by Lisa Schauer
From the southern end of Morgan County to its northern part, in chairs, churches, studios, parks, and on trails, modern yoga is making a connection with residents and visitors.
Some people seek yoga for relief from stiffness, aches and pains, while others are in search of enlightenment or longevity.
All such gifts can be found in the 5,000-year-old tradition of yoga, which translates from Sanskrit, humankind’s oldest continuously used language, from the root word “yug,” which means to yoke or harness.
The act of “yoking” referred to the linking up of one’s lower consciousness with a higher one.
Over time, the word yoga has also been translated as “union” to refer not only the union between lower and high consciousness, but the union between mind and body.
Physical benefits of yoga include improved strength, balance, flexibility and circulation.
Mindfulness, or the vigilant practice of watching the mind and its activities, is a skill gained through yoga.
Regrets over the past or worries about the future can’t creep in when you’re fully focused on the present.
By paying attention to your breath and letting go of previous attachments and expectations, you can gain control over the perilous constructs of your mind through a sequence of postures in yoga class.
As in any endeavor, comparison is a waste of energy, and a destroyer of self-esteem. Start slowly, do what you can, and appreciate the moment.
Since you can’t become someone else, you might as well focus on becoming the best version of yourself.
Above all, consistency in yoga practice produces the best results for improving mind and body.
When choosing a yoga instructor, find someone who you admire in the way they move through the world, and think twice if anyone asks you to join a certain religion. Yoga is a philosophy, not a theology.
Mind-body connection
“When we think stressful thoughts, our body releases stress chemicals, like cortisol and adrenaline. This can have a negative impact on the physical body, especially if it is prolonged. When we think good or positive thoughts, our body releases chemical messengers of serotonin, endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine. These messengers help to reduce stress, ease pain and create lasting feelings of happiness and well-being,” said local yoga instructor Laura Falcon in an email.
Falcon teaches flow yoga, or “vinyasa,” in classes held at the Ice House and Berkeley Springs State Park, in rotation with other instructors and as weather allows.
Weekend yoga classes are free, sponsored by Travel Berkeley Springs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m.
Falcon’s classes are mixed level, and each one is different.
Vinyasa, or “connecting movement,” is an ancient form of yoga rediscovered when its original scripts were found written on old palm leaves in India during the 1930s, redefining yoga for a modern age.
Often called flow yoga, or power yoga, popularized in the 1990s, vinyasa yoga connects movement from one posture to the next, focusing on breathing and alignment.
Falcon also volunteers to teach chair yoga at Morgan County Senior Center in Berkeley Springs on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Chair yoga classes at the senior center are free and there is no age restriction. There is some paperwork to fill out for liability reasons.
Nature, therapy and yoga
In southern Morgan County, Erin Harris-Smith, owner of Twilight Holistic Healing, teaches traditional yoga classes and offers yoga nature hikes for all ages and abilities.
Practicing yoga in nature combines the mind-body benefits of yoga with the restorative effects of being outdoors, creating a powerful synergy for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Smith is also a licensed mental health counselor specializing in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, play and art therapy, talk therapy, and the integration of nature into counseling sessions through hiking and hands-on interactions with her family’s farm animals.
Her traditional yoga classes and chair yoga classes are held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church on Valley Road the second Saturday of each month.
Chair yoga begins at 10 a.m. and traditional yoga starts at 11 a.m. Each class is $5 and drop-ins are welcomed.
Anyone who would like more information, or to register for the next yoga and hiking event can find Twilight Holistic Healing on social media.
