What is Mindful Movement, Restorative Movement and Therapeutic Yoga how are they different?
While all yoga has the potential for therapeutic support, yoga and mindfulness practices are not ‘one size fits all’. Yoga poses have evolved from a culture that looks very different than what we experience in our current western lives. Industrialized society has brought tremendous advances and it has also changed the way we move and live on the planet. We sit on a variety of chairs and couches. Our toilets are getting taller and we squat less, if at all. We use automobiles to get to our destinations rather than walk. We buy prepared food from stores or markets rather than harvesting from our gardens or from the forests. These are just a few ways that we experience life’s conveniences. While great achievements in one sense, our bodies have changed. Our more sedentary lives of sitting at our computers, on our sofas and in cars, we reinforce patterns of movement that can limit mobility, alter our posture, develop patterns and compensations that can lead to disease, pain, injuries and chronic health conditions. Our exercise has been categorized in an hour a day or 3 days a week rather than the daily movements of our ancestors that were part of an active lifestyle.
The Mindful Movement classes and practices are a fusion of traditional yoga poses, playful exploratory movements, inquiry into movement that works to dismantle individual patterns of movement that are not serving the individual and maybe even causing pain and disease, while replacing those patterns with new and healthy ways of integrating movement into daily living (not just in an exercise class). While the work of transformation is hard, it does not have to be punitive. Working from a place of curiosity and exploration while observing subtle connections and habits, beliefs and thoughts, comes an opportunity for profound discovery. These playful, educational, informative, practical and pragmatic practices lead to things like increased mobility and strength, pain management, management of various health conditions, reduced symptoms, restored balance, increased vitality, and improved attitude.
Jennifer takes 1/2 century+ of experiences and wisdom from living on this planet, and brings an open heart and open mind to the classroom and practice that suits the personal needs and challenges of each individual.
Mindful Movement practices include traditional yoga poses and lots of variations of those poses to get to the place of true awareness and attention in the body. Strength building, breathing, postural inquiry, range of motion, education and more are included in these dynamic, active, playful classes that finish with relaxation. Themes include core stability, hip and pelvis freedom, neck and shoulder stability and strength, and more…
Restorative Movement is a gentle version of the Mindful Movement practice with many more modifications for all sorts of body limitations and pain challenges. It includes foundational movement work that will help restore the movements that allow freedom of movement, breath, balance, strength, relaxation and more.
Therapeutic Classes are custom practices that are designed for individuals seeking to address a specific personal body or mind related challenges, or for a group of individuals with a similar theme.
Included in these classes are individual assessments, specific breathing, movement and mindfulness practices to address the individual needs.
Specific Therapeutic classes can include:
Practices for Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Stress.
Practices for Back Pain, SI issues.
Practices for Hips, Knees, Feet.
Practices for Shoulders, Wrists, Hands.
Practices for Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and other degenerative challenges.
Practices for Inflammatory Issues.
Practices and Yoga Therapy custom for YOUR individual challenges!
