ADAPTIVE YOGA SESSIONS AVAILABLE TO FOUNDATION BENEFICIARIES
Yoga is now an integral part of the physical and emotional support for beneficiaries at the Get Busy Living Centre with its own dedicated studio space for individual, group sessions and even online sessions.
During 2024, adaptive yoga specialist and teacher Paige delivered more than 370 hours of adaptive yoga for Matt Hampson Foundation beneficiaries of all abilities and experience, including online for those who are unable to travel to the Centre near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
Paige’s introduction to the Foundation, which supports and inspires young people after life-changing injury in sport, was initially as a beneficiary and fundraiser before joining the team five years ago.
“I was keen to explore something new away from competitive sport following injury and, after studying during the Covid-19 pandemic, I qualified as a yoga teacher,” she said.
“Being involved in the Foundation was my life-changer and I was delighted to start my teaching adventure at the Get Busy Living Centre.
“When yoga was introduced at the Centre, I was a newly qualified teacher excited by such a unique opportunity. With steady interest from our beneficiaries in a relatively short time, our yoga offering has flourished.
“Adaptive yoga does not just mean yoga for disabled people. I want to make yoga as accessible and inclusive as possible for everyone – to those who have experience, people who have tried before and been put off, or anyone who wants to try something new.”
After initially moving around within the Centre, yoga now has its own dedicated studio, providing a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere for individual and small group sessions, enhancing the services available to Foundation beneficiaries.
As interest has increased, the group class has moved from monthly to weekly while online classes provide further flexibility. Beneficiaries who stay in the on-site lodges also have access to two hours of yoga per week as part of their package.
“It is a privilege to teach here and awesome to work directly with our beneficiaries to bring calm to the busy rehabilitation environment,” said Paige who is now also a qualified Oxygen Advantage breathwork coach and will integrate this specialist method into existing and new offerings while looking to add more classes, workshops and additional yoga events to the programme.
Born and raised in Leicester, Paige has been involved in sport and activity all her life. She was the city’s youngest Honoured Citizen in 2010 and carried the Paralympic Games flame in 2012 and the Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games two years later. She also reached top 10 in the world rankings in para-athletics, competing over 100, 400 and 800 metres and making her Team GB debut at the Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium until shoulder injuries brought a change of focus.
But now Paige has made a return to athletics. She set a personal best time in victory over 100 metres at the cerebral palsy national athletics championships in 2024 and completed the Vitality London 10K in Foundation colours. She will compete as a frame runner at the London Marathon in April, raising funds through sponsorship.
