Archive for the ‘Vital Yoga’ Category

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Claire Evans

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Yesterday, I took Claire Evans’ 12pm Anusara Inspired yoga class at Vital Yoga in the Highlands.

What struck me most about Claire and her teaching was her incredible sweetness. Every word she spoke was delivered with a genuine love and reverence for the practice. The tenderness of her dharma talk reinforced the sacredness of the practice.

Beyond her voice, Claire extended a heartfelt sweetness to her students. Whether though a gentle adjustment, an encouraging word, or a beaming smile, Claire made every student feel at home and held. Her love for the practice shone through her enthusiasm for the subtleties of each pose. Claire’s teaching reveals how closely and how dearly she holds her yoga to her heart.

As we softened into Savasana, Claire serenaded us with some music. The music played through a wooden flute, but the music I heard was not that of an instrument; it was the song of Claire’s heart.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Claire Evans, Denver Yoga Classes, Vital Yoga | No Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Desi Springer

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Yesterday, I went to Desi Springer’s 8am Anusara Inspired Vinyasa class at Vital Yoga in the Highlands.

Desi is a beloved teacher in the Denver yoga community and having taken her class, I understand why. Desi’s graciousness welcomes each student to the practice from their own unique starting point.

As soon as Desi began her class, she asked us to gather in close in the large studio space. Then, she brought us in even closer with the honesty and humility of her dharma talk. By speaking to us so candidly and freely, Desi illustrated that everyone in the class would be embraced as they are – even Desi herself.

Desi’s clear focus on alignment challenged us to explore each pose fully. Sometimes, when a teacher’s alignment focus is so keen, students can feel as if they can never get the pose “just right”, that something always needs to be improved upon. But, Desi made a powerful point of celebrating the victories of every student in class. A student who integrated one subtle alignment cue received the same loving acknowledgment as a student who held Handstand in the middle of the room.

Through her honesty and her encouragement, Desi makes every student feel accepted and honored in their practice. Each person leaves reminded of their own brightness. Desi holds a mirror up to the light inside every one of her students.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Denver Yoga Classes, Desi Springer, Uncategorized, Vital Yoga | No Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Jennifer Lux

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Today I took Jennifer Lux‘s 11:30 WAY Power Yoga class at Vital Yoga in the Highlands.

Jennifer is a dear friend and colleague of mine and I’ve wanted to experience her teaching for a long time. I was delighted to see that all the qualities I admire in Jennifer shine through in her yoga class.

Jennifer is thoughtful, poised, and unwaveringly sweet – and so is her teaching. Jennifer’s thoughtfulness reveals itself in her clear and purposeful sequencing. Each pose was a pointed progression towards our apex pose, Parsva Bakasana (Side Crow). When we reached Parsva Bakasana, we were absolutely ready.

Jennifer’s poise communicates itself to her students as well. She instructs her class from a center of grace and calm that imbues itself on every practitioner. Under the steady, clear guidance of Jennifer’s voice, each of us moved from a place of assurance in our practice.

The sweetness of Jennifer’s teaching is the icing on the cake. From the moment a student walks in the door, to the moment they leave, Jennifer makes each person feel welcome and embraced. Her bright smile and warmth – in the studio and beyond – instill a confidence in her students. They leave feeling poised and self-assured. Is there a more precious gift of this practice?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Jennifer Lux, Vital Yoga | No Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Scott Anderson

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Yesterday I went to Scott Anderson’s 10am WAY Cardio class at Vital Yoga in the Highlands.

Scott’s yoga class rocks. Literally.

After a grounding moment in seated meditation and a few simple warm ups, Scott led us to the top of our mats and turned up the music – loud and jammin’. Right then, I knew I was going to have a kick-asana time.

Throughout the entire class, Scott’s voice and his music directly mirrored and supported what we were doing on our mats. Whether in sun salutations or a series of squats, the beat pumping through the speakers perfectly matched the beat of our bodies pulsing through the poses. Even our pauses matched the breath between songs. Each song melded so perfectly into the posture of the moment that we seemed to conjure the playlist out of our bodies.

The conjuring was Scott’s alone. The organic perfection of Scott’s class was no accident. He crafted it – beat by beat, pose by pose. When a teacher puts such tremendous care and detail into the planning of a class, I feel more supported, more enthusiastic, and more alive in my practice. That level of precision amps me up. He masterfully melded a scientific attention to sequencing with a sweet playlist and an empowering message, all the while cultivating an atmosphere of full-on fun.

For all it’s precision, Scott’s class still felt like a party. When class ended, everyone left slowly. We lingered – as if leaving a party we didn’t want to end.

If you’ve had the pleasure of taking Scott’s class, leave a comment!

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Denver Yoga Classes, Scott Anderson, Uncategorized, Vital Yoga | 2 Comments »