Sara Ivanhoe is the instructor of the Weight Watchers‘ Yoga Starter Kit*. I've practiced to Ivanhoe’s DVDs before including Yoga for Dummies
and Crunch: Candlelight Yoga. I liked both but really enjoyed the latter.
The starter kit includes the DVD, a strap, block, 10 week exercise tracker and has
two segments – get moving and get strong. Get Moving is done mostly standing
and Get Strong is done primarily on the floor. In addition, Get Moving is done almost exclusively with a block between
your thighs; it took me a minute to get used to it but I loved it. I
felt like my alignment was good. In fact, I felt much better about Warrior
One than I've ever felt.
Because Ivanhoe’s
instructions were straightforward and solid, I felt empowered or, rather, I felt like I knew what I was doing. I was also inspired to email my gym to see if they would get
blocks at one particular branch…
After trying the Yoga Starter Kit, I went to
Gloria’s class the next day and she talked about blocks and she never talks
about blocks but she said:
If you put a block between your thighs, it strengthens the
legs and integrates the core.
Gloria also talked about one of the first yoga
teachers, Lilias Folan, who used to be on PBS and, during those televised yoga
sessions, the yogis would use rugs for mats and shoe boxes for blocks. Gloria
went on to tell us that Folan recently appeared in Yoga Journal and discussed
how cancer has been a guru...
The Weight Watchers kit is a great place to start. I totally
wish that I had known about a yoga starter when I began practicing. As a "seasoned" yogi, I didn't get bored with it because, one, I like a gentle practice and,
two, it has modifications.
*Disclosure: Kit received without reimbursement...
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