Spring time Yoga is back in Verona

Tanya Deacove instructs beginner and experienced students in gentle Hatha Yoga at the Trinity United Church hall in Verona

Tanya Deacove has begun her spring Yoga series at the Trinity United Church hall in Verona and is now offering, for her second year, classes that run from April to June 5.

Tanya, who has been practicing yoga for 26 years and teaching for five, is offering Hatha Yoga to both experienced and beginner students in what she describes as a gentle and healing approach to yoga. “This is a gentle class where we are focusing on strengthening and stretching all parts of the body while bringing a mindful awareness to what we are doing”, Tanya explained. This style of yoga is combination of meditation, breathing and the poses or Asanas all of which help to calm the mind while gently stretching and strengthening the body. Practitioners need not be naturally flexible to participate and increased flexibility is often cited as one of Yoga benefits.

"It's funny because although I've been practicing yoga for so many years I really never thought that I could be a teacher because I am not a very flexible person. Then I came to realize that a lot of people are not naturally flexible and realized that I should not let that stop me from teaching,” Deacove said.

Yoga can have numerous benefits to those who practice it, the benefits can differ depending on the practitioner but they have been known to include calming of the nervous system, lessening of anxiety, fear, and stress. Yoga has also been known to increase over all strength, flexibility, balance and feelings of well being. Tanya said that her practice has alleviated her own long term headaches, which she no longer experiences. Most recently Tanya underwent a teacher's training course that specifically focused on teaching seniors dealing with specific issues like osteoporosis, heart problems, high blood pressure arthritis and other mobility issues.

At her Verona classes she makes available to those who require them blocks, pillows, and chairs so that those practitioners (of any age) who might be facing certain issues can comfortably participate in the classes. The classes cost $10 each for a series of ten, or $12 each for those just wanting to drop in. Tanya also encourages first time visitors by offering them their first class for $5 before they commit to further classes. The classes take place every Tuesday until June 5 from 3:30PM-5:00PM at the church hall at Trinity United Church in Verona. Participants should wear layers of light, loose fitting clothing and can bring their own Yoga mat and blanket. For those who do not have their own mat Tanya has extras. For more information contact Tanya at 613-273-5693. She also offers classes regularly in Westport.