Shakti Yoga
Yoga is a means of attaining proper balanced health of the body and the mind; the source of
true wealth in our lives.
Shakti Yoga is an emerging yoga style from Woodstock, NY created by Angie's teacher, Linda Lalita Winnick, owner of Shakti Yoga of Woodstock and Saugerties N.Y., and teacher at the Omega Institute,
Rhinebeck, N.Y. Shakti is a Sanskrit word that commonly translates as
"energy" or "power." It also refers to the spiritual /tantric tradition
originated in India that worships the Divine Mother and feminine
energy. How it is interpreted in the case of this style of Hatha Yoga
is through cultivation of energy (Shakti) through creative asana (
postures) sequencing (vinyasa karma) , pranayama ( breathing) , ritual,
and meditation. Shakti yoga is a form of Hatha yoga and draws from a
variety of lineages, including Iyengar principles of Alignment, the
fluid form of Vinyasa and Jivamukti, and the integrity and strength of
Forrest Yoga. Shakti yoga also draws on Ayurvedic principles of
sequencing. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of healing that heals
according to one's constitutional type and adjusts a yoga practice
according to the seasons, time of day, and individual needs of the
practitioner.
Angie's
classes also incorporates elements of Anusara yoga and she has studied
with Certified Anusara Yoga teacher, Deb Nuebauer. Iyengar yoga
is another important influence in her own practice and teaching, and
she has completed several workshops with Certified Iyengar
teacher, Peentz Dubble. Angie also studies Kundalini Yoga, working with
top teachers such as Gurmukh Kuar Khalsa, and Ravi Singh and Ana Brett.
Angie also studies with local Upper Valley teachers: Anusara with
Michelle George, Iyengar with Jill Johnson and Jyoti Hansaa, Kripalu
yoga with Sue Kirincich, and Forrest yoga with Michelle Deslandes. She
fits in other styles such as Ashtanga and Bhava yoga (in Brattleboro,
VT) in between making paper art and raising two beautiful daughters!
Angie believes that there are as many styles of yoga as there are
people practicing yoga, and each person brings new intuition and
insight into the ancient practice of yoga. Angie finds that studying
with such a wide range of teachers and yoga styles helps to deepen her
understanding of today's yoga world and to fully integrate these styles
into her creative sequencing.
Beginners and Seasoned students are welcome.
Classes in Claremont and Cornish are currently geared toward the
beginner student, however, seasoned students will also enjoy this
blending of traditions that will work the whole person. Classes are
taught with demonstration of poses, clear verbal instruction, and
gentle hands on adjustments. Basic standing yoga poses will be taught
to encourage strength and stability, sun salutations to bring heat and
fluid motion to the body, abdominal exercises to work our core, basic
backbends to open the chest and expand the breath, twisting to
strengthen our back muscles and digestive process, and arm
strengthening poses for upper body strength and later level II arm
balancing! We will focus on expanding the breath; finding proper
alignment in poses that will transfer into our daily living; variations
in poses for beginners and those with injuries, all while gaining core
strength and flexibility and honoring your own body's abilities.
Experience the multitude of health benefits of yoga--whole body
strengthening, flexibility, and endurance, to muscle definition,
improved digestion and much more. With continued practice of yoga, many
people find their various health ailments alleviating. However the
greatest benefit of yoga is the peace of mind that is found when we
learn to fully breathe and exist within the body. Then we can truly
experience the union that is Yoga.