Heart of the Village Yoga

A new 4-week series of classes will begin after Thanksgiving at Heart of the Village Yoga Studio and Boutique for the benefit of the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. The classes will combine the benefits of yoga practice with the principles of functional strength training. The “Aerial Power Yoga-X-Training” classes will be taught by Bob Speck, registered yoga teacher (RYT 500/E-RYT 200), ASCM Certified Personal Trainer, and CFSC Certified Functional Strength Coach.

Why combine yoga and strength training?

“Yoga is usually associated with the desire to increase flexibility. However, once you begin to practice yoga you realize that it has many more benefits including body awareness, core strengthening, joint stabilization, breath control, enhanced focus, and stress reduction,” says Speck. “Strength coaches know that these benefits are also consistent with the goals of any young athlete, as well as for all of us who just want to be healthy, move better and live longer.”

“I’ve been strength training and practicing yoga for about 20 years, originally with the intent of prolonging my ability to be an athletic skier and snowboarder. Through time, and recovering from injuries, I’ve realized how my strength training helped my yoga practice, and how my yoga practice helped my strength training. And how both helped my big mountain skiing and snowboarding!”

“As functional strength training has gained more recent attention, I’ve observed the teachings of yoga being used in the strength-building world to increase hip and thoracic spine mobility, and core and shoulder joint stability – the foundations of functional strength movements. Strength coaches are even now including deep breathing to activate bodies and to ease nervous systems! This fusion of yoga with functional strength have been the foundations of my strength coaching practices for years now, working with military veterans, young athletes, and baby-boomers alike; I’d like to introduce these practices to the yoga community. For me, it’s just about helping people move easily, feel powerful and learn more about the innate connection of mind and body.”

Heart of the Village Yoga already offers a number of active “power” yoga classes and “aerial” classes  which increase both strength and flexibility. Aerial classes allow students to use their bodyweight in suspension and as a means to introduce instability, movement, additional support and inversions. The new series of classes will include additional props (such as kettle bells, exercise bands, and gymnastic rings) to increase full-body strength-building and improve functional movements, all within a format of a familiar breath-focused, aerial yoga, power-flow class. Students will have the ability to progress to more difficult practices as movements improve and as strength increases over multiple weeks… and to relax in the hammock-like swings at each session! Each class will incorporate meditative, focused breathing practice time.

These new classes will be offered as follows:

• Series One: Monday: 4:30 – 5:45pm, November 28, December 5, 12 and 19;
• Series Two: Tuesday: 4:30 – 5:45pm: November 29, December 6, 13 and 20;
• Series Three: Thursday: 4:30 – 5:45pm: December 1, 8, 15 and 22; and
• Series Four: Friday: 4:30 – 5:45 pm: December 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Donation Fee is $48 for each 4 week Series. 100% of donation will go to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. Classes will be limited to 4 participants. Beginners are welcome. Each series will require a minimum of two pre-registered students. Click here to enroll. Deadline for registration is November 25.

Aerial Power Yoga-X-Training

Bob Speck, also a 40-year certified ski and snowboard instructor, and adaptive sports coach, teaches numerous other aerial, power, and yin restorative classes at Heart of the Village Yoga Studio, and is available at the studio for private coaching. Click here for schedule and other information.