Is Yoga fitness?
In my opinion no it is not! It does contribute for sure but for me the most valuable part of a Yoga practice is the wellbeing part, where the benefits include feeling calm and more comfortable and at ease in your body.
Some classes are more about exercise. This is wonderful, there was a time when I loved Yoga just for that. However now other things are more important to me and I use Yoga to enhance my emotional wellbeing and feelings of calm. How about you? What's important to you in your Yoga practice? Have you seen changes over the years?
Mondays
Morham Village Hall - YOGA / SPACES - 5:15pm to 6:15pm / for residents of Morham and Garvald wards only. Please enquire. Classes are ongoing. Last class of 2025 is Dec 15th / First class of 2026 is Jan 13th and ongoing thereafter.
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Haddington - Upper Hall, The Bridge Centre, Haddington.
7pm-8pm - PILATES / FULL - (priority to returnees, waiting list, please contact me for info) / Classes resume Jan 12th / Jan / Feb term = Jan 12, 19, 26 and Feb 2, 9 / 6 week £45 / drop-in is not available.
8:15pm-9:15pm - YOGA / SPACES. Last class of 2025 is Dec 16th. Classes resume Jan 12th / Jan / Feb term = Jan 12, 19, 26 and Feb 2, 9. 5 week term = ££45 / £11 drop-in.
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Feb / Mar term starts Feb 23rd
Tuesdays - Pilates - West Barns Village Hall
Last class of 2025 is Dec 16th
Jan / Feb block is Jan 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10 / 6 week block = £54 / £11 drop-in.
09:15-10:15 - INTERMEDIATE PILATES / spaces
10:30-11:30 - BEGINNER PILATES / spaces
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Tuesdays - Yoga - Haddington
Last class of 2025 is Dec 16
Jan / Feb term = 5 weeks Jan 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10
All in the Upper Hall, The Bridge Centre, Haddington
5:15pm class / spaces / Block = £40 / £10 drop-in
6:30pm class / SPACES / Block = £45 / £11 drop-in
Feb / Mar term starts Feb 24th
Wednesdays
Yoga (ladies only)- Athelstaneford / classes ongoing / contact me for info
09:30 to 10:30 / £10 drop-in
Last class of 2025 is Dec 17 / resumes Jan, date TBC
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Chair Yoga Class - Gullane Recreation Hall
11:15 to 12pm followed by (optional) tea, coffee and chat from 12 to 12:30
Suitable for all, £5 per person drop-in, ongoing
last class of 2025 is Dec 17 / Resumes Jan 7th
Thursdays
Pilates - West Barns Village Hall
09:15-10:15 - INTERMEDIATE PILATES / SPACES
10:30-11:30 - BEGINNER PILATES / SPACES
Class now finished for 2025
Jan / Feb block = 6 weeks / Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 and Feb 5, 12. Block = £54 / £11 drop-in
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Thursdays
Yoga - Gullane Village Hall - 12:30 to 1:45pm
Class now finished for 2025
Jan / Feb block = 5 weeks / Jan 15, 22, 29 and Feb 5, 12 / 5 classes = £50 / £12 drop-in
Fridays
Yoga (ladies only) - Athelstaneford
08:30am to 09:30am, please enquire for directions to venue / £10 drop-in per class. Class is ongoing. Last class of Dec is Dec 19th. Resumes Jan, date TBC.
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Yoga - West Barns Village Hall
10:15-11:15 -HATHA YOGA - Chair Yoga Plus++ - West Barns Village Hall. Cost = £45 for 6 week pass, £10 drop-in. Last class of 2025 is Dec 19th / classes start Jan 9th and ongoing thereafter.
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Chair Yoga - Tantallon Court, Tantallon Road, North Berwick.
12:15-1pm - a Chair Yoga class for the home owners at Tantallon Court. Non home owners are also welcome. Please contact me to arrange access to the venue. £5 per class. Classes are finished for 2025 and resume Jan 16th.
Where I teach
Gullane Village Hall, Village Hall Crescent, Gullane, EH31 2HA Gullane Village Hall
Gullane Recreation Hall, (the old Scout Hall, behind the Village Hall), Village Hall Crescent, Gullane, EH31 2HA.
West Barns Village Hall - Edinburgh Road, West Barns, EH42 1UP Our Story — West Barns Village Hall
Upper Hall, The Bridge Centre, Haddington Homepage (bridgecentrehaddington.co.uk)
What and how do I teach Yoga & Pilates
Most of my Yoga classes are Hatha Yoga classes. Very breath led, functional movement, classic yoga poses but not always done in the most traditional ways. Lots of options.
Gentle Hatha Yoga - I will avoid weight bearing on knees and wrists in this class usually.
Chair Yoga + - in this class every attendee will have a chair as well as their own yoga mat and I teach yoga exercises showing both chair and other versions. Lots of choices and you don't have to lie on the floor if you don't want to.
Pilates classes are very fun and functional. There will be a variety of exercises that honour the Pillars of Pilates and the focus is on mindful movement with lots of interesting and fun progressions. The aim is to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weak ones.
All classes.
I don't have an online booking system. If a class has space, you can just turn up or message me on nicola_bourke@hotmail.com or 07766174462. If a class is marked as having a waiting list then please message me to go on this list.
If you miss a class in a block you are welcome to come to another class before the block ends, if there are spaces.
Covid - Do not come to class if you are feeling unwell or think you may be experiencing covid symptoms. Please byo Yoga or Pilates mat, blanket and any props you normally use.
Money - Cash, cheque (payable to Nicola Bourke), online and PayPal payments are all fine with me. Please enquire for details. Refunds are not possible, with regret.
Can I Mix and match classes? Yes you can, as long as there is space and usually it's only the Haddington classes that are full.
Karma spaces. There will be a maximum of one space in each class available, subject to space, free of charge, to someone whose budget does not allow, for any reason, for a weekly Yoga or Pilates class. Spaces are available, please contact me for further details.
I teach Hatha yoga classes where we move mindfully between a variety of yoga poses including kneeling, standing, lying, etc. My classes are very beginner friendly but with plenty of options given to those who may have been doing yoga for a while. All are welcome! You don't need to be female or be bendy to do yoga. To me, the important part of Yoga class is feeling safe, grounded and relaxed. Being or getting bendy is not the aim or the goal. Finding calm and letting the world stand still you around for an hour is. Yoga is genuinely for everyone, it's just a matter of finding the class and teacher that works for you.
Pilates classes are classic mat classes and are very mindful and breath led with a focus on functional movement and ease of movement.
The focus will always be on what you can do, never on what you can't do. It's not a competition with yourself or anyone else!
Terms are (usually) in 6 week blocks and drop-in is available in some classes. See each class / location for dates.
Private classes available in the comfort of your own home or workplace or in The Yoga Den in East Linton. From £60 for 60 minutes, please enquire about availability. Many options are available, including Yoga, Yoga Therapy and Pilates for wellbeing, strength and relaxation. Or even get a few friends together and share the cost of private tuition, many possibilities available so do ask!
Ones to ones work really well to give you some confidence before joining a group class or if you simply prefer not to join a group class.