Yoga for Athletes at Breathe THIS OCTOBER

Begins NEXT WEEK! Tues Oct 6, 13 and 20th!

I did an interview last week.... my first interview where I was being interviewed about yoga. Now...... there is a lot of really good yoga here in Rochester and I often feel like the "Bad Girl" of yoga. I am an athlete, I am not flexible, and I teach Baptiste Power Vinyaysa Yoga. I imagine that some of the more traditional teachers around here would absolutely vomit in my class. I play Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Michael Franti.

It is my belief as I was taught by so many of the amazing teachers I have been able to learn from..... that yoga is for every single person on this earth. So is swimming. So is biking and so is running.

Practicing yoga as an athlete has tremendously helped me in many ways. Because so many people fear the spiritual talk..... let me stick to the physical.

Many of the injuries that athletes encounter are in the tendons and ligaments and even in the cartilage. IT bands, Achilles tendons, rotator cuffs..... things like that. Athletes are told that yoga would be good for them so they hop into a class and try to win it, forcing poses and feeling awkward and then creating more injuries and a dissatisfaction for the practice at all.

Truth be told yoga is great for athletes. Because of the static movement involved it works to strengthen the ligaments and tendons and cartilage. It helps to open the bigger muscles and alleviate some of the stress of the daily pounding we take.

The mental part..... you will just have to be ready for it. It's awesome.

I have always tried to get athletes into the studio. I fail every time. People who spend 10-20 hours a week training and working and being parents just don't have another hour in their day. So they don't try it at all.

Well, what if we brought yoga to you????

Baptise Power Vinyasya Yoga is a heated flow yoga. At Breathe we practice in a 90 degree room. The heat becomes crucial to opening things up, allowing us to sweat and detox (and in Rochester.... it feels so good!). Power Vinyaysa is a very athletic yoga. Vinyaysa means flow, so you move, you flow. Type A athletes are people who survive on tension, this practice gives those types of people that little "tension fix", which is why it's popular among athletes.

Yoga for Athletes is a program I have developed with my friend Lauri Boon, Registered Dietitian, who works with athletes and NFL teams..... with the idea that yoga can in fact be for everyone. Even athletes.

I have developed a 25 minute power vinyaysa flow with the athlete in mind. It will be flowing, to the point and target the areas that we as athletes have trouble with. For example: many of us can not do flying pigeon.... so we won't do it. We will stick to the poses that are realistic for us, help us in our activities and allow us to have the opportunity to explore the benefits beyond the physical.

Beginning Tuesday October 6th and the following 2 Tuesdays after that (total of 3) we will offer Yoga For athletes from 7:30-8:45pm. For 45 minutes we will break down the poses and learn the 25 minute flow. For 45 minutes Lauri will teach us how to incorporate nutrition itno our active lifestyle. She will address fueling for workouts, losing weight while training and she will teach us which supplements are absolute BUNK!

By the end of 3 weeks you will have a 25 minute flow that you can practice at home. Stop into the studio for a tine up every 2-3 weeks or so but don't let something like time keep you away from one of the oldest practices in the world.

Cost of the program is $45 and of course we will send you home with goodies!

To register please call 585.248.9070. Shoot me an email with any questions at Maryeggers "At" Gmail "Dot" com.

You will need:

Comfortable clothes you can sweat in. We have changing rooms so bring an extra set, a towel and water. Open mind and spirit a MUST!

PS; You don't need to be a marathoner or elite soccer player to attend! This is for anyone who leads an active lifestyle, and who wants to incorporate a yoga practce into their lives!!!!