| ffff |
Throughout our adult life,
yoga has been the source of our stability –
always there, always reliable.
~ Pujari & Abhilasha,
The Last Resort Retreat Center, Utah
|
|
Laura is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and has taught yoga since 2000. She has reduced her yoga teaching schedule to one class a week:
High Desert Yoga, North Valley Studio
Wednesday, Level I
5:30-7:00 p.m.
1835 Candelaria NW, Albuquerque
$15
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out Gloria Drayer's Yoga Classes in Albuquerque and
her Retreats in Peru, Patagonia, and Costa Rica!
Gloria Drayer's Yoga Teaching Schedule
www.yogasimpleandsacred.com
Mondays, 10:00-11:15 & 12:00-1:00
Los Altos Church, 11900 Haines Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112-4513
$13, mixed level
Tuesdays, 5:30-6:45 pm
Rio Grande Presbyterian Church, 600 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121-1420
$13, mixed level
Thursdays, 5:30-6:45 pm
1st Congregational Church, 2801 Lomas Blvd NE (at Girard Blvd NE) Albuquerque, NM 87106
$13, mixed level
Fridays, 10:00-11:15
Los Altos Church, 11900 Haines Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112-4513
$13, mixed level
www.yogasimpleandsacred.com
What is Yoga?
The word yoga classically implies spiritual practices that bring us closer to God. However, in this setting I will be discussing one facet of yoga, that being yoga-asana, or physical poses for improving the overall health of the heart, mind, body, and spirit.
Yoga is good medicine. A well rounded yoga practice will tone all the major systems of the body including the cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, digestive, and nervous systems. It was developed thousands of years ago as a tension releasing activity, and has withstood the tests of time. If you're looking for an established means to reduce stress and enhance your health, try yoga.
There are many different ways to practice yoga. Yoga can be a vigorous and sweat-inducing activity where the body expresses completely with no part left untouched. Or, it can be a moderate yet empowering activity involving breath awareness combined with gentle movement, perhaps done while seated in a chair. Many who run, bike, or swim supplement these activities with a yoga practice to increase their range of motion and overall flexibility. You can use yoga to heat yourself up, cool yourself down, or to bring balance to your other sports.
Yoga it is best learned directly from a yoga teacher. If there are no classes available in your area, the second best choice is learning from a yoga book written by a yoga teacher, or purchasing a respected video or two. Look for classes in your area. You can usually count on receiving quality instruction from teachers at a yoga studio, but also look into gyms, health clubs, and universities. Ask around about different teachers, as each teacher has his or her own style. It is important that you find a teacher with whom you feel safe, welcome, and comfortable. See Laura's Home Page for the classes she currently offers.
Find out what level of practice is appropriate for you. If you are moderately active, start with a level I class. Yoga I classes usually focus on foundational poses that create postural alignment, strength, and flexibility. Higher level classes may focus on inversions such as handstand and headstand, as well as the more pretzel like poses such as bound lotus pose (Baddha Padmasana). Learn about the level of intensity of the class before you take it. If you have been inactive for a while, look into a basic yoga, gentle yoga, or restorative yoga class. If you are over 65 consider searching for senior yoga classes. Also, for those with weight challenges, one can sometimes find yoga for “Buddha bodies."
Namaste is the word used at the end of a yoga class. In India when it is used as a way of saying hello and goodbye. Namaste, supposedly defined by Mahatma Gandhi, means: "I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides; I honor the place within you of love, of light, of truth, of peace; I honor the place within you, where, when you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us."
Yoga is for everyone. A yoga practice can be individually tailored for anyone, at any age, and at any level of fitness. Today, college students, seniors, as well as professional athletes do yoga. It builds strength, increases our range of motion, and improves our overall health. It allows the mind to move easily into quietude and meditation. Try it and see.
Click here to view a
30 Minute Yoga Self-Practice Guideline
based on Laura's yoga classes in Albuquerque.
Go to the home page for more info. on Laura's teaching schedule.
Laura Wright teaches yoga in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
She is a nationally registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance.
Learn about Laura's book,
Quiet Mind, Open Heart: Finding Inner Peace through Reflection, Journaling, and Meditation
www.reflectivejournaling.com
Go to the home page for info. on the yoga classes Laura teaches.
Back to top
Laura Wright Yoga Meditation
Albuquerque New Mexico USA
www.lwrightnm.com
|
