Yoga classes in Sharbot Lake

Jul 15, 2010

Doing “the tree” at Sharbot Lake yoga

Do you ever feel like one of those old-fashioned spiral telephone cords that after much use ends up balling up on itself in a tight, twisted mess, which can only be undone with a certain amount of time and attention? I do, and for me yoga offers that kind of attention, which thankfully can help to undo you.

“Yoga” is a Sanskrit word that refers to a number of traditional physical and mental disciplines that originate in India. For many in the West the word has come to depict a form of exercise that incorporates a number of different poses that increase the body’s overall health.

Two local yoga practitioners, Laura Baldwin and Carol Belanger, are currently offering yoga classes twice a week at the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre to anyone interested in benefiting from this age-old practice. The beauty of these classes are many: 1-they are non-competitive; 2-no former experience is necessary; 3-you don't have to be flexible (for me that is huge); and 4- no matter what level you are at, the positive effects can be felt almost immediately.

Carol and Laura took over the Sharbot Lake class last February from former resident Barb Girard, who formed the group and had been teaching it for a number of years at the Child Care Centre until she moved away. Before she left Barb enlisted Laura and Carol to take the helm so that the classes could continue.

Both Carol and Laura are experienced and enthusiastic yoga practitioners. Carol began practicing when she was pregnant 10 years ago. As well as the informal classes she teaches now, she also makes yoga an integral part of the personal health services she offers in therapeutic touch and energy healing.

Laura began taking yoga classes casually 15 years ago and became more serious in 1999 and had begun a teacher training course that was interrupted when her children came along.

Each has their own individual style of teaching and both aim to gear their classes to participants at all levels. Both are also firm believers in the countless health benefits that yoga encourages, like improved overall heath and fitness, improved circulation, digestion, relaxation, mental health, sleep habits, and boosting the immune system.

If you are looking for a gentle, non-competitive way to increase your overall health, summer yoga is a great place to start. Not only will you learn poses with names like the lion, the tree, the downward dog, the boat and others, you can take solace in the fact that if I happen to be there you will definitely not be the only one in the class who cannot touch their toes.

One-hour classes run out of the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre in the community room in the basement on Mondays at 10am and Thursdays at 4pm at a cost of $5 or $7 each.

For more information call Laura at 613-279-3131 or Carol at 613-375-6448