TWO yoga studios in east Belfast have joined forces to offer East Belfast its first yoga festival. Claire Ferry, who opened Maitri Studio at The Mount nearly five years ago, had the idea for a festival as a way to get yoga out into the community; she and Susan McEwen, part of the team behind Yoga Quarter in Ballyhackamore have now got together to organise the festival.
“We both felt we were offering yoga as a service, a way for people to connect with themselves in their busy lives, to look after their own mental and physical wellbeing” Susan explains of the idea's genesis.
Claire continues: “I was already teaching a donation-based class in east Belfast Network Centre on Templemore Avenue, and could see the benefits yoga was bringing to people. Students tell me that they sleep better, improve their range of movement and build strength through even just weekly practice.”
Over this weekend, October 5-7, both Maitri Studio and Yoga Quarter are offering free yoga classes, on Friday evening and then throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. And then yoga is spreading out into the community with pop-up classes in venues ranging from cafés to a shop, the new Vault Artist Studios and other local yoga and health-practitioner studios.
The duo say there is something suitable for everyone, from chair-based yoga for those with limited mobility, to yoga for families and children; strong, dynamic practices for people with energy to burn, or slow gentle relaxation sessions.
All events are listed on eastbelfastyoga.org, where there are also online booking links. Most classes need to be booked online as there are limited space but if you don’t have access to a computer you can also ring Maitri Studio on 028 9099 2428 to book.
