yoga

Submitted photo and press release:

If you are an alpaca enthusiast or just need to unwind, you will love experiencing yoga at Northwoods Alpaca Farm! This new program starts this Saturday, May 22^nd and runs each Saturday through Aug. 28^th.

The farm is located in Bergen at 6499 N. Lake Road.

Held in the pasture, this new 45-minute class starts at 11 a.m. and concludes with a 15-minute meet-n-greet with the alpacas!

Even if you are a novice or never practiced yoga, the experience of practicing in the soothing presence of the alpacas is something you won’t soon forget.

The class is held in the pasture with the alpacas and experienced yoga instructor, Kristina Back, who has been teaching yoga for more than two years. She is a young, vibrant instructor who enjoys helping clients at all fitness levels get into shape and achieve goals.

All levels welcomed and children under 14 may participate with an accompanying adult.

The program fee is $20 per person and includes a complimentary admission to the farm. Both children and adults must pay for registration.

Please note that cancellations or changes may be made up until two weeks prior of the scheduled class for online or in-store credit for a future class. No refunds if cancellation occurs within two weeks.

Register Online

More information and advanced registration can be found on the Genesee County Tourism website here. While you’re there check out all the other exciting events happening in Genesee County this summer!

Also Offering Farm Tours

Be sure to schedule a time to take the Alpaca Farm Tour as well! It lasts about an hour with a short walk around the family farm to meet the boys, the girls, and the little ones. You will also have the opportunity to pet and feed the alpacas.

Bring your cameras! The tour concludes at the Farm Boutique where you will see all types of products made from alpaca fiber. Sorry, no public restrooms available at the farm.

• Families & Individuals; $10 per person – children 3 & under are free. $20 minimum per group.
• Organized Groups of 15 or more: $7.50 per person – children 3 & under free.
• Tours run April – October.

For more info, contact Belinda Grant, Northwoods Alpaca:   info@northwoodsalpacas.com, (585) 494-1371.

Submitted photo and press release:

If the COVID-19 pandemic is stressing you out, the whole family can get some relief with yoga classes. They are held online and brought to you by the Hollwedel Memorial Library. 

There are two live sessions scheduled this month: one especially for adults and one for just for the children. The sessions will be livestreamed on Facebook on the library’s wall. 

The adult session will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and will be perfect for all levels including beginners.

“If you have never attended a Yoga class, this will be a great start,” says Josselyn Borowiec, library director and a trained and certified yoga instructor. “Yoga has many benefits and has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety and is good for the heart, blood pressure, bone density, strengthening and balance.” 

Yoga for the kids will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30. The focus is on fun during this yoga class and always includes a story.

“The yoga class for the kids is a great time to get some exercise, and we have been known to share some laughs as we learn,” says Borowiec, who also leads this session. 

Information about these online yoga programs, as well as the other programs and services available at the library, can be found on the library’s website at www.HollwedelLibrary.org.

Residents with questions can also contact the library by phone at (585) 584-8843 or stop by 5 Woodrow Drive in Pavilion.

Currently, hours are:

• Monday and Wednesday 2 to 7 p.m.
• Friday 1 to 5 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m. to noon
• Closed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

Photo: Yoga instructor and Hollwedel Library Director Josselyn Borowiec* will be leading adults and children in two online yoga classes on Jan. 27 and Jan. 30.

* RYT® 200 -- successfully completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training and registered with Yoga Alliance.

From Blue Pearl Yoga:

Turns out the new Yoga in Centennial Park class is a big hit, so we have added another class.

In addition to the Tuesday afternoon classes this month from 7 to 8:15 p.m. with Lisa Ingalsbe, there will be classes from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings with Marianne Skye (E-RYT, YACEP).

Breathe, move, recharge. This well-rounded yoga class offers many yoga pose variations, so those with different levels of experience can participate fully. Appropriate for adults and high school students (no young children).

You can relax while stretching and strengthening. There will be active yoga poses, breath work and stillness practices.  

The park is lovely, the shade is cool, and the people who come to yoga are nothing but sweet!

Centennial Park is located at 151 State St. in the city.

Cost is $10 per class.

Submitted photo and press release:

The New Year at Blue Pearl Yoga Open House will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Come and explore the many opportunities for wellness and check out our beautiful yoga space located in the former Masonic Temple on Main Street in Downtown Batavia.

Try out different styles of yoga and meet our teachers, as we will be offering free 20-minute Discovery classes throughout the day in our two yoga rooms. Or you're welcome to just hang out in the Art Gallery or Reception Room, and enjoy some light refreshments and good company.

All welcome, no charge. Blue Pearl Yoga Studio is located on the third floor of 200 E. Main St. — stair access only.

