Yoga for the Elderly at ESEA Community Centre

The East & Southeast Asian (ESEA) Community Centre runs yoga classes for elders, taught in Cantonese. These sessions take place every other Friday and are freely available to around 20–25 local elders, with occasional participation from those visiting their children at university.

Classes are tailored mostly to the needs of elders who live on their own, with a focus on leg strength and footwork to improve balance, hand-eye coordination, and breath regulation to build physical confidence and reduce the risk of falls. Many elders have since grown stronger through consistent practice, including one 99-year-old participant who enjoys demonstrating her beautiful expression of malasana. During the summer months, classes sometimes take place in the centre’s backyard.

Following each session, guests are welcome to stay on for a nourishing community lunch prepared by ESEACC Luncheon Club who has been bringing a taste of home and comfort to the ESEA diaspora in Hackney for over four decades and counting, fostering social connection, reducing isolation, and strengthening community ties.

The programme demonstrates the importance of accessibility and cultural relevance, bringing yoga directly to a community often excluded from mainstream classes. It offers a welcoming, language-accessible space where elders can enjoy movement, connection, and support.

For more information, check out ESEA Community Centre’s Instagram here.

Join the ESEACC’s upcoming Lunar New Year party fundraiser to keep the community centre running. For more information about David’s teaching including classes and retreats, visit his website. 

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