What Is Forrest Yoga?

When we first hear the term Forrest Yoga, it is easy to imagine practicing among trees, twigs snapping underfoot, the scent of damp leaves in crisp autumn air. And while you certainly can practice it outdoors, Forrest Yoga is not defined by a setting. It is a distinct and powerful style of yoga developed by Ana Forrest.

Ana Forrest studied several established traditions, including Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. Over time, she adapted and evolved her own method, stepping away from aspects that did not support her body. The result is a modern therapeutic practice designed to meet the needs of today’s lifestyles.

The Four Pillars of Forrest Yoga

Forrest Yoga is built on four guiding pillars. These are not rigid rules but foundations that shape every practice.

Breath

Breath is used consciously and powerfully throughout the practice. It helps to build awareness, support emotional processing, and guide movement from a place of presence rather than habit.

Strength

Strength is developed gradually and intelligently, with a strong focus on the core and stabilising muscles. This supports posture, joint health, and safe movement patterns in daily life.

Integrity

Integrity refers to working honestly with your own body. Students are encouraged to adapt poses, listen deeply, and avoid pushing beyond what is appropriate for their structure and experience.

Spirit

Spirit relates to connection, meaning, and awareness. This may be experienced as emotional insight, personal reflection, or a deeper sense of presence within the practice.

Together, these pillars create a practice that is both physical and deeply reflective.

Mending the Hoop of the People

A central philosophy within Forrest Yoga is the idea of mending the hoop of the people.

This concept refers to the belief that when individuals heal themselves, they contribute to the healing of their wider community. The hoop symbolises connection between people, families, and society as a whole.

Rather than viewing healing as something purely personal, Forrest Yoga recognises that:

• personal wellbeing affects relationships

• emotional healing influences community health

• collective wellbeing is built through individual awareness and responsibility

In this way, the practice extends beyond the mat. It encourages practitioners to take what they learn internally and carry it into how they live, relate, and contribute to the world around them.

What Makes Forrest Yoga Different

One of the defining features of Forrest Yoga is its strong emphasis on core work.

This is not about traditional sit ups or long plank holds. Instead, Forrest Yoga uses targeted abdominal sequences that engage the full range of core muscles, including the deeper stabilising muscles that support posture and movement.

A well developed core plays a key role in:

• stabilising the spine

• supporting healthy posture

• allowing safe efficient movement

You may also hear that core work supports digestion and overall wellbeing. This is true in a broader sense, as core engagement and mindful breathing can support circulation, reduce stress, and encourage healthier movement patterns in the body.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is also an important part of the practice. As the diaphragm moves, it gently massages the abdominal organs and helps stimulate the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the rest and digest state. This can support digestion, reduce stress, and indirectly support immune function.

A large proportion of the body’s immune activity is associated with the gut, so practices that support gut health and nervous system balance may contribute to overall wellbeing.

Healing

Like many yoga styles, Forrest Yoga has a strong healing component, but its approach is especially practical and body focused.

It is designed to address common patterns of tension and discomfort that arise from modern often sedentary lifestyles. For example, many classes include work to:

• release neck and shoulder tension

• improve posture

• reduce strain in the jaw and upper body

Neck pain in particular is frequently addressed. Students are guided to build awareness, release habitual tension, and develop strength and support in often overused areas.

Intent

Setting an intention is common across many yoga practices, but Forrest Yoga places particular emphasis on actively working with that intention throughout the class.

Through breath, movement, and focused awareness, the practice encourages you to stay connected to what you are exploring rather than letting it fade into the background.

Feeling

Forrest Yoga tends to move at a slower pace, with poses often held for at least five breaths. This creates space to truly feel, physically and emotionally.

Ana Forrest has spoken openly about her own healing journey, including recovery from trauma and addiction. This has shaped a practice that encourages awareness rather than avoidance.

In a world where it is easy to distract ourselves through work, screens, or constant busyness, being guided to feel can be powerful. It allows us to:

• notice physical sensations

• recognise emotional patterns

• build a more honest connection with ourselves

While yoga can support emotional processing, it is important to approach this with care and, when needed, alongside appropriate professional support.

Strength and Endurance

Another distinctive feature of Forrest Yoga is its approach to strength building.

Classes may include longer standing sequences, sometimes working one leg at a time before switching sides. These sequences help build:

• muscular endurance

• stability

• focus

This type of work primarily challenges slow twitch muscle fibres, which are responsible for sustained effort and stability. The result can feel intense but also deeply rewarding.

Not every class follows the same structure. Some teachers, like Emma, may also incorporate a more intuitive or seasonal approach, adapting the pace and intensity to reflect the time of year or the energy of the group.

In Summary

Forrest Yoga is a modern intentional practice that blends physical strength, breathwork, and emotional awareness. Guided by its Four Pillars and the philosophy of mending the hoop of the people, it offers a grounded and deeply supportive approach to yoga, especially for those navigating the demands of contemporary life.