Summer Specials, Memorial Day Yoga & Schedule Change

Planning to spend the summer playing at Mighty? Take advantage of our special: Purchase 2 months of unlimited classes for $220 ($190 for students) before June 15th.

For those math-minded yogis, check out the savings if you attend:
3 classes/week = $9.17/class ($7.92 for students)
5 classes/week = $5.50/class ($4.75 for students)
7 classes/week = $3.93/class ($3.39 for students)

Memorial Day Yoga
Yes, you can still squeeze in a bit of yoga between those Memorial Day barbecues and picnics! The studio will be open for our regularly scheduled classes.

Summer Schedule Change
After May 31st, our Tuesday 7:30 PM Basics and Wednesday 4:30 PM All Levels classes will be cancelled for the summer. The Thursday 6:45 AM All Levels will continue as long as we have willing morning yogis, so remember to register online!

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: A New Approach to Homework and Finals

By Erica Harris

It wasn’t too long ago that I was writing 14-page research papers or memorizing the conjugations of French verbs.  During these times of little sleep and high levels of stress, myself and many students found it helpful to take a break.  Some reconnected with the world by going to bars or parties. However, a new growing trend of students found harmony through yoga.

Why practice yoga? Weather you already have a workout routine or are just looking for something new yoga has the perfect balance of cardio (raising the heart rate), stretching, and mindfulness.  Some athletes find yoga a helpful way to stretch and build arm, leg, and abdominal strength.  Some of the many benefits include: back pain relief, weight loss, improvements of flexibility, detoxification (great after a night out or one too many bags of potato chips!), toning of muscles, improved balance, improved posture, reduced stress, increased strength and energy, and much more! (find more reasons at   www.YogaJournal.com

Never practice yoga before? Yoga can be done by anyone.  If you can sit down and stand back up you can do yoga.  Check out Mighty Yoga where there are all levels and all ages classes in a Power Yoga format.  Power Yoga is a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga (or literally “constant flow” from one pose to another).  Power Yoga is as challenging as you want it to be and will leave you feeling both energized and relaxed.  

Erica Harris teaches Yoga at various studios in Cortland, Ithaca, and Dryden.  Check her website for all class schedules:  HYPERLINK "http://www.EricaHarrisYoga.com" www.EricaHarrisYoga.com and for past “Confessions of a Yoga Instructor” check out my blog http://EricaHarrisYoga.blogspot.com

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Too much of a good thing?

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Too much of a good thing?

By Erica Harris

A lot of times I am asked, "How many times should I practice yoga per week?"  Of course, this is my own personal opinion, and should yours differ, we can still be yogi friends :)  I believe in doing some form of yoga every day: even if its just a few sun salutations in the morning to wake up the body (search "Amazing Yoga" via iTunes for a great example of a sun salutations warm up).  The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times per week.  Walking the dogs, house cleaning, or anything that gets you moving counts!

I, personally, wake every morning with a few forward folds and sun salutations (about 4-8 times will do it).  During snow boarding season I increase my warm-ups in the morning and evenings.  By moving the body we can prevent future injury.  Currently, I teach 5 classes per week.  Most classes I do very little demonstration (but I might sneak in a satisfying downward facing dog) and I usually participate in the classes abdominal work.  However, as an instructor I still require myself to attend class.  I like to attend class at least twice per week.

If you're brand new to yoga I recommend 2-3 times per week in  a group format and daily warm-ups (such as sun salutations or other forms of stretching/cardio).  With this said, it is always important to listen to your body.  If you need to rest, rest. If you need to be challenged, challenge yourself in a way that you feel energized and not pushed to injury.  My oldest rule is if it hurts don't do it (or do the modification pose). If you feel challenge, accept it and breathe into it.  

Finally, if you need a place to practice yoga in a group, check out Mighty Yoga in Ithaca: Yoga every day of the week!

(Studio: mandarin orange and beautiful wooden floors!)

Ithaca's New Power Yoga Studio
Grand Opening

Join us on Sunday, August 16th for our opening day.

Come visit the bright new studio, take a class, or stop by to learn

about the benefits of yoga!

There will be 75-minute classes at:

10 am

12 pm

5 pm

Stop by to chat before or after a class. 

Come meet our teachers from 9:30-2 and 4-7pm.

We also have a survey on our website that you can take to get $5 off your next class

Hope to see you there!

Find our full schedule online at www.mightyyoga.com.

 

Confessions from a Yoga Instructor

By Erica Harris, Instructor at Mighty Yoga

If you think about it, it makes sense.

Any exercise program focuses on warming up our bodies before vigorous activity. The temperature of the yoga room is similar to our body's own temperature. This accelerates improvement in many of the benefits of your yoga practice.

Regular exercisers recognize that peak performance occurs when fully warmed up and your body generates heat from the inside radiating out and into your muscles.

On a personal experience I have noticed my students are able to get into poses they don’t general have the flexibility for.  When I do yoga in a heated room, especially a hot yoga room, I sweat a lot! Its probably a good idea to bring a towel and defiantly drink water before class, a little during, and a lot afterwards.  During class, I feel challenged by all the sweating and rewarded by the poses.  After class there is a sense of rejuvenation and detox.  When we sweat we are cleansing our bodies-I’ve even noticed healthier skin!

For my regular hatha style classes (Spark! Studio, TC3, and private yoga) I use the space to my advantage.  For example, the first 15 min. are crucial for warm up. So, don’t be surprised if we sweat a lot during that time.  Once we get to the balancing poses (about mid-way through the class) our bodies will natural start to cool themselves.  Another extremely important time to have a warm body is during our back posing sequences (bow, locus, wheel, bridge, etc.)  By the time we hit the floor in savasana our bodies are cooler and the fans or outside air comes on: and it feel AMAZING!

Mighty Yoga studio is unique in which we are able to control the temperature more accurately.  So when you arrive to your first class we are ready to go!  Be prepared to be challenged and amazed with what your body can do! How do you know if you can do power yoga at Mighty Yoga? "If you can sit down on the floor and get back up, then you can do Power Yoga!"

Mighty Yoga OPENING DAY!

August 16 Special!

Classes are only $5 on our first day. We'll have classes at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 5:00 pm.