Sheila Axtman

Hopefully, by the time you are reading this article, the Cottonwood Palo Verde Fitness Center will be open. Guidelines for the number of people and distancing will be in place. We will be in the large room. We will be able to have 21 people, and I don’t think we will go over that number at this time of the year.

All classes will be drop-in classes (no advance registration). Check in at the front desk and pay me in the room. Class fee is still $5. All residents of Cottonwood, Palo Verde, Oakwood, Ironwood, and Sun Lakes Country Club are welcome to attend the yoga classes. When the classes start to get larger, Cottonwood Palo Verde residents will be given priority. All guests and visitors are welcome with a resident or with a guest pass.

What is Vinyasa Yoga? Vinyasa Yoga is moving through a series of poses (asana) synchronizing your movement with your breath. Poses are linked together with a series of poses called Sun Salutations. This series of poses moves your body from standing, to the floor, to forward folding, and a slight back bend. Moving in this manner can improve your proprioception. Proprioception is joint position sense. This involves an individual’s ability to perceive the position of a joint without the aid of vision, in other words, knowing where your body is in space. Think of this in reference to the things you do every day, fun things like golf, tennis, pickleball, walking, running, biking, and hiking, etc. Improved proprioception can be very helpful in regaining your balance if you start to fall, or perhaps preventing you from getting off balance at all.

Vinyasa Yoga will help you gain strength, balance, and flexibility by stretching tight muscles and improving proprioception. It helps you feel young and gives you a sense of wellbeing. And you will meet some nice people.

Both Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will offer modifications so everyone can benefit from their practice, and everyone can explore their limits. However, Tuesday’s classes will be less challenging then Thursday’s. We will move slower, and I will offer more modifications whereas Thursday’s classes may move a bit faster, and more challenging variations may be offered. Vinyasa Yoga is not suitable for students who have never done yoga before. However, if you are fit and healthy, Tuesday’s class may be a good fit for you.

Class Schedule: 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Cottonwood Palo Verde Fitness Center.

Class Fee is $5 per class. There are blankets, blocks, and straps in the room. If you have a mat, bring it. We have only a few mats.

I can be reached at 480-264-9951, Yoga Alliance registered RYT200.