Get your own yoga guru

Made to measure: Vinay Menon will design a yoga session just for you

10 April 2012

Finally, I can touch my toes," I whisper, midway through a new one-on-one half therapy-half stretching class I'm trying out in Fulham.

It takes place in a dark room where I'm listening to the hypnotic tones of a yoga master before getting to a point of deep relaxation and physical calm.

I've been trying what west London yummies are calling bespoga - bespoke yoga - at the Chelsea Club, with Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge grounds.

It is taught by Indian wellness guru Vinay Menon, who has trained a number of top footballers including the Chelsea first team. They rely on him for calming meditation techniques - essential to counteract stress and muscle tightness during long weeks of intense training. He has now launched sessions open to individual clients, including rhythmic stretching, breathing exercises and sound meditation.

"My sessions are tailor-made for the client, so instead of wasting time doing long hours in a class, you can try three to five sessions to achieve a balanced state of mind," says Vinay. "I don't plan anything. I just sit and talk and diagnose you. Then we do whatever you need to do."

After removing my trainers and sitting down cross-legged on the soft rug, Vinay sits down in front of me and asks how my Monday has been. "Good, thanks. Lots to get through but that's the usual," I reply, before admitting that my greatest fitness fear is not being flexible, and that at 5ft 10in tall, I have never been able to touch my toes.

Vinay smiles, insists that I am flexible but that I just don't know it yet. Clearly, I am about to discover a hidden talent.

We do a few minutes of gentle breathing exercises to help me focus and relax my muscles. Soon I am standing and reaching my arms up and out as Vinay moves them about in different directions in time with my slow, controlled breaths. It is not uncomfortable and as my muscles warm up and I begin to relax into the rhythm, the embarrassing clicking noises soon subside and I am able to stretch my arms, legs and torso further than I ever have before.

Just before my hour is up, Vinay instructs me - again using that low, soothing voice - to lie down and close my eyes while his fingers hover in healing mode over my face. A short time later I am nudged awake - just a few, snatched minutes felt like hours - and I am jolted back to reality.

I feel refreshed, well-stretched and de-stressed - and happy to have touched my toes with my feet flat on the floor. I am my own best beginner.