Southsea Lifestyle talks to Neil Smith about the benefits of yoga and why his yoga studio in Elm Grove is called LANO
‘I think lots of people have pre-conceived ideas about yoga and think it’s all meditation and chanting. That can be one aspect of yoga, but it can also be as strenuous as any workout, but without the distractions and competitive nature of the gym. Or, yoga can be incredibly calming and soothing – it really depends which class and which style of yoga you choose, said Neil, who opened LANO Southsea in 2018.
‘I began going to yoga classes years ago in Brighton to try to help a nagging injury and improve my mental wellbeing. After just a few sessions, I felt amazing. I could move more easily in my body, my mind had more clarity, and I began to sleep better.
But the yoga studio I attended only taught one style of yoga and I was craving more. Later, on my travels, I came across a yoga studio in Cape Town that taught various forms of yoga all under one roof. It was enough to inspire me to open our first studio in Chichester, in 2015, teaching various styles of yoga, from Ashtanga to Hot Flow. LANO Chichester became the talk of the town and began to attract people coming to classes from outside of the city, including Southsea, which led to LANO Southsea opening in the former Auto Marine shop in Elm Grove. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Covid forced us to close our doors and at times I did wonder if we’d be able to open again, but Southsea is a wonderful supportive community and we’ve gradually recovered to the point that we now have about 500 people attending classes each week, men and women, all at different levels of fitness. We welcome everybody, from beginners who have never set foot in a yoga studio before to those who are more advanced and have a regular practice.’ So why the name LANO? ‘Quite simply LANO stands for Look After Number One, which is something I’m passionate about, because the better you are in your own mind and body – the better you are able to take care of the people around you.’
So how does someone new to yoga start at LANO? ‘Go to our website where you can book a one-off class from £15, or I’d recommend one of our Intro offers – £29 gives you 30 days of unlimited classes Monday – Friday, 7.00 – 17.00, or £49 gives you 30 days of unlimited classes, any day, any time, which gives you the chance to try lots of styles of yoga to see which suits you. Then, just come along with some loose clothing/sports clothes, we can supply a mat and towel, if required. You will receive a warm LANO welcome.
Competition details:
To take part check out the LANO website (https://lano.life) and answer the following question. Entries close midnight 30th June.
Posted in: Articles, Competitions & Promos, Events, Health & Fitness, Local & Community, Sport, What's On