Jun 24

SUP Yoga & Free Yoga Basics Class

Summer is here, and so is Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga!

This class was a big hit last summer, and for good reason! Come practice yoga on the crystal clear water of Higgins Lake during this very special, one-of-a-kind yoga class. Not only will you be surrounded by the sounds of lapping water and birds chirping onshore, but practicing the poses in the fresh air with water underneath your body creates a feeling of connectivity to nature that is impossible to get in a yoga studio. SUP yoga also adds extra core strengthening and balance to the practice, making it a wonderful full-body workout. Plus, just imagine laying on your board in savasana at the end of class as your body rocks gently with the water!

*THIS CLASS DOES NOT MEET AT THE STUDIO!* SUP Yoga is held at B&B Marina at 431 Clare Blvd. in Higgins Lake, about 2 miles east of the North Higgins Lake State Park, right by the Marathon Station. You may bring your own board, or rent one from B&B for $10. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early if you need to rent a board. We will not go into water deeper than 5 feet, but it is best that only proficient swimmers take this class. In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorms, an Empower Yoga class will be held at Stone Turtle Yoga. This class lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Class will be held every Sunday, starting this Sunday, June 29th, at 10:00am*
*Class time may change week to week, so please check class schedule here to confirm: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=29064

Free Yoga Basics Class

We are extending our Free Yoga Basics Class for the rest of the summer! This class will continue to be held every other Sunday, alternating between Higgins Lake and Grayling. During this welcoming, beginner-friendly class, instructor Lexi Bondar teaches yoga fundamentals in an easy to understand format. This class is free for new Stone Turtle Yoga students, and just $5 for existing students. The next Yoga Basics class is this Sunday, June 29th, at 1:00pm at the Grayling studio.

Upcoming Yoga Basics classes:

Sunday, June 29th – GRAYLING – 1:00pm
Sunday, July 13th – HIGGINS LAKE – 1:00pm
Sunday, July 27th – GRAYLING – 1:00pm
Sunday, August 10th – HIGGINS LAKE – 1:00pm

June Anniversary Yoga Challenge

This is the last full week of the June Anniversary Yoga Challenge! Get those classes in… come to 12 classes in the month of June, and a free STY t-shirt is all yours!

Thanks to everyone for a great start to the summer.

Namaste,

Mariah, Lexi, Sarah & Stu

Jun 10

Summer Class Schedule & Free Yoga Basics Class

SUP Higgins Lake

Our summer class schedule is live! Click here to view the MindBody online class schedule. This schedule will begin this Saturday, June 14th. Don’t miss another awesome Yoga Basics class this Sunday, June 15th! Free for first time STY students, just $5 for existing students. Bring a friend!

Also, SUP Yoga will begin the last weekend of June. Stay tuned!

Sunday (every other Sunday – check online schedule to confirm):
Yoga Basics HIGGINS LAKE on June 15th at 1:00pm – Lexi
Yoga Basics GRAYLING on June 29th at 1:00pm – Lexi

Monday:
Hatha Yoga GRAYLING at 9:00am – Lexi
Hatha Yoga HIGGINS LAKE at 11:00am – Lexi

Tuesday:
Core Yoga HIGGINS LAKE 9:00am – Mariah
Hatha Yoga HIGGINS LAKE 5:30pm – Mariah

Wednesday:
Core Yoga GRAYLING 9:00am – Mariah

Thursday:
Empower Yoga GRAYLING 6:30pm – Sarah
Slow Vin/Yin + Meditation 6:00pm – Lexi/Mariah

Friday:
Hatha Yoga HIGGINS LAKE 10:00am – Lexi

Saturday:
Empower Yoga* HIGGINS LAKE 10:00am-11:00am – Mariah/Lexi
Empower Yoga* GRAYILNG 10:00am-11:00am – Mariah/Lexi

*Due to it being summer, Empower classes on Saturdays will now be an hour long. Liven up your soul at yoga, then enjoy the sunshine!

As always, we try to schedule classes to suit the needs of our community. Thus, our schedule may change periodically, so always check this link to make sure of the schedule: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=29064

See you at class! Namaste.

Mariah, Lexi, Sarah & Stu

Jun 05

Asana Spotlight: Warrior II

One of the most empowering asanas (poses) out there, Warrior II finds itself in many yoga classes, and for good reason. This strong pose is both accessible and challenging, and like so many asanas, is beneficial for beginner yogis all the way up to masters. It enlivens the legs and makes us feel strong, and the reach of the arms opens the heart and strengthens the back. For me, the pose also has a strong psychological effect; the powerful drishti (focal point) inspires confidence and yet is calming; the shape of the arms and legs taps into some innate fierceness, and its very name “Warrior II”, and even the sanksrit name, “Virabhadrasana”, conjures a sense of power and grace.

Also like so many asanas, there is more to Warrior II than meets the eye. The trunk stands erect over strong legs, and the arms move away from the midline of the body, calling for action almost everywhere.

Here is a diagram of Warrior II, and the most fundamental actions of the different body parts (click on image to view larger):

Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

 

The feet are very important to keeping the leg joints aligned and working safely in the pose. The front foot points directly ahead, and the back foot angles in about 15 degrees. The tendencies are to allow the front foot to turn in and back foot to turn out, both of which are dangerous for their respective knees.

Another misaligned tendency is to lean the trunk forward over the front knee. We want to have the spine long and vertical, and to help with that we can concentrate on reaching the back arm away from the trunk and tucking the back hip joint in.

Don’t worry if your front knee doesn’t bend this much! Focus on keeping your front shin bone vertical, and on descending the thigh bone as much as you can within your limits.

This is an asana that could be talked about for hours, but hopefully even this little “spotlight” sheds a bit of light onto this very important and commonly practiced posture!