Yoga For Athletes 3 Week Class Series W/Keli Engleson

This 3-week series will integrate multiple aspects aspects of yoga (movement, strength, focus and breath work) to help athletes excel and achieve goals in both your sport and life. The series will be ideal for runners, swimmers, cyclists, and other athletes wanting to learn more about ways to enhance training and prevent injury. Marathoners and triathletes will also learn how to integrate yoga into training. Each of the series classes will include flexibility, strength training, and restoration. Sunday, March 15 3:30-4:45 Sunday, March 22 3:30-4:45 Sunday, March 29 3:30-4:45 Week 1: Core Strength, Hips, Knees, and Low Back In all of our sessions we will build strength through core work and focus on keeping the knee safe while effectively opening the hips. Our practice and discussion this week will target cultivating athletic focus through core strength along with alignment in the hips and their effects on the knees and lower spine. Hip and pelvis stability are important for running and cycling. The repetitive action of running and cycling creates tight hips and often translates to knee, low back, and other challenges. Athletic performance improves with improved alignment, range of motion of the hips, while reducing risk of injury. This class will offer a deep opening for the muscles around the hips, lower back and legs while allowing you to surrender into a state of calmness. Week 2: Balance, Breath, and Body Awareness Muscle Groups: Core, Hamstrings, Quads, Ankles, and Toes Yoga is designed to alleviate the law of compensation. Yoga allows us to see where we have been compensating and helps to balance the body. As a result not only is performance enhanced but our training becomes more effective. We will discover our weaknesses as well as our strengths, develop balance and focus, increase endurance, reduce performance anxiety, and learn how breath control and mental focus helps the athlete to improve the mind and body connection. Athletes who practice connecting movements to the breath are able to relieve muscle tension, manage their breath and increase energy during endurance training. This class will challenge the entire body hitting everything from the neck, shoulders, back, wrists, legs and toes while working on ways to enhance relaxation and de-stress. Week 3:Injury prevention, Posture, and Recovery Athletes are often known for their ability to push beyond the mental and physical boundaries. This can sometimes lead to injury, fatigue and even affect results. To stay active and engaged in sports, athletes need to corrective muscular imbalances, prevent overuse injuries to ensure longevity. Through yoga, learn how to use each part of the body more efficiently to prevent injury, improve posture and enhance performance. Restorative poses and stretches will promote balance in the commonly overworked systems of the body that support support recovery. We will learn how to reduce and counteract the stress response and discussion will focus on the need for rest and the use of yoga as a recovery tool physically and mentally. This class is highly recommended for those participating in the Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon. Investment: 3 Class Series: $45 Drop In Class: $20 Yoga for Athletes Bundle (a $75 value includes 3 week series and Yoga for Athletes Workshop on March 7th at 12:30PM): $60 Follow this link for the bundled price: http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=186251&stype=40 What to Bring: a yoga mat, water, towel. We rent mats and towels and sell water in the studio as well. What to Wear: comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely. Please try to arrive 10-15 minutes before class. NOTE: The room will be heated slightly less than usual.