Hello, friends!
Boy, do we have a lot to talk about! I hope everyone has been having a fun, happy, peaceful spring. Because some of you have asked, I had a great trip to Florida, and even though it was so warm down there you could do beach yoga, I am glad to be back home.
Someday soon it will be warm again in Michigan!
More than you could believe, I’m excited to get back to Stone Turtle Yoga! There are some very cool things in the works, so let’s dive on in.
First of all, yoga classes start back up the week of April 28th, and the class schedule can be found here: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=29064. As is the case with every new schedule, there may be some bugs to work out as things get rolling, so your patience is appreciated. Also, as summer sets in towards mid-June, we will expand the schedule even more. You can access the schedule anytime on the website at stoneturtleyoga.com.
Secondly, there are some new classes at Stone Turtle Yoga this summer! Along with STY staple classes, Gentle and Empower Yoga, we’re adding Yoga Strength and Yin Yoga to the mix, providing a wide array of options for every kind of yogi. Here are descriptions of the new classes:
Yoga Strength: Get long and get strong! Yoga Strength combines the muscle lengthening benefits of yoga with the muscle strengthening benefits of resistance exercise. This invigorating class will be a unique combination of yoga poses and resistance training with mini-dumbbells, and is designed to leave you feeling lean, long, and energized. The class will also include core strengthening exercises, creating a full-body strengthening and lengthening experience. This class is open to all levels, and modifications will be provided for different abilities to make sure the class is fun, welcoming, and challenging for everyone (don’t be intimidated by the dumbbells!). It is the perfect class for anyone looking for a way to strengthen key muscle groups, improve balance and flexibility, and calm the mind through purposeful movement and breath work. Stone Turtle Yoga will provide 3lb and 5lb dumbbells for the strengthening portion of the class.
Yin Yoga: Yin Yoga is a long standing form of yoga that focuses on stretching deeper tissues in the muscles and joints. The flip side of a more energetic “yang” practice, which is the kind we’re most accustomed to with shorter holds and nearly constant movement, a “yin” practice seeks to open the body through very mindful, extended holds in the poses, focusing on the slow release of deep connective tissue. In order to stretch deeply and safely, the body will occasionally be supported by props, and poses will typically be held for 2 to 5 minutes. This practice directly involves finding our “edge”, and empowers us to explore that edge to deeply unlock the muscles and joints. Yin is a highly beneficial practice, and is great on its own, or as a complement to faster-paced “yang” classes, like Gentle, Empower, or Yoga Strength. All levels welcome.
Both of these classes are suitable for everyone, and we encourage all of you to give both of them a try!
Last but not least, we’re very excited to be back at our home studio at the Stone Turtle Day Lodge at Cross Country Ski Headquarters, located at 9435 N. Cut Rd. (about a mile north of Gerrish Township Hall). All classes will take place here for the duration of the spring, summer, and fall.
Hope to see all of you at the studio on opening week!
All the best,
Mariah
