Brighton Natural Health Foundation is merging with Brighton Yoga Foundation for a happier, healthier city. Read more here
You can read all about it below or here: Evaluation of Mindful Movement Classes at South Asians Womens Group.
Please note: the PDF is best viewed on a larger device than a mobile phone.
We are delighted to announce our merger with our long-standing partner, Brighton Yoga Foundation (BYF), uniting our shared vision of making mindful movement accessible to everyone throughout Brighton and Hove, and beyond.
By joining forces, we are strengthening our ability to inspire and empower individuals to embrace mindful movement for a healthier, happier lifestyle. This new chapter marks an exciting opportunity to drive positive change for people facing health inequalities in our community. Together, we are committed to creating a lasting impact on the well-being of our city.
As part of the merger, the BYF classes, teachers, staff and trustees will transfer to BNHF, providing continuity and enabling the continued expansion of our outreach work with a network of experienced and compassionate teachers. BNHF will continue to support key community events such as The Brighton Yoga Festival and Yoga on the Beach. We will also be retaining BYF’s mat and equipment hire service.
Peter Deadman, Founder Trustee from BNHF.
Davy Jones, founder and former chair of BYF.
Brighton Natural Health Foundation is passionate about mindful movement and its benefits for health and wellbeing. Our role, backed by solid experience and expertise, is to help connect people to these benefits. Our mission is to make mindful movement accessible to everyone. We support communities to embrace mindful movement for a happier healthier lifestyle, as well as providing a trusted source of expertise, advice, training and education in mindful movement and related practices.
The Foundation evolved from the Brighton Natural Health Centre which provided low-cost, accessible classes to tens of thousands of people in the city centre for more than 40 years. After a pause for reflection in 2023, we relaunched as a community-facing organisation with the vision to develop mindful movement classes in every part of the city.
Brighton Yoga Foundation offers the therapeutic benefits of yoga to those who may not otherwise be able to access it, because of real or perceived health, cultural or economic barriers. For more than 10 years, the award-winning organisation has run outreach classes for a range of groups including women who experience trauma, refugees and people experiencing mental health problems. They have also run important forums and events exploring accessibility in yoga and have documented the rich history of yoga in the city.
As founders of key annual events such as the Brighton Yoga Festival (the largest not for profit festival in the country) and Yoga on the Beach, they have played a vital role in bringing the yoga community together.
From teacher training to festivals to community classes, we have had an exciting first year working in and with communities and reducing health inequalities through mindful movement.
You can read all about it below
Please note: the PDF is best viewed on a larger device than a mobile phone.
This feedback relates to a 12-week free yoga course funded by the Brighton Natural Health Foundation and run at the Downsman Wellbeing Space, running from April - July 2024. The course was funded by the National Lottery and run in conjunction with the Hangleton and Knoll Project. It followed extensive consultation with the local community, including a taster day.
12 people signed up for the course and 10 continued to the end. Although the retention rate was encouraging, attendance varied (reasons for not attending are listed below). Half the people who filled in our health participation forms had multiple heath difficulties.
We worked with Nicola Harvey, an established local yoga teacher with significant experience in education, community work and mental health
"I really enjoyed the session as the teacher's instructions were very clear, and she had such a lovely energy. By the time I left, I almost felt like a different person - much more relaxed, grounded, and stretched at the same time."
"Life can be stressful as a working mom with a teenage daughter while going through menopause. So finding somewhere local where I can restore myself is wonderful,’ S - course participant."
Brighton Natural Health Foundation
A charity that is passionate about empowering people and communities to embrace mindful movement for a happier, healthier lifestyle. We offer accessible classes, events,and training, especially for people facing h health inequalities.
Hangleton and Knoll Project
A Community Development charity based in the Hangleton and Knoll ward of Brighton and Hove in South East England. A part of the community since 1983 we are a project working for the community with the community and managed by the community.
Had you ever done a regular yoga class before this course started?
For a large minority of respondents, this was the first experience of attending a regular yoga class.
100% of respondents rated their experience of the course as wholly positive.
All participants said that they benefited from the classes mentally, physically and emotionally.
All respondents mentioned the physical and mental health benefits of yoga with reducing stress being the most commonly cited improvement.
