   
|
Testimonials
Colleen Deans
“I cannot say enough about Iyengar Yoga, the Kelowna Yoga House and the highly trained teachers we have there. I had previously dabbled in other types of yoga but upon moving to Kelowna, discovered quite accidently the Kelowna Yoga House so off I went and am still there. I have moderate to advanced osteoarthritis and feel quite sure I would not be as agile and flexible without Iyengar Yoga which focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas (poses). I truly believe I am delaying the progress of the disease with my Yoga classes and practices. A Rheumatologist recently confirmed this by telling me to keep doing whatever it is I am doing to stay strong and agile. I am 69 years old, have been doing Iyengar Yoga for six years and look forward to the next six years at KYH.”
A Beginner’s Perspective on Iyengar Yoga
by Jennifer Forsythe
I began taking Iyengar yoga classes at the Kelowna Yoga House regularly in
December 2010. When I first started yoga, the only thing I had going for me was my age.
As a full time university student, I was very inflexible, always stiff, and had terrible
posture. After I started Iyengar yoga, only going once per week at this point, I began to
notice that my tight hamstrings were loosening up and I could actually touch my toes for
the first time in years. The scoliosis I had developed from prolonged periods of studying
began to straighten out. My overall flexibility and strength had dramatically improved
after only one session.
While I had tried other styles of yoga before, none compared to
the results I experienced with the Iyengar method. The detailed and thorough instruction I
received from my teachers not only helped me to gain flexibility and strength in a short
amount of time, but also allowed me to receive the full benefits of the asanas and perform
them with the correct actions. I responded well to this type of teaching and quickly began
to progress beyond my own expectations. By the end of my first session of Iyengar, I was
able to get up into Sirsasana (head stand) against the wall and by the end of my second
session I was able to get up into handstand as well. Other poses that were once extremely
difficult came to me with more ease and grace, and I was able to slowly start removing
props I once required.
Iyengar yoga has given me a sense of empowerment and
confidence that I didn’t have before. It has quieted my mind and given me a greater sense
of peace in my day-to-day life. The changes I have observed in myself have caused me to
pursue Iyengar yoga further and I am now taking multiple classes a week and starting to
develop my own home practice. I am looking forward to seeing even more of the benefits
that regular asana practice brings and am grateful for all the positive effects Iyengar yoga
has given to my life thus far.
Jennifer Forsythe is a MSc student at the University of British Columbia
Okanagan. She was introduced to Iyengar yoga by her mother, Tracy Forsythe, who
teaches at the Kelowna Yoga House.
Interview with Val Spring
What drew you to yoga? I had been dealing with very incapacitating lower back pain for well over ten years. I had tried everything that came my way to be free of the pain with no long term relief. I knew the more I could move my body that it helped, so I worked closely with my Yoga Instructor, Krisna at the Kelowna Yoga House, and was able to have a great breakthrough from living with constant pain.
Where there any barriers, real or perceived, to you starting yoga? I showed up in the “Gentle” class I was very concerned that doing some movements would make matters worse however I found with the knowledge of the Instructors, they were able to help me to modify some of the poses until my body would naturally adjust over time and allow my body to go further into the pose. When I started I was in horrible pain and today I live pain free and am able to do one mean shoulder stand!
How long have you been doing yoga and what benefits have you received as a result? I have been doing Yoga with The Kelowna Yoga House for approx. 5 years now. The benefits I have received are plentiful. I have been able to consistently further my range of motion whether that be from crossing my legs to doing a Shoulder stand that I have not done for many years!
What do you think the value is of a place like Kelowna Yoga House [versus, say taking yoga at the ‘Y’ or something like that)? I think the benefits are the commitment from the Instructors to their own Yoga journey and the passion to share their knowledge with others. I have experienced the teachers coming together to share their knowledge and to come up with a plan of how to help a client with their injuries or barriers. Also, the sole purpose of the Kelowna Yoga House is Yoga, so there are no other types of exercise going on or available. It is very focused on Yoga for the Mind, Body and Soul.
|
|
|
250-862-4906