What: An outdoor yoga class in beautiful Jasper, Ga., on a grassy knoll next to a lake, weather permitting. If it rains, we will practice in the home of Suzanne Shull . How much: $20 to cover the cost of the class plus vegetarian chili.
What you should bring: A blanket, a yoga mat if you have one, any beverages you want to drink, a salad and/or dessert or any other food you’d like in addition to vegetarian chili, yoga clothes and a great attitude.
When: Meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Total Fitness office at 1951 Northside Drive for a carpool up to Jasper, Ga. It takes 75 minutes by car to where we’ll be practicing our yoga. The mountain roads we will be driving on are very narrow and there’s not much room for parking, so driving together with friends is advised.
Who: All yoga students are invited, plus you may bring a friend who is new to yoga. All that’s necessary is a desire to have fun!
Sign Up: Please preregister and prepay by Oct. 15 so we can figure out how much vegetarian chili to make! Please call the Total Fitness office at 404-350-8581 or email catherine@totalfitness.net if you would like to attend.
Catherine Carrigan will be leading the class. Catherine has taught yoga for years at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Our regular yoga classes are open to the public every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Catherine has studied many different styles of hatha yoga, including vinyasa flow, integrative yoga therapy for healing, yin yoga, restorative yoga., Thai yoga body therapy and chakra flow therapy. Her main teacher is Eric Schiffman, who can be seen on the Ali McGraw yoga video.
Yoga Benefits: A Christian Perspective
Sometimes Christians wonder whether yoga practice can be consistent with their faith. I like to quote a French Catholic monk named Dechanet who wrote a book, Christian Yoga:
“Yoga also produces a more active, willing and generous disposition. It quickens the life of faith, the love of God and our neighbor. It quickens our sense of duty and responsibility as men and above all as Christians.
“It follows that hatha yoga influences character to the good. One man, after some weeks of practice, admits he no longer knows himself, and everyone notices a change in his bearing and reaction. He is gentler, more understanding. He faces experience calmly. He is content; the pinpricks of life affect him less or not at all. He is in command of his own will and goes about his studies without fear or anxiety. His whole personality has been altered and he himself feels it steadying and opening out. From this, there arises an almost permanent condition or euphoria, of contentedness.”
For more information about personal fitness training, yoga, Qi Gong or our complete list of services, please visit www.totalfitness.net or call us at 404-350-8581.