Monday, November 26, 2012

yoga class for fall

Hi everyone,
I am going to miss you all when class ends this quarter.  I don't know if it is the new building or what, but I feel like I have been on a journey with all of you.  Please remember that whatever choices you make for your future, you can not f*&k up.  Every choice will give you an opportunity to learn.  So, don't be afraid, spread your wings and fly and remember that you are beautiful.
Thanks for deciding to join me on my blog....
Kristin:)

32 comments:

  1. Anthony Bordner,
    Thank you for teaching a cool class, i hadnt taken yoga before but no i love yoga. Whats better than going to class for a little stretching and relaxing? It was cool to learn how to relax your mind and also throughout the body. Loved todays class by the way, that felt way loger than 45min..

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  2. Thanks Anthony for showing up and practicing yoga with me. Glad you loved yoga nidra:)

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  3. Kristin,
    Out of all the yoga classes I have taken in the past, yours has been the most calming and relaxing. While also taking more intense yoga classes at the rec, it is nice to come to your studio to have a slow pace and quiet practice. I loved the fact that each class was a little different and helped me let go of all the stresses in life. I also loved how you made the environment so comfortable and safe to practice in. I hope to one day teach and share my knowledge as well as you. Thanks for an awesome quarter!
    Namaste

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    1. Wow Sadie! You are teaching and sharing your knowledge! Keep exploring and being curious about life and sharing that with others:)
      Namaste

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  4. I have taken yoga previously, but I would definitely say that this class was my favorite when it came to yoga. I loved the location. The building was maybe a little spooky in the bathroom, but the main area where we had yoga was super relaxing and had good vibes. Sometimes the air system would kick in an it would be louder than the music ( and sometimes make me jump), but it was an awesome location, and very unique! As well, I really enjoyed relaxing yoga. It really helped with stress reduction and made my day always better. I am a easily stressed person who carries the tension 24/7, so the breathing techniques learned in class have been a huge help for me. The class size was smaller, which I really liked, I can get uncomfortable in a large group of people, so the small class size was a really nice aspect of the class. I really enjoyed the classes, we always did something new. And I have definitely learned better balance and flexibility from the class. The class was relaxing and comfortable and the entire quarter was great! Thank you so much for a great quarter!
    -Donna Berry

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    1. It is so good to hear the breathing techniques helped for you. The bathroom does seem spooky...especially for me sometimes when I am there alone:) When I hear a student say they were able to relax in my class, it is a huge reward for me to know I could be part of that.

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  5. Kristen,
    I really enjoyed your yoga class this fall I have taken a lot of yoga classes but I have never had a yoga teacher quite like you. You relate yourself to your students and made the environment very calm and friendly. It was much appreciated. I enjoyed attending class knowing that I would leave very relaxed and more stress free. The location was quite different but very soothing most of the time except for halloween night :) I really enjoyed the breathing techniques you taught in class, I know use them on a daily basis. I also really enjoyed how it was a small class instead of a great number of students that it gets overwhelming. Overall I really enjoyed your class this fall and not only learned some new things but perfected some techniques as well. Thank you very such a great quarter!
    -Chelsea Finkley

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  6. I actually took this yoga class because I needed one more credit this quarter. I am so pleased I did! Your yoga class has been a constant positive in my life, which in return has made me a more positive person. Since taking yoga I try and not think negative thoughts about others or myself. The breathing techniques have been my go to when I feel stress or anxiety. I tried to think about what I wanted out of the class each day before I went in. This also helped me realize that yoga wasn’t about getting the poses right every time. I worked on just being present, which is surprisingly an idea I had not encountered until now. I feel like I have gained physical strength from the beginning of the quarter. I found meditation very beneficial and try and make time for it everyday. Trying to make time for yoga, meditation, and relaxation on the days we didn’t have class seemed really hard before but the more time I set aside, the easier it seems to make time. Overall, this class has given me the skills to be a healthier and happier person. Thank you
    Michel Oursland

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    1. So glad to be able to be the first to introduce you to the Present. It is really where it is all happening anyway:) You deserve to be happy and heathy, it is your birth right! Glad you got what yoga is about. Horray!

