Wellness: Body, Mind & Spirit

Yoga instructors Maura Conley and Helen Heffer are collaborating to teach this class emphasizing: body alignment and posture; balance in our bodies, minds and lives; health through self-care, inner-listening, gentle stretching and strengthening. A sense of well-being comes as all parts of us align, balance and interconnect. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat and blanket.

Mindfulness meditation works by helping the practitioner achieve a better understanding of what is happening right now—whether positive, negative, or neutral—not what they want to happen or what think they should be happening. Recognizing that unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can undermine emotional, physical, and spiritual health, you will learn techniques to reduce stress and stress-related disorders. The class will consist of a presentation, opportunity to participate in guided meditation and time for discussion, questions, and answers. Instructor Jerry Hartman is a graduate of the certificate program of the Meditation Teacher Training Institute, located in Washington, D.C.

Combining dance, martial arts, and mindfulness, nia tones your body while transforming your mind. More than just a workout, nia is a holistic fitness practice addressing each aspect of your life–body, mind, and soul. You can discover, explore, unleash, and enhance your individual potential to live a healthy and meaningful life by engaging your senses and listening to your body. Nia is based on the intelligent design of the body. Each workout brings mindfulness to your dance movement experience, leaving you energized, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced. Nia cardio-dance workouts combine 52 simple moves with dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts to get you fit in 60 minutes—body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Wear comfortable clothing and bring soft-soled slippers if you choose not to go barefoot. Instructor: Claudia Salomon

The word qigong literally means skill or cultivation of vital energy (qi). Traditional Chinese medicine believes that good health is the result of a free-flowing, well-balanced qi (bioenergy) system, while sickness, pain or physical disorders are the result of qi blockage, or unbalanced qi in the body. Qigong practice helps to balance the qi system in the body and break the qi blockages to recover health. It helps you develop a more relaxed, harmonious state of mind and body; reduce stress; resist illness; and heighten sensitivity to your body’s internal organs along with developing an energetic ability to regulate your own health and vitality. You will focus on body posture adjustment and gentle movement, mind-focused relaxation, and breath regulation practice. Instructor: David Foulk.

Discover t’ai chi, a form of active meditation that promotes calming, centering, and self-control. Instructor David Foulk introduces you to this practice of meditation and physical exercise, consisting of carefully coordinated, slow, natural movements proven to strengthen your body and mind. When the chi flows in a balanced fashion, you enjoy better physical and emotional health, increased longevity and inner peace. This course is appropriate for beginning and continuing students.

This is a great time of year to honor nature: the air, water, Earth, vegetation, animals, humans and the Space/Consciousness that holds us all. Through yoga poses, meditation and relaxation, we will explore all that Nature gives to us, how we give back, and the interconnectedness of all things. Please
wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat and blanket. Instructor: Helen Heffer.