A PORT pensioner who has been practising yoga for four decades bent over backwards to help others get through lockdown.

Aileen Hughes started teaching in 1972 and over her 40-year stretch has helped hundreds of local people stay fit and active.

With her class at Westburn Church suspended due to Covid-19, she encouraged regular attendees to keep practising - resulting in an 85-year-old Greenock man finding a new love for the exercise.

Retired ex-IBM employee Aileen said: "Over lockdown I've been walking and practising yoga outdoors most days to keep active.

"I encouraged members of my Tuesday class to keep practising and one of my members, Lynda Mowat, decided to teach her partner Jimmy Millen, who is 85, some of the moves we do in class.

"I want to show that yoga is something for all ages and can be done sitting in a chair, which many people don't know.

"It harmonises the body, mind and emotions in many ways and is a great tool to recover from the stresses of the past few months."

Lynda, who lives in Greenock, has been attending the class from 2pm until 3.30pm every Tuesday for the past nine years and kept herself busy by conducting daily practises for herself and Jimmy while stuck at home.

The 72-year-old told the Tele: "While we couldn't go out during lockdown I decided to start teaching Jimmy some poses he could do, as Aileen sent us some worksheets we could use.

"I have been missing the class but it's been really great to teach Jimmy over the past few months.

"We live in a flat so it's been a great way to keep us active while not getting outside."

Aileen taught at the Highholm Centre in Port Glasgow for 30 years before it closed down and she is constantly upgrading her training, having just last year qualified as a tai chi/qi gong instructor.

The 73-year-old says the exercises and positions help to strengthen muscles, boost circulation and help breathing.

She is already making preparations for when she gets the go-ahead to kickstart her class again.

She said: "With social distancing we'll not be able to lie down like we normally would, so I plan on having a class where we stand and sit on chairs only.

"Many of the members are older and we have regulars who attend every week.

"We've got someone who comes along who is 89-years-old and can still do poses she could do years ago - it's amazing to see."

Aileen will be available yoga sessions when permitted to do so and she can be contacted on 01475 801613.