Yoga

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If your doctor has recommended yoga to you to improve your health and well-being and/or if you have thought about yoga as a way to bring more regular movement into your self-care practice, some questions that might have come up for you are:

  • Where do I start?
  • Am I flexible enough?
  • Will I be able to keep up with the class?
  • What if I don’t feel comfortable in a group setting?

You might have even purchased some yoga DVDs or checked out some YouTube videos and tried it out at home, yet you might be still wondering to yourself whether you are doing it ‘right’ or not.

Don’t worry, you are not alone.

There are actually many options out there to choose from and pros and cons to consider for each as you begin to explore starting a yoga practice. A prescription for yoga is not a one-size-fits-all approach as each of us is unique, with different body types, beliefs, strengths, and limitations supporting the need for a more individualized focus.

One main consideration as you contemplate options is to decide where you will feel safe and comfortable to explore different and, possibly new ways of breathing and moving. The next important factor to consider is who you might want to work with to take this journey of exploration. It is again vital that you feel safe and comfortable with the person you will work with and it might require some time to shop around to meet several yoga teachers before determining which one feels like a good fit for you. As far as characteristics of a yoga teacher to think about, knowledge of all aspects of yoga and teaching experience are important elements in the equation. In addition, you might want to ask about the style of yoga being offered to determine if the practice is more focused on a philosophy of less is more, such as with a beginner’s, gentle, therapeutic, and/or restorative class, or if the focus is on a more active, energizing practice, such as an intermediate, vinyasa and/or power flow class.

I have been teaching yoga for over 10 years and my yoga teaching experience spans guiding public studio yoga classes, private and corporate client (individual and group) sessions, in-home, on- and off-site with classes designed according to the needs, interests, and goals of the class. I am a Senior Yoga Teacher Trainer for the Huntington Beach-Irvine School of Cloud Nine Yoga offering an in-depth yoga study with basic teacher training certification for yoga students interested in deepening their personal yoga practice and/or wanting to become a yoga teacher.  In addition, I am certified as a LifeForce Yoga® for Mood Management (Level 1) and trauma-informed yoga teacher.