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January 23, 2013 | 03:34 PM In the fitness industry, people are hot for yoga. It has moved on from that college elective you take for easy credit, and it's no longer just for hippies. Right now, somewhere on Maui, there's probably a yoga class going on. By now, every quadrant of the island has a yoga studio, classes take place on the beach and most gyms offer yoga in their schedules.
Yoga stems from traditional Indian Hindu philosophy that incorporates mind, body and spirit in its practice. In the late 19th century, the West began taking it up. Fast forward 200 years and you have an incredible assimilation of yogic culture into our fitness lifestyle, creating the diverse practices that many follow today.
Many of the yoga classes are blends of philosophies, and renamed into approachable and understandable terminology for the lay student. At the Body Alive Yoga studio in Wailuku, owner Rachel Gonzalez leads classes like chill and flo, yogalates (a yoga pilates hybrid), lunch yoga and body rock yoga, each with their own distinct styles. Other classes include Kundalini, combat yoga, hatha and Happy hour flo.
"I decided Wailuku was a great place for my studio, because everyone has to come here; it's the county seat," says Gonzalez. "I want to offer the community who live and work here a solid base for yoga. We wanted to create a pallet of selections to be accessible for all walks of life. Lunch class can be a great break for those people who want to get out of the office and maybe that's the only time they have to practice."
The Maui Yoga & Dance Shala just relocated a year ago to their spot on Baldwin Avenue in the historic train depot. Their schedule is full of dance and yoga classes for adults and kids. Owner Nadia Toraman has been teaching on Maui for more than 10 years and has her own brand of yoga, which she calls Maui Aloha Yoga. Studio manager Karin Kuhn also teaches several classes six out of seven days a week. For keiki there is ballet, yoga, dance and hula at the shala.
"We love this new location!" says Kuhn. "It has great character with many of the old architectural elements in place but jazzed up with a full remodel that leaves the buildings feeling new and clean. Our keiki classes are our focus for this year and we are developing a solid daily offering that includes ballet, hula, creative dance, jazz/tap and yoga. Our keiki are natural yogis! In class they will develop strength while having fun. They will learn how to move and stretch their bodies, balance their weight in new ways. [We also] encourage focus and concentration."
I wanted to use yoga as a workout and quickly learned that you can start to memorize the movements, and then let your mind wander. Gonzalez warned that keeping your mind in the postures is an important part of the workout. She says "recognize the distraction and let it go." Being present improves your results.
For Westin Spa and Passion of Movement yoga teacher Lysha Kamisato Wernig, yoga was a life changing experience she holds dear to her heart.
"Yoga and fitness have given me the opportunity to connect my mind, body and soul through the hardest times of my life, thus far," says Wernig. "My dad passed away from cancer seven years ago and then my mom passed three years ago. I'm an only child and my parents were my everything, so when they were gone I was lost. I have amazing friends and an incredible husband but when you feel lonely so deep in your soul, only you can bring yourself back. Yoga brought me back to me, it helped me to focus on the living. It made me present and aware of each and every moment."
While yoga has the physical aspect of practicing the asanas, yoga teachers explain the more subtle happenings in the mind are also part of your experience. Yogi Amrit Desai, who established the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health explains that breath and breathing tie the physical body and the psychic mind together in his book Amrit Yoga. Body Alive Instructor Megan Nolan focuses on the meditation aspect as part of the practice.
"Yoga encourages us to observe our breath in an attempt to focus and quiet our mind," explains Nolan. "Like many other cultures and traditions, yoga recognizes the breath as that which animates us and connects to all life on this planet. Sometimes people believe that meditation is separate from yoga, but in fact every part of yoga is meant to be performed as meditation. Meditation can be understood as focusing one's awareness or attention on one thing (for example, the breath, a posture or the sound of the ocean) so that when thoughts come into your mind you can notice that you are thinking and then release the thought and return to your one pointed focus. The point of meditation is not to not think but instead to clear your mind and center yourself so that you don't get caught up and distracted by your thoughts when they come."
Above all, yoga teachers demonstrate that whether you are seeking practice for fitness, healing or meditation you can take the lessons from class and apply them to life. Gonzales talks about what you practice on the mat can be practiced at the office, at home, as you drive, as you live. She believes yoga is a medicine and that you can heal yourself.
Studies have tried to quantify with science the results and benefits of doing yoga, but it's hard to document. A Harvard Medical Health newsletter in April 2009 sums it up well by saying that "Many of the studies evaluating yoga's therapeutic benefits have been small and poorly designed." But they did go on to say enough evidence exists to say that yoga helped stress levels, and that breath control aids depression sufferers.
Kuhn says that yoga practice is an evolving philosophy that offers ancient answers to modern problems. She says yoga will be a lifelong journey for her and the benefit is that she gets to share the practice with others to make positive changes in the world.
