Zen Alert: Stony Creek Hosts Beach Yoga

Imagine perfecting the sun salutation pose while the morning sun warms your skin. Think of what it would feel like to bend over for the child’s pose and feel cool sand between your fingers. Take yoga out of the gym this summer by joining instructor Kathy Vesprini at Eastwood Beach inside during a series of upcoming sessions this summer.  

Vesprini, a registered yoga teacher, will offer an hour of gentle poses Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. June 18-Aug. 27. All fitness levels are welcome and sessions are geared for teens and adults. Students should bring a yoga mat, a beach mat or large beach towel for under the yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes. 

“I always ask participants how experienced they are with yoga before we start, along with any concerns they are having with their body (limitations, injuries) and then generally try to address these needs the during the class,” Vesprini said.  “This means that throughout the session, modifications for poses are shown for beginners and more challenging additions to poses are shown for those that are at a more experienced level.”

Each session will have a different theme or intention, which will lead to some varied poses. However, Vesprini tries to keep the flow of the classes the same so people  know what to expect. 

Sessions start with focused breathing and centering, move on to a gentle warm-up, then to poses that require energy, including balancing poses and those that build core strength. There will also be inversion poses in which the legs are higher than the heart and a yin pose to loosen connective tissue before a cooldown and stretch. Each session will end with the Savasana pose. “(This is) everyone’s favorite–it’s basically lying on your back and watching the clouds float by,” Vesprini said. 

While many will find the sessions relaxing, Vesprini says the yoga classes scheduled at Stony Creek will provide a good workout.  “Since we won’t be in an air-conditioned gym, I plan on gearing the session more toward a slower pace and holding poses longer which builds strength and gives time for students to set a good foundation and get properly aligned,” Vesprini said. 

The benefits of beach yoga, or any yoga for that matter, are great. Yoga helps tone the body and helps keep one emotionally and mentally focused, Vesprini said. In addition, yoga lowers stress levels and helps with sleep and weight management. Regular participants also find that yoga helps with focus and attention, pain relief and flexibility and provides a sense of peace. 

Yoga at the beach provides both challenges and unique perspectives. “The gentle breeze, the sound of the gulls and the calming effect of gazing out over the water make beach yoga one of the best de-stressors around. There are challenges–balancing poses in the sand requires more concentration and that gentle breeze sometimes requires you to tighten your core to stay in the pose. Best of all, the fresh air does wonders for your body and your mind,” Vesprini said. 

Cost is $7 per session, $30 for a five-week package. For more information contact Kathy Vesprini at theyogapath.kdv@gmail.com or call 586-918-8407. A vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark and is only $25 annually for regular admission, $15 annually for seniors, or $5 daily. General information can be found at www.metroparks.com or by calling 1-800-47-PARKS.