Noell Hyman
You might think yoga is just for the “bendy people.”
Or hippies.
But that’s just not so, and especially not in the case of this new team I teach with here at Sun Lakes. We’ve been running yoga classes all summer with the express goal of helping people maintain or get back their mobility, strength and sense of balance. The results from summer alone have been fantastic. We are getting feedback that our Sun Lakes yoga students are walking better, standing taller, moving faster and feeling stronger and more energized.
At varying times through the day and week we have three different styles of yoga, and within these styles the teachers vary in how they teach it. So come try a few different classes and see what best meets your needs. Here is a general idea of the three types…
Gentle Strengthening Yoga
This is an active but gentle class in which we start and end on the floor on mats. The middle portion of the class is standing with gentle, simple movements that help acquire better balance, strength, flexibility and improved mobility. This class requires getting up and down from the floor, although slowly and gently.
Often we use a chair as a prop to allow a pose to stretch us or twist our spines more deeply and to better explore balancing. If at times the teacher doesn’t incorporate a chair, you are encouraged to have one next to your mat to assist you in poses. Your teacher will help you know how if you’re unsure.
Mon and Fri – 2:00 p.m.; Wed – 11:00 a.m.; Sat and Sun – 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Sun at 3:00 p.m. is a faster, more intense version of this class.
Yoga With a Chair
In Yoga with a Chair we never use a yoga mat or get down on the floor. We sit through much or all of the class (depending on the teacher) and focus on moving our joints and spine. The class also helps with core strengthening. In the middle of some of these classes we do some standing poses for balance and strength with the chair or ballet bar assisting us.
Tues – 3:00 p.m., Wed – 10:00 a.m., Fri – 1:00 p.m.
Yin/Restorative
In this class we are on the floor on our mats the entire time in restful supported stretch poses. We do fewer poses that we hold for several minutes each. These gentle poses loosen the connective tissue of the joints to enhance greater mobility and movement. This is an especially relaxing type of yoga, particularly good at restoring nerve health and peace of mind. All yoga classes do this but Yin/Restorative focuses exclusively on it and does not include a strength/balance segment.
Mon and Fri – 9:00 a.m.
Sat – 9 a.m., 1st and 3rd only.
Classes: $5 in the Cottonwood Room A-6 (dance room).
Questions? Call/text Kary Sinkule (480) 861-3788. Email: [email protected]. v