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Yoga News & Articles ~
3.27.08
~ Anusara Blossoms at Yoga People ~
As part of its ongoing
efforts to invigorate its intimate community of Yoga practitioners,
Brooklyn Heights ' Yoga People is please to offer a variety of anusara
and anusara-inspired classes for both beginning and advanced students.
Anusara, which can be translated as “flowing with Grace,” “going with
the flow,” or “following your heart,” is a heart-oriented style of yoga
created by John Friend in 1997. This powerful hatha yoga system unifies
the Tantric philosophy of the intrinsic goodness of each being with
Universal Principles of Alignment™.
Anusara teaches that by expressing ourselves from the inside out, rather
than trying to control our minds and bodies from the outside, we're
more fully able to reconnect with our innate goodness, power, and beauty.
And since anusara emphasizes both the good in all people as well as
our myriad differences, it is remarkably adaptable to students new to
yoga and those who have been practicing for decades.
“I'm really attracted to the way anusara is individualized for different
body types. It's really an empowering practice,” says Yoga People owner
Wendy Chanelis. “I even apply the lessons I learn during my vinyasa
classes. I feel safer because I know the attention to alignment I learned
during anusara helps prevent injuries.”
Tara Glazier, who has studied extensively with John Friend, teaches
two of the anusara classes at Yoga People. Originally drawn to Anusara's
deep, therapeutic qualities, Tara 's classes embody her love of flow
and integrate proper alignment principles while maintaining a deep connection
to the heart. Her career as a modern dancer (she performs at various
venues across New York City ) and as the artistic director for the nonprofit
Ballet Tech informs her playful yet deeply spiritual teaching style.
Tara teaches on Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm and Sundays from 10 am
to 11:30 and leads workshops at Yoga People from time to time.
Jordan Mallah, one of
Yoga People's newest teachers, leads two anusara-inspired classes. Jordan,
who from 2006-2007 worked as the Global Productions Manager of Anusara
Yoga, studied extensively with John Friend and assisted senior certified
Anusara teacher Sianna Sherman. Jordan 's uplifting teaching style is
accessible to students of all ages and abilities. His light-hearted
and playful classes challenge students to infuse every pose with a meaningful
intention connected to the grand purposes of yoga while still maintaining
an awareness of specific postural alignment. Jordan hopes to empower
each of his students to reach their fullest potential without losing
sight of the inspiring and joyful creativity of their yoga practice.
“ What really sets apart my transformative classes at Yoga People is
the way I infuse each session with inspiring teachings and stories about
the deep lessons I learned while living in a remote indigenous Andean
village in Peru ,” Jordan says. “I couple those teachings with the deep
knowledge of the spiritual and biomechanical principles of Anusara yoga
that I gained while traveling on the road with Anusara's founder John
Friend, and one of Anusara's leading senior certified teachers, Sianna
Sherman, to create a dynamic and challenging class.”
Jordan teaches on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 pm and on Thursday
mornings from 9:30 to 11 am.
The newest member of the Yoga People anusara team is Jorja Rivero. At
the core of Jorja's teaching is anusara yoga, rajanaka yoga, and gestalt
psychotherapy. She believes we each are a pulsing changing process,
not a permanent fixed structure and asks us to deepen our practice as
we cultivate your awareness and presence on the mat. “You are empowered,
free, responsible, and constantly choosing and setting boundaries,”
Jorja notes. “Connect to your breath and body to create your physical,
mental, and emotional EXPANSION.” Jorja teaches Saturday mornings from
10:00 to 11:30 am.
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