(In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, the Open House will occur from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5)

Press release:

The benefits of Yoga include increased flexibility, improved muscle strength and tone, cardio and circulatory health as well as improved energy and vitality.

Now some of these benefits can be experienced by taking the new Family Yoga class at the Corfu Free Library. The class takes place the first Monday of every month at 10:30 a.m. that is led by Josselyn Borowiec, an instructor at Maya Yoga in Batavia.

“We are lucky to have Josselyn here at the library, to lead us through these gentle Yoga practices”, says Diana Reding, Library director. “She has studied Yoga and has worked with children for several years, so we are excited to begin this new program.”

“There is no cost for the class and the types of activities are gentle and can accommodate just about anyone. Materials are provided and the only requirement is to wear comfortable clothes that allow for free movement,” adds Reding.

“We first offered a gentle Yoga class at our Pre-school Story Hour. People enjoyed it so much that we thought we would make it a regular program,” says Borowiec. “I am thrilled that there is such an interest in Yoga. We also have a number of books that provide more information about Yoga’s benefits that are available for patrons to check out. We also have Yoga books appropriate for our youngest yogini readers."

Information about the Family Yoga Class as well as the other programs and services available at the library are posted on the library’s website at www.CorfuFreeLibrary.com.

Residents with questions can also contact the library by phone at 585-599-3321.

Nancy Jo Rademacker has a joy for teaching yoga that is no more evident than when she teaches one of her regular classes for young children at her new studio in City Centre.

More than 13 years ago, Rademacker reached out to BOCES to see if it offered yoga classes. They didn't, so she offered her services. That was her first job teaching yoga and it's been her passion ever since.

She said it's her "inner calling" and why she also decided to open Maya Yoga Studio across from Sunny's Restaurant in the mall.

The studio is named after her 11-year-old daughter, who also practices yoga.

“Yoga is a way to take care of yourself positively," Rademacker said. "It focuses on the whole of who you are -- physical, emotional and spiritual."

All classes are taught by her. She recently completed an advanced yoga training degree through the Kripalu School of Yoga and Health. The studio space is newly renovated and it is warm, comfortable and inviting. Classes are taught in low lighting with peaceful music playing softly in the background.

The classes that are offered range from gentle yoga for the beginner, to vigorous yoga for the experienced. There are several classes in between, as well as specialty classes, such as prenatal yoga, chair yoga and meditation classes.

There is even lunchtime yoga, which allows you to drop in for a few minutes or spend the whole hour. For some classes, drop-ins are welcome, while the more specialized classes require advance registration.

For more information visit the Web site at http://www.yogawithnancyjo.com/ or call 716-913-9616.

Batavia's Blue Pearl Yoga and Exhale Yoga recently teamed up for a 200-hour training of future yoga instructors. Rebecca Cohen (second from left), of Exhale, and Karen Reisdorf, of Blue Pearl, presented certificates last weekend to their three graduates: June Martino, Tess Garland and Maura Gilsinan.

The training was done in increments of four days a week for eight weeks, six hours a day, followed by a week-long "final exam."

Included were formal study (180 hours of class time and 10 hours of homework) and a "practicum" component (about 10 hours) where candidates had to observe and teach classes.

"It is quite an achievement for these ladies," Cohen said.

Yoga may look easy to outsiders, but no one can learn how to teach it without getting to know its complexities.

"You are trying to get a group of people to all move together and breathe together," Cohen said, "(and to) improvise a series of yoga poses, while asking them to push their muscles and joints to their safe limits."

Altogether, according to Cohen, there are about 900 body poses in yoga "if you include the variations."

She described yoga as "a great low-impact form of exercise that works every muscle in your body, and really improves core strength."

"It improves coordination and balance," she said, "because it is practiced barefoot and the poses are performed on one side and then the other, bringing balance to both sides of the body."

Yoga also makes use of deep breathing exercises.

"Yoga can certainly be just a physical exercise," Cohen said, "or it can be a physical exercise to connect you with your spirituality. It depends on your intentions."

Cohen always begins and ends her lessons by asking everyone to take a moment to reflect on his/her intention.

"(This) gives us a chance to remind ourselves of what we are grateful for and an opportunity to remember that in order to achieve personal growth, we need to stay focused on that goal or intention every day."

For anyone interested in future yoga instructor training, the cost is about $2,000 -- $1,800 for the training itself, plus an additional $200 for books.

For more information, call Cohen at (716) 316-9869 or email 1rebeccacohen@gmail.com. You may also contact Reisdorf at 343-1257 or e-mail bluepearl.yoga@yahoo.com.

Photo taken by Karen Reisdorf