Curious about Yoga? Try it at the annual Yoga Life Fair

By Allison Marlow
Posted 9/13/17

By Allison Marlow

As we leave childhood behind, we forget how to move. We sit and move properly. Uncomfortably. Painfully.

Yoga can teach you to move again. It can teach you to breathe. Learn …

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Curious about Yoga? Try it at the annual Yoga Life Fair

Posted

As we leave childhood behind, we forget how to move. We sit and move properly. Uncomfortably. Painfully.

Yoga can teach you to move again. It can teach you to breathe. Learn your body. Control your pain.

Yoga is less about complicated, pretzel-like poses and more about learning how your body moves and how to help it work better.

Billie Reinhart, owner of Thrive Yoga and Massage in Fairhope, is also the coordinator for the annual Yoga Life Fair, being held this weekend at Fairhope Pier Park.

Her studio strives to help clients become more mindful of their habits and how certain postures, movements and even attitudes negatively affect their bodies and cause, or prevent chronic pain.

“Babies do yoga all the time, we forget how to do that,” she said.

As she demonstrates the slow, purposeful movement, she shows how even the smallest turn can stretch an area of the body, lessen muscle tension and improve blood flow.

She said while there are studios that cater to athletic, almost competitive yoga classes, beginners can easily learn yoga techniques that require little sweat. Often, she first teaches her clients how to simply breathe.

“Even if you just find a way to breathe properly, it can be life changing,” she said.

Yoga postures can also help lessen pain within the joints and muscles. For her clients who cannot move up and down from the floor, Reinhart offers chair yoga. Participants stay seated while moving their head, arms and legs.

“Even with minimal movements you get a great benefit,” she said. “You begin to know yourself and you’re your body.”

For those who tackle floor work, there is no competition. Movements and range of movement, is done at your own pace.

“Most people don’t realize they can rest whenever they like. This is open to challenge yourself as you are ready,” she said.

The personalization of the yoga movements is what makes the class glow, she said.

“We all have different body types so we all look different doing each of these movements,” she said. “It’s beautiful. Everybody can do yoga.”

And, it’s peaceful.

A yoga session is quiet. There is space to disappear into your own silent mindfulness. Reinhart likens it to a soul-fulfilling, spiritual moment of reflection.

“It’s a nice way to be still and have time to meditate,” she said.