STRIKING the picture perfect pose can sometimes seem as important as mastering technique but one yoga instructor took the temptation away by issuing blindfolds to her students.

Grace Young set up a ‘Yoga In The Dark’ session at Modern Art Oxford as part of a campaign by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to simulate what people with full or partial sight loss experience.

The 25-year-old said: “I decided to do my own In The Dark event for a couple of reasons.

“Firstly, just before I was born and again when I was 16 my dad had major eye surgery.

“He got cataracts aged 35 and this delicate surgery led to his retina detaching in both eyes. After many complications and surgeries he was left with visual impairments and can no longer drive.

“However, he is always reminding me that there are people much worse off than him which I find inspiring.”

“Secondly, as a yoga teacher I often find people assume certain things, such as every pose has to be picture, or Instagram, perfect or you have to be really good to come to a class.

“However, yoga is about much more than that. I wanted to create a safe and non-judgmental space, where people can enjoy how the poses feel.

“Yoga can be transformative for mental health, overcoming injuries, becoming more flexible and stronger – it’s not all about how good the poses look.

“Hosting a yoga class in blindfolds can be a liberating experience, allowing people to see the real benefits it can bring.”

Many of her family and friends joined her for the yoga class last Sunday, with each wearing a blindfold to simulate what it might be like to live with sight loss.

After the class, the group of more than 40, had dinner and shared their experiences.

Each participant made a donation to RNIB, with £250 raised in total, in return for the unique sensory experience as part of the charity’s fundraising campaign.

Alex McDowell, head of community, legacy and challenge events at RNIB, said: “Being blind doesn’t always mean living in total darkness. In fact, 93 per cent of the people in the UK registered as blind or partially sighted can actually see something.

“By holding an ‘In The Dark’ event, people will not only be raising money for RNIB, but they’ll also be helping to improve understanding of what it’s like to live with limited vision.”