Improving health, flexibility, balance, wellbeing. Very positive and enjoyable experience
It helped my present health issues. I felt calm and it helped with my stress
100% of students said that the sessions helped them with feeling tired, low mood and community connection. And a large majority (80%) said the classes helped with anxiety and managing emotions.
Participants cited a range of challenges including: family commitments, personal health challenges and caring responsibilities.
Is there anything that could have been improved? If so, what?
"It was perfect"
40% of people did try yoga techniques they had learned in class at home.
60% of people did not try any of the yoga techniques they had learned in class at home.
(home practice had been encouraged by the teacher.)
100% of people said they would want to go to future classes but cited money, time and lack of classes nearby as reasons they might not be able to attend.
The courses were clearly beneficial to all participants who gained mental, physical and emotional benefits. The welcoming, friendly approach of the teacher and safe environment was key to the success of the project and students were keen for more.
Although the retention rate was good, regular attendance was a challenge with only one person attending every single class over the 12 week period. Attending regular classes is a common issue in yoga classes and can be especially difficult for people who have significant caring responsibilities and health challenges. A range of classes at different times of day might help alleviate this as might a drop-in model - giving more people the opportunity to attend.
It had also been an ambition to encourage students to take up a regular home practice in the form of simple breathing or movement exercises and the teacher encouraged students to keep a journal with this in mind. In the end, most students we surveyed did not do this. Building regular practice takes time and commitment and is likely to take more than one course.
A charity that is passionate about empowering people and communities to embrace mindful movement for a happier, healthier lifestyle. Our focus is on offering accessible classes, events,and training, especially for those who may not have easy access to these resources, working in partnership with communities, movement and health practitioners, and other relevant experts.
A Community Development charity based in the Hangleton and Knoll ward of Brighton and Hove in South East England. A part of the community since 1983 we are a project working for the community with the community and managed by the community.
We know that mindful movement practices can be life-changing or even life-saving. But they are not always accessible to people struggling with mental and physical ill-health.
Your donation could help pay for a class for someone who would otherwise not be able to afford one.
The event was held on March 16th 2024 to launch the Downsman Wellbeing Space in Hangleton. The day was jointly organised by the Hangleton and Knoll Project and the Brighton Natural Health Foundation (see Appendix one for more about these organisations.) It was funded by National Lottery Awards for All.
The aim of the day was to provide a range of mindful movement classes in a community setting. This would be followed up by a 12-week course in one of the practices. This was part of the broader aims of BNHF which is to help connect people to the benefits of mindful movement, offering accessible classes, for those who may not have easy access to them.
The day also met one of the strategic aims of the Hangleton and Knoll Partnership: to increase skills, confidence and opportunities for people to improve their health and that of their families. Statistics show that residents in the area experience significant health inequalities with higher than expected levels of adult and child obesity, limiting long term illness, depression, cardio-vascular disease and high blood pressure.
The content of the day was based on a consultation with residents carried out by the Hangleton and Knoll Community team which identified yoga, meditation and tai chi as something the residents would like to see offered at the new wellbeing centre.
Mindful movement practices such as qigong, yoga and Pilates have been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and help with depression (all identified as issues facing the community - see above). They are also effective ways to lower stress - a known contributor to inflammatory diseases and to reduce chronic pain..
However, the practices can be expensive and inaccessible for many people. Most of the studios are in the city centre and classes can cost as much as £14 per hour. Added to that, anecdotal evidence suggests that people often feel that such classes are not for them as they are not ‘bendy’ or fit enough.
Mindful Movement Classes
Experienced teachers from the Brighton Health Foundation provided five mindful movement classes of 45 minutes each throughout the day:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Qigong
- Dance
- Sound Bath
- a social enterprise which takes fresh and surplus food in danger of being wasted and transforms it into tasty meals.
with prizes including a massage course, yoga classes, a yoga mat and a float spa
were provided by newly qualified teachers from Jing Institute of Massage and Complementary Medicine and Sussex School of Natural Therapies.
Around 60 people booked into classes throughout the day
There was a waiting list for most classes
17 people had massages
‘A real wellbeing boost for the whole community’
‘Qigong made me feel relaxed, feel light, quite mindful, calming, helped shoulder pain’ ‘So relaxing - would love more time.’
