Today, I went to Chris Muchow’s Anusara-Inspired yoga class at 9am at Kindness Yoga in Denver.
There are so many things I love about Chris’s classes that it’s hard to focus on just a few. Ironically, focus is one of Chris’s greatest gifts as a teacher. His ability to hone in on a pointed theme, coupled with precise alignment, makes every class an incredible learning experience.
Chris’s yoga class today focused on meeting your edge with compassion. His physical focus on arm balances carried this theme perfectly since so many of us face our edge when we surf gravity on our mats. As always, Chris added another layer of depth to this theme by honing our attention on firing up our calves to bring more extension and stability to challenging arm balances like Astavakrasana and Tittibhasana.
Every pose Chris chooses in his classes reveals profound insights about optimal alignment. Furthermore, each cue he uses invites us into a more nuanced and elegant understanding of the poses. Somehow, Chris maintains this steady attention to the details of our alignment, while also integrating the heart of his theme succinctly and sweetly.
When I leave Chris’s yoga class, I literally feel the teachings integrated into my body. My muscles and bones absorb the teachings not only of the alignment, but of the heart. The fire in my calves hugs my shins in a compassionate embrace and supports my journey towards my edges, my challenges, my fears. This is the magic of Chris Muchow’s class: weaving the asanas through the body, straight into the heart.
How has precise alignment in a yoga class brought you closer to your heart?
What do you love about Chris Muchow’s classes?
