Gail is a Spinning instructor at my studio and has recently added a yoga class on Thursday nights at 6:45pm. The bonus of taking a yoga class at my studio, is that you get a wonderful workout at a much lower price than most studios in town. You can purchase one class for only $12, or use your monthly unlimited package to participate.
Let’s get to know Gail!
What kind of yoga training do you have? I am a 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified vinyasa yoga instructor. I have been practicing yoga since 2007.
Why do you love yoga? I admit, when I first tried yoga in my 20’s, I didn’t like it. I was too judgmental of myself. I would get frustrated that I wasn’t more flexible. In my 30’s, I was experiencing a lot of stress. I decided to try yoga again as I heard it is beneficial for stress reduction. This time, I greeted yoga with humor rather than judgment. Slowly over the years, I began to notice other benefits yoga has such as injury prevention, nurturing the body’s joints, promoting flexibility, increase of mindfulness of the thoughts (including mindful eating), and overall well being. Once I saw these benefits, I realize that yoga truly is a wonderful practice that compliments Spinning. I love how yoga brings the final component to true physical and mental well being!
Why is yoga so complimentary to bike riding and spinning? Yoga nourishes the body’s joints by promoting flexibility. It strengthens the ligaments that support the joints, which help prevent injuries. In Spinning, we are actively engaging the hip, knee, and ankle joints. By having flexibility and strength in these joints, an individual can be more proficient with their Spinning workout!
How would you describe your yoga class? I teach a vinyasa flow, which encourages gently transitioning from pose to pose. I tend to focus on balancing strength building with flexibility to promote overall physical and mental well being. My approach to teaching is with lightheartedness and humor, as well as gentle kindness and non-judgment. The best part about the yoga is that you will leave feeling refreshed and relaxed after your fulfilling workout.
What is your favorite pose and why? My favorite pose is pigeon. It is also my most difficult pose! Pigeon is a hip opener – and boy oh boy, am I tight in the hips! What I like about pigeon is that it allows the body to slowly soften and relax into the hips. Pigeon is the pose that reminds me to not judge myself – to simply relax and accept that this is where I am right now. Although it can be uncomfortable sometimes (not painful), it teaches me to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. When you truly think about it, isn’t life about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable? The lesson pigeon teaches me of being comfortable with the uncomfortable can be applied to my everyday life.
Is it okay for beginners? Absolutely, beginners are welcomed at my yoga class. There are modifications to most all poses. Yoga is about honoring the body. It encourages to let go of the ego and know where your personal limits are. Therefore, my yoga class welcomes individuals to come out of poses as needed to honor the self!