Jennifer Houghton

I’m lying in savasana — the corpse pose — and the room is entirely quiet save for some soft music.

I’m still, not even twitching a finger, alone in my own thoughts as the spicy, sweet smell of incense fills my nose.

Then yoga instructor Jennifer Houghton, director of the Flowing Yogi yoga studio in Cochrane, speaks and the silent spell is broken.

I become aware again that I’m in a room with about 12 other people finishing a beginners yoga class Jan. 5.

Yoga has been around for thousands of years, originating in India. It has obviously stuck around that long for a reason. Houghton said some of the physical benefits of practicing yoga include improved flexibility, better balance, strengthening and toning.

She added physical benefits of yoga can vary depending on which type of yoga you do. Classes like Yin, Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow are just some of the slower more meditative to the more upbeat active classes that people can take.

“(Yoga will) really strengthen your arms, your upper back and your chest,” Houghton said.

Aside from the physical benefits, Houghton explained those who practice yoga also benefit mentally.

“Mental benefits include reducing stress (and) becoming generally more calm. (Yoga) improves your moods overall and so people, for example, who have heart conditions or cardiovascular disease (the) stress reduction and mental calm can help with those physical conditions,” she said.

Houghton suggested starting off with a beginners yoga class to get a feel for it and then going to the next range of classes. During my beginner yoga class Houghton took the time to explain the various poses we did, answered any questions anyone had and wandered the room adjusting people’s poses to prevent strain on the body.

Houghton’s been practicing yoga for 17 years and has been instructing for five. Coming from a fitness training background she said her favourite type of yoga is the slower, longer held postures of Yin.

“Because I also teach a lot of fitness and my personality is more driven and my mind is really active, I like quieter classes like Yin because it balances me,” she said.

Houghton added for anyone who leads a busy goal-oriented life, yoga is a way to slow down for awhile.

“Yoga gives us a chance to just settle in and be rather than doing,” she said. “We have to be in ourselves and get in tune with our bodies, which actually helps us kind of get in tune with our true nature.”

I definitely know this reporter could use a little more calm and quiet in my life so will be making another trip to the yoga studio very soon.

Jennifer Houghton instructs a class at Flowing Yogi Yoga Studio Jan. 14. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

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