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  7. Taking yoga for fall quarter for me was actually really helpful for my body. At first I was skeptical in taking this class given that I did not want to take it due to the other classes I was going to be taking. Although, once my girlfriend took the class during the first week of classes and let me know that it was very relaxing and it would benefit my legs, I finally decided to take the class. I first discussed with my doctor about it before enrolling in it because I had surgery on both my legs back in early June. I have something called chronic exertional compartment syndrome, which basically means that if I exercise for too long, I am not able to walk or move for certain periods of time. I did physical therapy and exercised in the gym from July to early September to help my legs become stronger and have my balance as to how it used to be. Taking yoga has significantly improved the strength of my legs as well as my balance, core, and flexibility. Meditating during class as well as outside of class is something I enjoy doing. All the poses that involved stretching our legs or body helped me stay calm. I enjoyed going to class every Thursday, as it was very calming. I am glad to say that I will definitely be taking the class again next quarter.
    - Kevin Moran

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    1. You are so strong! On all levels! Looking forward to seeing you in my class this winter:)

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  8. My first time doing yoga, was a negative one. The instructor that I had, was very fast with the movements and didn’t really teach or help the posses. I still wanted to learn, so I started trying to teach myself. I bought books and DVDs, but I still wanted to learn more. When I was enrolling in classes, I wanted to take a pe class, and I saw yoga. I immediately wanted to join the class, and it's been a very good experience for me.
    I have anxiety, which also leads to me having a lot of pack pain, and knots in my shoulder and lower back. No matter what I do, they are still there, persistent. I have been taking medication for the anxiety since this summer and seem to help, except for with the knots. There have been days I can't sit and it spasms. During my freshman year during high school, I injured my shoulder during soccer. Ever since then I have been working on gaining my strength and loosing the pain. I've been taking physical therapy and have received cortisone shots, but they never seemed to help. Junior year I got injured again, this time both my shoulder and also a stress fracture on my foot. During recovery I lost all strength that I gained. As soon as I could, I started trying to work back, all the way threw senior year.
    When I got to yoga, it hurts at first, but in the end of the class, a lot of the pain goes away. I feel normal, calm, relaxed. I can move around and not feel pain in my shoulder, back, etc. I also have been able to do pushups, which I haven't been able to since my freshman year. I know don’t want to go a day without yoga, because the pain comes back. I do see yoga as a thing that I want to keep up with for the rest of my life. Every time I go home, my family asks me if they have any medical problems, what they should do. I try and help them always, whenever I can. The use of yoga has helped me so much, that I try and help them with yoga. My mother also loves yoga now, also my boyfriend, who is also in the class.
    -Alexandria Hansen

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    1. It sounds like you are on the yoga path. Especially since you did not give up in the beginning, many people would have given up after not feeling satisfied with a class.
      You talked about how you hurt at first, but by the end of the class you didn't have pain. That is because most pain is in the resistance to pain. When leaning in to the anxiety and fear and staying curious without resisting, that is where the magic happens. Pain is an energy, it changes shapes and does not stay in one place. It is stuck energy, and when you bring your attention to it an be present with it it moves it into a new place. Remember that yoga is a tool, and you are the one...the observe who is paying attention, noticing,etc. Way to go!!!!!!!! Way to be brave!

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  9. Kristin,
    This isn't my first experience with yoga, but it's been my best. I have problems with anxiety, and usually by Thursday evening I'm pretty wound up. After two hours in class with you, my mind and body feel relaxed, and I lose that overwhelmed feeling. I have also been using the meditation techniques when I start to stress during the week, and it really helps. I really loved your laid-back, hands on, everyone goes at their own pace style. I have been a little bit self-conscious about my flexibility, which makes it hard to relax in yoga, but I felt like there was no judgement in your class. Also, I'm really glad you offer this class for two hours once a week, because I'm a music ed student, so I have very little free time. Thanks so much for an awesome class, I'm excited to come back next quarter!

