Building mind, body and soul through yoga

Sarah Thomsen has brought her yoga teachings to High Prairie. She is encouraging men and youth to enrol in her classes. Photo courtesy of Sarah Thomsen.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Bending and stretching, controlled breathing, and making a spiritual connection with the mind and the world at large – such are the elements of yoga. Sarah Thomsen, newly arrived in High Prairie, is an International Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor teaching at Healing Waters Natural Health Centre and Bodyshapers Gym. She begins the class with breathing exercises and meditation, then moves into postures known as Asanas, and ends with a relaxation exercise. “For the most part, it’s very relaxing,” says Thomsen. “There’s a little bit of strenuous activity, but you can make it as much as you want to. You can make it really relaxing or a little bit more strenuous for yourself, depending on your own abilities.” Asanas is intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner’s well-being, improve the body’s flexibility and vitality, and promote the ability to remain in seated meditation for extended periods. Thomsen also teaches Pranayama, or lengthening, controlling and regulating breath. It is practiced to develop mental, physical and spiritual strength. She says the mind helps focus awareness on the body, so the person can feel what’s going on within their arms, legs, chest and neck. “You’ll find that everything is nurtured – your mind, your body and your soul. On a physical basis, it’s really good for everything and not just for muscles and tone, but for the lungs, cardiovascular, skin (and) metabolism as well.” She recommends not eating two hours before taking a yoga class. It’s better for the digestive system, because of all the bending, twisting and stretching that takes place in class. Thomsen got into yoga at 17, and found it very beneficial. She studied yoga in Victoria, British Columbia and other cities, as well as in India under a person named Suresh. “One of the greatest things about yoga is that you can go wherever you want in the world and study it,” says Thomsen. Besides High Prairie, she has taught yoga in Hawaii and Crowsnest Pass. She emphasizes that yoga is not just for women, and encourages men to participate too. “Women are more drawn to it because … Western society views it like an aerobics class, and men don’t really feel comfortable in that atmosphere.” Thomsen adds the men in her classes find yoga helps them with their stress and anxiety. In addition, she taught yoga to a group of boys in hockey in Crowsnest Pass, and it helped them with their schooling and sport. Thomsen also wants to offer yoga to young people as a tool to help them cope with the stresses of life. She may also offer advanced classes. For more information or to enrol, call the Healing Waters Natural Health Centre at 523-2700, or the Bodyshapers Gym at 523-4655.

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