May News Update - Laughing Sun Yoga

April Showers certainly brought lots of new growth to LSY! It's been a fantastic month of growth and change, and May is getting ready to blossom forth with all kinds of new opportunities.

First, apologies for the schedule confusion back in the beginning of April. All scheduling conflicts have been resolved and we are ready to open up with a full schedule starting Saturday, May 1! We will have 28 classes a week - please see the schedule and the class descriptions, below.

Second, it's been so much fun getting to know my new clientele and introducing Hot Yoga to the community in South Austin! I am learning so much from all of you about what you want and need from me for yoga, and I am so happy to be able to deliver. I have not only changed the schedule to be more accommodating to your class time needs, but also changed the class descriptions and basic format. Instead of offering multiple-level classes throughout the day, we will just have either 60 or 90 minute Hot Yoga classes. This gives you the flexibility to come to the class time that best suits you, and it gives me the freedom to customize the classes according to who is in attendance. The 3 stand-out exceptions to this rule: our lunchtime "Power Hour" Class is a strong vinyasa practice, the 75-minute "Hot Yogilates" class is an all-levels combo of yoga and Pilates done in our heated room, and the "Hot Vinyasa" on Saturday and Sunday afternoons is something else altogether!

In other news: EFFECTIVE MAY 1, I am discontinuing the $60 and $90 Introductory offers! First class is free, and the Intro offer is now $30 for 30 days (1 month). Now is the time in the next week to get your intro special if you haven't done so already!

Introducing LSY's new teachers! I'm very proud and excited to announce 3 new teachers who are joining Laughing Sun in May:

Barbara Ditlow - a 20+ year veteran of yoga and teaching, Barbara brings depth and wisdom and insight and intuition to everything she does. I consider her my mentor and I am so honored to have her teaching at LSY on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Rosie Bondi - Rosie is a powerhouse of energy! She makes me laugh and smile and has brought so many people to LSY with just the flow of her personality, now I am thrilled to have her teaching our "Hot Yogilates" classes on Monday and Friday at 9.30, and Saturday at noon!

Wendy Colonna - an Austin Music Legend, Wendy Colonna's Southern Soul has won awards and rave reviews, and now her legendary yoga teaching now comes to Laughing Sun Yoga! Please join Wendy for the Power Hour lunchtime vinyasa classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and check out her website at http://www.wendycolonna.com! You can also listen to her music on our homepage!

and I'm Rebecca Jordan, an 8-year certified Bikram teacher plus a Level II Barkan Method teacher and the owner and main instructor at Laughing Sun.

One more announcement and then on to the classes:

Introducing Thai Massage at Laughing Sun Hot Yoga with Amy Fletcher, LMT:

Thai massage is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, physician to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. For centuries, Thai massage was performed by monks as one component of Thai Medicine.

Stretching, supported twists, muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure are all techniques utilized used during Thai massage. This treatment is wonderful for restoring flexibility, alignment of the joints, assisting with greater posture and range of motion in addition to all the benefits of a regular massage. Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massage, while being just as relaxing and healing. Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing.

Amy Fletcher, L.M.T. www.amykfletcher.com 480.221.2055

Here's the new schedule and class descriptions (and you can find all of this by going to our website: www.LaughingSunYoga.net)

Schedule Starting May 2010:

Monday

7am Hot 60

9.30 am Hot Yogilates

12pm Power Hour

5.00 pm Hot 60

6.30 pm Hot 90

Tuesday

7am Hot 60

9.30 am Hot 90

5.00 pm Hot 60

6.30 pm Hot 90 (please note there will be no 6.30 on Tuesday May 4)

Wednesday

7am Hot 60

9.30 am Hot 90

12pm Power Hour

5.00 pm Hot 60

6.30 pm Hot 90

Thursday

7am Hot 60

9.30 am Hot 90

5.00 pm Hot 60

6.30 pm Hot 90

Friday

7am Hot 60

9.30 am Hot Yogilates

12 pm Power Hour

5.00 pm Hot 60

6.30 pm Weekly Wind Down

Saturday

7am Hot 90

9.30 am Hot 60

12.00 Hot Yogilates

4.30 pm Hot Vinyasa (Level II)*

Sunday

2pm Hot 90

4.30 pm Hot Vinyasa (Level II)*

*donation only. these classes are not included in our regular memberships and all proceeds go directly to the instructor.

Class Descriptions:

All of our classes are multi-level and beginner-friendly, except for the Hot Vinayasa classes on the weekends, which do require teacher approval to join. All of our “Hot” classes are based on the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga, from the lineage of Ghosh’s School of Physical Culture in Calcutta, India. Each class may be varied in intensity and postures offered, depending on students in attendance. Every student will receive the individual attention and challenge level they desire, and will leave class feeling revitalized, refreshed, renewed and restored.

Hot 60: 60 minute class

We begin with grounding and breathing, and then work through a vigorous yet gentle and straightforward standing series that includes opening the spine, strengthening the legs and hips, opening the joints, working on wide-stance Warrior postures and finishing up with centering and balance. Every class ends with our Floor series, which includes a hip opening sequence, spine strengthening sequence, hero (kneeling) sequence, leg stretching and twisting. This is our basic series and follows roughly the same format and postures every class. As students improve and increase their capacity, the instructor may choose to include some vinyasa and upper body strengthening work, either individually or for the whole class.

Hot 90: 90 minute class

Following a similar format to the Hot Hour class, the Hot Yoga class adds in multiple sets of certain postures, additional postures and variations, and some vinyasa sequencing and upper body strengthening. The last half-hour of the class is on the floor, and incorporates additional postures and variations.

Both the 60 and 90 minute Hot classes are ideally suited for beginners and were designed for beginners. Please come to the class that best suits your schedule.

Hot Vinyasa: 90-120 minute class

Come practice with Rebecca! This is a semi-guided, open format, casual practice session in which the instructor will be practicing alongside you in a vigorous, intense, sweaty and fun session. Questions highly encouraged! We’ll play a wide variety of music, work through a wide variety of postures, and finish thoroughly drenched and happy. Please, no first-time students. Donations for the instructor are requested, and all proceeds go directly to the instructor.

Power Hour: 60 minute class

A hybrid of our Hot Vinyasa and Hot 60 class, the Power Hour warms up with a vinyasa series, moves into balance, and finishes up on the floor. Due to the quicker-paced nature of the class, and its lunchtime slot, we do require previous yoga experience and teacher approval to participate in this class. Some experience recommended.

Hot Yogilates: 75 minute class

A hybrid of our Hot 60 class with deep Pilates-based core strengthening, this class, taught by Rosie Bondi, will make your abs ache with laughter! All levels.

Weekly Wind Down: 60 minute class

Rebecca’s Friday evening class is designed to relax and ease the stress of the week out of your system and prepare you for your weekend. Sweat, laugh, moan, groan and sigh out your week and breathe in your weekend. All levels.

Don’t see the class time you need? Let us know - we’re flexible!

Private sessions available.