Yoga in The Park

I start my day off with Yoga in The Park by Shanti Yoga Studio.  The sunshine was a little intense out there under our Montana Big Sky.  The energy was great!  I bet they had well over 60 people practicing yoga this morning.

Shanti Yoga Studio celebrated their 11th year this morning with Yoga in The Park.

Mats were out and about as we gathered for an hour of yoga this morning.

As I was walking home after yoga this morning . . . I often find myself thinking this . . . Yes, this is really my home! I get to live in this vibrant small Montana town.  I can walk to a wide variety of stores compared to our Alaska village life.  I enjoy both places I get to call home . . . but Whitefish is softer, easier, gentler than my northern home.  The pace is slow and restful down here in a different way than in the north.  Healthy lifestyles are everywhere here. I draw great inspiration from all the positive examples of healthy choices that surround me down south.

Summer Goal: YOGA!

Summer Goal: YOGA!  All school year I would head either to my ski room or my classroom to do my routine of yoga, sit-ups and some kind of upper body work out on the Ski Erg.  I never had been to a formal yoga class, but have been trying to learn a bit on my own. This summer one of my goals was to get to a yoga studio and to learn more about the art of yoga. I want to be able to do more challenging yoga DVDs once back up north but I want to make sure I am doing things correctly.

Yesterday, I signed up online for a 1.5-hour class at the Shanti Yoga Studio in downtown Whitefish.  I loved it!  My instructor was Ingrid and the class was hatha yoga foundations---I loved it!  Ingrid corrected me and showed me how to do moves properly---this is just what I wanted.  Ingrid was very patient and clear. Of course, I have a lot to learn. I liked that many of the yoga moves I have been doing from my two DVDs were used in this class so I didn't feel totally out to lunch.  

The Shanti Studio is small but with great light, everyone was very pleasant upbeat and welcoming.  Another added bonus is the walk is about 2 blocks max from my back door.  This morning I am heading over to another class which will be vinyasa flow.  All the classes I will go to will be for all levels.  There were folks there who were advanced and have been doing yoga for years I am sure.  I would say everyone enjoyed the class and left with huge smiles on their faces. 

I am thrilled to have found such a nice yoga studio close to my house that offers a wide variety of classes to help push me to learn more about yoga! 

 

Morning Routines

My favorite summer morning routines is as follows: to get up, drink coffee with half and half, write emails/check in with the world, knit a little, have breakfast, do some yoga, sit ups, and go for the morning farmland bike ride.  This is total summertime bliss for me!

This summer, I started doing my yoga outside.  Why I haven't done this before is beyond me!  

Another great hat pattern by knitwear designer Aimee Alexander.  This is Central Ave hat, and it is a great knit!  I am currently knitting 4 of these hats for my niece and her girls.

Hay fields with Big Mountain in the background.  Or as I like to call it "Whitefish Resort at Big Mountain."  Currently everything in Whitefish is being called "at Whitefish"--drives me nuts!  This is Big Mountain and recently had a name change to Whitefish resort . . . don't even get me started on this one!  This is part of my farmland morning ride.

My favorite bridge on my morning ride.  I look forward to this river crossing everyday.

My last ride of the summer.