My Yoga Classes at Baltimore Yoga Village

I thought that Baltimore readers might be interested in checking out the Traditional Hatha yoga classes that I am teaching at Baltimore Yoga Village . My classes are appropriate for students of all experience levels. Plus, most of the classes (the one hour classes) are only $10 and you can always just drop-in. Baltimore Yoga Village is located in Hampden at the Mill Center (3000 Chestnut Ave, Building 15 Baltimore, MD 21211). There is a parking lot on Mill Rd. for students. Please send me a message if you have any questions. Hope to see you soon!

My classes are listed below.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Traditional Hatha Yoga 7-8 AM

Before you begin the busy day, this hour long class will bring balance, flexibility, and relaxation to the body and mind. Including pranayama (breathing techniques), Asanas (steady postures), and a long final relaxation, this class is taught in the tradition of a disciple of Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnu Devananda, who brought hatha yoga to the West in the early 60s. This is a simple and meditative practice.

Wednesday

Traditional Hatha Yoga all levels 9:30 - 11 am

A class based in the Sivananda lineage of traditional hatha yoga - teaching proper breathing, relaxation, and yogic exercises for stretching and strengthening mind and body. This class is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced yogis. Come only with an ready and open mind.

Thursday

Traditional Hatha Yoga all levels 6:15 - 7:45 pm

This class will explore the 12 basic asanas including inversions, forward bends, backward bends, and twists - as well as some variations of the postures to create a challenging and meditative class.

Friday

Traditional Hatha Yoga all levels 12-1 PM

Including pranayama (breathing techniques), Asanas (steady postures), and a long final relaxation, this class is a simple and meditative practice for bringing health to the body and mind.

Kitcheri, Ghee, and an Ayurvedic Consultation

On Thursday afternoon, I visitied Melissa DiRito at Seed's Wellness Center for an Ayurvedic Consultation. I had been on the raw diet for a few days and it was working well, but I needed more dietary guidance. I was also curious about which vitamins and herbs were best for my needs. Melissa spoke with me about my physical and mental condition and examined my tongue, eyes, and pulse. She determined that my Vata was elevated and causing my Pitta to also rise, which was causing some of the symptoms that were concerning me at the time.

One of many helpful suggestions made by Melissa was to follow an Ayurvedic diet. Since my Vata is agitating and increasing my Pitta, she counseled me to follow a Pitta-Vata diet. She also gave me a kitcheri recipe from the Ayurvedic Institute website and suggested that I eat kitcheri for lunch and dinner, and drink a breakfast shake (almonds, flax, banana, mango, sunflower seeds) in the morning for three days, while I transition back to some cooked foods. Here is a picture of my first Kitcheri creation:

I spent Sunday afternoon preparing the Kitcheri and the Ghee. Making Ghee was another first time experience. Ghee is created by heating unsalted butter in a special way. Here are a few of the benefits of ghee, according to the Ayurvedic Institute:

"Ghee is a digestive. It helps to improve absorption and assimilation. It nourishes ojas, tejas and prana. It is good for improving memory and lubricates the connective tissue. Ghee makes the body flexible and, in small doses, is tridoshic."

You can check out both recipes through the Ayurvedic Institute's website here.