Early Morning Yoga at Bristol Yoga Studio – 6:30am on Friday mornings – had been on my radar for awhile. I’d been attending various classes at the studio for a few months, though usually ones that took place a little later in the day.
But whenever I took a class there, I’d always leave the studio feeling refreshed and renewed. So I figured early-morning Friday yoga would be an awesome way to set the tone for the last day of the work week. Plus, I had heard really great things about the instructor, Gitali, but had never taken one of her classes.
And so I kept meaning to make it to the studio for Early Morning Yoga… but I just never seemed to be able to get my act together come, well, early(!) Friday morning.
But last Thursday evening I was committed to waking up early enough the next morning to make it. It had been a week of deadlines and late nights, so I was feeling a little run down and also carrying some tension in my neck and upper back.
When my alarm went off at 6:00am Friday morning, there was that moment of oh, this bed feels too warm and comfy to leave it! but I knew my body needed the gentle, rejuvenating movement that yoga would give me.
As I entered the Bristol Yoga Studio, Gitali greeted me with a warm, inviting smile. It was a chilly morning, but the studio was cozy inside. The sound of the soft chanting music filled the room, and I got on my mat to stretch a little and prepare my body for movement.
There were three other people in the class, two women and one man. I made a mental note to tell my fiance that there was a man in class so that I could convince him to join me sometime.
The sun was just beginning to rise as class began, making me feel close to nature even though we were indoors. My mind and body were waking up with the sun, and I felt the beauty and blessings surrounding that.
As I’ve attended more and more yoga classes, I’ve gotten to realize that every practice, every instructor, every class is going to be a little different than the last. And there’s room and necessity for all types. Sometimes I feel like I need a yoga flow class, sometimes a heated class is in order, sometimes my body just wants to stretch, sometimes I want to find inner peace and sometimes I need a combination of a few things.
Gitali’s class was a much-needed combination of reflecting, re-energizing and finding balance (both literally and as a way to approach the rest of the day). She took us through a series of poses that helped me focus on releasing tension and re-energizing my body, whether through working on finding awareness, breathing deeper into a stretching pose, opening the hips or attaining balance.
I loved Gitali’s teaching style – present, encouraging, knowledgeable and aware. She is clearly devoted to the practice of yoga and to helping her students understand the meaning behind the movements, as well as our actions and energy around them.
I left Friday’s Early Morning Yoga class feeling inspired, ready to start the day, and very happy that I made the effort to go. I look forward to doing it again and again!
Visit: www.BristolYogaStudio.com
