Here you go babe- all the details you want & more you probably don't!
this particular form of yoga is known as iyengar. but i didn't choose this class for the type- rather i choose for the convenience of the location. (it's right downtown flagler- two-miles from home). & i didn't even know what form of yoga i was even practicing until after the class was over when i asked for a weekly schedule. ha. & then i had to wait til aidan went down for a nap this afternoon to even look look up what iyengar is. sooo... according to wikipedia this form of yoga is known for it's use of props to aid with postures. which makes sense because we used styrofoam blocks & mexican blankets & of course our mats. i liked this little tidbit: "Unlike more experiential approaches where students are encouraged to independently "find their way" to the asanas (postures) by imitating the teacher, an Iyengar Yoga class is highly verbal and precise, with misalignments and errors actively corrected." soo basically- this class was made for me because i need LOTS of help. lol. anyway there are more interesting facts about it on wikipedia.com if you want to look it up=)
i was amazed at how weak my muscles have become. holding many of the postures made me just shake. & being a former gymnast (altho i was never hardcore- i was in super good shape at one point in my life) -it's just crazy how tight you get- like you've never tried to touch your toes in your whole life. that's something else i really like about yoga- that it requires discipline & consistency which would hopefully carry to all other parts of my life.
just the setting alone was calming. it was in what looked like an old classroom with timeworn dark wood floors that creaked. & heavy deep red curtains were drawn over multi-paned windows with paint that was peeling. the soft glow of white candle light dancing with the wind coming thru a cracked window. & of course the music you'd expect in a yoga class mixed with the scent of rosemary oil teasing your nose. truly an atmosphere where you crave deep breathing & a clear mind.
anyway- hoping to go again- tue & thur nights fit into my schedule- even tho i found out these are intermediate classes-it made me feel a smidge better at my insufficiency.
i really feel like with regularity that i could strengthen myself from the inside out & maybe even know a calmer mind. it's worth a try anyway.
hah. Ah wh-hoooo I didn't know my requests would get such instant fulfillment! ;) Thanks for the explanation. The first semester of College, the first theology class I had to take had a section that taught about some of the different Yogas(since it is a buddhist religious practice)...and just recently Sarah was talking about going to Bikram yoga which is a very very SLOW yoga that is done in a room heated to 90-100, and focuses on concentration.
ReplyDeleteANYWAY. I'm intrigued. I will be interested to know how it goes if you get to keep going...usually with those classes it takes a couple times to get the hang of it and you start to feel a little better about it.
LOVED your illustration of the room :) Rosemary..did you know that has a reputation for improving memory? I just read that in a magazine the other day :).