"Yoga offers guidelines on how to live a life that is rooted in non violence, truth, moderation, purity of intention, self reflection, devotion and love," says Kuhn. "It's a disciplined path that requires commitment and courage but the benefits are numerous. The practice provide us with life skills that foster good physical, mental and emotional health. You will develop strength, coordination, balance, improve your posture, learn to breathe better and how to manage stress. This will leave you feeling energised, clear headed, and calm. But even as we focus on creating more personal health, we are reminded to respect and nurture the health and well-being of others and our planet. One of the meanings of Yoga is 'to yoke:' it is a reminder that all things are connected, like the threads of a tapestry and that we can never flourish at the expense of something else. Yoga is therefore about creating better relationships. For us at Maui Yoga and Dance Shala, this means cultivating more community through a variety of offerings that brings us together."
To introduce yourself to yoga, Maui Yoga and Dance Shala is offering 1 free class and a chance to win a 5 class pass, just take their ad on page 18 with you. To inspire yourself further in yoga, Body Alive Yoga studio is extending their Yoga Challenge, 20 days to take 13 classes ($10 per class for the challenge), or try their beginners yoga on the third Monday of the month at 7pm for just $5. Or choose one of the studios on the next page.
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Yoga Locations on Maui
Central Maui
24 Hour Fitness
150 Hana Hwy., Kahului
808-877-7474
24hourfitness.com
Bikram's Yoga College of India
251 Lalo St., Kahului
808-871-2402
bikramhawaii.com
Body Alive Yoga &
Movement Studio
1995 Main St., Wailuku
808-359-1060
bodyaliveyoga.com
Kahului Community Yoga Center
283 Lalo St., Kahului
808-874-5270
kahuluiyoga.com
Maui Family YMCA
250 Kanaloa Ave, Kahului, HI
808-242-9007
mauiymca.org
Spiritual Wake Up
212 Ho'oulu Ln #405, Wailuku
808-242-0072
South Maui
Kihei Community Yoga Center
1847 S. Kihei Rd #103
808-269-2794
kiheiyoga.com
Maui Beach Yoga
808-385-6466
mauibeachyoga.com
Maui Yoga and Kickboxing
115 E. Lipoa St., Suite 202, Kihei
www.mauihotyoga.com
Maui Yoga Path
2960 S. Kihei Rd.
808-874-5545
mauiyogapath.maui.net
Pilates Maui
310 Ohukai St., Suite 310, Kihei
808-874-0052
pilatesmaui.com
Yoga Supernova
2480 S. Kihei Rd.
808-250-7599
www.yogasupernova.com
Surf Yoga Maui
831 Kumulani Dr., Kihei
808-264-9136
surfyogamaui.com
summer@surfyogamaui.com
West Maui
Academy of Diverse Grappling
845 Wainee St., Suite 109, Lahaina
808-661-1200
adgmaui.com
Bikram Yoga Lahaina
845 Waine'e St. #204, Lahaina
808-661-6828
bikramyogalahaina.net
Island Spirit Yoga
840 Waine'e St., Lahaina
808-667-2111
islandspirityoga.com
Maui Pilates and Weight Training
142 Kupuohi St., Lahaina
808-661-1116
bodybalancemaui.com
Passion of Movement
Napili Plaza
5095 Napilihau St., Suite 112B, Napili
808-419-6028
passionofmovement.com
Upcountry
American Viniyoga Institute
3681 Baldwin Ave., Makawao
808-572-1414
viniyoga.com
Curves With Jennifer lynn
95 Makawao Ave., #102, Pukalani
808-572-1701
Crossfit Upcountry Maui
crossfitupcountrymaui.com
Lululemon Athletica
93 Hana Hwy., Paia
808-579-9108
lululemon.com/stores/maui
Lumeria Maui
1813 Baldwin Ave., Makawao
808-579-8877
lumeriamaui.com
Maui Mysore Style Paia
137 Hana Hwy., Paia
808-463-7293
mauimysorestyle.com
Makawao Yoga
1170 Makawao Ave.
808-359-2252
makawaoyoga.com
Maui Yoga Shala
381 Baldwin Ave., Paia
808-283-4123
maui-yoga.com
Maya Yoga Studio
just past Twin Falls, directions online.
808-268-9426
www.mayayogastudio.com
Paia Yoga Maui
161 Hana Hwy., Paia
808-283-3612
paiayoga.com
Samana Wellness Yoga Retreats & Holistic Nutrition
Haiku - 808-280-0201
hawaii-yoga-retreats.com
The House of Yoga and Zen
Makawao - 808-573-0687
ashtangamaui.com
Upcountry Fitness
810 Kokomo Rd., Haiku
808-575-7334
upcountryfitness.com
Yoga Awareness
3660 Baldwin Ave, Makawao
Temple of Peace, 575 Haiku Rd.
Paia Yoga, 161 Hana Hwy., Paia
808-573-7771
yogaawareness.com
Yoga with Jennifer Lynn
52 Akea Pl., Kula
808-268-4095
yogawithjenniferlynn.comMaui's Intrepid Food Taster: Will Eat and Drink Anything
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