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BLUEMOUNTAINEAGLE.COM / 9 Yoga Continued from Page 8 one of Stevick’s classes that is beneficial and accessible to anyone. “Yin Yoga is known as the quiet yoga,” Stevick said. While most of the com- mon forms of yoga focus on moving, yin yoga focuses on passive, seated postures that target the connective tissues in the hips, pelvis and lower spine. It is a great way to learn how to meditate and still the mind. It is helpful for active people who need to release tension and is also suitable for anyone who needs to relax. The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Ashley Stevick helps her students during a session of Power Vinyassa Flow Jan.14. Manage chronic conditions Power Vinyasa Flow Stevick added that yoga could help reduce risk factors for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga also helps alleviate chronic conditions, such as depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, she said. According to Stevick, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a study that found that veterans, after six months of twice-a-week yoga, reported a significant decrease in back pain. Stevick added the same study reported the number of patients on opioids dropped from 20% to 8%. Power Vinyasa Flow, by far the most challenging of all the classes, is an energetic form of yoga where students move from one pose to the next while synchronizing their breathing to their movements. “The pairing of movement and breath is called Vinyasa,” said Stevick. “It creates a sort of moving meditation.” Stevick teaches the 75-min- ute class in a heated studio, 86 degrees. Vin/Yin Another class Stevick teaches in a heated studio, a combination of Power Vinyasa and Evoke Energy Yin, the one- hour class features slow, deep and seated holds. The passive holds tone con- nective tissue, tendons and ligaments. “It is a challenging class, but it is also empowering as well,” Stevick said. HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA Stress reduction Several studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety, Stevick said. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. “Studies show people who practice yoga are more resil- ient than those who don’t,” Finding the right balance The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Yoga instructor Ashley Stevick takes her students through a session of Power Vinyassa Flow at the Canyon Mountain Center studio on Jan. 14. Stevick said. “This is likely because movement like yoga rewires the nervous system.” Improved all-around fitness Practicing leads to improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength. “For most of my life, I was pretty inactive. I hiked some- times, spent some time on an elliptical in college, but I never established a regular routine until I practiced yoga,” said Stevick. Yoga builds strength, mind- fulness and resiliency, she said. Stevick said everyone’s body is different and that stu- dents should modify the pos- tures based on their individ- ual abilities. That is one of the benefits of the Vinyasa style of yoga, she said. “It is OK if you can’t do a pose or are simply uncomfort- able doing a particular pose,” said Stevick. “The important thing is to become aware of what your body can do.” Stevick teaches classes Tues- days through Fridays and inter- mittently on Saturdays and Sun- days. Visit ashleystevickyoga. com for more information about classes or contact Stevick at ash- ley.stevick@gmail.com.