‘Nice and calming - I feel great.’
‘Such a lovely class to exercise and have fun to music without actually feeling like it’s a chore.’
‘Could I do this twice a week?’
‘Thank you so much - please carry on the good work.’
‘Blankets would have been nice.’
‘It was a little cold. I enjoyed the sound bath only I was a little cold and could not deeply relax but I enjoyed the singing and the sound.’
‘I would have liked more challenging moves.’
The day also gave us an opportunity to ask people some more questions about their understanding of wellbeing and their barriers to wellness. The graphs below show visual representations of the answers. You can read them in full here.
A sizeable minority had not heard the term before and a similar number said that it was to do with a connection between body, mind and movement.
Very few people associated wellbeing with just physical fitness. The top answer associated wellbeing with relaxation, calm and peace.
We asked people to rate how well they felt on a scale of 1-10. The chart below shows a distribution of the feelings. One person rated themselves high ‘10’ and another rated themselves at ‘2’ but the majority were mid-range
Time, caring responsibilities, lack of motivation, money and physical illness were all cited as major reasons for people not doing more to improve their wellbeing.
The majority of people cited exercise as the most important element. A significant proportion specifically mentioning mindful movement as something they would like to take up.
The Hangleton and Knoll Project is keen to offer a range of activities in the new centre including mindful movement. A free 12-week yoga class funded by the National Lottery started in April 2024. This will be thoroughly evaluated and sustainable funding models will be investigated. There are also discussions with residents about providing Pilates and qigong classes in the same space.
More about the organisations
A charity that is passionate about empowering people and communities to embrace mindful movement for a happier, healthier lifestyle. Our focus is on offering accessible classes, events,and training, especially for those who may not have easy access to these resources, working in partnership with communities, movement and health practitioners, and other relevant experts.
A Community Development charity based in the Hangleton and Knoll ward of Brighton and Hove in South East England. A part of the community since 1983 we are a project working for the community with the community and managed by the community.
We know that mindful movement practices can be life-changing or even life-saving. But they are not always accessible to people struggling with mental and physical ill-health.
Your donation could help pay for a class for someone who would otherwise not be able to afford one.
"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." Harriet Ann Jacobs
Here at the Brighton Natural Health Foundation, we're passionate about empowering people and communities to embrace mindful movement for a happier, healthier lifestyle. Read on to find out about our outreach work, free training and research.
It was so lovely. I have fibromyalgia and if I stay at home, I tend to lie down and think about the pain. It's nice to move and be with other people," feedback from one of our Pilates classes.
We have kick-started spring by working in partnership with people and organisations that share our passion for reducing health inequalities through the benefits of mindful movement including yoga, qigong and Pilates.
We are really excited to be developing mindful movement classes with: The Trust for Developing Communities, Hangleton and Knoll Project, Hollingdean Community Centre, Together Co, The Carers Centre, Family Hubs, Healthy LIfestyles Team and Sussex Surplus (who are providing tasty, sustainable food for our events.)
Thanks to Sport England and the National Lottery, we are able to extend our offer of free community classes.
Do you have ideas about how mindful movement could benefit your community? Contact samhart@bnhf.org
This 'thorough and approachable ' book by our former chair and long-standing trustee Peter Deadman covers the underlying philosophies of qigong.
Drawing on traditional wisdom and modern understanding of body, breath and mind cultivation, the book also includes links to dozens of free videos demonstrating a range of qigong practices.
Do you teach qigong, yoga, tai chi, breathwork, meditation, Pilates or dance?
Would you like to know about how to work with survivors of domestic violence?
Thanks to the generosity of our partners, Rise, we are able to offer a free training course to help you work sensitively with survivors.
This in-person half-day training will give you a better understanding of what domestic abuse is, what to do if someone discloses and how triggers may occur.
To find out more and book a place, contact:
Diabetes, lower-back pain and cardio vascular health are some of the key health issues facing under-served communities in Brighton and Hove. We have been listening to the health concerns of residents at vibrant local health forums organised by the Trust for Developing Communities.
Communities are responding to these issues with creativity and resilience and we are thrilled to be a part of providing solutions through our mindful movement classes.
For more information on the profound effects that mindful movement such as yoga and qigong can have on mental and physical health, visit our research pages.
