This September the Glen Ivy Challenge encourages you give yoga a try!

When Heather Wyborny, a yoga instructor at Glen Ivy, teaches her yoga class on the soft, grassy lawn in front of the Spa, she often begins with the question,  “Is anyone trying yoga for the first time?”  There is rarely an occasion when a number of hands don’t raise timidly into the air indicating that they are yoga newbies. This may be surprising to many of you who regularly enjoy the healthful benefits yoga.  The popularity of yoga in the United States has skyrocketed over the past two decades, creating a multi-billion dollar industry with a multi-million population of avid followers.  As the pace of our lives has gained the speed and intensity of a locomotive without brakes, people are looking for ways to slow down and live a more balanced life. Yoga’s tremendous popularity suggests that many have found the solution in a regular yoga practice.

Yet with all the interest, and sometimes hype, surrounding this ancient practice, there are still many of you who, for one reason or another, have not had the opportunity to experience the enjoyment of yoga. Perhaps you have felt intimidated by the pictures of fit, flexible people on the cover of magazines demonstrating beautiful, but challenging yoga poses. You may think to yourself, I could never do that! Trust me, you don’t have to do that to do yoga. You may feel shy about taking your first class, or fearful that you will have to stand on your head or chant “OM” at the end of class. Yes, both these things happen in yoga classes, but not all yoga classes. Look for our guide to finding the right yoga style for you. It could be as simple as a budget thing. Yoga classes can be expensive if money is tight. In truth, there are many affordable yoga opportunities out there for you. We’ll even show you how you can do yoga in your own home for free!

So, for the month of September, which by the way, has been designated National Yoga Month by the Department of Health and Human Services, we have made it our Wellness Team Mission to join this grass roots effort to raise awareness of the proven health benefits of yoga.  And judging from the responses to our August Glen Ivy Spa Challenge, “Ten Minutes to a Happier, Healthier You,” many of you are seeking just the kind of mind-body, stress reducing, confidence boosting benefits that yoga has to offer! During the month ahead, we plan to bring you a variety of educational and experiential opportunities, both on site and virtual, to introduce you to the practice of yoga and how you might benefit. Our blog, Facebook posts and programming at the Hot Springs will swell with fun, useful, and practical information about traveling the yoga path. Here are just a few of the things we have planned to support your journey onto the mat:

• Look for our beginner’s guide to yoga, complete with a glossary of yoga terminology and descriptions of the various yoga styles to help you find the best fit.
• Check out our weekly activity schedule at the Hot Springs. We offer a variety of yoga classes, and all levels are welcome. We will also be hosting special guest presenters this month, who will guide you through Partner Yoga (September 15th), Theta Yoga (September 16th), and Inner Yoga (September 23rd).
• Thursday, September 8th we celebrate health and wellness with an exciting day of “hooping” with Hoopnotica! Our Hula-Rama celebration will include a full schedule of yoga, stretch and water fitness classes throughout the day.
• On September 10th we will be doing yoga simultaneously with thousands of other beginners and yoga enthusiasts as part of Salutation Nation.
• On September 9th and 20th, yoga gets wet with Aqua Yoga. Experience how the water can enhance the benefits of yoga in a buoyant environment that’s easy on the joints.
• Follow our Blog and Facebook posts from your home or office, and we will set you up with a yoga routine you can do anywhere, anytime.

So, get ready to step on to your mat (No mat? No problem!)  This is our official invitation for you to join us for National Yoga Month. And if you are not sure what’s in it for you, here are “10 Great Reasons to Practice Yoga” to help get you started. Throughout the month we also encourage you to share your stories, ask us questions, and let us know how you are doing along the way. You never know how your experience may inspire others to step onto the wellness path.

Namaste,
Meg Root

Meg Root is an ACE Certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist who works as a wellness educator and personal trainer in Corona, California. She has enjoyed the benefits of a personal yoga practice for over twenty years, with her primary focus on the Iyengar style of yoga, which puts specific emphasis on proper alignment in the yoga postures.  She has completed yoga teacher training workshops through UC Riverside Extension, and has also attended Iyengar Yoga training workshops with Senior Iyengar Yoga Teachers,  Manouso Manos and Dean Lerner.