    Emelia Blunt

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    1. Right on Emelia! Wow, so glad you are letting go of the overwhelmed feeling you have outside of class. You were the one who was not judging yourself during my class, you figured out how to go your own pace. I am so proud of you. That rocks:)
      You deserve to let the inner critic go and know how that feels....you really do.

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  10. Kristin,
    Although this is not my first experience with yoga, it is the first good experience with yoga in college. I really enjoyed this yoga class it was so welcoming and not judgmental which was different than the other yoga class I have taken while at college. I really enjoyed the meditation part of the class because it helped me tune in to my body and what was going on with it, and just focus on the present, not stressing about all the homework I still have to do or how little sleep I will get because of said homework. I also enjoyed the class because it helped me become more flexible. I have never really been flexible, so the first few classes were challenging, but as the class progressed I noticed I was getting more flexible and generally less stressed. It also made me realize that it is possible to find time to meditate and de-stress even in a very busy, stressful schedule. Thank you for a wonderful class and helping me realize that I really do enjoy yoga!
    Unfortunately I do not have time next quarter to take yoga, but I hope to be able to take one of your classes again in the future.

    Marina McIlwain

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    1. It sounds like you are having some good experiences maybe with being a college student in general. Being a college student definitely forces you to be more flexible on many levels. I am glad meditation is helping you be present with your body and what is going on with it. You have the right to enjoy your life. Keeping letting go, the possibilities for you to keep enjoying life are endless:)

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  11. Kristin,
    This is my fourth time taking a yoga class. This time was much different then the other classes, this class was a two hour long session. I have never done yoga for that long of time before, usually the classes are only a hour long. I think i liked the longer classes better. I also have never taken a class this late before, it was a really wonderful way to end the day. Your instructions were clear and i could follow them with my eyes closed. The meditation was very good. i enjoyed being able to let go and relax. I plan on taking this again some time soon. Thank you for your instruction, i really enjoyed taking yoga from you this quarter.

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    1. I really enjoyed your energy as a student Brenda. Two hour classes are really the way to go:) I am so glad the instructions were so clear that you were able to follow along with your eyes closed. To be able to communicate clear and effectively has been very important for me as a teacher, and I am glad you noticed that I value that.
      Letting go and relaxing was done by you my friend, I just held and taught the class.
      Keep on keepin on!

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  12. This is a perfect yoga class for students to take. It was a big stress reliever and a great atmosphere compared to sitting in class all day with your mind going 100 miles a minute. I have major pain issues that doctors say I will just "have to learn to deal with" or be on a ton of medications for the rest of my life. But yoga has always been my outlet. I do 1-2 hours of yoga a day at home, but it has been a while since I actually took a yoga class. It is sometimes hard because of the pain I have certain things I can not do, and have been worried about pushing myself too far. But this class was defiantly in my comfort zone! I am enrolled in your class for next quarter and I am looking forward to it!

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  13. You are choosing yoga to work with your pain! Way to go! I am looking forward to seeing you next quarter.

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  14. This was my second quarter taking yoga with you and I absolutely love it! I've never had any sort of sport or fitness that I could really do before trying yoga. I love how it doesnt matter how flexible you are or how athletic you are because it works for anyone and any body type. Ive learned that meditation and yoga reaches beyond physical strenght and helps with mental strength as well. I took the thursday evenings class, only one day a week, and I've noticed a serious improvement in my body and flexability! It's so relaxing to have a class that doesn't require extra work at home and is simple there for me to relax and unwind. Thank you so much for your class!! I am so glad I gave it a chance, and have been able to take it twice now!
    You're a great teacher!
    - Galya Schuster

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    1. You are welcome! You have noticed improvements in your body and flexibility. Horray! I am so glad you gave it a chance too!

