Easterhouse YogaFest proves a hit with Glasgow communities

Painter and decorator and yoga enthusiast Mick Gallagher, one of the festival's organisers, has said that despite some last-minute nerves, the event was even more successful than he could have imagined.

READ MORE: 'It's the new bingo': Meet the man behind Glasgow's yoga festival

Pictured: Festival organisers Caroline Smart and Mick Gallagher (Image: newsquest)

He said: “The Easterhouse festival went really well.

“When we first started organising things, it seemed like a great idea to kick things off on Friday.

“When it came to the day I started to worry that at 4.30pm, in terrible weather and rush hour traffic, that people would just want to get home.

“People arrived in dribs and drabs until I shouted to one of the boys who works at the centre to ask how we were looking to which he replied ‘it’s full’.

“I just said, ‘what do you mean?’.

“Around 40 people had come to take part.

“We were absolutely delighted.”

When Mick first spoke to the Glasgow Times last week, he shared his story of discovering the benefits of yoga in his 20s when he developed sciatica, a painful back condition.

He soon launched classes for men in Penilee Community Centre which proved such a hit that he went on to found YoGlasgow, a project which now runs chair yoga and mat-based yoga classes around the city.

And now, the Easterhouse festival at the Phoenix Centre looks to be the start of a whole new chapter for the team as they seek to spread the benefits of the practice far and wide.

Mick said: “To me personally, the festival was an absolute game changer.

“I mean, who puts on a therapeutic yoga festival in the heart of one of the most solidly working-class communities in the whole of Britain?

“That was really the idea behind YoGlasgow, to showcase all the ways that people can get involved.”

The action-packed programme saw hundreds of budding yogis invited to try their hand at sessions aimed to address specific health problems with breath work, mat classes and the group’s signature chair yoga.

Mick said: “We had sessions for people with long covid, anxiety or for those who are experiencing menopause.

“Some of the people who took part in that class found it really hard to put into words how it made them feel to be in a group of other women talking about their lives or personal situations.

“That was a really nice and humbling experience.

“It was so well received.”

After a triumphant weekend, the team are now looking forward to the future and planning ways to unite communities across Glasgow with a new favourite pastime that’s beneficial for mind, body and soul.

Mick said: “My ideal plan would be to take the festival to different areas like Drumchapel, Pollok or Castlemilk.

“The classes are about socialising as much as exercising.

“We have people in their fifties and even right up to 90 years of age.

“For a lot of people, yoga is so far from their world that they wouldn’t know where to start.

“We bring it to their doorstep in an inclusive space with teachers who put people at ease, crack jokes and have a good time with it.

“I’m a painter and decorator to pay the bills, but yoga is my passion.

“I’m absolutely chuffed.”

After taking part in the festival, Councillor Sharon Greer said: “[It was] a thoroughly enjoyable event.

“To walk into such a welcoming space and witness the team's connection with the community was just wonderful.

“Activities catered for all ages and abilities.

“The work the Yogafest Team are doing is of great benefit to the local community. I would encourage anyone who is curious to go along to a class.

“I certainly left feeling a lot lighter.”

Also visiting the Phoenix Centre was Councillor Maureen Burke who has pledged to help the group in their attempts to secure funding after seeing first-hand the important work that they do.

She said: “It was very uplifting speaking to many of the people who use this service telling me how chair yoga has enhanced their mobility and even helped reduced their medication, they also expressed how the social side of it has helped enormously especially coming out of the pandemic when many of them had to shield over a two year period.

“I know the current funding providing this service will be coming to an end soon this would be devastating to those who are currently benefiting from it, I am presently looking into what funding might be available to make sure this very much needed service is retained.”

For more information on YoGlasogw click here.