Margie Parrish, YA 500-Hr Certified Yoga Instructor

Come join us and do yoga! A regular yoga practice will help improve your balance and posture; teach you how to breathe more efficiently, stretch, and strengthen your body; and help you relax and chill out. If you are into tennis, pickleball, golf, or softball, yoga will improve your game. Most professional athletes do yoga to sharpen their concentration and keep their body agile and strong. Seniors who are moderately fit can do most poses, which include modifications to stay safe. Don’t worry—you won’t have to stand on your head!

A yoga practice helps us feel good in our body, and the added bonus is that it helps us cultivate a positive state of mind.

Whether you’re new to yoga or need to restart your yoga practice, come join Yin/Yang Yoga Flow every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and Yoga for Healthy Aging every Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Sun Lakes Cottonwood Palo Verde Fitness Center, 25219 S. EJ Robson Blvd.

We usually start the hour with mindful breathing, a gentle warm-up, and a mix of active and static poses to energize our bodies, with an emphasis on strengthening the core and low back. The last half hour is devoted to balance poses and deep stretches in a prone position. There are some pose sequences where you get up and down from the mat, but you can rest anytime.

You will need to bring a yoga mat and keep in mind that yoga is best done in your bare feet. This helps ground you and strengthens your feet for stability and balance. If you like props, there are blocks, blankets, and straps available in the room. The drop-in rate is $5 per class.

My mantra for class is, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

During the busy fall and winter months, it’s best to sign up online or call the Sun Lakes CWPV Fitness Center front desk at 480-895-1776. Sun Lakes Phase 1 and IronOaks residents are welcome!

For more information, contact Margie at 602-930-8102 or [email protected].