Interested in Taking a Yoga Class?

I've been going strong with my Friday yoga classes for over six weeks now--maybe longer actually. I love it. I'm taking a Yin/Yasa class which concentrates on both strength (or heat building) and stretch (poses designed to get deep stretches or cooling poses). Here's the official description from my studio:

Yinyasa features both the active movement of vinyasa, as well as the complementary practice of yin which focuses on release of the deep connective tissues. Like a satisfying exhale after rapid breathing, the passive poses of yin feel deeply relaxing especially following the strength-building poses typical of vinyasa. The goal of this class is to help build focus and strength, and then to enjoy the relief of passive stretching and a more peaceful mind.

I prefer taking yoga at studios rather than gym based classes (where the focus tends to be on the fitness elements more than the overall yogic philosophy). Plus, gym classes often mix in pilates or other strength moves that really don't have anything to do with the natural flow of a traditional yoga class. Although, that's just my bias from trying gym based classes a couple times at a couple different gyms...your gym class might be great and wherever you workout, I recommend checking into a yoga class! HERE is a great resource describing the different styles of yoga and how you might better determine what you'd like the best.

Yoga Success At Last!!!

Okay, so I'm totally gonna be a yogi when I grow up. Seriously, I went to that noon yoga class and it was fabulous--exactly what I'm looking for. I used to do yoga at a number of studios a few years ago, but after gaining weight, it got more and more difficult, so I stopped trying. Well, I've been losing weight over the past six months or so (I believe that my last update was down 40lbs, well, now that's 49lbs). So, yesterday, when we began doing Downward Facing Dog (pose above), I was nervous, but then I realized, "this is easier" and so it was. I was able to do all the poses & sequences, gently, yoga is not the place to be competitive and a couple times I did do modified poses (like staying in child's pose while some in the class did twists, but many people elect to stay in a pose that is deeply satisfying, like child's pose, when you are in a class that stresses listening to your body). So, I signed up for the 30 days for $30 of unlimited classes to try a variety of things (there are several classes that start at 7:15 p.m. which works well for me, though I do think that my favorite will probably be this Friday noon class). I'll keep the blog updated on my practice. Meanwhile, know that I'm feeling Friday's class--all sorts of little muscles come alive during yoga. I just took a walk, so that will probably work-out some of the muscle tension, but its a good tension (especially in my arms and shoulders--I feel so much more from that class than I ever do from lifting my 5lbs arm weights.

Yoga: TODAY!

Check out this description of the yoga class I'm taking today:

Yinyasa

– Yinyasa features both the active movement of vinyasa, as well as the complementary practice of yin which focuses on release of the deep connective tissues. Like a satisfying exhale after rapid breathing, the passive poses of yin feel deeply relaxing especially following the strength-building poses typical of vinyasa. The goal of this class is to help build focus and strength, and then to enjoy the relief of passive stretching and a more peaceful mind.

Yes, darnit, I'm going to YOGA. Today...Friday, the day that is today, I'm going to yoga, grrr....okay, I haven't been to a yoga class in a while. Wish me luck and courage to actually do it. I'll report back...

Update: I actually wrote this post Wednesday and scheduled it to appear on Friday as extra encouragement to go to yoga. I really do want to go to yoga, but I woke up with a blistering swore throat this morning. I am going to go to this yoga class next Friday instead because my throat hurts, I'm stuffed up and this in not the best state to show up for a yoga class for the first time. I was starting to get a swore throat yesterday afternoon, but I still went to the gym, but now I think I might actually be sick or on the precipice. I gargled salt water, I'm having tea--what else can I do, dear readers, to stave off this cold? Leave your best advice in the comments!

September is National Yoga Month

National Yoga Month September 2010 invites all styles of yoga to participate in an awareness campaign designed to educate about the many benefits of yoga and inspire our fellow citizens to live healthier, happier lives.

If you go to http://www.yogamonth.org/ . You can receive a free week of yoga at a local yoga studio. I have signed up. I will blog about the experience late September.

Yoga to the People

Have any of you all checked out Yoga to the People? They feature free viewable and downloadable yoga classes. I'm going to try out a couple of their classes and report back (once I can breathe normally again, yoga while stuffed up is well...less effective).

Peace

Ryan Kwanten: Yoga Body

True Blood is seemingly everywhere this summer--as it well should be, its a great show and I love Charlaine Harris' books, on which the series is based. The very dim Jason Stackhouse is portrayed by a very bright actor, Ryan Kwanten. Mr. Kwanten talks to Muscle & Body magazine about living a healthy and balanced life, which for Mr. Kwanten involves a healthy dose of Vinyasa Yoga.

He says:

“I think it’s important to get your sweat on and to not just limit yourself to one particular sport,” he says of his varied fitness interests. “To do nothing but lift weights to me would be a quick death. Life has too many great things to offer in terms of physical exertion. I think you always need a sense of clarity, whether you get it through meditation or going for a hike, when it comes to bettering your life. It may not work for everybody, but it does for me. I come from a somewhat of a macho background when it comes to sports,” says the former boxer. “When a friend of mine suggested I try yoga to help with flexibility, I said, ‘No, that’s more for the girls. It’s not my cup of tea.’ But I tried it and it beat me up. That first class I was looking across the room and seeing girls and even guys putting their feet behind their heads, and I thought, Wow, that’s where I want to be. And I’m sort of naturally competitive, so once I sink my teeth into something I’m not going to let go.”

Being firmly rooted allows for more fearless inner exploration. As Ryan states at the end of the interview:

“To be a man means more than having muscles; there’s so much more to being a stand-up guy,” he explains. “I always loved that Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: ‘What lies behind us and what lies before us is small matter compared to what lies within us.”

Le sigh, check out the whole interview here.

Oh, and in honor of the True Blood aesthetic, here's a gratuitious shot of Mr. Kwanten's yoga-blessed physique: