Yoga Buffet

I’ve probably taken a thousand classes or so in the seven years I’ve done yoga, but I’ve never belonged to a pure yoga place. Not anymore, I joined the new yoga center in Westport - Kaia.

I’ve taken classes at such venues, so I had an idea of what they were like, but until you have access to the depth and frequency of classes only a specialist center can offer, you don’t realize how quickly your practice improves.

I’m at a yoga buffet with the ability to sample as much as I want. I’ve taken Iyengar, Yin, and Vinyasa style classes, at the basic and intermediate levels. In some ways, I get more out of the basic, because that beginners mind allows me to fine-tune postures. For example, I’m now have my pinkies off the mat in downward dog. The widening of my hand placement opened my shoulders, making it easier to experience this as a resting posture. Before, early in a session, Dog was difficult and painful to hold.

But the most important progress made to date has been mentally, the ability to quiet the mind. The trick is to replicate that focus outside of class. It’s what enables me to wear many hats, from writer, to executive, to musician, lover, friend, or yogi.

Less is More

A yoga center opened by my house and I took them up on their opening offer, 30 days for 30 bucks. To date, most of my yoga has been within the gym environment. The only time I’ve been in a proper studio is when I travel. This week felt as if I was on the road.

I’ve had great experiences at my gym and I’ve learned a lot from the teachers there, but the class schedule is spotty. Now I’ve got a buffet of options and times, often 2-3 different types of classes at once. It’s an embarrassment of riches.

I’ve gone 7 days in a row, at various times, depending on my work day. On Wednesday I was going to take an intermediate vinyasa class, but it was packed, and I wasn’t feeling energetic. I opted for the basic class. Turned out I was the only one and got a private class -- so much for feeling lethargic. I worked so hard, but I learned a ton by focusing on the basics. I was a beginner again and broke bad habits.

I’ve been doing yoga for seven years now, but for the past two, I took far fewer classes. The time away forced me to slow down and to modify. I now get more out yoga doing less; I avoid injury too. In my early days, I pushed hard, mostly out of ego to prove that I could keep up with everyone. Now it doesn’t matter where the rest of the class is, I’m listening to my body, I’m paying attention, I’m present.

I’m not sure what I’ll do after this sampler package runs its course, but for now, I’m enjoying the banquet and often get up for seconds.