What can you expect from participating in the upcoming Ida Ripley Master classes, posture clinic and advanced class?

 

You could be a first time student or long time veteran, all are welcome to join in the fun!

Ida is a very energized and experienced yogini who will inspire you to dig deeper into your Bikram yoga practice!

The 2 master classes offered Friday @ 6pm and Saturday @ 4 pm will run a little over the 90 min mark.  Ida will point out additions of depth, understanding, and observe you and offer suggestions that you will find invaluable to your practice!  Sometimes all you need is to hear it from a different voice and ta dah!  You will discover something in yourself you didn't know was always there:)  Because we live in a bit of a prairie island, we don't get as many opportunities to have travelling teachers or senior teachers, take advantage of this wonderful and fun opportunity!

Ida's posture clinic will run 4 hours in the hot room (not heated!)  You may bring a snack, some juice or extra water to keep in the room with you so you keep energy up for the class following!  Ida will go through all 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises and be available to help anyone with anything they think they need.  You will learn from Ida, but will also learn tons from hearing what other people are asking...You know how in class you think of a great question and by the end you''ve forgotten?  This is an amazing chance to evolve your mind and body in the hot room!!!  And I must say it's super fun!

The advanced class will be demonstrated and explained for a couple of hours.  It is open and welcome to anyone who is interested in seeing, hearing, and trying the postures.  There are 84 more postures to someday learn in the Bikram yoga series, this is a rare opportunity to see and feel what it is all about!  If you want, you can just watch! 

Students must sign up separately from their memberships at the front desk, space is limited and already half full...look below or check the posters at the studio for all the details!

An event you don't want to miss!!!

Any other questions or concerns please email Amanda or ask the staff info@staffordstreethotyoga.com

SEE YOU THERE!

I have high blood pressure, surely hot yoga will aggravate it? No! It will heal it!

Many people immediately write hot yoga off if they have high or low blood pressure, however, it is the first improvement you will feel and see! 

It has been documented that 2 weeks of regular Bikram hot yoga practice will have an incredible effect on your arteries and heart.  The gentle compression and extension movements you do in class will tone and strenghthen your entire circulatory sysytem, heart, arteries and veins.  Go ahead and set up near the door at first, if your blood pressure is extremely high, let us know, (we are here to help!)  We will likely tell you to do only one set of each posture as you get aclimatized to the heat and detoxify, this also goes for people with extremely low blood pressure.  With consistent practice, inevitably you will receive the healing you need, you may even lower medication over time with your doctor's guidance!  Can you believe it?  A way to heal your condition!!!

Here is the info direct from Bikram's Website...bikramyoga.com

Unstable high blood pressure responds so quickly to diligent Yoga practice that doctors sometimes doubt their instruments. (This quick response of the blood pressure is one of the most telling demonstrations of Yoga's ability to regulate and synchronize body systems.) If you are tested about a week after starting Yoga, you may see a slight rise in pressure. Don't be alarmed. By the second week, that pressure will be normal or close to normal and will stay there as long as you maintain your yoga regimen.

Consult your doctor, use common sense, and don't push hard in any of the poses the first three days. The poses in which high blood pressure patients must continue to exercise caution until their blood pressure checks out normally are these: the backward bending portion of Half Moon, the Standing Bow Pulling, Balancing Stick, Cobra, the third part of Locust, Full Locust and the Camel.

Depending on the severity of your condition, the above should be done for a count of no more than five at first, building to ten counts only after two weeks. If you are supple enough to do the Fixed Firm fully the first few days, limit that to five counts as well. Be absolutely sure to rest between each set. It is also essential for heart patients to breathe normally during the postures. As for the Bow Pose, (on the floor) a beginner with high blood pressure must never perform the pose without a qualified teacher present.

It is because these backward bending positions create pressure in the chest, and so on the heart, that high blood pressure patients must use caution. Do not eliminate them though--with the exception of Bow Pose. They are the very friends you need to control your ailment.

Yes, you have heard the news...our beloved massage therapist and friend Christy Mader is moving out West.  She is, however, having a potluck party for those of us who want to say goodbye!   Everybody is welcome, so come on down!

The potluck is happening on Sunday, April 17th, between 5:30 and 7:30, at 64 Middlegate.  Bring any dish you want, vegetarian or not, but please, NO PEANUTS! (Kai is allergic, and so he thanks you!)  Stop by for a bit, stop by for a bite, stop by and wish her the very best.

A little update about the times for the Sunday class structure - Ida says there will be time to do the Advanced Seminar after the 10:30am class.  To keep more class options open for all of our members and Spring Fever challengers, the 10:30am class will be on, and treated as the warmup.  Members not participating in the Advanced series are welcome to come, however you might want to call ahead and make sure there is room, as priority will be given to those who are attending the seminar.

All info is updated, and contained in a recent blog below (click here).

Thanks!

There are 2 main events that see class schedule changes this month:

 1) Easter Weekend Hours

Good Friday, April 22nd:  10:00am and 5:00pm classes only.

Saturday, April 23rd:  8:30am, 10:30am, and 4:00pm classes only.

Sunday, April 24th:  10:30am and 3:00pm classes only.

Monday, April 25th:  6:00am class is cancelled (all other classes as usual).

 2) Ida Ripley Intensive Bikram Weekend

SSHY has the great pleasure of welcoming senior Bikram teacher Ida Ripley to our studio on the last weekend of April.  There is detailed information a few "blogs" below as to what is "going down," however this is a reminder of a few class changes to accomodate the workshops going on. 

Friday, April 29th:  Ida will be guest teaching the 6:00pm class (the master class).  The class is likely to go over the usual 90 minutes, although not by much.  Her fee will be a flat $20, taxes included, regardless of your membership here at SSHY.  It will be quite a class!

Saturday, April 30th: to accomodate the afternoon workshop, the only regular classes  available are the 8:30am class and the 6:00pm class.  However, there will be an Ida Ripley class at 3:30pm, a follow-up to her afternoon posture clinic, in which students taking the clinic will be given first priority for reservations (it is included in the clinic for them).  For non-clinic students, the class will also be $20, taxes in, regardless of membership.  If you are interested in the class only, please register to ensure a spot - drop-ins will be accepted only if space is available!

Sunday, May 1:  The 10:30 class will be as scheduled.  It is intended to be used as a warm-up  to accomodate the Advanced Series (again, details are a few blogs below), however there should be lots of room.  All other classes as per usual.