to get on board.
The class will take place at the iconic Symphony Hall in Birmingham around National Yoga Week on Monday 13 June between 11.30am and 2.30pm. Faye will be joined by three other teachers from Barefoot Birmingham so there will be plenty of assistance for all yogis including complete beginners.
To sign up to the Birmingham event, or one in 16 other cities across the UK, go to http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/fundraising/yoga-for-alzheimers/
Tickets are £15 each, with 100 per cent of the profits going to Alzheimer’s Research UK. Those taking part are also encouraged to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“At Alzheimer’s Research UK we are grateful to each and every supporter who has helped to raise money towards our scientists’ pioneering research.
“One in three people over 65 will die with some form of dementia. It can only be defeated through research but funding lags far behind other serious diseases.
“We are very proud to be hosting inclusive events and those signing up to Yoga for Alzheimer’s are going to have a fantastic afternoon of yoga taught by some very skilled teachers, including Faye at our Birmingham event.
“The money raised will make a real difference, bringing us ever nearer to finding new preventions and treatments through the world-class research we fund.
“We hope supporters in Birmingham will grab their yoga mats and join us in the fight to defeat dementia.”
To see more information about Barefoot Birmingham Yoga Studio go to www.barefootbirmingham.com.