Please see the News post for the month to see which classes are currently being offered and to register with your teacher.

About Yoga

Yoga is a science that benefits every system of the body. Yoga means the union of body, mind, and emotions. The breath is the bridge between the body and mind. Yoga Asanas (postures) improve the strength and flexibility of the body. Meditation calms the mind. Pranayama (breathing exercises) brings oxygen to every cell, rejuvenating, relaxing, and revitalizing the entire body. The practice of yoga encourages you to quietly reflect from within. The word Guru means Teacher. We teach that the Guru is within. All our answers are within. Slow down, breathe, and listen.

Yoga is a holistic way to unite body and mind for greater well-being and serenity.  It has been practiced for thousands of years to bring stillness to the mind and health and vitality to the body.  Yoga helps bring rebalancing to the nervous system.  “Yoga” means union, harmony,  and balance through regular practice that includes postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama), and meditation. 

Benefits of Yoga

For your body… increase your strength, enhance your flexibility, develop balance, feel refreshed, relaxed, and energized.

For your mind…enhance concentration,  expand your awareness, quiet restless thoughts

For your spirit...experience deep stillness, be in the present moment, practice self-acceptance, honor your inner wisdom.

Meet Our Yoga Instructors

Carla VanWormer has much light to share. She is the proud mother

of 4 daughters whom she shares with her supportive husband. 

 

For several years, Carla has embraced eastern philosophy on her journey of personal transformation.  As a middle-school counselor, she is both humbled and grateful to share the power of yoga and mindfulness with hundreds of students seeking calm amidst the tremendous pressures of growing up in today’s society. 

 

Carla has made a lifelong commitment to learning, practicing, and sharing yoga with schools, families, and friends She believes that yoga is beautiful and creates a magical calmness for those who develop a regular practice. She invites you to join her for a variety of classes as you embrace your personal journey through yoga.

 

Certified and Registered with the National Yoga Alliance: 200-hour RYT, 95-RCYT (Children’s Yoga), RPYT (pending completion of PreNatal requirements) Certified: Restorative Yoga, Chair Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Teen Yoga, Children’s yoga, Tone Sculpt Yoga, MBSR-T certification (mindfulness-based stress reduction for teens), and various other wellness-related certifications.

 

Carla is teaching Vinyasa Flow and Flow and Restore classes at the Center. 

 

She also teaches Beginner Yoga and Restorative Yoga classes.

 

Jeri Haldeman has taught yoga at KYWC for more than 10 years and is on our board of directors.

 

She says, “Yoga started off as a workout for me to keep my body toned, fit and flexible for my dance practice. Over time, I noticed that the mind becomes free, and I discovered the body/mind connection. Yoga awakened my senses.”

 

Jeri has been a yoga student and practitioner for 46 years and has led yoga classes since 1979. She studied and practiced different types of yoga including Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, Chair yoga, and Restorative yoga. Her own practice is often in the Ashtanga tradition, which has been a large part of her teacher training. Jeri’s study of yoga continues daily, helping her to deepen her understanding of her own practice, and in turn, she can give practice to others. 

 

Certification: E-RYT 200

 

Jeri teaches the Relax, Restore, Renew: Yoga for EveryBODY class at the Center. 

 

Jean Tabolt has enjoyed teaching yoga for nearly 10 years. Her vision is to bring health and wellness through the power of yoga to everyone she meets.

 

As a Certified Yoga Therapist, Jean brings many specialized services into her classes. With individuals and groups, she creates classes designed to alleviate various conditions including chronic pain, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and more. Jean teaches yoga and presents on health/wellness topics at local venues. She is passionate about yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, meditation, and serving the beautiful people living in and around the community.

 

Certifications: Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher with the National Yoga Alliance, Breath, Body, Mind Level II, Teacher. Certified Yoga Therapist

 

Jean teaches Chair Yoga and Beginner’s Yoga at the Center.

