Yoga Yoga - Teacher of the Month

Lisa S.

Lisa's Classes

Sundays @ 4:30-5:45pm - Restorative Yoga

About Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga is a gentle yoga class which focuses on the restorative and renewing nature of yoga. It is a practice that is beneficial in our overstressed, over-scheduled, non-stop culture. In this gentle practice, you can leave the distractions and stresses of daily life and devote much needed time to restoring your own sense of well-being. This style of yoga uses soothing and well-supported poses to provide us the opportunity to linger quietly for a few moments and savor the peace within us. We use props consisting of blankets, bolsters and blocks to support the postures which gently stretch the body, increase flexibility and reduce muscle tension. Staying in poses for longer periods of time allows gravity to create the releases and openings for the body without the effort of "doing".

About Lisa

I began practicing yoga as a way to ease tension, chronic hip pain and constant headaches. I enjoyed the benefits of focusing on body, breath, and mind. I left yoga class feeling great, and discovered an added bonus: it was the perfect anecdote to the stress of teaching junior high kids! So the yoga studio became my sanctuary and I was hooked.

Philosophy

By nurturing our own bodies with movement and the breath, we can bring more loving energy into our lives and the world. The essence of yoga practice is learning to breathe completely and properly. Breath awareness helps us in all aspects of our lives, it helps us keep our emotions in balance is the most important thing we can do to reduce everyday stress. It allows us to slow down our heart rate, calm the mind and relax tense muscles. Breath awareness leads to inner awareness, when the breath is free, the mind is free.

Why I love Yoga

I love yoga because it is good for me, inside and out. It teaches patience, concentration and awareness. All yoga offers great therapeutic value in its practice, and there is no judgment in yoga, wherever you're at is okay. Plus, you are required to rest at the end of each class (how great is that!) Restorative yoga, in particular, offers a time and place for stillness and helps to "reboot" the nervous system. It helps reduce effects of mental, physical and emotional stress - it is the truly transforming path to a calm mind and nervous system. It tones, strengthens and stretches all of the major muscle groups in the body, particularly those around the spine which contribute to good spinal health.

Favorite Quote

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."
~ Confucius

Favorite Pose

Mountain Brook Pose is my favorite restorative pose. In Mountain Brook Pose, your body cascades over the props like a stream flowing over the stones in a mountain brook. This pose opens the throat, the heart, and the belly. It helps to counteract the effects of too much sitting, improves digestion, reduces fatigue and headaches.