A CARDRONA man has followed in the footsteps of an America wrestling legend to become Scotland's first DDP Yoga Instructor.

And 27-year-old Murray Thomson hopes his classes, which are the brainchild of a former wrestling star Diamond Dallas Page, will be the perfect tonic for relieving niggling injuries.

Dallas Page developed the system for athletes like himself who suffered from injuries due to high impact sports.

He took up yoga to try and prolong his professional career, and began to mix what he felt were the best parts with his rehab work and other more traditional workout methods.

The result was an unique workout which combines yoga, pilates and calisthenics and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

It is growing in the States but Murray is the first to bring it to Scotland, and only the fourth in the UK.

He explained: “It's brilliant to have qualified and to be the first in Scotland. I feel very proud. I hope other people are encouraged to get the qualification and spread the DDP community.

“In order to get the Level One I had to teach 20 hours of classes, I had to make up my own session, and there was two written tests as well that I had to go through.

“It also feels brilliant to have started my own business. Its quite a leap into the unknown but it's exciting.

“I've had support from Business Gateway and the Princes Trust. Just sort of ongoing support, and financial support from the Princes Trust.

“Dallas Page actually phoned me to congratulate me which was a surprise.”

Murray is no stranger to the health and fitness scene and has a degree in Sport and Exercise as well as being a qualified Personal Trainer.

Like Page, he turned to DDP to combat fitness issues of his own.

He continued: "My hip was injured when I was at University from playing football and it got worse and worse. So I had to find something that was non impact that could help with the injury and keep building my fitness levels so I found that online and have done it ever since.

“It has stripped away the meditation and spiritual side of yoga and just uses the yoga positions mixed in with pilates and body weight exercises like squats and press-ups.

“You are engaging and flexing your muscles all the time which sends your heart rate up and makes it a cardio workout. It's also great for building core strength and flexibility but your doing it with minimal joint impact so there's no running, jumping or lifting, so you are not damaging the joints.

“It's good for weight loss, body fat reduction and just generally increasing your fitness levels.”

The Borders Sport and Leisure Trust employee, originally from Innerleithen, hopes his business will grow and has been encouraged by the start he has made.

He added: “The first week of classes was a lot busier than I expected and the interest has continued – I'm probably going to have to double the classes.

“The Level Two qualification hasn't been implemented yet but I will go for that as soon as it does. And I hope to expand to work with professional clubs and into the cities."