Chair Yoga & Yoga for Older Adults

We're gearing up for our next session of Chair Yoga (starting April 9). This class is so much fun to teach - I love the social atmosphere, the "let's try something new" attitude and the awesome approach to a healthy lifestyle this group demonstrates.

Included in this group of Chair Yogis is my 85-year-old grandfather. He’s been missing his yoga so much since the Fall session that just last week he came to the studio for a private class. We practiced meditation and relaxation techniques, did supported asana (poses) and finished with a deep relaxation.

For many people, the idea of Chair Yoga or Yoga for Older Adults is pretty foreign. So I thought I'd offer an overview here...

This class is for anyone who wants to practice yoga but has limited mobility. Often this applies to older adults but it can also be great for people with conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, regardless of age. During the class we use chairs as supportive props (using them to sit on or for support in some standing poses). The class begins with a relaxation to calm the mind and body. We practice breath techniques that enhance lung capacity and quality of breathing and then move into the physical asana practice. We tone and stretch the entire body using traditional yoga postures. My favorite in the series is Warrior 2, a strong pose that's wonderful for body and spirit!

This class is excellent for anyone who wants to improve their strength, flexibility and balance. It's also an excellent opportunity to socialize with like-minded people. Most of the people in our last session were new to yoga when they started, but by the end they were sold on the extensive benefits of the practice!

If you or someone you know could benefit from this gentle class please call or email us to register!

And just as a little encouragement, here's a few photos of the yoga "supergran", yoga teacher Betty Calman (age 83). But don't worry, none of these postures are pre-requisites for the class!





Image credit

What a wonderful reminder that yoga is something we can practice our whole lives :)

Namaste
Meaghan

Studio Tour

This will be old news for our regular yogis, but for those of you who have heard of us by email, phone, Facebook, Blogger, etc., etc., (yeah, so, we talk about the studio a lot!) but have never been to visit, here's a little studio tour.

This space was created by our wonderful design and reno team made up of friends and family. It was built by our parents, partners, siblings and friends. We take no credit!

p.s. Photos by the amazingly talented carter.fitzgerald photography

p.p.s Special thanks to the guys at HOME on Water St. for rescuing us in a moment (or two) of studio design despair!

The Prop Corner - outfitted with Halfmoon yoga props. We love this Vancouver company, they keep our bums supported in Sukasana and our bodies warm in Savasana.

Ahhh, the floor, the enviro-friendly paint, the pretty French doors. Ommmmm.

Bright light and a hand-built wooden bench for your pre-class, magazine-reading pleasure.

The change room and an up-close look at our selection of yoga mats.

One long studio shot. This is where all the yoga action happens.

One thing missing in this tour is a shot of the bathroom. Sounds unnecessary, right? Maybe not - I've heard that the Studio has received at least one nomination for Best Bathroom in the Scope's annual Best of St. John's contest. Not too shabby! Maybe we'll get an honorable mention! :)

Thanks for taking the tour! Looking forward to the time when we can show you around in person.

Om shanti
Meaghan

Kids Yoga

Today we put together a plan for our first session of Kids Yoga classes. Soon we'll have lots of little yogis and yoginis jumping, playing and of course, acting like animals in aptly named yoga asanas. We're so excited about the level of energy this class will bring into the studio!

Curious to know more about the fun combination of kids and yoga, I did a quick online search for interesting info and came across a good article from Yoga Journal.

The author and well-known kids yoga instructor, Marsha Wenig writes:

"The physical movements introduce kids to yoga's true meaning: union, expression, and honor for oneself and one's part in the delicate web of life".

And isn't this true for all of us? Kids or adults, we use physical yoga asanas (poses) to move towards a better understanding of our place in the world.

More to follow on this as we get the classes started. Can't wait to report on all the little cobras, dogs and lions we have running around the studio!

For details on this class contact us: info@shaktiyogastudio.ca

Namaste,
Meaghan