Welcome to the Namaste Community!
Namaste Yoga Center offers individual and group teachings in Hatha Yoga, meditation, the timeless teachings of Yoga, including Yoga Nidra.
- Variety of classes for every age and level of ability
- Unique supportive community of like-minded people
- Experienced and trained instructors
- Peaceful surroundings
- Helpful and interesting special events
- Helpful resources
- Convenient class offerings - both day and evening
- Community involvement and workplace classes
Events
Bhavana Institute for Yoga and Ayurveda & Namaste Yoga Center present:
Ayurvedic Health Educator
Ayurvedic Health Practioner Classes
Coming this fall!
September 2012 through June 2013
Weekend classes at Namaste Yoga Center.
Brochure coming soon.
See www.BhavanaInstitute.com for more information and to register.
Nancy is Back for Restorative Yoga!
Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9-11am
$20 or 2 classes
Yoga for Trauma and PTSD Class
For those suffering with anxiety, depression, relationship trauma, addictions
Sunday, June 10, 1-3 pm
$50
Yoga for Beginners with Debashree Mukherjea
Saturdays, May 12-June 9, 2-3 pm
5 classes for $50!
Linda Karl is Back from India and Ready to Share Her Wisdom! Look on "EVENTS" tab to sign up! You will not want to miss her classes!
Yin/Yang Yoga, Friday, June 8th 6-8 pm - $20 pre-registered or $25 at the door
Yoga for Back Care, Saturday, June 9th, 1-4 pm - $40 pre-registered or $50 at the door
Do you have "low back issues"? In this workshop, Linda will share yoga poses and relaxation techniques that helped alleviate and prevent her own lower back pain. Learn the three most important asanas to help strengthen your back -- we will explore back-friendly variations of common yoga poses, focus on how to lessen discomfort or stiffness -- hint: it's all in the breath!
This workshop includes partner work and lecture so bring a notepad. Suitable for all levels of student who are currently experiencing mild to moderate back issues. Prior yoga experience is helpful, but not required. This workshop It is not intended to be a substitute for therapy or medical treatment, but can serve as a support to current treatment. 3 Yoga Alliance CEUs available for yoga teachers.
Special Classes
Prenatal Yoga Tues. June 5th from 5:30-7:00pm
Kids Yoga every Saturday from 10:30-11:30am. Only $5 per class!
Living Presence, starting with a short mediation, this discussion group will involve a spiritual talk with group leader Keil Isham, followed by an open discussion where we connect the talk to our lives. Keil is a shining example of what he teaches, which is largely based on how deepening our awareness can lead to greater clarity, peace and joy. Sundays from 1-3:30pm- Open Donation. Please call or email for more information!
Look for Us At Springfield Pride on May 19! We will be there selling beautiful fair trade items, personal care products and yoga accessories!
Come to India! for Kumbha Mela 2013
Come to India!
for Kumbha Mela 2013
Find out more at www.himalayaninstitute.org...
News
New in Our Little Lobby Shop
We have expanded our inventory so please stop by and see what's new. Great products to help fill those holiday stockings and to keep you healthy this season.
We also have mats, zafus, bolsters, neti pots, personal care products, Yoga/meditation CDs, incense, and much more!
Trauma victims connect to their bodies with specialized yoga
By Shannon O'Brien of GateHouse News Service on Pressmentor.com July 28, 2011
Kristal Perry-Gutierrez teaches "Healing Through Yoga" at Namaste Yoga Center in Springfield, Ill. "I've been teaching yoga for 16 years, and this is a very different way of teaching," she says. In other forms of yoga, the instructor tells participants what to do as they move from step to step. In trauma-sensitive yoga, "we give them options gently, rather than telling them. We invite them; we encourage them. We just gently coach them into an awareness of a situation in the body," she explains.
Many people who have experienced trauma, "they haven't had a choice often. They haven't had a choice presented to them," Perry-Gutierrez says. In trauma-sensitive yoga, the language of the instructor reflects choices. "The choice and control always remain with them," she says.
