About Yoga

Benefits of yoga include:

relieve stress from the pressures of work and home
reduce muscular and joint pain
gain flexibility and strength throughout your body
improve balance and posture to maintain a healthy spine
increase energy level to be able to keep doing the activities you love
find serenity and peace in the midst of the busyness of your life
cultivate compassion and honesty with ourselves and others
be a part of a community of people sharing a common goal of improving their lives and the world around them

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word of "yuj" meaning "yoke", "join", or "union". The union is of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is approximately 5,000 years old and originated in India. There are many types and styles of yoga. What is most often practiced in the West is Hatha Yoga. This style of yoga includes postures for the body, breathing practices and concentration/meditation techniques. Yoga is not a religion; it is a collection of techniques designed to bring health and well-being.

Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy applies the physical practice of yoga, often including meditation and breathing practice, to health conditions including shoulder and back pain, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and more. It doesn't replace your current doctors, treatments, and medications. Instead, it works alongside them.

Read more about yoga therapy at Sunrise and its health benefits.

Students Say

"I view myself and others more compassionately. I am less competitive and don’t set myself up for failure by comparing myself to others any more. I have less frustration overall in my life due to the internal focus I have found. I take better care of myself; I sleep better; I eat better all due to the turning point of taking yoga classes. For the first time in my life, I am comfortable with myself from the outside in and from the inside out. " -- Jolyn Lloyd

"Although I have not been an athletic person, yoga classes are easy to follow and give me a good workout. I am much more aware of my posture, and learning good body alignment and mechanics has made gardening easier. " -- Holly White