Archive for Yoga Classes
Mark Blanchard Power Yoga
Posted by: | CommentsMark Blanchard Power Yoga has been used by Hollywood Stars, Stay-at-home moms, and everyone in between to lose weight, get in shape, and learn the powerful relaxation techniques that are so popular in yoga.
Mark Blanchard has two Los Angeles area power yoga studios that are family owned and operated. His wife and children are frequently present at the yoga classes, and many of his students appreciate the laid-back atmosphere this helps provide.
Unlike many power yoga classes, Mark Blanchard's don't include music or a lot of expensive equipment. With no yoga straps, blocks or meditative yoga music in the background, students are practicing yoga without distraction, the way its been done for over 5,000 years.
If you can't attend one of Mark Blanchard's power yoga classes, consider his power yoga videos as the next best thing.
True Power Yoga Video - By Mark Blanchard.
In Mark Blanchard's 4-video series, you get 4 DVD's with 4 separate workouts, ranging in length from 50-90 minutes. Each power yoga video has a different focus. The True Flow video, even features a professional football player who is one of Mark's students.
Before starting his yoga studios, Mark was a Hollywood actor and semi-pro athlete who struggled with a number of knee injuries and surgeries.
Now pro athletes and actors (like Jennifer Lopez and Lucy Liu) make up some of his better-known clients.
His power yoga video series has gotten rave reviews from his high profile clients and unbiased reporter's alike:
- Voted Top 10 Best Workout DVD, Fitness Magazine.
- Challenging heart-pounding workout, Shape Magazine
- Keeps you interested and challenged no matter what your level, Healing Lifestyles
- Intense and Invigorating Mind Body workout that targets the entire body from head to toe, OC Insider
- Mark Blanchard is the master in the hot discipline of power yoga, People Magazine
Here's one client's results who participated in a challenge through Allure Magazine.
Allure Magazine, Sept 2007: In 4 weeks, 5 trainers only one person lost 15 pounds and 12% body fat - in the words of Jessica herself: "I feel stronger. My stomach is flatter, and my arms and butt are toned. My back pain is gone, my mood is improved, and I have a sense of calm." Jessica went from 163 lbs. with 32% body fat to 148 lbs. and 20% body fat in 4 weeks going to yoga 5 times a week or doing Mark's video at least once a day if she couldn't make it to class.
Once you're hooked on Mark's power yoga video classes, keep an eye out for his yoga studios to be opening up soon. He's just started franchising - his Kansas City location was first to open. What's next!
Power Yoga – Santa Monica – Bryan Kest
Posted by: | CommentsWhat do these three things have in common? Bryan Kest is an inspiring and "deep" yoga instructor who teaches very profound power yoga classes out of his Santa Monica, California yoga studio.
If you've heard of Bryan Kest, maybe even enjoyed one of his lectures or power yoga classes as an audio/video download - the next step for you may be to attend one of his Santa Monica Power Yoga classes.
Now, you may be wondering if traveling to Santa Monica is too far out of your way, especially with the traffic in L.A. being what it is. Let's look at it this way, Bryan Kest traveled from his home in Detroit to California, Hawaii, and eventually India to find the best teachers. Their philosophies helped him develop his power yoga training classes. Is that too far to travel? I guess it depends on how badly you want it.
What can you get out of a Bryan Kest Power Yoga Class in Santa Monica?
There are many benefits to participating in a power yoga class. Bryan Kest teaches some himself, and he has also trained affiliated instructors who can deliver excellent results in a class or one-on-one.
Power yoga classes are becoming more popular because they are highly effective at toning muscle and improving strength and flexibility, while being low-impact and of variable difficulty levels. Make sure you don't walk in on an intermediate or advanced class if you're just beginning. Power yoga is not an "easy" discipline. Check the class schedule at the Santa Monica yoga studio before you go, so you will know who's teaching, how long the class is, what the fees (donation) are, and what you need to bring. In most cases, Power yoga classes only require a yoga mat and yoga clothing, which just means that it must be stretchable and fitted.
How Will Power Yoga Change You?
Power yoga classes teach more than just strength. These classes teach individuals to focus on the part of the body that is working to hold a particular pose while relaxing all the other muscles in the body. This allows individuals to become more in touch with their bodies and shows them how to relax in the midst of a stressful situation. It is very difficult to hold a pose that requires a lot of strength while relaxing everything else and maintaining slow, deep breathing. If a person can master that skill, then he can also do it in everyday situations that also require relaxation while in a stressful situation.
Bryan Kest emphasizes the importance of the whole body. He puts mind and spiritual practice ahead of the actual physical yoga poses (asanas) in importance. Power yoga classes also teach deep breathing techniques so that individuals learn to breathe from their diaphragm rather than their chests. This allows them to get more oxygen to their system which gives them more strength and clarity of mind. It also helps them to remain in a relaxed state of mind, which is also useful in every day life. Bryan also offers a yoga meditation CD for those who need to focus on stress reduction.
