A functional approach to yoga and movement classes in Guardbridge, near St Andrews Fife.
Yoga can mean many things depending on where you encounter it. For some, it’s about flexibility. For others, it’s a way to slow down. At Sean Elder Therapies in Guardbridge, we take a functional approach to yoga - one that’s less about achieving the perfect pose and more about helping your body move with freedom, stability and awareness.
What do we mean by “Functional Yoga”?
In simple terms, functional yoga prioritises how the body moves, not how it looks. Instead of striving for the textbook poses, we adapt the movements to suit your unique structure, limitations, and goals.
This approach is grounded in evidence. Research shows that yoga can improve joint mobility, muscular strength, and balance, while also helping to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress [1][2]. By focusing on function, yoga becomes a tool to support your life outside the studio, whether that’s sitting more comfortably, walking without pain, or simply feeling at ease in your body.
Why it matters for everyday life
Many people come to us with familiar, similar concerns:
Stiff hips from sitting or sporting activities
Tight shoulders and neck tension
Lower back discomfort
Knee strains
Reduced mobility
Balance issues
General Stress and Fatigue
Functional yoga provides practical ways to address these issues. A study published in Cochrane Reviews found that yoga-based movement programmes can significantly reduce chronic low back pain [3], whilse other research highlights its effectiveness for reducing stress and improving overall wellbeing [4].
By working with the body you have, rather than against it and forcing it into shapes-it becomes a safe and sustainable practice.
Classes at Sean Elder Therapies
We offer a small programme of yoga classes in our Guardbridge studio:
Yoga for All - inclusive, adaptable, open to all levels
Yoga Fundamentals - perfect for beginners or those returning to yoga
Geared Towards Men - Sean’s flagship yoga class for men to explore yoga in a supportive and relevant way
Lunchtime Quickie - Friday lunchtime movement class which is great fun!
Why our approach is different
My own background is rooted in clinical nursing care, followed by clinical and remedial massage, trauma-informed care and formal yoga teacher training. This means classes are guided not only by yoga traditions but also by a clinical understanding of how the body works, moves, holds tension and adapts.
At Sean Elder Therapies, yoga is not performance. It’s movement as therapy. A way of building awareness. Providing the building blocks towards resilience. Facilitating a stronger connection between body and mind.
A final word
If you’re looking for yoga in St Andrews, Guardbridge, Cupar, Leuchars or North East Fife, and want something more than the generic sequenced class, our functional approach may be what you’ve been searching for. You don’t need to be flexible, you just need to be willing to start.
References:
[1] Cramer, H. et al. (2016) Yoga for improving health-related quality of life, mental health and cancer-related symptoms in cancer patients and survivors. Cochrane Database.
[2] Field, T. (2016) Yoga research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 24, 145-161
[3] Wieland, L.S. et al. (2017) Yoga treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain. Cochrane Database.
[4] Pacoe, M.C. et al (2017) Yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 86, 152-168
