Yoga at Cambridge Health Associates ~ Classes now thru March 29 ~
2 classes every Monday thru March 29:
6:00-7:30 pm for ongoing students or those with yoga experience and 7:45-9:15 pm for beginners and anyone wishing for a slower-paced, gentler yoga 1 class every Wednesday thru March 24: 6:30-8:00 pm for advanced beginners Cost:
$75 for any 6 classes ($12.50/class) within the semester. Switch around all you like - if you sign up for Mondays and miss one, go to a Wed class. Or you may want to take 2 classes in the same week. Fine! If you have lost your job and are actively looking for another, classes for you are $10 - you may need yoga now more than ever! Classes: All classes start with a relaxing restorative pose - a few minutes to lie down, change gears, get centered. Then plenty of warm-ups and the yoga itself; all classes end with a delicious lying-down, inch-by-inch relaxation. Each class has a different theme. Some classes focus on opening a particular body part like shoulders or lower back or hips; others focus on a theme like yoga for allergies or yoga for insomnia or yoga to bolster your immune system. The possibilities are endless! And I do take requests :) I like to keep the classes varied and fun. Plus once a semester, Linda Carmichael, a highly-experienced Alexander Technique teacher comes to our classes to do her gentle, hands-on aligning as we do the yoga. Heavenly! Where: Cambridge Health Associates, 335 Broadway between Prospect & Inman streets; free parking lot in back. Directions: Short walk from Central Sq T (Red Line) or Inman Sq. From Central Sq walk or drive up Prospect St, turn left at 3rd light onto Broadway; we're the 4th building on the right. From Inman Sq take Inman St, left on Broadway, we're the 3rd bldg on left. There's a bus from Kendall and Harvard Squares. More info at www.CambridgeHealthAssociates.com or bclyon@rcn.com. Why take yoga at a studio when you could take it at your health club? If you have never experienced yoga at a studio, I urge you to try it. At my studio classes are small and you get personal attention. I actually teach the yoga, which may sound obvious, but at many health clubs the "teacher" just calls out the names of the poses - up dog, down dog, Warrior I, Warrior II, etc. - in quick succession. Students are expected to catch on by watching other students rather than being taught proper foot position, tilt of pelvis, position of arms, shoulders, neck, head, and so on. In my studio I walk around and help adjust your postures, explain what body parts are affected by the poses, help you actually feel the breath in your body, feel the effects of different movements, feel your muscles relax or lengthen or get stronger. It's quite an experience. I also demonstrate easier alternate poses if you need them, or suggest that you just take a rest until the next pose. It's a no-pressure environment. I am hoping that my yoga classes help bring your body, head and heart closer together. Many gyms offer vinyasa flow or power yoga; these are certainly good exercise (so long as you don't damage your joints, especially your shoulders), but they are basically the same set of moves each week, sometimes over and over, with no focus on breath or state of mind. At my studio the class has a different focus each week; I think of it as an exploration and invite you to join us! Mixed-level classes taught in Kripalu style; classes are varied, interesting and somewhat experimental and may include Kundalini-style breathing, Iyengar approach to poses, immune system bolstering, Gamma technique, foot massage with balls, even, occasionally, a bit of belly dancing for hip opening. Yoga can help you reconnect with your energy, bring every cell and muscle back to life, lift your heart! A yoga class gives you time to be with yourself every week -- observing, learning something new, feeling your body get stronger, squeezing out tense muscles, calming down . . . and experiencing the simplicity and relief of just being the "essential you" for an hour and a half. I hope you'll be able to carve out some yoga class time for yourself this semester -- join us any time! * * * * * * * * * I have been the yoga teacher at Cambridge Health Associates (and elsewhere) for 14 years. Please click about the classes to learn more about me and the style of yoga I teach. I hope to see you in class!
-Barbara Lyon
What students are saying: "Good Morning Barbara, Just a quick note! LJ & I were talking this morning (again) about the classes you teach and how much we enjoy them. I cannot thank you enough. It may not look like I, in particular, am that limber but to me the milestones have been enormous. I really do enjoy it. We both feel it's something we do for ourselves. Sometimes we may not feel like going because we're tired, but once we're there, we're on!! Also, I love the quotes that you read. Could you e-mail me the one from last week? Have a wonderful day and take good care of yourself! See you on Monday evening. CC (and of course, LJ)" Lisa * * * * * * * * * A yoga party could be a real blast -- I'd be happy to help you plan it. We could do a serene, relaxing session or an energizing one, or focus on a topic like yoga for beauty (acupressure face massage, lymphatic massage), or balancing all 7 chakras. Use your imagination! How about a yoga party for a: Bridal shower? Birthday party? Anniversary? Reunion with schoolmates? Know someone who's turning 30? 40? 50? 60? I am also available for private yoga lessons. Please call me at 617 393-1835 or email bclyon@rcn.com. More info at www.CambridgeHealthAssociates.com. Copyright © 2010 Barbara Lyon, Come to Yoga. All Rights Reserved.
(no classes Presidents Day, Feb 15)
LOOK LIKE SNOW? email bclyon@rcn.com or call 617 448-3124 that afternoon to find out if class is on or not.
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Mon 2/1 and Wed 2/3: "13 Poses to Relieve Tension" based on a Yoga Journal article of the same name. In addition, we'll add in lots of other releasing yoga and breathing exercises and some long, deeply-relaxing restoratives. Ahhhhhh. Couldn't you use some tension relief this week?
Schedule
Drop-in $15. You are welcome to join us as a drop-in at any class, even if you're not signed up for the semester.
"Class today was great! I am amazed at how you continue to come up with these wonderful classes week after week. Thank you, Barbara."
Kathy
"I really enjoy your teaching and your style. When I tell people about your class I boast that I can even take my glasses off and still follow you (I'm blind as a bat). I especially like the twists and stretches. The other thing I really appreciate is that you get us working hard but you ease us into it in such a way that isn't stressful, and you always build in time to catch our breath after the challenging poses. It's such a nice addition to my life - it's grounding – and I miss it when I miss class. Just thought it's about time I told you!"
