Your Body on Yoga
MARQUETTE YOGA CENTER HELPS PEOPLE DISCOVER HOW YOGA CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Yoga. Perhaps you’ve heard of this now popular sweeping trend, wondered what all the fuss is about, or even pondered trying a class? Maybe you’re an athlete already looking for a way to improve your inner calm to improve your competitive edge and help protect you from injury? You could be a mom looking to get your pre-baby body back or maybe you’ve reached a point in life where you realize you must do something daily in order to feel good inside your skin.
Mary Connor leads a morning yoga class at her Marquette Yoga Center studio in the Masonic Building on Washington St. in downtown Marquette. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Truth be told, yoga is not just for one “type” of person at all. You don’t have to be flexible, athletic, or strong to enjoy the rewards of this ancient practice developed over 5,000 years ago. All you need is curiosity, a willingness to try, and a commitment to improving your health.
Yoga is a health system, a philosophy, a series of physical exercises and breathing techniques meant to achieve holistic mind, body, & soul wellness. As the world continues to shrink with the ease of modern travel, globalization, and the age of information yoga has opened up to a worldwide audience allowing more and more people to discover the benefits on a firsthand basis.
Mary Connor, owner instructor, and Ayurveda practitioner at the Marquette Yoga Center.
Mary Connor, owner of the Marquette Yoga Center is one such person. She was introduced to yoga on her honeymoon in 1992 when she tried out a class at the resort where they stayed. She enjoyed the class and bought a VHS (remember those?) to try at home, but it was another 7 years before she made a personal commitment to taking up the practice and lifestyle. It was while attending a workshop for her continuing fitness education certification, that she knew yoga was to be a regular part of her life.
Students stretch together during a morning class at the Marquette Yoga Center. (photo by Ron Caspi)
She admits it was a little difficult in the beginning because she had lost flexibility. Her body was strong from a lifetime of heavy sports activities however, her ability to stretch had been compromised. Mary says, “As an athlete I found it challenging, but knew it was good for my body and mind. My heart told me this was something special.” After encouragement by her teacher to give it a chance and practice at least a few times a week she says, “I achieved the flexibility I had as a teen and it is very freeing!”
With regular practice yoga can help you regain and maintain body flexibility and strength. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Through her personal practice she has not only maintained physical strength and flexibility over the years but also feels she has grown emotionally, mentally, and spiritually too. Mary hopes to influence and inspire others by sharing the wisdom and radical self-love she has gained from yoga through teaching at the Marquette Yoga Center studio she opened just a few years ago in downtown Marquette.
Here she offers a variety of yoga classes for folks at every level. The mission of the Marquette Yoga Center is to, “offer yoga and wellness to people of any age and ability. We want to meet people wherever they are,” says Mary. Yoga is not all they are providing either. Mary is a trained Ayurveda practitioner as well and offers consultations, treatments, and workshops to help others balance and restore their health through the sister science of yoga, Ayurveda.
These treatments and workshops include things like:
- Diet and lifestyle consultations to balance the body and mind.
- 3 week individual or group body cleanses to remove built up toxins from the body.
- Spa treatments that incorporate massage and warm oils to stimulate the lymph system, relieve back and sinus pain, or reduce stress.
- Free lectures for those interested in learning more about Ayurveda, a science of longevity and wellness.
The yoga sculpt class is a great workout that builds lots of core strength. (photo by Ron Caspi)
So why should someone try yoga with so many forms of exercise out there to choose from? Those who try this ancient form of wellness tend to care about the body they live in and want to learn how to care for it. With regular practice they develop flexibility in body and mind that affords them an inner calmness. This sense of calm helps them to handle stress better and leads to long productive lives.
Still, even if it’s good for you, yoga may not be for everyone. Says Mary, “It’s important to try different teachers and find a style that suits you best when approaching this simple yet complex form of exercise and lifestyle.”
For those who have discipline issues and struggle sticking with a new exercise program Mary simply states that you need to make a commitment and create time for it within your busy schedule. A great way to hold yourself accountable is by paying in advance for a series of classes. By committing yourself financially you are more likely to force yourself to go even when feeling lazy and once you’ve established 4-6 weeks of a routine it becomes easier and good habits can form.
Mary guides students through stretches to release their backs after a yoga workout at the Marquette Yoga Center. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Another bit of advice she offers is learning to say no to things that may mess up the schedule once established. Says Mary, ” The body works on circadian rhythms. So sticking to a routine, whether exercise, mealtimes, sleeping, and waking the body operates better on a schedule.”
The Marquette Yoga Center can help you with your goals of health and well-being through their daily yoga classes and Ayurveda; all designed to teach self-care with love and compassion so that every practitioner can lead healthy productive lives.
For more info about their daily classes, wellness workshops, and Ayurveda treatments visit the Marquette Yoga Center website!
Read more articles about yoga and Ayurveda written by Mary:
How Yoga Can Improve Your Health
Tips To Cope With Stress Through Yoga and Exercise
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