By Marie Germon
Iramoo Community Centre in Wyndham are now running Yoga classes and class instructor Catherine Sullivan is passionate about the venture.
Catherine comes from a dance background and began practicing yoga to help maintain her body’s strength and flexibility.
“My motivation for attending my first class was purely physical but the reasons I kept going back were completely different. I found I was leaving every class with a huge grin on my face, feeling contented, positive and calm and realised there was more going on inside than just the physical postures.”
As a result of her inquiry into yoga practice she studied at The Academy of Yoga Learning for a period of two years, and became a qualified yoga instructor.
The health benefits of yoga are well known and Catherine fully endorses its positive effects.
“Yoga has physical, emotional and mental benefits. It helps you sleep better, builds strength and flexibility, improves posture, can aid in weight loss, increases blood flow, boosts your immune system, helps you focus and improves balance, to name a few.”
“One of my teachers used to say, “whatever you do, yoga will help you do it better. Yoga helps you to become the best version of you… and it’s fun.”
Catherine offers a ‘vinyasa flow’ class to participants, which caters for all levels of experience.
“The word “vinyasa” can be translated as “arranging something in a special way,” like yoga poses in a yoga class, for example, and the flow relates to the linking of breath and movement, using the breath as impetus to move and flow from one pose to the next. The focus on the breath also helps students to remain fully present throughout class.”
Catherine also notes that yoga is a great deal of fun.
“I love this style because as an ex-dancer it flows like a dance and I can be creative when developing a class plan and it’s fun to teach…basically I love it because it’s fun.”
Classes are on at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale, every Wednesday night at 7.30pm
Class cost: $10
Enquiries & bookings: yogamoveswest@gmail.com or 0416 009 024
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/yogamoveswest
