By Melanie Kallas Ricklefs
If you’re like most people, you probably made some New Year’s resolutions to start fresh in 2015. Maybe you’re sticking to your resolutions, or maybe they’re already a distant memory. Now that the year is underway and life has settled into its familiar groove, why not treat yourself to a life changing practice that can enhance your physical and mental health? I’m talking about yoga.
Yoga can provide a myriad of physical benefits including increased flexibility and muscle strength, improved posture and balance, and decreased muscle tension. It can also decrease blood pressure, protect your spine and joints, and strengthen your bones. Add to these benefits the mental clarity, focus, and peace of mind associated with a consistent yoga practice, and it almost seems too good to be true. Fortunately, it’s not. All of these benefits and more await you in our local yoga studios.
There is an almost indescribable feeling, a vibe, so to speak, that is evoked when entering a yoga studio. The atmosphere of a dedicated yoga space is tranquil, and has a meditative quality that allows you to leave the distractions of daily life behind and occupy the present moment. Many studios have calming yet subtle scents, soothing sounds, and visually stunning artwork. Some have live plants to contribute to feelings of well-being and connection to ourselves and nature. Some are simply clear spaces, intentionally unadorned to allow you to free your mind of the mental clutter that accompanies us throughout the day.
Whether you are new to yoga, or are ready to recommit to your yoga practice, Olympia has a yoga studio to meet your needs. According to Yoga Loft owner Maureen Oar, “there are yoga practices to relax, to restore, and to enliven. The Yoga Loft offers yoga in many different forms, for beginning to advanced practitioners, so there is something for ‘every body.’” At Yoga Loft, you can find classes in gentle yoga, back care, therapeutic yoga, prenatal yoga, vinyasa, and power yoga. They also offer yoga intensives and teacher trainings. Each of the classes offered includes some meditation, which has been shown to improve immune system function, reduce stress, and ease pain for those suffering from chronic pain conditions.
There are many benefits to attending classes at a yoga studio. For one, you have the privilege of learning from a highly trained yoga instructor, who can guide you in learning proper alignment and breathing during your practice. All of the instructors at the Yoga Loft are certified and they continue to learn through trainings and classes to adapt and grow their practices. Another benefit to joining a yoga class is gathering with a group of people who share the same intention. The yoga community in Olympia can be found practicing in local studios, community centers, churches, athletic centers, and homes throughout the area.
If you want to try yoga, but feel some trepidation about going to a class, Maureen suggests taking a private lesson. A private lesson can help you ease into yoga and find any adjustments that you may need to incorporate into your practice. She adds that “everyone has a starting point and they are not the same from person to person.” Yoga is not a comparison and it is not performance art. It is a practice for health and wellness.
If you like a familiar routine and a warm environment, you might like to try a hot yoga class, also known as Bikram yoga, which is taught in a room that is heated to between 95 and 105 degrees. Bring a towel and get ready to sweat. Bikram yoga is a challenging 90-minute practice of 26 postures that are held for a certain amount of time with relaxation between each posture.
Hot Yoga Olympia offers daily Bikram yoga classes to practitioners of all levels. Anatole and Margot Losa have been teaching Bikram yoga classes in Olympia for 15 years and have developed a community of hot yoga practitioners. According to Anatole Losa, in a Bikram practice, the practitioner is “always evolving on a personal level.” While the class sequence is the same for everyone, each person will experience their own transformation over time. Bikram yoga is said to increase circulation and detoxify your body, while allowing you to safely stretch your warmed muscles.
The Yoga Loft is located at 219 Legion Way SW, Suite #202. Visit the Yoga Loft website to see class descriptions and upcoming special events.
Hot Yoga Olympia is located at 1963 4th Avenue East.
Other yoga studios to check out in Olympia are OlyYoga, which provides classes in classic Hatha Yoga, and The Bandha Room, which offers Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga classes.
