Posts Tagged ‘Denver yoga classes’
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Today I took Janet Casson’s Flow and Restore yoga class at Root Yoga.
Janet is a born teacher. The authenticity of her teaching reflects this truth. Some teachers struggle to find their voices, or try on the voices of teachers they admire. Not Janet. Janet sits comfortably in the power of her own voice and offers her unique expression as a teacher with clarity and poise.
Janet’s clarity and authenticity imbue her class with an atmosphere of ease. Bolstered by her confident, genuine instruction, Janet’s students unfurl. They let down their guard and practice from a place of self-awareness and honoring. Guided by Janet’s example, each student discovers the in-the-moment needs of her body and responds accordingly.
Leaving Janet’s class, I felt settled in the present of my body and my breath. I felt easeful, unguarded, and true. What more could I possibly want?
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Janet Casson, Root Yoga Center | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Today I took Lauren Turnage’s 9 – 10:30 Forrest Yoga class at Root Yoga.
What I love about Lauren’s teaching is her complete poise and attentiveness. Every sentence, every instruction she gives, she offers with a confidence that earns her students’ trust. Lauren teaches with an assurance that speaks to the depth of her knowledge. Lauren has fully dedicated herself to her studies in Forrest Yoga and it shows: her teaching reflects both her studentship and her wisdom. Her poise is the kind that can only be gained from years of focused study and a grounded sense of self.
Lauren’s poise is complemented by her attentiveness. From the way she guides us through the yoga poses, to the adjustments she gives each student, Lauren invests herself completely in her students. She watches each student with a careful eye and offers the exact instruction or adjustment each person needs to experience the poses fully. Lauren holds each student in her focus and, as a result, they unfurl. They practice with a strength and assurance that comes from trusting in their teacher. That trust has the power to unlock incredible expansion in a student’s practice.
At the end of this week, Lauren will be taking some time off to spend with her newborn son! But, when she’s back, unroll your mat with her as soon as you can. No doubt, her poise, her attentiveness and her grace will be more powerful than ever.
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Lauren Turnage, Root Yoga Center | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Yesterday, I took Tina Porter’s 9:30am emPOWERment yoga class at Kindness Yoga S. Broadway.
In a word, Tina’s great gift as a teacher is her honesty. Every aspect of her presence and her teaching conveys total authenticity and in-the-moment awareness.
Tina constantly draws her students back to their breath. What aspect of our selves could be more honest than the quality of our inhale and our exhale? Tina invites her students to discover this truth within their bodies. In every pose, she focuses on instructing the breath with each movement. Not a single inhale or exhale goes unobserved. The moment the breath of the class falters, Tina is there, reminding us, “Where is your breath?” By attending to our breath, Tina highlights what is real and true within each of us.
Beyond her focus on the breath, Tina herself conveys a refreshingly raw honesty in her words and actions. She never holds back what lives in the center of her heart. She speaks her truth. That kind of authenticity takes tremendous courage. But, the benefits are apparent: in the strength of her character, in the power of her teaching, and in the mindfulness and strength she kindles in each and every one of her students.
The honesty of Tina’s teaching is a gift. Treasure it the next time you unroll your mat with her.
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Kindness Yoga, Tina Porter, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Yesterday I went to Root Yoga and took the 12- 1 Turbo Dog class with April Glaser (who was subbing for Cher Aslor).
April is incredibly present with her students. She guides her class with a thoughtfulness that speaks to how much she cares for each person in the room. When she began class, April started by asking if we had any requests. She made it clear from the very first moment on our mats that she was there to support our exploration of the breath inside our bodies.
Her consistent focus on the breath invited us to explore each pose with a meditative mind. April ensured we stayed true and present to our breath, reminding us to breathe when the sound of our breath diminished. She was fully aware and focused on each inhale and exhale in our poses.
Even April’s touch conveys her complete attentiveness to her students. Her hands are at once soft and firm. Her adjustments begin gently, inviting trust and ease. Then, her hands become stronger, encouraging a deeper level of release. Her hands move like water, ebbing and flowing with the breath. April’s touch speaks to the care and attentiveness she brings to her students.