 

Yoga Classes

Please see the News post for the month to see which classes are currently being offered and to register with your teacher. You may attend one class or a series of classes. If you are “dropping in”, please contact the teacher beforehand to make sure space is available. Thank you!

We are happy to offer you the following yoga classes. 

Beginner’s Yoga

Yoga is not about touching your toes.  It’s about what you learn on the way down.

No yoga experience – perfect!

Limited yoga experience – perfect!

Seeking a balance between bodywork and relaxation – perfect!

Any body, any condition, any age – perfect!

This 10-week class is designed for you whether you are new to yoga or are looking to refine your practice with the fundamentals of yoga.  Together, we will learn and practice yoga techniques to promote healing and healthy alignment, relieve stress, and increase energy, awareness, and concentration.  In addition, by practicing asana, breathing, meditation, and mindfulness, we will experience increased strength, expanded mobility, and enhanced flexibility.  Today is the perfect day to give yourself the gift of yoga. 

Relax, Restore, Renew: Yoga for EveryBODY (All Levels)

Designed to reduce stress, build strength & balance, this is a good class for beginners and a solid foundation class for all levels. This class begins with gentle stretching and continues into a Vinyasa flow (smooth transitions between poses and the breath).  It finishes with Restorative yoga that melts away stress and tension. These are long-held, fully supported postures. You emerge rooted, radiant, and revitalized.

“You are as young as your spine is flexible.” —Lilias Folan

Flow and Restore (All levels)

This class is designed to cultivate mindfulness, integrate breath and movement, and help you achieve balance for the body and mind. Flow and Restore is a calming, yet stimulating yoga class with a mix of active flowing sequences and more passive restorative releases. Poses are held for a longer period of time, allowing students to find their edge and soften into restful relaxation. Pranayama and meditation are also woven into the class. Props are used as tools to facilitate body awareness and listen for its feedback. 

Props used: Bolsters, blocks, straps, and blankets. 

Vinyasa Flow Yoga (All levels)

Explore the foundational elements of Vinyasa. This approach is designed to help you safely practice the basics while building heat. You will gradually grow into each posture and explore modified versions of poses which allow you to experience alignment in each pose at an intuitive level.

In Vinyasa, or “flow” yoga, practitioners move smoothly from one pose directly into the next. Each movement is synchronized with the breath.

Chair Yoga (All levels)

Experience all the benefits of yoga with the assistance of a chair, including breath work, postures, meditation, and restorative elements. Most postures are done from a seated position with a few standing or lying down on a mat using the chair for balance. Chair yoga is good for everyone. It is especially good for individuals with physical limitations that make yoga practice difficult without having a chair for support. This practice improves strength, flexibility, mindfulness, and an overall sense of well-being. We all need to keep moving – this is a safe way to move and practice yoga.

What participants say:

“In chair yoga, I can do practically everything I did in regular yoga class over the years, even with my hip replacement. My body feels so much better when I attend class and practice my chair yoga.  We all work to our own ability.” -Sally age 79

“I am not a physically active person. Chair yoga truly works for me. It’s not strenuous but has helped my flexibility, even with my shoulder limitations. Barb does a wonderful job modifying the postures for each of our needs.” -Holly

Yoga Class Fees

• $15/drop-in per class and registering for 1-4 classes
• $65/5 classes with one teacher  
• $120/10 classes with one teacher
• $10 per class for students, first-responders, and military

Classes and events are canceled if there is no school at South Jeff due to weather and Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Disclaimer

Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health professional before starting or changing any exercise program or making a lifestyle change. This is particularly important if you are overweight, pregnant, nursing, regularly taking medications, or have any existing medical conditions. Do not delay seeking a diagnosis or any medical advice or treatments based on information contained on this Site or in any of the Materials available hereon. This Site is not intended to provide medical advice or make medical diagnoses.

Important Note:

Be sure to check with your healthcare insurance provider as Yoga classes may be reimbursable.

Gift Certificates

Yoga classes and workshops make great gifts. Gift certificates are available at the center or call 315-583-5500 to order.