Do you ever squeeze and stretch your muscles when you awaken, as do cats and dogs, exhilarating yourself with the feeling of stretch and energy flow? Yoga has a similar luscious feeling. The stretch comes from deep inside you and reverberates outward. You expand and open from the inside out. And, like morning wriggling, yoga also gently wakes you up. The more yoga you do, the more awake you will become, both literally and figuratively.

Many people start a yoga practice because it is an enjoyable form of exercise or cross training. Some use yoga to rehabilitate from injuries or chronic pain, or to rejuvenate after vigorous or stressful activities. For others, it is a moving meditation to quiet the mind. With consistent practice over time, you will begin to feel benefits on physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual levels. You may discover that your body/mind feels not only more strong and flexible, but also more “integrated.” You may become more aware of subtleties like the movement of energy, fascia, or fluids within your body. You may find you have more patience, tolerance, and resilience. You may find it easier to express feelings or to respond more calmly to stressful events. The increased awareness of self that yoga provides can enable you to trust your intuition more deeply, strengthen your confidence, discover your passions, and more fully engage. In this way, yoga starts to become a way of life.

The benefits of yoga
With regular practice students can expect to:

• Increase energy level and sleep more restfully
• Reduce back pain and other musculoskeletal pain
• Improve muscle tone and strength
• Increase flexibility and range of motion
• Reduce effects of aging
• Normalize body weight
• Improve concentration, memory, and focus
• Improve body awareness, posture, and balance
• Reduce risk of/accelerate recovery time from injuries
• Boost the immune system
• Improve mood, e.g., decrease anxiety, depression, and hostility

Numerous studies and articles illuminate yoga’s psycho-physiological benefits. For a few examples, please see:

Style of classes and teaching methodology
Style of classes and teaching methodology
RasaVinyasa. These classes combine the refinement of classical yoga postures with the grace and fluidity of vinyasa-style practice. Vinyasa yoga employs smooth breath and a flowing sequence of postures. The experience is that of a moving meditation. Her classes are challenging, yet careful. They build a strong foundation for a sound and stable practice. Care is given to accommodate students’ differing levels of experience and skill — by providing clear, detailed, accessible instruction and multiple pose variations. Classes typically include breathing practices and/or meditation. Marly teaches RasaVinyasa at studios, corporations, and schools, as well as in private groups. For more information on bringing yoga to your organization, please contact us.

Yin. Yin yoga uses postures that stretch the connective tissue of the joints and the spine, primarily the hips and lower back. As important as it is to our physical and mental well-being to be strong, it is not muscular strength that gives us the feeling of ease and lightness in the body, but rather the flexibility of the joints. It is joint problems — bad backs, knees, and ankles — that force athletes to retire and old people to shuffle around. Yin yoga postures are held for several minutes to gently stretch and rehabilitate the connective tissues that form our joints. (Unlike muscles, connective tissue is tough and fibrous and stretches best when pulled gently for longer periods.) This style of yoga is recommended for everyone, but particularly athletes and those who notice any stiffness in their spine, hips, or the joints of the legs.

Yoga for Athletes. These classes are geared toward the specific needs of sports competitors and enthusiasts. Marly offers a series of classes/workshops for groups such as triathlon clubs, cycling teams, or running groups. Include yoga as part of your training to balance muscle groups, improve range of motion, develop core strength and “integration,” improve lung capacity, rejuvenate after competition, and rehabilitate/prevent injuries. These classes incorporate techniques from vinyasa and yin yoga styles to accomplish a range of objectives, from an invigorating workout to a restorative practice. To inquire about a series for your organization, please contact us.

Yoga for Kids. These classes are intended to help 7- to 12-year olds improve self-awareness and mind-body fitness. Kids will learn energetic Sun Salutes, strong Warrior sequences, and playful poses from nature and life. They will develop strength, balance, and flexibility while learning how to breathe healthfully and how to relax through visualization. Marly has taught kids in schools, studios and after-school programs. To inquire about group classes for kids, please contact us.

Teen Yoga. Would you like to learn ways to relax and focus yourself during stressful times? Want to feel more empowered and energized? Want to have fun moving your body into new and sometimes challenging shapes? This yoga class designed for teens will help improve focus, awareness and mood as well as enable your body and mind to become more toned, flexible, and integrated. We will incorporate flowing movement and music for an invigorating workout, then deeply relax with meditation and visualization. Marly has taught teen classes at schools and after-school programs. To inquire about joining a teen class, please contact us.