Community enjoying yoga in this Southsea terrace think they live in UK's best street for neighbours

Each week, a socially-distanced group take a chair outside in Wilton Terrace and join in with half an hour of yoga instruction led by Maxine Bailey-Green.

These sessions came about after requests from neighbours, and is the latest development for the small Southsea terrace which looks out for each other.

Yoga and breathwork practitioner Maxine, 46, said: ‘It’s just so nice to connect with everybody as a community but also I help them manage stress and anxiety.

‘They have said it’s been so lovely for their wellbeing.

‘For me, it just gives me a purpose. I was really poorly 10 years ago and nearly took my own life through depression.

‘Being able to share techniques with others, it’s a really nice thing to do. It helps me because I’m helping somebody else.’

James Wileman, 28, doesn’t think he could find better neighbours anywhere else.

He said: ‘Maxine’s yoga class has been a great way for us to unwind and take stock .

‘I’d say that – living with a yoga instructor one side, and a lady who instinctively looks after the front gardens of almost every house on the street on the other, and various people who cook for me scattered around – I’m the bachelor – this is the best street for neighbours in the UK!

‘It really is a lovely place to be and everyone’s got an eye on each other. It was like: come for the house, stay for the neighbours.’

Maxine’s classes have proven a real hit, and passers-by always take an interest.

Maxine, who runs The Max Effect, said: ‘We’re lucky we have got a really lovely little street. I think people have this mindset that you have to be flexible to do yoga - it’s not about being flexible in your body but being flexible in your mind and your approach to life.

‘This time is making people reassess what they’re doing with their lives and yoga really helps you with that. Yoga teaches you to step back and see what you really desire.’

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