The art of yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, but a Braintree man believes it is only now that people are realising its importance.

Giles Bryant runs the Turiya Yoga Healing Centre in Wethersfield and thinks people of all ages are taking up yoga, because of the everyday stresses we face.

"Translated, turiya means freedom, and this is what we all want from physical pain, mental and emotional pain, and ignorance.

"Now the stigma about yoga being something strange has gone. People like Sting, Cindy Crawford and Madonna publicly say that they practise yoga. It helps people have a freedom of suffering. Whether it's to do with work or the family, we all want to have freedom of pain and be relaxed."

The classes that Giles runs are not so much based on the physical aspect, but more on relaxing the mind, and he also holds various workshops on subjects such as Indian head massage, and crystal healing, which help with the relaxation.

"About 95 per cent of classes are Hatha Yoga, which is based on physical postures, but this is such a small part of it. I teach them about meditation, and people who come in here tired and angry, but leave with a big smile on their face"

For more information about the classes held at Wethersfield Art Centre, call Giles on 01371 851054.

Class members free the mind from stress and anger with the help of Giles Bryant.

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