Adventure: Ashtanga Yoga Class

This weekend I decided to take a trip over to Invivo FItness–not only to check out the facility but also to try one of their (free!) Sunday yoga classes. First of all I have to say that this was place is a real treat. The gym itself is lovely. It’s a bright, open space with huge windows overlooking the Milwaukee River. Even on a crummy January day in Wisconsin the view and all the natural light that came with it was gorgeous. In addition to the traditional cardio room and yoga/Pilates studio they also have a spa where you can spoil yourself with a massage, facial, or other body treatments. Plus, there’s a wellness center that houses various physical therapists, a chiropractor, acupuncturist and more. Basically, anything health or fitness related you can find within their walls. It was pretty impressive.

This day, however, I was there for yoga. More specifically, Ashtanga Yoga. This class leads you through the Ashtanga Primary series- a specific grouping of postures (or asanas) that are moved through quickly in order to build strength and stamina. The practice begins with sun salutations, then moves through a a set standing postures that really work the hamstrings, a seated series that focuses on opening the hips, and finishes with a sequence of backbends and inversions.

In addition to the physical asanas, Ashtanga teaches set of philosophies that are to be applied to other areas in your life, long after you’ve gone home and put your yoga mat away. One of the instructors there on Sunday had just returned from a silent retreat and talked to us in detail about the “eight limbs” of yoga. He described to us the ‘”yamas” and “niyamas”- which are kind of like moral guides and laws that you should adhere to in your everyday life. Really, the actual yoga postures are just the tip of the iceberg.

So how was the actual class? Well, if you are looking for a soft, meditative style of yoga this is not it. Ashtanga is extremely structured, down to the number of breaths you take during each posture. Also, the transition between almost all of the postures in the second half involves lowering yourself to the floor from a plank- which may sound not too bad but after you’ve done it twenty plus times it really starts to make your arms burn. That being said, much like with the Bikram studio, this class did have a fair amount of beginners present the day I was there. At one point the instructor had us just sit and watch the more advanced students do a few of the more difficult asanas. Basically there are a few things you won’t even want to attempt if you are a first timer! For me though, I didn’t find it frustrating that I wasn’t flexible enough to wrap my legs around the back of my head. There was such wide range of ability in the class that I was very comfortable just to work at my own level and not worry too much about it.

Overall I was impressed not only by the yoga class but by Invivo in general. If Ashtanga sounds a bit intimidating to you, they do offer a more beginner level class on Sunday morning which is also free. Yes, FREE! I do recommend that you get there at least 15-20 minutes early to secure your spot because space is very limited.

Where:

Invivo Fitness
2060 N. Humboldt Ave.
414-265-5606

When:

Sunday Renewal Yoga (All Levels)
10AM-11:15AM

Ashtanga Yoga
1:15PM- 2:30PM

You can check out Invivo’s full schedule of classes- which include Pilates, circuit training and martial arts- here.

Photos by gbSk.