Of course, Power Yoga is certainly very physical. In his Santa Monica Power Yoga classes Bryan Kest teaches asanas that will help you gain flexibility and push you to your limits. If you're just looking for a good workout, the Santa Monica Power Yoga classes will certainly provide that, but if you are open to more - to adopting a thought process, a philosophy, and a life style, that is what Bryan Kest really hopes to share with you. His own experiences in yoga were very profound in this regard, and it's that type of meaningful impact that he hopes you'll find at his Santa Monica Power Yoga studio.
Bryan Kest – Power Yoga
Posted by: | CommentsBryan Kest Power Yoga is a dynamic physical yoga practice with an emphasis on mind-body connection and the spiritual and emotional impact a whole-body yogic focus can have.
Bryan Kest, Power Yoga founder, teacher and practitioner, started practicing yoga himself when he was 15 (over 30 years ago), before it was cool and trendy, and before the Internet made it easy to learn what power yoga was all about or buy a power yoga video to watch at home.
In fact, Bryan had to travel all over (California, Maui, and eventually India) seeking the best yoga teachers and yoga instruction.
While spending time with these people, he didn't just go to a class, he spent days with them, and learned that true yoga was more than just some power yoga moves in a sweaty gym class room. True yoga encompassed healthy eating, spiritual balance, meditation, and more.
Bryan Kest eventually chose to share his Power Yoga philosophy with others and has opened his own studio in Santa Monica.
In case you are unable to attend a Santa Monica Power Yoga training class, and live outside the Los Angeles area, you may want to consider buying or downloading one of Bryan Kest's Power Yoga DVD's or CD's.
Bryan Kest's audio downloads are a great way to bring his meditation and training home, and learn from the master, no matter where you are.
You can also buy his complete workout training on DVD and get the audio CD's for free.
There are a lot of great ways to experience Brian Kest's Power Yoga even if you don't live in place where you can get to the Santa Monica Power Yoga Classes.
It's still worth it to check it out. The experience may change your life.
Looking for a Chicago Yoga Center For Hatha Yoga Classes?
Posted by: | CommentsIf you live or work in Chicago, IL or surrounding areas, taking a nearby Hatha yoga class is a great way to boost your energy before a busy day, or unwind and get rid of stress in the evening. Taking a Hatha yoga class at a Chicago yoga center can be a daily ritual, or just an occasional treat to supplement your at-home yoga routine.
The practice of Hatha Yoga (which means "power yoga") is meant to be exercise! But it also incorporates breathing, meditation, and other mind-body elements which can help you feel more centered and balanced. Taking a Hatha yoga class can be a great way to soothe both mind and body. Hatha yoga classes incorporate strength poses with flexibility poses so that the entire body receives a workout. Although the body is working hard holding the various poses, the Hatha yoga class also leaves the students feeling refreshed since the poses also include flexibility, so that the muscles are lengthened and the blood flow increased through participation in the class. Hatha yoga classes also incorporate relaxation and breathing techniques that are essential to learn for the real world as well. These breathing techniques show students how to breathe properly, some for the very first time in their lives. The relaxation techniques show students how to relax the parts of their bodies that are not being used in a particular pose, even when the pose becomes very difficult to continue holding.
Some people find their yoga practice so rewarding, that they find themselves driving into Chicago in the pre-dawn hours to get in a workout before heading off to their job. Whether you go to a big yoga center, or a quiet Chicago yoga studio, you'll find a dynamic and supportive group who can help you get started on the right foot.
What's New Chicago? Yoga Centers Take Fitness Buffs By Storm!
Although Chicago is well-known for it's sports teams, there's a quieter athletic activity which has gone from fringe to fantastic over the last several years! Hatha yoga gives you a wonderful workout that can help you live longer, and live with more energy every day, no matter what your age or current fitness level!
Choosing The Right Hatha Yoga Class For You
Whether the Chicago Hatha yoga class you choose is for beginners or more advanced students, it will almost certainly contain certain uniform elements in it. The Hatha yoga class will have some poses that are done for strength, some for flexibility and some for balance. There are even some poses that are done solely for relaxation - when did you ever get that treatment in Step Aerobics? The strength poses are done in various positions where the student is forced to hold his own body weight for a particular length of time. Often the student will feel like he is not able to hold the pose any longer, with legs or arms shaking, right before the instructor moves on to another pose. The flexibility poses help the students to increase the flexibility in their bodies, opening up those passageways that have been blocked for years. Students will often see that they have increased blood flow so that their hands or feet do not fall asleep so easily in their everyday lives.
The balancing poses are also essential to the Hatha yoga classes. These balancing poses are often done with the eyes closed as the students get better at it so that the sole focus is on balancing in that position and the feel of the body while doing so. The balancing poses also help the students with coordination in their every day lives and increase their sense of stability. The breathing techniques help them to focus more thoroughly during the Hatha yoga class, keeping their attention on the proper way to breathe rather than on their aching muscles that are trembling in a pose. Hatha yoga classes provide great exercise for all types of individuals, not matter what their level of physical prowess.
Yes Chicago, Hatha yoga classes are coming to yoga studios near you, so keep your eyes and ears open for the fitness trend that also brings balance, harmony and relaxation to our ever-improving health and fitness routines.