As we speak to more and more people with our In-Touch friendly chat service we’re finding that lots of our service users at asking after our tutors and facilitators – so we thought that’s a sign that you might like to hear from Dunya – our super friendly Yoga facilitator.

What have you been doing during lockdown?

Mainly being with my child at home, she is 3 and is becoming very active, but she is happy so that’s the main thing.

I have been thinking a lot about how I can contribute and stay connected to my community during this time and I have been teaching a weekly online yoga class, via Zoom, for Maa Shanti (LINK), which has been great. I’ve also looked to connect with you guys at the Old Fire Station and I’ve made a 30 minutes heart-centred Yoga video for people to do at home.

What’s it like teaching an online class?

It’s different for sure. I kind of imagine that I am with the people, all in a room together, and then I just go and get in the zone letting my mind focus on the Yoga.

Why should people do Yoga as part of their exercise routine now?

Yoga doesn’t just help keep you fit, it helps you to connect the body to the mind and to release the tension and stress stuck in the body. This is especially important when you’re experiencing a situation that can cause tension and anxiety. More than ever, this is the time to take care of our body and mind.

What simple exercise do you recommend when feeling stressed?

I would say the best thing to do when we feel stress or anxious is to slow down the breath. The 3 second breath exercise is easy and accessible to all: Sit comfortably on a chair, with the back supported. Close the eyes. Inhale 3 seconds through the nostrils while you fill the belly with air and exhale 3 seconds through the nostrils while emptying the belly. Repeat 5 to 10 times.

Thank you Dunya. 

Please visit www.hng.org.uk/yoga to view Dunya’s 30-minute Yoga video.
Daniel

​As our new ‘In Touch’ service completes its fourth week, I am delighted to say that we’ve made over 250 phone calls to our service users to combat isolation and share information about where to get practical support. We offer a listening ear and help people to stay connected.
 
People are looking forward to our phone calls – they are providing “lightness and laughter” in their week. It’s very apparent that many people are getting a lot of support from friends, family and neighbours – but, where possible, they are also looking to help other people. For example, one person has been practising the Mindfulness techniques they’ve learnt at the Stress Project especially around “letting go” and “learning to accept what she can and cannot control”. And while practising this herself she is also passing this advice on to other people. So, there is a new sense of community developing – passing on, or helping each other where we can. 
 
Over the weeks I’ve noticed some trends appearing. In the first week people were very focused on getting on with it. “This is the situation and I’ll cope as best I can”, so to speak. In week 2, I found that people were becoming a little more stressed and needed more signposting to other support services for things like food delivery. In week 3, I sensed that people were becoming unmotivated and in week 4 the trend is more towards frustration, “when is this situation going to end?”. So, I’ve been offering little bits of advice - encouraging people to lean on their coping skills, such as Mindfulness, or signposting to something creative like an on-line art class.
 
I'm finding that our phone calls are really appreciated – people are asking how staff and other service users are and say they look forward to my call next week. It’s fantastic that Islington Council are referring people to our service – these are people who previously have not accessed our services so it’s great to welcome them into our community. If you know of someone who could benefit please do let us know. 
 
Until next time, 
 
Sahir – Older Men’s Project Worker

The last week or so has seen a huge change for us at the Old Fire Station but we’re quickly adapting to the new normal. One of things we’ve been doing is telephone befriending with our service users to help combat isolation and to share information about where to get practical support.
 
We’ve spoken to over 75 people in the last few days and we’re finding out so much about our service users – from full on family histories to details of crochet projects and more.
 
We’ve been pleased to find that many of our service users have been doing exercises based on what our tutors have taught them. One elderly lady has even made up her own exercise routine, to do in the garden, that combines moves from the gentle exercise and the Tai-Chi classes – very creative. We’ve also been helping people to access online services for example assisting one person to download and read books on iBooks.
 
Overall we’ve found that people are missing their friends, children and grandkids most of all. But some have seen this as an opportunity to learn how to FaceTime to stay in contact.  However, people are more often than not asking how we are, or are concerned with how the tutors are. I must say it doesn’t surprise me – we’ve always had lovely and caring service users.
 
I’ve also taken a lot of pleasure in connecting people to their Old Fire Station friends – by sharing telephone numbers (with permission!). Community can stay alive even when we can’t be in the same place.
 
If you know or anyone that could benefit from Telephone befriending please do contact us and we will see if we can help.
 
Chelsey