The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means “to join” or “to unite”.

Yoga originated in ancient India over 10’000 years ago and is based on an harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. It traveled time and continents to become popular across the Western world in the 1980s.

Through physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation, the practice of yoga makes the body strong and flexible, improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and hormonal systems while also bringing about emotional stability and clarity of mind.

One of the beauties of the practice of yoga is that the poses support and sustain you no matter how you come to your mat: old or young, fit or frail, flexible or not. Come as you are, yoga is for all!

A female who practices yoga is called a yogini, a male practitioner, a yogi.

WEAR: A pair of leggings, or shorts, and a top or t-shirt that’s not too baggy. No socks or shoes required because you will be barefoot.

BRING: Your own yoga mat if you have one. A bottle of water and a small towel are good ideas. A positive attitude, an open mind and a bit of curiosity are a must!

Each class and teacher is quite different.

My typical classes span between 60-90 minutes and include:

• Setting an intention
• Breathing and warming up
• Dynamic sequence with peak pose
• Unwinding and cooling down
• Final relaxation

Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical work.

Yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath, which helps us direct our attention inward and become aware of the here and now.

The practice of vinyasa is said to begin with T. Krishnamacharya, the father of modern yoga.

Vinyasa means breath-synchronized movement, where each pose is matched with a breath so that we move seamlessly from one posture to the next using the Ujjayi breathing technique (inhaling and exhaling through the nose while gently constricting the opening of the throat, creating a soothing oceanic sound).

There are no fixed series of postures which results in each class being different. Vinyasa is a very complete type of class as it typically moves through all of the various asana categories (standing postures, twists, core awakening, back bends, forward bends, etc…) in a single session.

Commonly referred to as “vinyasa flow” or simply “flow”, it is usually practiced in a vigorous, dynamic and stimulating manner but it can also integrate soft, gentle, restorative sequences.

Created by Ana Forrest, an internationally recognized pioneer in yoga and emotional healing, Forrest Yoga is an intensely physical and internally focused practice based on deep breathing and intelligent sequencing.

Forrest Yoga is for people of all ages, abilities, body types, and personality types. All it requires is a willingness to learn. Students are encouraged to cultivate an acute awareness of their own practice and life process, resulting in an exhilarating journey into self-discovery.

In Forrest Yoga, we hold poses for usually 5-10 breaths, with the following benefits:

• Time to connect to the breath and build skill in breathing into the areas that need release and/or nourishment.
• Build strength, vitality and kinesthetic intelligence. When you stay in the pose, the big muscle groups that you habitually rely on will tire so you tap into new depths of strength. It’s empowering!
• Feel the pose, the body and the workings of your mind. Sometimes your brain may tell you it’s time to quit. It’s not! Learning to ride the wave of intensity in a yoga pose, in a pain-free, struggle-free way serves you in every aspect of your life.
• Build self-respect, taking responsibility for your own evolution on the mat and into daily life.

Being an ordained practitioner of Native American Medicine, Ana Forrest has also brought elements of Native American Ceremony into her practice, which makes for an exciting blend of traditions.