![]() |
Yoga:
It changes the way you do everything else! |
Benefits of Practicing Yoga Poses and Breath Exercises
Yoga: Why Your Body and Soul Want Some Yoga. Union. To yoke together. They all mean the same
thing. Wholeness. Yoga gives us movement, breath and self-knowledge that bring us into wholeness, over and over again, as we move through life experiences and events that may challenge our very center and well-being. And when things are going along smoothly and joyfully, yoga creates an even greater capacity to taste that joy and swim in it! Bodies were designed to be active, so they experience a certain amount of stress simply from being still or repetitively resting in the same position — a challenge many of us face, particularly in our work environment. How you feel in your body affects every aspect of your life, be it personal or professional, physical, emotional or spiritual. Anyone who has experienced injury or physical pain knows the truth of this. You feel un-whole, un-present. It is essential, therefore, that we give ourselves an opportunity to relieve stress — both physical and mental. Doing even a few minutes of yoga in the morning changes the way you use your body all day. Many techniques can be performed while sitting, driving, walking which means you can support your body and your mind even when you are particularly busy. People experience related benefits, such as
improved memory and focus, increased life and job
satisfaction, and a heightened sense of being "present."
Yoga stretching, strengthening, and breathing techniques
keep your mind and body flexible, strong, and centered. Yoga practice engages the whole person, and as a result it can evoke some powerful and subtle changes in us. In yoga, breath exercise is called pranayama, which means to restrain or master the life force. How we breathe reflects and influences the state of the nervous system, and thus our whole body. We tighten our bodies to feel less, and in yoga we choose to breathe and to soften. People sometimes experience waves of emotion — anything from irritation to grief to anger — as they hold a pose, breathe, and encourage energy to flow into areas where there is stagnation. We want to study these patterns of sensation that arise, to know them intimately, for it is believed that, as energy radiates from the soul, it creates these structures so as to have the fullest expression possible. The best way to find the soul, therefore, is to study the energy and follow it back to itself. There we find union. Teaching Style My primary intention in each class is to
provide a space/time that is safe and nourishing. From
there we learn, we grow, and we always get healthier and
stronger. I often say that my job is getting to witness
people get younger! We explore breath and meditation,
strengthening and stillness as well as movement. Classes
incorporate a combination of held postures as well as vinyasa
(flow) style — a
dynamic moving meditation that employs breath as the
foundation and focus. Over the years I've become
increasingly passionate about joint stability, range of
motion, spinal health and true core strength (turns out
it's not just those ab muscles they emphasized in gym
class). My Kripalu Yoga training informs and supports my
compassion-centered teaching and practice. I encourage
students to discover their "edge," to become aware of
their physical and emotional reactions to sensation, and
to transform their old patterns with new breath. The
result is a powerful practice for the body and spirit —
one that deeply impacts life both on and off the yoga
mat. I remind you, as I do with all students: the yoga
practice is yours. I simply provide a framework. It's my
hope that you'll seek the level of challenge that feels
right for you in any given moment. I have no judgment or
expectation about what your practice will look like. I
look forward to practicing with you! |
Out beyond the ideas of
what's right and wrong is a field...I will meet you
there.
— Rumi |
Home Yoga Feng Shui Decluttering Retreats Classes & Presentations Consultations Resources Bio |