eats & interests seattle

I have a problem with stress. Or, at least, I used to. I always felt pressure in everything I did (or didn’t do), from myself or others or time or a myriad of other things, and it was beginning to be a problem. Stress led to worry and disappointment, led to frantic decisions because I felt I didn’t have the time or energy to think things through. I was exhausted and always tense, in body and mind. So I decided to do something about it.

At the beginning of June I decided to start meditating. Then I decided I really needed to start exercising, no that wasn’t it. I wasn’t worried about weight loss or cardio — I walk everywhere and feel healthy (healthier now that I’m wheat-free like I’ve needed to be for years). What I needed was more flexibility. So I began stretching.

And then, while on vacation, I signed up for two days of beach-front yoga. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of yoga before! Stretching + meditation. It just made sense. And it felt great. So when I got back to Seattle I started looking around for a yoga studio. I ended up joining this one:

The Yoga Tree (www.yogatree.com)

When looking around Seattle for yoga studios I noticed that there sure weren’t a lack of them. And on top of the studios there were also gyms that offered yoga classes. I knew that I’d be better off with a studio because I wanted less “work-out / weight-loss” yoga and a more meditative, connect-with-yourself while you stretch & align experience. That narrowed things down to about 4 studios. Then I looked at pricing. The Yoga Tree was the closest to me, located in north Fremont, and offers a $99 new student special that covers unlimited classes for 60 days. After that they have rates that range from per-class to pre-paid pass cards to monthly/quarterly/yearly memberships and more, with discounts for renewal memberships.

I was definitely intrigued with the location and great new student pricing as well as the pricing options, but found that (at least the new student) pricing was about the same as a couple other studios out there. So I began to peruse all the websites and see what their schedules were like. This is what convinced me to try The Yoga Tree. Their schedule offers so many options, and they are the only studio in the city I could find that offers a wide array of morning yoga classes. I’m an early bird, so their 6:15 & 7am classes are ideal. However, if I’m not feeling up to it, they also have classes throughout the day and just as many class offerings in the evenings.

The other things I noticed about the schedule were these: 1) The Yoga Tree has 11 different instructors, all with their own descriptions on the site. This means that if I go to a class and find it isn’t quite right for me, I can just try a different instructor. It also means that throughout the week as I go to different classes I get a diverse yoga experience. 2) The Yoga Tree offers three different types of yoga, as well as a sprinkling of other things as well. They offer Hatha yoga multiple times each day with different instructors and at different levels. This is probably the yoga you are familiar with. From their site:

Hatha Yoga uses postures (asanas) and stretches in combination with the breath to develop flexibility and relaxation. There are many styles of Hatha Yoga. Some use a specific series of postures; others use a flow of movements, while some may use props such as blocks or belts to assist a posture or maximize a stretch. All styles of Hatha Yoga, however, encourage proper alignment of the body and bring balance, strength, and calmness to the practitioner. Our Hatha Yoga classes are based on the classic and ancient practices with attention to alignment and the deeper layers of yoga.

They also have vinyasa style classes.

Vinyasa style practice emphasizes a continuous flow of movement using sun salutations, dynamic breathing and long holdings. Each part of the body (inside and out) is explored and worked in a deep and mindful way. This practice builds strength, tones and detoxifies. Vinyasa is a fun and creative practice requiring focus and dedication. This class moves at a quick pace; therefore, some Yoga experience is helpful prior to starting this class.

In addition they offer intro classes for new beginners, meditation, gentle & restorative yoga, teacher training, retreats and my favorite, Yoga Nidra. If you aren’t familiar with Yoga Nidra, here is a description:

Yoga Nidra (The sleep of the Yogi) is an ancient process of meditation in which we learn to relax on every level of our being thus releasing blocks and tension from our unconscious minds. In Yoga Nidra we use affirmation, bodysensing, subtle breathwork, as well as working with feelings, emotions and imagery.

After trying out a community class without a membership I knew this studio was for me and immediately signed up. I think the thing I was most tentative about was the fact that I am a beginner (I’ve only done 2 or 3 other 5/6-week sessions before, and they were 3-4 years ago). But every instructor I’ve taken a class with has been able to gently correct when my alignment is off, offer suggestions for modifying positions, and helped when certain parts of my body were weak. And I’m not alone — everyone has weak sections and the studio isn’t full of all advanced yogis — everyone modifies for their own bodies and it’s truly been a comfortable, relaxing experience every time. Through taking a Yoga Nidra class, plus 3 or so other Hatha yoga classes each week I’ve already become more flexible, less stressed, and more calm and relaxed.

No, I haven’t lost any weight or noticed any particular strength building or muscle tone. That’s not why I started yoga or joined The Yoga Tree. I joined for the reasons I mentioned above, and have been more than satisfied. The studio does offer advanced classes, and the vinyasa classes are more phsyical, so if that’s what you are looking for, you can probably also find it here. And if you’re unsure, I recommend emailing them. They are super friendly and even say in their welcome email:

If you need any help figuring out which classes are best suited for you please let us know.  For instance some folks are seeking a more vigorous practice, or looking for slower deeper practice, others are recovering from an injury or just want to know what’s available. We would be happy to make some personal recommendations if you would like.

So are you thinking you want to try it out? The following are some $8 community classes The Yoga Tree offers that would be great intros to the studio (you can also drop in to any regular class — they are $15).

Hatha

• Saturdays, 9:15 – 10:45am level 2 with Cicely
  (this is a level 2 class, suited for those who have previous yoga experience)
• Sundays, 6:45 – 8pm restorative with Susan
  (this is an all-level class and great for a more soothing studio trial)

Vinyasa

• Wednesdays, Noon – 1:15pm level 1-2 with Jennie

Meditation

• Wednesdays, 4:45 – 5:45pm all levels with Irene

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Have you tried yoga before? Do you like it? If you currently practice yoga, where in the city do you do so? What are some other great places in Seattle to work out or do things like yoga?

*first and third image by Chumpboy on Flickr, instructor image from Yoga Tree website