Learning to Focus with Yoga

|

On July 20, 2020, after breakfast, I took a yoga class virtually from my country house up in Woodstock.

The instructor for the class, Brina, is a tall and very kind woman who is dedicated to teaching her students. Yoga blocks, a mat, and a belt were needed. I didn’t have blocks, but I could still participate and used a belt to stretch my legs. Fortunately, I also had a mat to exercise on and used two towels to prop myself up.

The first exercise we did was stretching. We stretched our arms and legs to prepared for our class. Some students used the wall to prop themselves up, but I had to use a chair. Next, we tried out different poses such as the Warrior Pose, Downward Dog, and Child’s Pose, followed by more stretching. When I did the Warrior Pose, it felt really good on the arms and legs. With Downward Dog and Child’s Pose, it was the back. The pace of the class was comfortable, not too fast and not too slow.

I did well in class, but the challenging part was trying not to lose my focus. These days, the world can be stressful, especially during a crisis. Resting in Shavasana concluded the lesson and helped me relieve pressure from my mind.

As soon as the lesson was over, I thanked Brina for the class. I learned about connecting my mind with my body, but the most important thing I took away was that learning to focus and slowing down can help manage stress.
Each week, 14Y fitness instructors and trainers host more than 25 live-streaming classes via Zoom and create fun videos featured on the 14Y YouTube Channel.

The live-streaming classes, detailed in 14Y Virtual Fitness schedule are only available to Virtual 14Y Members. Not a member? Check our new Virtual Membership, which is just $29.99 per month for your entire household!

The class detailed above is Iyengar Yoga with Brina. Join us every Monday from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM for alignment-based yoga class with an emphasis on precision that supports joint mobility, bone density, balance and flexibility. This is a beginner level yoga class.


Jacob Waltuck has enjoyed working in the Arts + Culture and Marketing Departments at the 14th Street Y. He also enjoys acting, visual art, and theater, and is involved in employment support programs through JobPath.