Calling all mindful movement practitioners. Our partner organisation the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership have a stunning, reasonably priced space to hire in the South Downs, including mats and bolsters.
This former golf club is just south of Devil’s Dyke, with incredible views of rolling hills and rare chalk grassland. In the heart of the city’s re-wildling project, it is the perfect space for retreats and workshops.
Mats, bolsters and blocks are already on site and can be hired at a very reasonable rate from the Brighton Yoga Foundation. Find out more about the clubhouse here or equipment hire here.
We are delighted to be reintroducing our online yoga for long-covid classes this spring.
Feedback from previous courses was entirely positive with 100% of respondents saying that the sessions had supported their wellbeing and helped them to manage their Long COVID symptoms.
“A truly wonderful experience. It has improved my quality of life.. Cannot praise the course or thank our teacher Durgha enough.”
For information about our upcoming course, contact: tammymccann@bnhf.org.uk
Our very own Sam Hart is running a 10k to raise funds for yoga classes for women who have experienced trauma.
She will be running during the Brighton Marathon Weekend under the banner of our sister organisation, The Brighton Yoga Foundation.
The Enjoolata Foundation will match fund anything raised.
Save the dates! The Brighton Yoga Festival and Yoga on the Beach are back this year.
These are joyful occasions to celebrate all things yoga as well as raise money for life-changing classes provided by the Brighton Yoga Foundation.
Yoga on the Beach 23rd May (details to follow)
Some great feedback from our classes for women who have experienced trauma
We know that mindful movement practices can be life-changing or even life-saving. But they are not always accessible to people struggling with mental and physical ill-health.
Your donation could help pay for a class for someone who would otherwise not be able to afford one.
“I really appreciate your gentle sessions. They are perfect for where I am at the moment and I hope the breathwork especially will help with restoring balance and movement.”
Project Summary and Background
The project took place between November 2022 and February 2023 and was designed to meet the needs of people in Sussex facing the effects of long-covid through delivery of mindful movement classes. These practices support participants to become aware of and access the parasympathetic nervous system which aids rest, relaxation and healing of the body and mind. We also wanted to embed mindful
movement and breath practices beyond the 10-week programme so that participants will have tools to help manage their own conditions. We worked in partnership with Mindful Warriors, a local not for profit organisation with considerable experience in delivering community mindful
movement programmes and NHS partners.
Referrals
Referrals were made from NHS partners including the Post Covid Care and
Assessment Service from the Sussex Community Foundation Trust.
Participants
22 participants signed up to the course. All participants reported fatigue as a major
symptom of their condition. Other symptoms included brain fog, muscle aches,anxiety, and breathlessness. All said that they had difficulties with a range of day-to-day activities which included exercising, walking, playing with children, working and socialising.
66% of respondents had had symptoms from between 1-5 years
34% had had symptoms for 3 months – 1 year.
The Classes
The classes were 1.5 hours long and delivered online as students were too fatigued to make classes in person. They took place in three blocks of five. They included breathwork, meditation and gentle stretches.
Evaluation
100% of respondents said that the sessions had supported their wellbeing and helped them to manage their Long COVID symptoms.
100% said they would or would like to carry on a practice after the course had finished (although some felt that the weekly routine of the sessions would be missed).
100% of people reported positive feelings as a result of the sessions (see table below).
Benefits for participants
Some participants said that the sessions had helped them to develop a home practice, making it a regular part of their routine. This was one of the key objectives for the project.
“Been practising my balancing postures and stretching much more, which feels really good! I’ve been feeling so awful that I can’t bring myself to do these practices on my own. However, having these sessions was like an anchor for me, it meant that I had someone to guide and teach me rather than having to rely on myself. This then helped me build my own practice.”
“I have started to do yoga on a daily basis. Sometimes quite short, other times longer, but every day.”
The quality of teaching was an important part of the experience for the majority of the participants with many of them praising her calm and encouraging presence.
‘Durgha was such a wonderful teacher and I will definitely be doing these sessions again in the new year (I was very pleased to hear they would continue)- she has such a welcoming and calming energy which contributed to making me feel peaceful during the sessions.’
