Yvonne Martin, RYT-500
If there is anything I have learned over time, it is to SLOW DOWN. Slow down my body...my movements...my breathing...my thoughts. It’s not to say that I’m never racing around. I am only human. But the difference now is that I take the time to pause - to breathe deeply, to be mindful, and to be more conscious of my thoughts. All that said, it is no accident that I have come to this place in my life. It is my yoga practice and studies that have transformed the way I think, breathe, and move.
Rewind to 2008 and my 1st yoga class in a church gymnasium somewhere in North Syracuse. Truth be told, I only showed up because a dear friend asked me to come. Being the ever faithful friend, I agreed and thought: “well, at the very least, this might get my body some much needed exercise.”
What I discovered that day with my friend and during the years that followed turned out to be bigger than that. I noticed immediately that those all too familiar daily aches and pains of my aging body now only showed up whenever I skipped practice. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that yoga affected more than my physical body. It gave me a general feeling of mental ease and well being. So I continued off and on, and then practiced more and more. I explored different yoga styles with many teachers, all of whom joyfully shared their unique methods and wisdom. Emphasis on “joyfully” – I noticed this was a constant in all of the yoga classes where I landed. As I deepened my practice, I became inspired to want to share and give back of this experience which has brought me so many benefits. It just seemed right to get the training that would prepare me to share my knowledge of yoga in a safe, credible, and methodical yet creative way. So with my family’s loving encouragement, off to school I went.
I trained at the Kripalu School of Yoga in Stockbridge, MA – a rigorous and immersive program, where I received the support and compassion that instilled in me a solid foundation and the ease to go out and teach what I love. And this is what I offer to my students: the safe, joyful, and mindful experience that is Kripalu yoga. In my classes, you will find a supportive environment where you can feel relaxed and comfortable. Kripalu Yoga places its emphasis on compassionate self-acceptance, observing the activity of the mind without judgment, and invites you to take what is learned from class into your daily life. Begin my classes with a soothing meditation and some breathing exercises, followed by a gentle warm-up that will prepare you for a sequence of accessible Yoga poses. De-stress and release tension as breath is combined with movement throughout class. End with a guided relaxation that will allow you to receive the benefits of your practice. Feel your body’s peaceful connection to your inner self and to the universe around you.
Rewind to 2008 and my 1st yoga class in a church gymnasium somewhere in North Syracuse. Truth be told, I only showed up because a dear friend asked me to come. Being the ever faithful friend, I agreed and thought: “well, at the very least, this might get my body some much needed exercise.”
What I discovered that day with my friend and during the years that followed turned out to be bigger than that. I noticed immediately that those all too familiar daily aches and pains of my aging body now only showed up whenever I skipped practice. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that yoga affected more than my physical body. It gave me a general feeling of mental ease and well being. So I continued off and on, and then practiced more and more. I explored different yoga styles with many teachers, all of whom joyfully shared their unique methods and wisdom. Emphasis on “joyfully” – I noticed this was a constant in all of the yoga classes where I landed. As I deepened my practice, I became inspired to want to share and give back of this experience which has brought me so many benefits. It just seemed right to get the training that would prepare me to share my knowledge of yoga in a safe, credible, and methodical yet creative way. So with my family’s loving encouragement, off to school I went.
I trained at the Kripalu School of Yoga in Stockbridge, MA – a rigorous and immersive program, where I received the support and compassion that instilled in me a solid foundation and the ease to go out and teach what I love. And this is what I offer to my students: the safe, joyful, and mindful experience that is Kripalu yoga. In my classes, you will find a supportive environment where you can feel relaxed and comfortable. Kripalu Yoga places its emphasis on compassionate self-acceptance, observing the activity of the mind without judgment, and invites you to take what is learned from class into your daily life. Begin my classes with a soothing meditation and some breathing exercises, followed by a gentle warm-up that will prepare you for a sequence of accessible Yoga poses. De-stress and release tension as breath is combined with movement throughout class. End with a guided relaxation that will allow you to receive the benefits of your practice. Feel your body’s peaceful connection to your inner self and to the universe around you.