Yoga: An alternative to the treadmill

During the summer, there are ample opportunities to get a good work out in. Running, biking and anything outdoors is available.

During the winter, not so much.

For those who aren’t gym rats or don’t like to run on a treadmill, there aren’t many options for exercise.

Enter yoga.

It is an activity that can be done with a partner or group or individually. It can help with flexibility, as it is stretching based on the participant’s level of experience. If one cannot fully stretch to the floor, variations of poses are used to challenge, but not hurt.

Yoga Heart Studio, in Polson, offers free Anusara yoga, a type of yoga that is heart-oriented, on every second and fourth Tuesday nights of each month.

“It comes from the fact that everything is good,” Yoga Heart Studio co-owner Bonnie Kiser said.

It has thearapeutic qualities that stem from a focus on breathing.

Movements and actions within every pose are coordinated with the breath.

Poses are modified or supported with props if necessary to help each participant achieve the general form of pose.

I was able to attend the Practice Level 2 class last Friday. Going into the class, I was nervous as I have never been to a yoga class before. I have done stretching and flexibility training for sports. Usually, my forms of exercise include  hitting, punching and sweating my way through opponents and objects. To sit and mentally focus was going to be a bit of a challenge.

The class was lighthearted and the atmosphere encouraged everyone to push themselves without being criticized.

The studio room was welcoming to newcomers and comforting to veterans.

The reasons for being there varied for each lady. Some were there to achieve outer strength and others were there to find inner strength. One wanted to return to her former-gymnast self and one wanted to get in better shape. Ages varied and many that were years older than me could hold the poses stronger and longer than I could.

“As we age, reaching the floor is important,” Kiser said.

I found the beauty of yoga is that every pose is a challenge but not frustrating.

The next morning, my muscles were sore, but not a bad sore. It was a dull ache that comes from a good workout.

Benefits of yoga vary but include flexibility, feeling more energetic and calming benefits.

When I tried to sum up my yoga experience, Kiser said it best: “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.”