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New Iyengar Yoga Series

By Trishka!

Beginning January 21st

Mondays 5:10p-6:30p Restorative Class

Wednesdays 5:10-6:30p Advanced Class:

(only for advanced practitioners of Iyengar Yoga)

5 week series: with the first 4 weeks

focusing on Asana and week 5 focusing

on Pranayama.

Cost:

Member- $175 for series or $35 per class

Non-member- $225 for series or $45 per class

Sign up at Front Desk or call 925.8900!

Or

Join us every Tuesday from 9:10a-10:30a to

learn more about Iyengar Yoga!

*Unlimited class space. Drop-in fees apply. Discounts available

By Alice Lesch Kelly

When my mom called, I couldn’t get home fast enough: My father had liver cancer, and doctors believed he was dying. Overnight I morphed into someone else. Normally energetic and optimistic, I found myself holed up in my bedroom alone, devastated at the thought of losing him. Even when he began chemotherapy and it looked like he might recover, I still couldn’t shake my sadness. I started seeing a therapist, but crying to him felt so useless, and I wasn’t ready to try medication.

When a co-worker who was an avid yoga fan suggested that taking a class would lift my spirits, I was skeptical. I didn’t see how an hour of stretching and breathing could make me feel less depressed, but she confided to me that yoga had helped her through a rough time and persuaded me to try it.

Walking into that first session, I felt nervous. But as I got into the routine, I was struck by how it cleared my head and reduced my anxiety. After 10 rounds of sun salutations and countless other poses, I felt empowered and accomplished. I started going to classes twice a week.

Yoga gave me something to look forward to when nothing else could drag me from my apartment. Soon I started waking up happy and grateful, the way I used to. (My dad’s health was improving too. After chemotherapy and a liver transplant, he has made a full recovery.) And over time I became physically and mentally stronger, which helped me feel that no matter what happened I wouldn’t fall apart again.

Ultimately yoga led me to make a major career change: Inspired by how physical therapy helped my father, I left my marketing job to start studying occupational therapy. And I became a certified yoga instructor so I could incorporate its teachings into my clients’ sessions. As a required part of certification, I taught classes at a wellness center for cancer patients and their families. A woman told me that one of the warrior poses made her truly feel like a survivor. I couldn’t have agreed with her more.

Hatha Yoga

Concentrates on physical postures and breathing techniques with an emphasis on structure and awareness. Perfect for beginners to yoga. We now are offering classes outside on the new fitness deck.

Chris Rogers a yoga instructor visiting Aspen this summer is holding a 2 week yoga workshop on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Aspen Club and Spa. Starting this Wednesday.

The Workshop consist of 6 classes over the course of 2 weeks. Each class
builds on the previous class. Over the course of the 6 classes you will
learn approximately 26 postures.
1. Yoga Etiquette and Yoga History
2.The Physical Practice Asana (Postures)

a) We will teach you the medical benefits of each posture b) Correct Alignment
c) Most common misalignments
d) Modifications
3. Pranayama (Breath) - you will learn 2 different breathing techniques
4. Possibly the 8 Limb Path of Yoga
5. There will also be the opportunity to ask lots of questions

Call Sarah Mickschl at 925-8900 ext 204 if you would like to be a part of this workshop.

“There is much more than I could not possibly list hear. You will leave the
course with a clear understanding of yoga and a good foundation to practice
yoga anywhere. You should also check out the website of the studio that I
currently work at www.empoweredyoga.com,” Chris Rogers

It is only recently that the practice of Yoga has become widely accepted as a form of exercise in today’s mainstream population. More and more Yoga studios have popped up and gyms and spas have added regular classes to their schedules. This is good news! As I’ve mentioned countless times, the benefits of Yoga are many. Reducing stress, meditating, stretching and cleansing-all these things are important. Another huge plus with adding Yoga to your routine is increased flexibility and range of motion-here is where you guys come in. The human male, by nature, is less flexible than us gals, and there’s no argument they are more muscular in build. Many men feel afraid they cannot participate in Yoga because they aren’t flexible enough. I beg to differ! Flexibility comes with time, and we all start somewhere-the only way to limber up and loosen those muscles is with practice. With each breath and stretch, each time going a little deeper-you will begin to see results! Where you may not have been able to hang in a forward fold, someday your hands will touch the ground. In more and more classes I attend and/or teach, the participants are men, and they are loving it. They say it helps them relax, get a workout, AND increase their flexibility, which enhances their other favorite sports like golf and running. So gentlemen, don’t be shy, drop into your gym soon and try a Yoga class. You’ll be glad you did.

Let’s face it, there are times we just cannot get to the gym at the time we would like, it interferes with our workday or we have a meeting. Did you know you can practice yoga or stretching in an office setting? Think of it as your own private session. Closing the door for 10 minutes of your day can really make a difference, dedicating this time to relax, de-stress and take a break. Resting the eyes from the computer screen, doing a few neck and wrist rolls, and releasing tension in the shoulders are all good ideas. Many offices are now bringing fitness to the office by offering “on site” yoga or other exercises subsidized by the company. Many companies who offer and promote wellness classes can get insurance discounts.  Stepping out for a brisk walk on your lunch hour is also a great idea. It is absolutely imperative we take this time for ourselves, in this busy crazy world. While the gym and spa is still the ideal place to get in a workout and feel great, remember that you can still “refresh and renew” and keep in mental shape during your workday with alternative methods.

Do you ever stop and think about your breath? Probably not. As we go throughout our days and our busy lives, our breath comes and goes naturally.  Ponder this thought-have you ever been scared, or anxious? The breath will become short and quick. This is a reaction to a situation.  When we exercise, our breath speeds up as does our heartrate. At night, our breath becomes slower as the body prepares to wind down.  Studies have shown we use only a small capacity of what our body’s main breath muscle, the diaphragm, can do.  Taking deep breaths is very healing for the body. The saying “take a deep breath” has a lot of meaning to it.  Pranayama is the word for mindful breathing in Yoga.  It is the practice of really listening to the breath, filling up from the bottom all the way to the top, inhaling and exhaling deeply, affecting energy all over the body. With mindful breath, we are regulating our very complex systems in the body. Try taking a few deep breaths at any time during the day and feeling the experience. Closing the eyes might help you turn your focus inward and allow you to just be. Practicing mindful breathing is a wonderful thing, I invite you to give it a go, for better mind and body health.