Beginners Yoga Workshop - $29
Sarah Maloney (E-RYT 200)
- My teaching style is: Traditional, relaxed, encouraging and therapeutic. I want my students to really experience and feel the poses to better understand their own bodies. I love when my students find relief through their practice and leave my class feeling rejuvenated, with a calmer state of mind.
- My favorite yoga pose is: Crow because it is fun, challenging and beautiful all at the same time.
- Yoga has helped me overcome: My need to always be in control. I am more able to let go and let things be!!
- My favorite music to practice to really depends on my mood, and the type of practice. I love practicing to indie, rock, some oldies, classical, and traditional chant/meditative sounds.
- I love my: Butt! Yes, I said it, my big bubble butt. I used to be embarrassed and ashamed of it, but have learned to love my curves!
- My favorite Deity or Goddess is: Hanuman because he is the provider of hope and courage, as well as a symbol of physical strength and perseverance to leap past your obstacles and achieve outstanding success.
- You must try this healthy snack: There are too many to name! I love baking! I have a killer recipe for paleo sweet potato brownies, vegan gluten free brownies, and chickpea blondies. Healthy alternatives are a must for someone with a sweet tooth like me.
- My favorite Sanskrit word is: Ananda which means "bliss."
- My advice for beginning yogis is: Don't give up! Yoga isn't about how physically flexible you are! It's about learning to be comfortable with yourself. The possibilities for your practice to grow and evolve are endless.
- I'm most grateful for: So many things, but most importantly, my family. I've been so blessed to grow up in such a loving home with support from both my immediate and extended family.
- The most exotic place that I've practiced yoga is: On top of a 14,000 foot mountain after hiking for hours to reach the top.
- If I could practice yoga with anyone, it would be: Adam Levine! He's my ultimate celebrity/yogi crush!
- My heroes are: My parents. They have shown me it's possible to work through any of life's difficulties, and come out stronger than you were before.
- My one wish for the world is: Positivity! If we could all just focus on the things we do have, instead of what we are lacking, we could be just a little bit happier.
Elyse Morckel (E-RYT 200/YACEP)
Elyse is a E-RYT 200/YACEP certified yoga instructor who has been teaching yoga for the last 5 years. In addition to teaching multiple styles of yoga at Release, she also instructs barre fitness classes. She currently serves as the Co-Director of the RYT-200 Teacher Training Program. Elyse took her first yoga class in high school, but didn't find a deeper connection to the practice till later on. For Elyse yoga is a moving meditation that keeps her mind and body refreshed. She hopes to encourage students to never stop learning and exploring all that their bodies can inform them about each time they step onto their mat. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2014 with a BFA in Dance and has been making her own independent choreographic works across northeast Ohio.Since 2017, Elyse has been a company dancer, teacher, & choreographer with The Movement Project, a contemporary modern dance company in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2018, Elyse began teaching through Zenworks Yoga, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing mindfulness and yoga into school settings and integrating those practices into daily curriculum for grades PreK-12. In addition to teaching through Release, TMP, & Zenworks Yoga, she also teaches dance at Sheena's Platinum Movements in northwest Akron.
- My teaching style is: Evolving. Each day is an opportunity to be open to new ideas. I seek to keep my practice available to new information as it comes to me as both a teacher and a student.
- My favorite yoga pose(s) is: Virasana (Hero Pose) & Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
- Yoga has helped me overcome: Feelings of insecurity and self doubt that I have carried for many years about myself. When I come to my mat I am reminded that I am capable of so much more than I realize, and I recognize that it is okay to have to remind myself of those things as a daily self-care practice.
- I love my Body because: For all the perceived faults and inadequacies I see in it. It is mine and therefore is unique and beautifully imperfect.
- You must try this healthy snack: Avocado with everything but the bagel sprinkles on toast.
- My favorite Sanskrit word or phrase is Om Namah Shivaya: Which translates to “I bow to the inner Self”. Answers and knowledge can come from within you if you look close enough.
- My advice for beginning yogis is: Don't let yourself get caught up thinking the challenging/advanced poses are everything. The physical asana is one of eight parts of your yoga practice. The challenge is living your yoga off your mat and in the chaos of the real world.
- I’m most grateful for: My family, those who I chose and some who life chose for me. They have been a lifelong source of encouragement and unconditional love, and I would not be here without them.
- The most unique place I’ve practiced yoga is: The jungles of Tulum or in Joshua Tree National Park.
- I’m ready to take my yoga to the next level because: Now with 5 years of teaching experience, I am interested to return to the mindset I held as a student, eager to seek out that which is new and connect deeper to what I "think" that I know.
- My heroes are: Teachers (not just from my yoga experience) who gave me the courage to believe I was more than I perceived.
- My superpower is: Supporting others & helping them find their path.
- My one wish for the world is: More love and understanding, less hate and aggression.
- Developing your yogic breath through Pranayama (breath work)
- Building your asanas (poses) and proper alignment
- Modifications and challenges for every fitness level and body type
Please note: Workshops require a 3 person pre-enrollment minimum to run (unless otherwise stated). If there are not 3 people signed up within 36 hours of the workshop, it will be canceled. Please help us support this policy by signing up for workshops days in advance!