The skills developed while practicing the ancient discipline of yoga can assist trauma victims in several ways. "Yoga helps people experience themselves in the present moment," Perry-Gutierrez says. "Trauma victims often are more oriented to past events and behave as though they are responding to past events." The practice also emphasizes mindfulness. Yoga helps trauma victims become reacquainted with their bodies.
Colleen Dracos of Springfield has been participating in Perry-Gutierrez's class for two months and says it's different each time she goes. "It helps me alleviate anxiety. It helps alleviate depression and fear. What happens is you develop trigger points for the abuse you have suffered, whether it's physical, emotional or verbal," Dracos says. "Yoga helps you figure out what those (triggers) are and develop the realization that you are no longer balanced or centered, and you need to get back to center. It's a process."
While Perry-Gutierrez's class is open to the public, her goal is to keep the class small. "We want it to be a safe place where people can create community connections," she says. For those interested in taking the class, she likes to speak with them beforehand to discuss trauma-sensitive yoga and to determine if the class is an appropriate fit.
Read the full story at PressMentor.com...
Healing Through Yoga: Yoga for Trauma and PTSD
6-Week Session Begins Tuesday January 10th, 5:30-6:30 pm, $135.00
Read more and sign up online...
Announcements
On-line registration and payment is now here! Click here to see our current weekly class schedule, with the ability to register onlne...
New at Namaste Off-site Classes! Namaste is providing classes in the workplace. We are teaching at SIU medical school and the Phoenix Center. If you are interested in attending, please let us know. If you would like Namaste to come to your office, please talk with Justina about making arrangements.
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Member Testimonial
All my life I have been athletic. As my life evolved, so too did my activity of choice softball, basketball, tennis, bowling, cycling, ...and so on. In 2004 I started working on my PhD the only exercise I experienced was an occasional walk, writing, typing, lifting the junk food to my mouth and getting my butt in and out of a chair I gained over 70 pounds. 2009 I finish the coursework and the dissertation and receive my PhD in Psychology. PhD simply described my dinner plate at that time in my life (Piled Higher & Deeper)! After all of the stress I experienced over the past 5 years, I asked myself "what do I want to do for me?" The answer was yoga and meditation. For 3 months I tried to get up the courage to start yoga, but in crept this image of these tall, thin girls who could twist their bodies like pretzels. I shuttered as my attempt to bend in the middle was problematic lots of "stuff" in the way. The names of the poses alone scared me cobra and cow face. Yet some intrigued me like cobbler (apple or peach?) or Savasana (corpse pose) where you lay on your back, cover your eyes, and rest. One day I decided to call Namaste and register for the "introduction class" and find out what it was all about. The time came and I found myself parked outside thinking "you are going to embarrass yourself" ...but I went in anyway. The instructor and owner, Justina Biswell, introduced herself and one of the first things she said was "yoga is individual and you need to do this for you. It is not about how your neighbor looks doing it, it is not competitive (what?? isnt everything), it is not about doing everything perfectly (again... what?) It is called a 'practice' for a reason. With practice YOU will improve YOU." Those words gave me a sense of relief and security and with that I registered for the Foundation I class. Okay, now what about the extra "stuff" in the middle that makes you look more like a donut than a pretzel? Well, until you can reach the ground, balance yourself, hold yourself up... whatever you struggle doing, there are props that the instructors will help you with that in turn help your practice (blocks, blankets, bolsters, etc.) This is not only if you have a few (or 100) extra pounds, but also if you have pain that prevents you from doing the pose properly (neck pain, back injury, knee problems, etc.)
I have been going to Namaste for 6 months now. I have found that if I focus on my breathing and on inner peace that the "exercise" comes naturally. Can I put my foot behind my head? NO. Can I do all poses perfectly? NO! Am I improving and growing stronger? YES!! Yoga has helped to lower my blood pressure, helped my aching back, strengthened my knees and core and helped me find peace of mind. I know I am not your traditional yogini, but I LOVE IT and so will you!! - Namaste -- Jonna |
Calling the Overweight, the Overworked, those who need to take time for SELF...