Introduction to Yoga Classes

Yoga engages and stimulates your mind while at the same time increasing your flexibility, reducing the level of stress in your body and reducing your weight.

6 Core Benefits of Yoga

There are many benefits to having a regular and frequent yoga practice. The key is that it is regular (at least once or twice a week) and consistent.

Improve flexibility

Your range of motion tends to decrease, as you get older. Yoga helps to reverse this process by taking your joints through their full range of motion, increasing your flexibility gradually. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, and making your body more flexible. Your body alignment and posture will improve helping to relieve back, neck, hip and shoulder pain. You'll be amazed at how much easier everyday activities like walking or running will become when you increase your flexibility. Your hockey, golf, basketball or baseball game will become better as you increase your flexibility.

Lessen your stress

Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. It also lowers blood pressure and heart rate, improves digestion and boosts the immune system. Yoga reduces the symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia. Your lung capacity will improve, and so will the quality and depth of the breath. People, who practice yoga on a regular basis, will notice that they will have less upper respiratory infections, as a result of the quality of the breathing they practice during a yoga class.

Lose weight permanently

A study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle linked yoga and weight loss. This 10 year study of over 15,500 men and women showed people who did yoga lost weight while the control group gained weight. Another study presented in 2006 at the America Heart Association found yoga helped overweight high school students lose weight while the control group gained weight. Yoga can help you lose weight in more ways than just by burning calories. It helps your hormonal balance, reduces food and alcohol cravings, and builds muscle.

Improve your energy level

You have to expend energy to gain more energy. But some types of exercise can get you feeling more energized immediately and this is one of them!

Strengthen, lengthen and tone your muscles

Yoga creates long, strong and lean muscles, from head to toe. Enjoy powerful muscles without adding bulk!

Detoxify the body

By synchronizing breath and movement and gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the internal organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to all parts of the body. This helps to flush out toxins from the system and to eliminate stress hormones as well as maximizing nourishment to your body. It improves your complexion, increases vitalityand recharges your enthusiasm.

I haven't had a cold in 3 years

"I thought that Sunrise Yoga would be an alternative to a gym environment. It is that and so much more. It has improved my state of mind. I'm more thoughtful, I have better coping abilities and I have more patience with people."

"There are classes at Sunrise Yoga to suit everyone. Stephanie keeps the classes interesting. She tells you why poses help you as well as other interesting facts about alternative wellness."

"As a result of attending classes at Sunrise Yoga, I am healthier, more flexible, I have better concentration and I haven't had a cold in almost 3 years!"

Averill MacInnis - November 2007

Who are we

• We are Sunrise Yoga Studio located in the Westphal area of Dartmouth Nova Scotia. We provide yoga classes seven days a week.
• We work with health conscious physically active women in the Dartmouth area that have become dissatisfied with or can no longer continue with their current fitness program and they are looking for an alternative that will help them to become more flexible and less stressed.
• We work with health conscious sedentary women in the Dartmouth area that want to improve their fitness levels but don't want to go to the gym.
• We provide a vigorous style of yoga for the physically active person which will dramatically improve a person's flexibility, strength, cardio vascular capacity while also reducing stress levels.
• We provide a gentle style of yoga for the sedentary person which will improve a person's flexibility and reduce stress levels.
• We provide a health conscious community of like minded individuals.

Introduction to Yoga course

Our Introduction to Yoga course is specifically designed for people that have never done yoga before. This four week course costs $70 and it includes a new yoga mat for you to keep (a value of $32). That means that the total value of the course is $97 and you are getting it for a cost of $70.

• We offer the course on Sunday nights from 6:30 - 7:45 pm for people that are or have been physically active.
• We also offer the course on Friday evenings from 6:30 - 7:45 am for sedentary people.

I lost weight and ran farther

"I joined the intro to yoga class at the same time as I started Weight Watchers. I've been a fairly active person, but always wanted to try yoga. I loved it immediately and incorporated it into my exercise regime. I was amazed to find how much it helped with weight loss and my overall fitness."

"I'm now 30 lbs lighter and can run faster and farther than ever before!"

"With winter approaching, I am looking forward to staying active with a challenging indoor activity - yoga!"

Nancy Setchell - October 2007

13 Things That Are Unique About Us

• We are the oldest yoga studio in Dartmouth. You can practice yoga in church halls, community centres, fitness centres or sport facilities, however we are the oldest purpose built yoga practice space in Dartmouth.
• Our practice space is Fung Shui certified to be a welcoming and comforting space that is harmonious with the surrounding environment.
• We are the only place teaching Ashtanga yoga 10 times a week in Dartmouth. This vigorous style of yoga rapidly reduces your weight, improves your flexibility, and strengthens your upper body. Each practice session consumes approximately 750 calories.
• We offer yoga classes seven days a week. We have over 20 classes available from Monday to Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday evening.
• We have two practice spaces. We have more classes available in the evening when most people are available to attend. Our large space will hold 16 people and our small space will hold 8 people.
• We offer many styles of yoga. We offer a vigorous style of yoga, a gentle style of yoga and prenatal yoga. We also offer Yoga for meditators and Yin Yoga classes.
• We have Pot Luck dinners. On the second Saturday of the month, once a quarter, our members get together at the studio in the evening to share a meal. This is an opportunity to meet other members and have some interesting conversations.
• We have workshops. On the third Sunday of the month, one of our teachers presents an indepth session on a particular aspect of yoga. This is another opportunity to learn, meet our other members and have some more interesting conversations.
• We have a flexible pass card system. With our pass card system you can attend any class in our schedule, as often as you would like. You are not restricted to attending a specific class on a specific night.
• We have lots of safe parking next to the building. The parking lot in front of the building and behind the building is well lit and provides ample parking.
• For your safety we are not located on the ground floor. We are located above the ground floor for increased privacy and security of our members.
• We are in a quiet building. There are no distracting noises or conversations happening outside of the studio.
• We have air conditioning. The temperature in our practice space is controlled. We do not get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.

Performing better on the job

"About a year ago I decided to take up yoga because I had injury after injury from running and soccer. I have a physically demanding job as a letter carrier and a challenging route. I needed to stay sound. I wasn't thrilled about changing my lifestyle and the possible weight gain that would result from that change. I thought that I would do something that would help heal my body."

"I tried two other beginner yoga seessions and finally came to Sunrise. I was so happy to find Jack's Ashtanga class because he wooped my butt!"

"Now I feel I have found something that will keep me strong, fit, and healthy. It has also helped to strengthen my injuries. I am performing better on the job without the constant fear of reinjury."

"I struggle with the binding poses, but since I intend to practice as long as possible, I'm confident it will improve with time."

Laura Lee Smith - November 2007

Our guarantee

If after practicing on a consistent basis at least twice a week for six months, you have seen no improvement in your weight loss, flexibility or stress levels then we will refund all of the money that you have invested with us.

How to contact us

• Give us a call at 902-404-9642 and we can discuss your goals, answer your questions, review the options available to you and book your first session.
• You can also email us at jack@sunriseyoga.ca
• Or you can drop in for a visit and check out our studio at 505-73 Tacoma Drive, Dartmouth.

I look forward to hearing from you real soon.

PS
Be sure to register now to reserve your space in our Introduction to Yoga course. These classes have limited space and fill up quickly.