Retreat combines yoga practices

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September 30, 2009

BY LARRY SMITH The Commercial-News Wed Sep 30, 2009, 07:45 PM CDT

DANVILLE — Expect a feeling of calm to surround the David S. Palmer Arena on Oct. 17.

Area and guest yoga teachers will present the Danville Area Yoga Retreat at the arena to give residents familiar with yoga an opportunity to learn new techniques and meet with other enthusiasts.

“My goal is to bring different styles of yoga to Danville and show students how different teachers teach as well,” said organizer Gordon Alexander.

The event will be open to everyone, but Alexander said participants should have some yoga experience.

“If they’ve even watched videos, they should be OK,” he said. “We just don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

The sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 17 and run to 5 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1:30 p.m. A light lunch will be included in the $20 registration fee.

Attendance will be by pre-registration only, Alexander said. To register, or for more information, call him at 286-3335.

Two sessions will run simultaneously for an hour, with a 15-minute break before the next one begins. The arrangement will allow participants to learn about the different types of yoga.

The day will include sessions on power, kripalu, yoga for strength and endurance, iyengar, hatha, vinyasa, asana,Tibetian and restorative. In addition to Alexander, local instructors include Sharron Runyon, Amy Luke and Leslie Boedicker. Other instructors will be Rachel Burge of Covington, Ind., Chuck Crosby of Indianapolis and Thom Adams of Terre Haute, Ind. The latter two men taught at a statewide event in Indiana.

“These are all top-notch instructors,” Alexander said.

Alexander became interested in yoga and the martial arts while serving in the Army in the early 1960s. He stayed with his learning after his discharge. He also teaches tai chi and gi gong.

“Yoga is calming,” he said. “It’s about breathing and getting rid of stress in your body. It’s the union of mind and body working together. There are many aspects beyond the physical.

“It’s a challenge to mind and body. As we bring the body into these positions, it forces your mind to concentrate, to form the union. Yoga is not about putting your foot behind your head. There’s no competition. It’s about doing what you can do.”

Alexander said practicing yoga is not easy, but it allows each to person to progress at his or her pace.

“If it were easy, what would be the point?” Alexander said. “You’d derive no benefit from it.”

Alexander hopes the retreat will attract more people to yoga and let people who practice it now connect with others in the community.

“We just hope everyone who comes has a good time,” he said.

IF YOU GO

The Danville Area Yoga Retreat will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at the David S. Palmer Arena. Pre-registration is required. Registration fee is $20, which includes lunch. To register, call Gordon Alexander at 286-3335.

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