EARLY-morning yoga sessions are being launched at a York church to help people get the most out of their day.

The sessions start on Monday, October 10, from 7.30am-8.30am, with tea being served from 7.15am, at St Lawrence Church Hall, Lawrence Street.

Local academic and musician Jon Hughes will be taking the classes, which will run every weekday, and are open to people of all abilities, including beginners.

Jon has been practising yoga for 15 years and says it is a great way to clear the mind and prepare for the day ahead.

He said: "It will be really gentle, not difficult. For me yoga isn't about fitness or working out – if I wanted to do that I would rather go to the gym or for a run. It's about mindfulness and stillness and the experience of working together in a group and moving and breathing together."

Jon teaches a simple form of hatha yoga and tries to integrate a wide range of interests into his practice, including Alexander Technique.

Classes cost £5 per session, or £15 for all five sessions in the week, £45 for a complete month, or £100 for the ten-week term (which works out at £2 a lesson).

Jon said: “I don’t want cost to be a barrier to people getting involved. Yoga can have real benefits for people’s mental and physical health, especially when practised regularly, but the price of yoga classes generally means that this is only possible for people with a significant amount of expendable income. I’d like to change that! And no one’s doing regularly early morning classes in York, so this is something new.”

You can find more details and book online on the website: jhulayogayork.wordpress.com