Yoga provides an opportunity to let go of everyday life, and
listen to the body. We can prevent illness and injury and
change habits with the inner awareness yoga helps us find.
Sam Dworkis, author of Recovery Yoga, believes "an
appropriate yoga practice is all about...enhancing benefits
while reducing liability." The student simply "needs to
begin the process of moving toward union or balance of
flexibility, strength, and endurance."
Yoga brings our awareness into the present moment, so that
the past and future do not apply. Yoga allows us to pay
attention to "what is", which is "how you feel right now".
Kripalu style of Hatha yoga is concerned with the inner
experience of the posture work. Attention is paid to proper
alignment in poses through the "press point theory" in which
the yoga student presses against a surface to bring the body
into the best alignment of its skeletal structure. The
student first practices willfully being in the pose, and
then practices surrendering in the pose. Yoga becomes a
meditation in motion. |
Why did I begin practicing yoga? I was recovering from childbirth and wanted to get my body back into better physical condition. I tried aerobics and couldn’t keep up with the pace. I stumbled upon a yoga class and something caught my attention. I started practicing yoga with a friend/teacher in Roanoke and then started teaching when she left town. I found I could do my day job in social work, but teaching yoga at night fulfilled me. I looked forward to each class and sharing my love of yoga with people who were also interested in their own fulfillment and growth.
How did The Yoga Center begin? I was teaching all around town, and found I wanted one place that was dedicated to yoga. I opened The Yoga Center in 1998 so the yoga energy could be in a central place. I feel like that has really happened now in Grandin Village. I choose teachers who are certified as yoga instructors, registered with the Yoga Alliance and are willing to invite students into the experience of yoga.
What have I discovered from yoga? I used to be stressed, and today, physical tension leaves my body as I practice yoga. I used to be impatient… okay, so I still am… but certainly less so due to my yoga practice. With yogic breathing my mind is more calm and I can relax and wait. I’m self-employed, which creates some stress and anxiety and makes me continue to think about the future. With yoga practice in my life I can pause and truly endeavor to appreciate each moment and enjoy living now. I broke my ankle and used yoga to rehabilitate it, to regain strength as well as flexibility. I have found myself stronger and more able to use my calm inner voice, finding the Warrior within. I find I can hold myself up, in a yoga pose, as well as in my life, through practicing yoga.
Yoga has changed my life. Yoga has become my life. I want to share what I learn. I want to continue to grow and change and evolve. Yoga is my way. It grounds me and centers me, so I can talk to a group, teaching others about yoga. Practicing yoga reminds me to seek moderation and balance in all areas of my life. Welcome to The Yoga Center, where you too can change your life. Come change, grow, move and evolve in your body, mind and spirit with us. |
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Classes We Offer
We offer drop-in classes and 8 week series of basic yoga classes such as Yoga Foundations for Beginners, Yoga 1 and Yin Yoga, as well as classes in special interest areas, such as Restorative Yoga and Breathing & Meditation.
We offer classes for all levels of
students as well as private sessions.
The usual styles of yoga offered are Kripalu, alignment - based Yoga and Yin. We host special events with visiting
teachers in different styles of yoga, such as Anusara and
Jivamukti Yoga.
For more information about class descriptions and our class schedule, visit the Our Classes page.
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