Starting a new class is never easy in college, especially when it deals with physical activity.
At least this is what Leia Ferrari, a journalism and mass communication major at UW-Madison, thought before she started working out at Kaivalya Yoga. Ferrari, a senior and avid fanatic of the nature and outdoors, decided to try out Kaivalya Yoga after seeing a deal for classes online.
“I was drawn in because of a Groupon they did in September. I had considered going there but didn’t want to spend the money on something I didn’t know much about,” Leia explained. “The Groupon sold me, and from there I began by going to a free Yoga 101 class to learn the basics, then doing a $10 trial week (which I’m in process of right now) and after that I’ll know which classes to use my Groupon with.”
Leia’s weekly schedule is packed with to-dos and meetings. She’s on the board for PRSSA and serves as the managing web editor for Curb magazine- a publication put out by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication each fall.
Although stress often floods her life, Leia found peace when entering Kaivalya Yoga for the first time.
“It’s like an urban escape. Other than the fact you can see cars going down University Avenue from the floor-to-ceiling windows, you wouldn’t know you’re in Madison, or any city for that matter,” Leia said. “It’s peaceful and serene, I like the tapestries hung on the walls and especially like the om symbol that’s on the east wall.”
As far as class selection, Leia’s tried a wide array of classes, ranging from Yoga 101 workshop to Power Flow yoga.
“My first class was a Yoga 101 workshop, so we covered the basics of yoga at a nice slow pace. As someone who is totally new to yoga, that was a perfect way to start. My first class was Power Flow, which was harder than I expected, but that turned out to be okay because I didn’t know Power Flow is more difficult than some of the other classes Kaivalya offers.”
When she started, Leia was slightly confused about certain poses. She felt that the instructors at Kaivalya Yoga presented her with individual attention and help.
“I like it when teachers offer modifications and help me if I’m not doing a position properly. Since I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t want to get used to doing a position one way and find out later on that I’ve been doing it wrong all along. I understand that some people don’t like that, but it works well for me, so I appreciate when teachers do that, especially while explaining what specifically I can improve on.”
If you’re thinking about taking a class at Kaivalya Yoga, Leia has some tips for you.
“Take a Yoga 101 workshop first to get a feel for the different positions. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, so that really helped me get a better understanding of the basic moves that are part of a typical yoga class. I felt much more prepared going into a regular yoga class having taken Yoga 101. Also, take advantage of Kaivalya’s $10 trial week! It is a great opportunity to learn which classes are the best fit for you so that you don’t have to spend money later on individual classes you might not end up enjoying. Lastly – don’t be afraid to ask for help! Teachers are always willing to give you modifications; they want you to enjoy yoga without hurting yourself.”
For more information, check out http://kaivalya-yoga.com.
Namaste !
