This Week ~ Chest and Shoulder Openers

Through all the hunching over gifts and wrapping, chests and shoulders can become collapsed and tight, so this week, after the holidays, let's open up those chests and shoulders. Also, during the winter season and the snow lately, we often walk around unconsciously tightening up the upper body to keep warm, so during this practice, we will bring back elasticity to the upper body through chest and shoulder openers and strengtheners. Feel free to offer up suggestions prior to class.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday! See you tomorrow!

This Week - Wringing the New Year Through Twisting Poses

For this week, the focus is on the center, the core, the foundation. Although a general focus on the full body, several poses will involve some twisting and turning, so if anyone is pregnant, I highly advise to either let me know in advance or skip the class. I apologize to discriminate, but twisting poses are to be avoided by mommies to be, and although most classes only offer a few twisting poses, this week's class will have a greater focus on twisting. However, if you have been practicing yoga for a while now, and know to avoid twisting poses by modifying them, then please let me know in advance so that I am aware.

I look forward to seeing you! Let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or pose suggestions in advance. See you then!!!

This Week - Remaining Balanced Through the Holidays

It's that time of year where it's all about giving, giving, and more giving. It's about time we become a little selfish and give back to ourselves. Tomorrow's class will focused on bringing back balance within our lives through what else... balancing poses.

The first portion of the class will be a cardio sequence similar to last week, and balancing poses will be sprinkled throughout . Any particular balancing poses you would like to see, feel free to drop a comment or send me an email.

Let's be selfish tomorrow! See you then! Bring your energy...

12/05 Week: Can't Get Enough of Handstands?

Due to popular demand, we will work on handstands again this week. Although handstands will be the pivotal pose, majority of the class will be focused on a vinyasa practice incorporating full body poses in cardio, strength, and flexibility elements. The sequence will be completely different from the last three weeks to keep it interest, but I will try my best to dedicate sufficient time to work on handstands and variations of them.

If you are interested in working on any poses for upcoming classes, please don't hesitate to let me know either during class or via email.

Thanks for your dedication to yoga and sharing the experience with me! It's great to see the same faces every week.

This Week - Preppin' for Handstand ... to be continued

To continue with our practice last week, we will resume with the same sequence and work up towards a handstand modification. Last week, everything was introduced and fairly new so some time was dedicated to learning the pose. This week, as we become more familiar with the poses, I have decided to keep the same sequence and allow us a chance to work towards a handstand, and perhaps even the full handstand.

As some of you may already know, handstands are not easy and requires immense balance and focus as well as upper-body and shoulder strength. Even more, it requires courage and confidence, because some of us are ready for the pose, but the one last element necessary to full achieve it is confidence.

During this practice, let's focus on the poses we found most challenging last week and work on those, while building confidence for the handstand.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions.

Wednesday Yoga (11/7) ~ Preparing for Handstands

So this commences a new practice after a 4-week long program. After a request, we will work on progressing into a handstand, but during this class, we will focus more on the modifications and poses that work up towards the full handstand. A full handstand is a rather advanced pose and requires a very steady, dedicated practice for numerous years before the pose can be mastered. Therefore, this practice will give you a sense of what the full handstand is all about, and when ready, we can work up towards a full handstand someday.

As for handstands, there is a great focus on the shoulders and arm strength, so during this class, we will focus on building upper body strength, but also balance our practice out by incorporating the lower half into the practice.

Depending on your reactions to a consistent practice for several weeks, we may stick with the same sequence for another week to review our progress. Feedback is key, so let me know what your thoughts are on maintaining a consistent sequence for a few weeks...

Any questions prior to class, please let me know. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Enjoy your day!

Wednesday Yoga (10/10) ~ Making Room for Development and Improvement

In order to see progression, development, and improvement in one's practice, the best way to see this is to remain consistent and dedicated in the practice. By request, the next few weeks will be focused on the same exact sequences in order for you to see progression and variation in your practice. Some days, you may notice crow pose comes easily while other days not so much. In yoga, although patience and dedication in practice offers positive results, there are days that imbalance can be prevalent.

So for these next four weeks, let's take notice of the variations in the mind and body, and of course, also take notice of the developments within the poses. What I hope to accomplish at the end of these four weeks is that each one of you will see an improvement or an attainment of a pose. So let's keep the minds open to accept where we are, but know that there is always room for improvement if not in the next four weeks, then in our lives...

See you tomorrow! Comments or suggestions prior to tomorrow's class is encouraged, because once the format/sequence is set, you're stuck with it for the next four weeks!