Being clear on why you are doing yoga and making sure you are attuned to that purpose when you practice is the first step in finding real meaning in the discipline.

When we observe most group yoga classes, we see a group of people trying to look like they are doing the same thing as everyone else in the class by creating and holding a pose. The truth is that the appearance of this external pose is insignificant in the true work of yoga.

The true work of yoga is to discover what is unique in our own bodies (and the rest of us) and to honor it. We must learn to be comfortable with making modifications that reflect our individuality rather than forcing our bodies to conform.

Learning how to modify yoga to align with your body and your goals is the most fundamental thing for creating a yoga practice that will support health and growth.

This summer, at Potential Wellness Center, come worship the sun and embrace the energy of summer as we venture into an exploration of the roots of yoga and explore the Sun Salutation as a foundation for a traditional Hatha yoga practice.

We will explore the physical and energetic underpinnings of the asanas that make up the sun salutation series and learn to modify these to suit our individual practices.

The Sun Salutation is a vinyasa (movement flowing with breath) that prepares the body for the day mentally, physically, and energetically. It can be practiced very gently or very vigorously depending upon your goals and limitations.

Other asanas (poses) can be incorporated into the flow as well making for a diverse and dynamic traditional practice.

This class aims to teach how traditional Hatha poses can be safely modified in practice. The ability to modify in this way will enable students to venture out into the vast world of yoga with confidence and with a solid foundation to help them honor themselves and connect to the practice and lineage of yoga itself.