I’m some combination of a very analytical and a fairly intuitive person, which to me means that even if I initially come to a decision based in intuition, I get curious enough about it to to eventually puzzle out a “why.” I’ve told plenty of patients and clients that I will always have a reason for whatever technique I am using or exercise plan I’ve given them. The same thing is generally true in my workshops and movement-based classes — there is typically pretty clear reasoning behind how I structure classes, even if I’m making it up on the spot.When it came down to deciding what classes I would teach through my online platform, I really thought through the reasoning behind how I structure class types.
In my own practice, yoga asana where I began. Asana is how I connect with my body, and then with myself. It is through the experience of asana that I was introduced to and became interested in Sanskrit and the stories behind the poses, and that interest led me to yoga conferences and then an Anusara yoga immersion where I delved into yoga philosophy and began to understand yoga as a spiritual practice with a rich history, and a long-term relationship in my life.
When I’m in the seat of the teacher, I center movement, there’s no doubt about it. Movement is my passion, and it where I most joyfully access my own practice, and so I share from that place. I have always enjoyed practicing both form-based and flow-based styles of yoga asana, though I was drawn early on to Anusara yoga, which comes from an Iyengar yoga lineage. I would call these styles primarily form-based, or practices with a lot of instruction and information, and significant, meaningful prop usage. I love these kinds of practices. The curious nerd in me get exactly what she needs, and I learn so much about my body and myself in approaching practice this way. On my schedule, MoveWise classes reflect this style of practice.
Recently, I thought of learning a language as a metaphor for working with movement, and MoveWise practices feel like the element of language where you learn the vocabulary, syntax, grammar, and context about the culture from which the language originates. I love that part of learning a language because there is so much depth there, yet the classroom piece alone will not yield fluency. Fluency comes from practice — from speaking and listening to the best of your ability in the moment, which sometimes feels like fumbling awkwardly, and sometimes feels smooth and joyous and exciting. In the same way, Fluent Movement classes come from the lineage of vinyasa flow yoga practices, tracing back to the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, but with creative, variable sequences, and far fewer chaturanga dandasana (in fact, if you love chaturanga, you’ll probably have to add them yourself in many of my classes). For me, the purpose of Fluent Movement classes is to center coordination and challenge engrained movement patterns through novel movement transitions and dynamic balance, with breath as the focal point.
I believe that movement is an important way that each of us connects and communicates with our body, and I hope that both types of practices, Fluent Movement and MoveWise, are fun and engaging, and that combining them will yield greater joy, ease, and fluency with movement “off the mat.”
And, if asana fascinates you as it does me, I’m hoping to start regular, long-term series of “Nerdy Asana Studies,” where we can grow in our understanding of how to practice asana in a way that suits our bodies and yields increased awareness and increased capacity.
I also want to honor the truth that these practices may not be accessible for everyone. Fluent Movement classes will require your own judgment about when and how to use props (generally props will not be cued), and when and how to vary the poses for your own body’s needs. You will need to be able to get up and down from the floor without significant struggle, and if you are quite prone to falls with walking or in standing poses, this class could be demoralizing, or potentially unsafe. MoveWise classes will also generally include both standing and grounded poses, but move more slowly and offer significantly more instruction and pose variations, thus are more appropriate for people with varying abilities and levels of experience. If you plan to attend MoveWise classes but prefer or require a chair or to stay grounded the entire time, please just drop me a note when you sign up so that I make sure and cue appropriate variations! Additionally, I will sometimes teach MoveWise or Fluent Movement classes with no standing poses, and those classes will be marked “floor practice” on the schedule.
All that said, accessibility in movement classes is important to me, so I also lead Gentle Yoga practices each month. Essentially, these classes will have elements of MoveWise and Fluent Movement practices, but will either be totally grounded (to be practiced on the floor or in a bed), seated in a chair (marked “in-chair” on the schedule), or combining seated, standing, and floor postures using a chair as a prop (marked “with-chair” on the schedule. Please choose these classes if you need a less strenuous practice, more assistance with balance, or are non-ambulatory.
Additionally, you will frequently see courses or class series on my site that are intended to offer education about the body, therapeutic practices, and body neutral/movement-positive perspectives on yoga asana.
I hope my offerings can be encouraging resources for you as you engage with movement and life. I truly love this work, and am filled with joy when, through these practices, I get to connect with you.