Yoga for Free -- Revisited

Early Stretch, Facing U Village's Quiet Parking Lot

I've left my house very early on weekend mornings to go skiing, mountain biking, and climbing, or to catch a ferry or a plane. Compared to how early I might leave to catch the first chair skiing, my 7:40 departure on Saturday morning was not that early. However, getting up early for a weekend yoga class, it felt a bit harsh.

8:00 Saturday morning is way earlier in the morning than 9:30 Sunday morning, the time of the U Village Lululemon's other yoga class. But I knew that just because the Saturday start time was so much earlier, this class was likely to be much smaller. Which it was. Only eight students attended so we had plenty of space and personal instruction, compared to 28 last Sunday.

Puja

Our instructor was the highly professional and experienced Puja. She had an interesting theme or narration running through the class, a bit of a Saturday morning sermonette. During the class, she read and referred back to a particular Eleanor Roosevelt quote:

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.

Facing fear is not a topic I'm facing these days but maybe it's something Puja is dealing with.

Puja's class was a little less strenuous than Pam's last Sunday. Not quite so many planks and downward facing dog cycles. No sweating for me and maybe for none of the other attendees. We did plenty of stretches, lunges, maybe a bit more balance work as some did headstands while others of us did shoulder stands. Still, it was a similar routine of one hour of Hatha Yoga in a friendly, non-competitive atmosphere.

Personal Instruction in a Smaller Class

After the class, I spoke with Ellen who has been attending the class regularly. Previously she practiced yoga at another studio in the area. Ellen says she likes the variety of instructors that rotate in and out of Lululemon's weekend classes. Yoga helps her build her strength and balance, she says.

Sam Godfrey, an employee at the University Village store, brought two of her friends to the class, the two males among us. Sam's friend, Kyle, said it was his first time doing yoga but he thought it was good. 

Sam With Yoga Newbies Daniel & Kyle

Sam has worked at Lululemon just two months. Previously she worked at Nordstrom's. She does not see her work at Lululemon as "retail," though of course there is that aspect. It's about "community involvement, helping people, and education," she said. Bringing two friends to the class and showing up at 8 am when her shift didn't start until 12, yes, that's involvement, I think.

If you want to sleep in, I suggest the Sun. 9:30 class. For more space and personal attention, the Sat. 8:00 class. Either way, it's a great deal to get professional instruction at a truly affordable price. At the moment (3/30/11), the University Village April calendar shows no classes scheduled. Give the store a call at 206 524 6025 or check the calendar before you go. 

A Bit More Room to Move in Early Sat. Class