“I feel a big thanks is owed to Durgha for feeling her way sensitively with this class of unknowns. I think we were all shocked at the beginning to find out how strenuous we found even very gentle stretches. Durgha responded to this by making sure we had options which started at a very undemanding level, and making clear that we should feel no pressure to push ourselves.”“Durgha was a great facilitator encouraging participation whatever our ability. It helped cement that mind, body and soul are so interlinked. The peaceful result at the end of each session was priceless.”
“Just a big thank you to Durgha for such a brilliant and helpful course- really looking forward to the next ones.”
The classes helped students manage their anxiety and their ability to manage levels of stress.
‘More relaxed, less anxious; much of my symptoms of late have been around pain and it’s helped to be able to stretch.’
‘Managing my stress and activity level as well as keep my nervous system calm’
Participants appreciated the chance to challenge themselves without overdoing it and it enabled them to understand what their body was capable of. They appreciated the time and space to devote to their well-being and liked the focus of a weekly session.
“Calming session but just the right amount of challenge in movement. Tired afterwards but in a positive way.”
“Time out to focus on movement and breath work.”
“Gives me a set time and day to put myself and needs ahead of others.”
“I really like these sessions and hope to continue. For where I am at in my stage of my recovery they are just at the limit of what I can do, but not beyond me. I think this is a good level for me to be pushing my boundaries and I find them mentally relaxing as well as physically exercising!”
“Realising that small actions/movements can have a profound impact. Particularly combining controlled breathing and movement.”
The ability to come together and be in a community was also important to many of the participants whose experiences had left them feeling isolated. The sessions were an important and enjoyable part of the week and gave people something to look forward to.
“The classes made me feel less alone with Long Covid, and gave me support and structure for starting to exercise gently again. I’d lost heart previously after trying on my own and finding I could do nothing I’d have regarded as ‘exercise’ pre-Covid.”
“Sharing experience with others, more confidence in physicality, relaxation.”
“The classes are the highlight of my weekend, I come out of them feeling cared for and understood and above all else relaxed.”
“I found these sessions to be enjoyable, relaxing and a boost to my confidence.”
“A truly wonderful experience. It has improved my quality of life. Since Covid I have lost my work, been really unwell, become isolated & despairing at times. I have really valued this course and the connections I have made. Cannot praise the course or thank our teacher Durgha enough.”
We are seeking a new chair of the trustees as we embark on an exciting new phase for the charity which was founded in 1981 to promote the benefits of all-round health for body, mind and planet. For over forty years we have provided a wide range of classes including yoga, Pilates, ballet and dance, relaxation techniques and much more, along with mindful movement outreach programmes which benefit vulnerable groups in the city.
The charity’s work has helped generate a city-wide revolution where there is a wellness studio on nearly every corner providing a huge range of classes. Having achieved its initial goals, BNHF is now focussed on developing and implementing a new vision – “Towards a Healthy City” – working with communities to develop mindful movement programmes in the more disadvantaged parts of Brighton and Hove to reduce health inequalities.
Please see our Chair application pack for full details on the role and who we are, the need we are addressing and our vision for the future.
The role
We are looking for an active and engaged Chair who can provide strong leadership and guidance as we embark on our strategy for the next few years. You will play a leadership role both within the charity itself and in championing our mission to the outside world.
You will be joining at an exciting time and leading a committed, experienced and skilled Board and a dynamic and forward-looking organisation. As our new Chair you will help shape the next exciting phase of our future development as we develop our strategic business.
You will lead the Board as it sets strategic direction and oversee the good governance of the charity, and ensure it is meeting its charitable obligations. The Chair also leads the small management team, providing guidance, oversight and performance management. Key actions include:
Skills, qualities and experience
You don’t need to have specific previous experience on a charity board to apply for the role of Chair but understanding or experience of the mental, physical and social health sector is highly desirable. We recognise that many of the skills required are transferable, and you may have gained them in other settings or through other relevant experience. These include:
If you share our passion and enthusiasm for the developing mental, physical and social health in the community, enjoy thinking strategically and working collaboratively, and can bring diverse professional and personal experience to our Board, then we’d love to hear from you.