I’ve known April for quite some time, but only yesterday did I finally get to enjoy one of her classes. April’s classes, like April herself, are filled with clarity, awareness, and a heartfelt presence. It is such a joy to discover that the beauty inside a person reflects itself in every aspect of their teaching. Thank you, April, for offering your unique beauty into your class.
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in April Glaser, By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Root Yoga Center | No Comments »
Monday, October 31st, 2011
On Friday, I took Nikki Gallant’s 5pm Anusara Inspired class at Samadhi Center for Yoga.
The things I love most about Nikki as a person are the things I love most about her as a teacher: her genuineness, her humility, and her authenticity.
One of Nikki’s gifts is her completely down-to-earth honesty. Nikki’s teaching reflects this gift. When she instructs a student into a challenging pose, she acknowledges the challenge. She speaks to her students as if she was right there on the mat with them, working through the same poses. Her approachability sets her students completely at ease and frees them to explore new depths in their poses.
Nikki’s authenticity shines through her teaching. No artifice, no show, no showing-off obscures her message. She speaks directly from the heart and from her own experience. This humility, this honesty lights up Nikki’s classroom and, in turn, opens the hearts of each and every one of her students.
Thank you, Nikki, for being so completely, so awesomely you!
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Nikki Gallant, Samadhi Center for Yoga | No Comments »
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: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Claire Evans, Denver Yoga Classes, Vital Yoga | No Comments »
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: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Denver Yoga Classes, Desi Springer, Uncategorized, Vital Yoga | No Comments »
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: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Jennifer Lux, Vital Yoga | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Today I took a Gentle Vinyasa Flow class at Samadhi Center for Yoga with Jenna Handloff, formerly Jenna Melbye – congrats on your recent nuptials, Jenna!
In every class I’ve taken with her, Jenna imbues a sense of ease and comfort into the practice. Her laid-back, down-to-earth nature fills the room with an invitation to practice at your own level – nevermind what the person next to you is doing. Jenna makes yoga approachable.
This may seem like a simple order, but it isn’t. Often, new practitioners unroll their mats with a sense of trepidation or anxiety. “Will I be able to do this?” “Am I going to make a fool out of myself?” It may take a teacher weeks to allay these types of first-time jitters in a student; but, Jenna does this instantly. The moment she walks in the room, her attitude clearly conveys that everyone is doing great, there’s nothing to worry about, and we’re all here to enjoy ourselves. Just roll out your mat, take a deep breath, and enjoy your own ride.
Much love to you, Jenna, for your sweetness, your ease and your lightness of heart! Namaste.
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, samadhi center for yoga, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Denver Yoga Classes, Jenna Melbye Handloff, Samadhi Center for Yoga | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
Today I took Drew Overholser’s 12 – 1 Flow class at Samadhi Center for Yoga.
In an hour long yoga class, I often feel rushed. I tend to see the time as limited and hurry myself into a more vigorous practice. Drew’s yoga class urged me to slow down, pace myself and enjoy.
Drew began class with numerous gentle poses to ease us into the practice. Slowly and surely, he built the momentum in our bodies to move to more challenging poses like a series of planks and side planks, and a few pointed Warrior Threes. Throughout the practice, both Drew’s tone and his sequence of poses invited us to enjoy our practice from a calm and steady center. His consistent reminders to focus on Ujjayi breathing guided me towards the breath as the nexus of ease and release in the poses.
Drew’s class was easeful and refreshing. I left feeling invigorated, clear, and centered – ready to step back into the world from a place of steadiness and calm.
If you’ve taken class with Drew, please share a comment on what you enjoy about his classes!
Tags: Denver, Denver yoga, Denver yoga classes, Denver yoga teachers, yoga classes Denver, yoga classes in Denver, yoga Denver, yoga teachers in Denver
Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, By Denver Yoga Teacher, Denver Yoga Classes, Drew Overholser, Samadhi Center for Yoga | No Comments »
