Author: yogamod

Just took a great Gentle/Restorative Yoga class today with Kater Leatherman at Ridgely Retreat. Not sure how she does it, but just being in the same room with her has an incredibly relaxing effect. Today’s class was no exception.   Since she has a very dedicated following, there was a big turnout, but Kater effortlessly took the time to walk around helping people with  props (bolsters and yoga blankets) and made sure everyone was positioned well for the first pose.   Each class Kater teaches is a little different, but to me this class was especially restorative, both for mind and body. With a heavy emphasis on focusing on the breath, the entire class had a meditative effect on me, even when practicing the different supported poses.   By the time we arrived at the start of Shavasana (the final resting/meditative pose), I already felt as relaxed as I do at the END of many Shavasanas, so the class was a perfect one for me today, especially after a busy holiday weekend. As for the poses, they were gentle enough for any beginner/age range making extensive use of bolsters to make normally challenging poses very easy on the body.  To my surprise, even using the bolsters, I was able to open up many problem areas of my body which carried tension and do some excellent spinal twists.  All in...

Just took a new yoga class called Yoga for Strength at Shakti Studio.   The class was tought by Sue Schmitt (the owner of the studio).   It was a traditional yoga class, but with an emphasis on building strength and working individually with each student to improve alignment and form.   We used a combination of small weighted balls, yoga blankets and straps to support key areas of the body and better improve strength in different core areas. Since I have some past injuries, Sue was able to recommend a few small changes, which immediately eliminated the back and neck pain that I usually experience in a number of poses.   Pretty amazing for me, since I have been doing many of these poses on a regular basis, and now know a few small modifications, very unique to my body that eliminate the pain I was experiencing. All in all a great class, challenging throughout, but since it’s a ninety minute class, there was plenty of time for a nice long shavasana to bring the practice back inwards and provide some time for the body to rest. Class info: Yoga for Strength Instructor: Sue Schmitt Day/Time: Monday’s from 12:30-2 Studio: Shakti Studio, located on the Broadneck Peninsula between Bay Hills and Cape Saint Claire.  The address is 530 E. College Parkway, Suite E Annapolis, MD 21409, but the site recommends...