Time commitment
This is an active role, where time will need to be invested regularly outside of meetings to support the work of the Board and the charity. The key Chair responsibilities are likely to require up to 4 days per month including attending 4-6 in person two-hour Board meetings per year (usually in person), sub-committees where relevant and an annual strategic day.
All Trustees including the Chair are appointed for an initial three-year term of office and may stand for re-election after this period.
How to apply
Please submit an expression of interest in your preferred format – CV, written statement, video, etc. – telling us:
Please email your application to chair@bnhf.org by 5pm on 26 February 2024. We will respond to you promptly and interviews will be held soon after this date.
After forty years of providing mindful movement classes in the centre of Brighton, we are now in a position to help develop these life-changing practices throughout the city. Evidence shows that activities such as yoga, tai chi, dance and meditation can make a crucial difference to health, wellbeing and disease prevention. But sadly, cost and accessibility mean they are not available to everyone. So we are committed to developing inclusive, low-cost classes in Brighton communities. We hope you will join us on this exciting journey! Read on to find out more and how to get involved.
Shocking health inequalities in the city were exposed during our launch event this summer. Ryan Edwards from the Healthy Lifestyles Team revealed that a man living in the most disadvantaged area in the city would die nine years younger than a man in the least disadvantaged area.
And BNHF trustee Peter Deadman warned that the NHS could not 'spend its way out of the approaching tsunami' of ill-health, outlining the vital role that mindful movement practices could play in preventing disease. Missed the event?
Catch up below:
Shocking health inequalities in the city were exposed during our launch event this summer. Ryan Edwards from the Healthy Lifestyles Team revealed that a man living in the most disadvantaged area in the city would die nine years younger than a man in the least disadvantaged area.
We will be offering life-changing activities such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi, meditation and qigong for all ages and abilities throughout the city.
Want to get involved? We are looking for partners, volunteers, teachers and natural health practitioners to make this a truly inclusive endeavor.
Please contact our new project manager samhart@bnhf.org to find out more.
Brighton and Hove is one of the most active cities in the UK! However, although life expectancy has increased, on average, a woman living in the city can expect to live 1/4 of her life in poor health.
The biggest barriers to people exercising are affordability and accessibility, highlighting the need for low-cost, inclusive activities within easy reach of where people live. Together, we can make this happen - contact samhart@bnhf.org to get involved.
Do you have the vision, experience and compassion to steer us through the next exciting phase of our journey?
After 40 years on the board, our chair of trustees Peter Deadman has stepped down from the role (though he is still fully involved in the organisation.)
We are looking for an experienced chair with knowledge of the sector to take over.
Treat yourself to a home wellness workshop this autumn!
Take part in qigong, somatic yoga and Menopause Yoga from the comfort of your own home!
Thanks to the generosity of our Trustees Petra Coveney, Peter Deadman and Charlotte Watts, we now have an excellent series of free talks, classes and seminars on our website.
Regular qigong practice could improve sleep, energy, social activity, pain levels, mobility and mental attitude in those with chronic fatigue.
Read more about this and other mindful movement research on our new evidence database
We are also producing fact sheets for social prescribers, GPs, funders or anyone who is interested!
If you know of some research that should be included, do get in touch.
We know that mindful movement practices can be life-changing or even life-saving. But they are not always accessible to people struggling with mental and physical ill-health.
Your donation could help pay for a class for someone who would otherwise not be able to afford one.
After many months of planning and reflection, June the 20th 2023 saw the launch of Brighton Natural Health Foundation charity (BNHF). It sprang from the closing down of the Brighton Natural Health Centre premises in Regent Street after forty years and provided us with the opportunity to develop a bold new vision.
Many of us have been aware in our own lives of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of practices such as yoga, tai chi, qigong and breathwork, and in recent years this has been confirmed by an ever-growing body of research. Yet they have largely been practised by a fairly small segment of the population. This means that many communities who suffer health challenges have been unable to afford access to some of the practices that can make a real difference to their lives.
BNHF will work to make these available to all by collaborating with partners all over the City.
Please watch the video to hear from Peter Deadman (BNHF chair), Ryan Edwards, Healthy Lifestyles Manager at Brighton & Hove City Council, Charlotte Watts (BNHF trustee), Adam Fazakerly, central Brighton GP, and Joanna Martindale, CEO of the Hangleton & Knoll Project.
