Teacher Details
- April Crunk
- april@hiwaay.net
It’s called Yoga practice, not Yoga perfect!
I hear it all the time. “I am not good at Yoga because I am not very flexible.”
Yoga is not only a giant game of Twister that keeps us playful, but a beautiful way of untangling the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual ties that tend to dull us. In my experience, Yoga has the ability to change us from the inside out. One of my teachers said Yoga postures change our physiology which changes our psychology, leading to a change in our attitude giving us the desire to change our relationships with not only ourselves, but with everything and everyone around us.
My classes are very light hearted and designed for anyone willing to take the first step of simply walking in the door. Laughter is highly encouraged! Being able to teach a student to see life from a different perspective is a personal goal. Yoga teaches us to not simply “go through the motions” of daily activity, but to see, feel and experience everything we do from a very different place… to be mindful of even our most routine actions. Be honest. When is the last time you allowed yourself to see your world upside down, or experience how your breath changes when your body is in a twist?
My greatest fear is that participants (especially potential participants) feel that a Yoga class is like a typical group exercise class where new students are expected to “keep up” with the instructor or other participants in order to be successful. Although we practice as a group, Yoga is very individualistic. There is ZERO competition on the mat. It’s just you and your body – competition is purely self-induced!
The principles of Yoga are not limited to the time spent on the mat, but are geared to enhance life off the mat. Yoga trains the student to be fully present while practicing, being mindful of what is happening in the body and mind at all times. The practice invites you to slow down….to tune out the stresses of the day…to give yourself a few minutes to focus on improving you and savoring the peace.
As a former Physician Assistant, I know first hand that today’s culture demands a “quick fix” to self-inflicted “dis-ease” brought on by the habits of our fast-paced culture. My past medical experience enabled me to help patients by medicating disease. My present Yoga training enables me to teach a student how to prevent and manage dis-ease. The blending of the two trainings helps me to understand the body and how to maximize its potential. This is why I enjoy teaching Yoga!
“I feel so good and I don’t know why.” (Another thing I hear after class is over!)
I do! Come join me and begin to discover your own “inside story.”
April currently teaches at the Hoover Recreation Center on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and is available for private instruction. She has been regularly teaching Yoga in the Birmingham area since 2002.
Contact her at april@hiwaay.net..
April Crunk
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