“Yoga isn’t about executing the poses perfectly, or having the best balance. Yoga is like learning to breathe again. Or that moment you jump out of the bed in the morning, rush outside to do the sun salutation and you’re blinded by how utterly brilliant the world can be. Yoga is taking a moment from your stressful, upbeat life and remembering you have a soul that needs tending to.” ~ Unknown

What comes into your mind when you hear the word Yoga?

Well, if you think of women in seemingly impossible poses, then you may have an inkling of what Yoga is. But that’s just it – an inkling. You’ve got a long way to go before fully understanding Yoga.

Ancient Yogis had a belief that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, he has to integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. For these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be in balance. The Yogis formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance and it is done through exercise, breathing, and meditation.

What Is Yoga?

The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline.

The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment).

Today most people practicing yoga are engaged in the third limb, asana, which is a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation.

“Meditation is not a way of making the mind quiet.  It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there – buried under the 50,000 the average person thinks every day.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Yoga in your life:

You may ask, “Is Yoga for me?”

Definitely, yes! Yoga is for anyone who is willing to learn. It does not actually require any special equipment or clothing. What it requires is your will to have a healthier, stress-free self.

You may first approach Yoga as a way to achieve a great body or to keep fit and that is perfectly alright. Yoga really does help in improving your health for stretching, can tone your muscles, and exercise your spine and your entire skeletal system.

Yoga encourages you to reflect on yourself and to find inner peace. It exercises not just your body but your mind as well. With a healthy body and mind, you’re on your way to a more fulfilling life.

“A mind free from all disturbances is yoga.” ~ Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

I’m Not Flexible—Can I Do Yoga?

Yes! In fact, you are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that’s a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play golf in order to take golf lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible.

This new found agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being.

What Do I Need to Begin?

All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your willingness to participate, your openness to explore, and your desire to question what you have defined as your limits.

A session with me looks like:

Private sessions are tailored to the client’s needs and desired goals.  During a private session, I can help you deepen your practice, gain confidence, answer questions and provide guidance.

For new students
As a new student, you may be intimidated by the public classroom environment. Private sessions allow for 1:1, personal, guided attention in a safe environment. This will help to make sure you are getting off to an appropriate start with your yoga practice by learning the foundational aspects of yoga.

For more experienced students
Experienced students benefit from private sessions as well. You are able to have exposure to a deeper insight into specific postures or categories of postures that interest you. Private yoga sessions are the perfect learning environment. I can help you with posture alignment, modifications and can help you develop a balanced home practice. Private yoga classes can also give the experienced student time to learn about yoga philosophy or other aspects of interest, such as meditation and breathing practices.