Why Practice?
Yoga for Stress Relief
I don't need to go into great detail about current society. If you're here you've likely made your own discoveries about the way things are. I think we can agree: It can get very heavy. Yoga allows for a perceptive and physiological reset to seemingly lighten the load. Many regular practitioners decide to diet their minds as well as their bodies, limiting negative stimuli. Given time, many realize the adage of 'less is more' and live accordingly.
Yoga for Flexibility
Without a regular practice, the body tends to stiffen and eventually curl into something resembling the letter C. Correcting the effects of gravity, muscle-loss, and injuries over time can take some dedication and pain tolerance but many of us have realized some degree of pain will be coming for us either way: to what extent is often manageable.
I've lived an active lifestyle into my mid-thirties. I played football and other sports in high school. I started snowboarding as an adult, and have played softball and golf throughout my adulthood. I spent time hiking and trail-running in the Rockies. I went through a 12 week fire bootcamp before fighting fires for Rapid City. My body (and the rest of me) was beat up. Whether it was sciatica, the bone spur in my back, the dislocated shoulder I had, the hip pain I was experiencing in my joints, neck pain, ocular migraines, or the circulatory issues caused by Raynaud's, I continue to experience varying degrees of relief from my yoga practice. I noticed a direct correlation between the amount of relief I experienced and the frequency of this practice. I realized the inner-connectedness of the body through fascial tissue and the ability of the body to heal itself. I started taking a more proactive approach with aging and continue to realize the body's ability to communicate what it needs from me. I no longer live in constant pain.
Yoga for Strength
Functional strength building is available within your yoga practice. It wasn't until I started practicing yoga and developing a healthier eating habit that I started noticing definitive muscle tone. My physique has become less bulky (which is easier on my joints) and my strength has increased in functionality. I wake up feeling refreshed and I'm able to get out of my bed with ease. I have endurance throughout the day. I truly feel more spry now than I did in my 20's.
Yoga for... No Reason
Sometimes I think we get far too caught up in the mechanics of things: how, why, where, who... this and that... us and them... labeling and compartmentalizing every little thing. We think and think and think and think... carefully crafting every second of every day, driven by our competitive spirt and unquenchable thirst. Maybe we can take a long moment to not dwell on our goals. Maybe it's the constant striving which gives us high blood pressure. Maybe you can just enjoy yoga because it feels good in the moment. Maybe you just need some time to yourself in a quiet area... maybe it's that simple. There's no right or wrong way to do this. It's your practice...
Practice Your Way
Diagnostics
Troubleshooting the human condition is an ongoing process. This is a place you can come up for air.
Yoga
-Posture (asana)
-Pranayama (breath work)
-Vinyasa, Nidra, Hatha, Hot, Chair, Balance, Yin, etc.
Meditation
-Guided
-Fixed object
-Unguided (group)
-Other
Retreat
Make arrangements to immerse in the space for an extended period of time. Please book well in advance.
Other Voices
With an ocean of information and wisdom available to us, why not invite other voices to flavor the experience? I've collected a database of lectures and guided meditations from some of the masters. If you've got something in mind, please let me know in advance.
If you are another instructor and you would like to utilize this space to teach, please inquire. If you would like me to refer you to another instructor, please inquire.
Creative
Making stuff is fun and good for the soul.
-Painting
-Wood burning
-Drawing
-Writing
Group
If you'd like to bring your significant other, friends and family... maybe you want to bring your goat... arrangements can be made for parties up to six.
Field Trip
Whether you prefer practicing in the park, at your domicile, or next to a river somewhere, we can iron out the details to make something happen. Yoga won't be for only those who can make it to studio headquarters. Spontaneity is good for the soul and variety is the spice of life!
Taking Inventory
Where are we?
Western culture has made an impact on us, consciously and subconsciously. We're often caught in a race against time, yearning for something more, always feeling behind. Even when we obtain the coveted object (symbolizing our endless stream of desire), we're often riddled with tension, unable to truly enjoy the fruits of our labor. We're unable to fully let go of this need to chase. This racing, competitive spirit is at odds with our ability to fully realize the moment. We think, maybe this next thing will finally quench this thirst...
As Frank Herbert said: "The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
Yoga, as a practice of being in the world, seems to vibe with the side effects of American culture. It's active (and passive), it feels better mentally and physically, and it offers an opportunity to decompress from our daily grind. We take a moment to reconnect with the eternal now and administer some needed self care. We discover new ways to naturally create space within our own lives. We often find a heightened sense of focus and bask in the wonder of natural rejuvenation. There is a nourishing quality to a regular yoga practice which is all your own.
Maybe the best part is you don't have to take anyone's word for it: You can test it yourself.
The Thicket of Thought
Without care, our minds can become a jumbled mess of hypotheticals and memories, hopes and fears, dreams and paranoias, horrors and hallucinations.