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  15. I really can't explain how awesome yoga has been this quarter. Even though I only came to class when it didn't hurt to lift my arm, I always enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere created by Kristen. I took it upon myself to memorize a lot of the poses so I could use them when my arm gets better. If you're looking for a class that will take you away from your worries for awhile, this is the class for you. Life has been throwing me some pretty tough challenges as of late, and yoga was always an outlet for me to escape all of that (when I came to class). You don't have to be flexible, and you don't have to break your back to do any of the poses. Kristen makes yoga easy for beginners, and experienced people. I regularly practice the chinese yoga "nap replacement" pose when I'm dead tired and don't have enough time to take a real nap. Taking this yoga class has spiked my interest in meditation practices, and basic yoga poses. I won't be able to fully practice yoga until my shoulder gets better, but I still try to meditate and clear my mind on a regular basis. Before taking this yoga class I literally never even thought about meditating to relieve my stress, but after about my 3rd time attending class I decided maybe I should give it a try, and it worked!I also noticed after class that I was all around happier, had a lot more energy, and just felt better going on about my day. I'm strongly considering taking yoga II in the spring, I'm disappointed by the fact that I wasn't given an opportunity to fully participate in class this quarter. All the same I tried to take as much out of it as I could. Taking yoga will be highly beneficial for anybody, and I would recommend it to just about anybody without hesitation. You're a great teacher Kristen! I'll be looking out for you come spring quarter.
    -Adrian Soto

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    1. So good to hear from you Adrian:) So glad you were able to glean some skills from the yoga classes.
      Hope to see you in the spring!

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  16. This was my first time doing yoga since a one-time PE class in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed your teaching style and how well you explained the moves. I liked that we did a combination of movements so I was able to learn more then one style. When I signed up for this class I needed an extra credit and though yoga would be perfect. I work out pretty hard and my muscles are always sore this gave me the opportunity to stretch them out better and I got the added bonus of learning to control my breathing which has helped greatly in my workouts. I was hoping to take intermediate yoga with your next quarter but unfortunately I didn’t find a class you taught that worked with me schedule. I really did enjoy your class and thank you for sharing your passion for yoga with me. I now have a passion for yoga and will incorporate it into my workout routines.

    Thank you
    Katherine Schneider

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  17. This is my second time taking your yoga classes through CWU. I enjoyed being an intermediate in the beginners class, because it rehashed all the yoga moved we initially did, with some added challenge for my flexibility. Doing yoga makes my other workouts easier, since i'm not as sore and need less time to recover. I enjoy using yoga as a cool down exercise, and apply almost all of the moves I learned in class towards that. I highly recommend taking yoga, if nothing else; It'll help you get more in touch with your body and its' needs.
    -Rachel Kane

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  18. Hello,
    I very much enjoy doing yoga (especially in the spring) simply because of the stress relief i feel during and after each session. I learned a lot about what does and doesn't work for me in the last 6 months doing yoga and i have really appreciated it. Allowing my mind to focus internally instead of all the stress of the outside world is a big help to me going into my last year of college. Being able to learn postures that help energize me as well as put me to sleep are such useful tools that i know will help me in every part of my life. I would absolutely recommend to anyone in college to take a yoga class to help them focus on the road to graduation.

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  19. Thank you so much for a great quarter! this was my first time taking a yoga class and I learned so much about yoga and myself. I am telling all my friends about this class so that they can get experience as I did. I use stretches in the morning to wake up and get going and it gives me energy through out the day. I feel so much better as a person. Also I took the class not just to try something to new but to push myself and that is exactly what I got out of the class. It was easy to go to class and participate with out feeling bad that I could not quite get a position just right but you made me feel that if i kept trying that I would get it sooner or later and I never left rushed. This class truly helped me and I cannot wait until I take another class.

    -Jessi Broderius

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