Day 1 (ish)

date: 9/13/2016
time: 6:30 pm
instructor: Steevee
style: Yin Yoga

I decided to start off my yoga assignment for this class with a class and an instructor I've been going to for a while now. I've attended many of Steevees on campus yoga classes, and have enjoyed all of them. The reason I've stuck with Steevee is not just because I like the moves and forms she teaches but because I like her personality and the approach she has to yoga. As I've said to others as I recommend her class, she isn't the spacey-hippie type of yoga teacher we, as Americans I suppose, have come to expect in yoga teachers. Steevee is certainly a calmer person than some, but she has a sassy personality and makes jokes and comments throughout the class that make her students feel comfortable. Although she didn't get into history in this most recent class, I believe she is aware of the newness of the physical practice of yoga. Thinking about some of the discussions in class, I think Steevee is one of the individuals who look at yoga as an all-around life changing practice. She recommends poses to do when stressed or needing something in our lives. She recommends quick little forms to do every day to boost our physical alignments and thus our chis/energies and thus our overall health. I think Steevee herself allows yoga to be a spiritual practice for herself, but she does not preach or talk about spirituality much in the class. Last nights class was a very good class for me personally. Physically I wanted to stretch out some sore muscles and I definitely did. I brought two of my friends to the class who have never tried yoga which made me happy. I did wind up falling asleep a little bit as we held one posture, which has never happened to me before. I don't really use yoga as a spiritual practice for myself. Without getting too far into it, I'm not one to be very religious (hell, religious at all) and I don't like to force deities and related beliefs into things like my yoga practice. I personally practice yoga because it is good for me physically and because I do believe it has an effect on my energies and thus various aspects of my life (reduces stress, makes me feel more in tune with my body and mind, makes me feel simply good). I like Steevees approach as a non-spiritual but effective-to-energies practice.

side note: I should probably get a new mat, my crappy $5 one probably won't survive the semester