Aspen Club and Spa

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.

Anne Byard’s Yoga classes include a balanced blend of Yin (pleasant, passive long-held floor poses to access the binding “yin” connective tissues at the level of the joints), mindful Slow-flow movements to build inner-heat, strength, and fine-tuned alignment, an assortment of Iyengar-style hatha-yoga poses (with and without props, wall support, etc) to build precision and mindfulness, and an ever-changing number of “restorative” (prop-supported deep, passive poses to restore mind-body energy as well as to gently open hips, knees, spine, chest, low back).  Each class features a different routine and has a yogic-theme based on the core principles of Yoga as a means to create inner-joy regardless of life’s circumstances.  Gentle adjustments, pranayama breathing, deep guided relaxation and meditation are included.  Classes are suitable for all levels.

Anne Byard has been teaching yoga for 36 years in Aspen and in Marin County, Ca., and has trained and studied in India and the US since 1968.  Her classes reflect her dedication and devotion to all aspects of Yoga as a way of life as well as a physical art.