My classes are Power Yoga, a flow (aka Vinyasa) style developed by Bryan Kest, whose personal assistant I was for a year and a half.
Power Yoga is one of the most physically intense forms of yoga - of any exercise, really - that I have ever practiced. There is no question that you will get a good work out...you will get your heart beating a little bit faster and you will get at least a little bit sweaty. You will also be a little challenged, for sure. And as long as you keep coming back to your mat, you will get stronger, leaner, more flexible, and more balanced. Ultimately, you will become more connected to and comfortable in your own body.
But these physical benefits are merely peripheral benefits. Yoga works on infinite levels. The deeper you get into your practice, the more you will become aware of who you are, the more beauty you will see in life, and the more gratitude and compassion you will feel in your heart. This is where the true practice begins...when you really tune into yourself (and Big Mind), when you pause to breathe a little bit more deeply, and when you give yourself a few moments in your busy life to just slow down.
If you decide to come and take class with me, here's what you can expect: We'll flow through a series of sun salutations and standing poses (oh, and let's not forget sprinklings of child's pose when your body asks for it!) for the first hour, playing with and challenging our strength, stamina, and balance, building as much internal heat as we can. Then we'll take the remaining half-hour to use that heat to open our bodies and release some tension (physical and otherwise). Through it all, we will breathe deeply, work on our focus and awareness, move some energy around, and try to quiet our monkey minds as we find our flow together. In short, we'll just play on our mats and see where we end up, because really- you're just on your mat to breathe and be present anyway.
My classes are suitable for all levels. You'll be fine if it's your first class; you'll be challenged if it's your 100th class. You'll yoga to your own degree, working hard if you'd like, taking it easy if you'd like. I encourage you to be open about and creative within your practice. Let it be your personal practice, even as you move within the energy of the group. No two people are created the same, and as such, no two people are meant to look the same in a pose. The poses are designed to be experienced and felt from the inside out. You aren't meant to move with the same speed as your fellow yogi, you aren't meant to go as deep as he does, you aren't meant to do everything she does. Some people will never get their heels on the floor in Down Dog because of the way their ankle bones are structured...so you can bet that some - most - people will never get their ankle behind their head. Your yoga practice is not a race or a competition or a showcase of your skills. It's where you practice that which you would like to embody and exude from moment to moment, both on and off your mat.
Forget how open your hamstrings are or aren't. Forget how open your hips are or aren't. All you need is an open mind. No worries about anything else.
Please feel free to email me with any questions. Looking forward to meeting you, whether in this lifetime or the next!
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Be yoga- Leah.
