As acupuncturists, we often recommend to our patients that they take exercise classes to further enhance their health and promote faster healing. Often times we are recommending less mainstream classes like yoga, qi gong and tai chi because of their low impact. These classes can be intimidating to many of our patients who have no experience with these types of exercises.

When planning our new office location, we decided it would be an excellent addition to our practice if we could offer classes that we often recommend. We felt it would be more beneficial to our patients if they could take these classes in small groups to improve safety and effectiveness in conjunction with their medical treatment.

Our integrative philosophy has always been to create communication across the various medical modalities in our practice. We feel our patients will receive the greatest benefit by incorporating healing on every level: physical, mental and spiritual. As practitioners we were often hesitant to recommend a yoga class to someone with chronic or severe pain because we felt they may increase their risk of injury without direct supervision.

Our classes are designed to offer hands on instruction for every participant to protect people's health and make sure they are receiving maximum benefit for their effort. Our instructors have a depth of experience and training in helping individuals to achieve their health and fitness goals.

On your next visit, ask us which classes may benefit you.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

BASIC VINYASA YOGA
with Laura Mannarino, RYT

The word vinyasa means flow. Flow is attained by linking the breath to the movement of the body and staying mindfully connected to the body. Classes will also include yoga philosophy, pranayama (breath work), relaxation, and aromatherapy. Benefits of the practice - reduce stress, relax the mind and body, tone muscles, detox the body, improve posture, balance and flexibility.

When:      Mondays 7:45-9:00pm
Dates:     January 23 - March 5, 2012 (no class Feb 20)
Cost:        $100
Register: Call Colleen at IHC Towson at 410-296-5160

>Click here for current schedule.

YOGA FOR BEGNNERS
with Karen Shavin, RYT, LMT

The beginners’ class opens with a setting an intention for the practice, followed by a warm-up, instruction in basic asana, cool-down and a brief relaxation (savasana) to close the practice. Classes will also include yoga philosophy and occasional pranayama (breath work). No prior experience is necessary. Dress in comfortable clothing and bring an open mind, a willingness to try, and a sticky mat.

When:      Wednesdays 11:00am-12:15pm
Dates:     March 7 - April 18, 2012 (no class March 28th)
Cost:        $100 (6 class session)
Register: Call Colleen at IHC Towson at 410-296-5160

>Click here for current schedule.

YOGA FOR DIABETES
with Karen Shavin, RYT, LMT

This ongoing series of classes is most beneficial for those recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes or in the early stages of adult onset diabetes. The class will include instruction on specific asana that have research evidence of effectiveness with reducing stress and in increasing the body’s use of glucose. Yoga practice is intended for use in conjunction with the medical treatment of Diabetes and your doctor must provide clearance for participation. The series will be canceled if there is not a minimum of 4 people registered.

When:      Saturdays 11:00am-12:15pm
Dates:      Begins March 10th
Cost:        $100 (for each 6 class session)
Register: Call Colleen at IHC Towson at 410-296-5160

>Click here for current schedule.

WORKSHOP FOR LOWER BACK, SACRUM & HIPS
with Karen Shavin, RYT, LMT

This workshop will focus on short, simple therapeutic yoga practices designed to promote health in the lower back, sacrum and hips, when practiced as a part of a daily regimen. The class will include a presentation on the causes of back pain, instruction on safely practicing the postures, and a handout with therapeutic practices for you to do at home. The exercises are based on the work of Gary Kraftsow and designed for everyone, even those who never practiced yoga before. NOTE: These exercises are not intended to replace medical advice and treatment. You must be healthy enough to practice yoga or cleared by your doctor in order to participate. The workshop will be canceled if there is not a minimum of 4 people registered.

When:      Second Thursday of each month (begins in March)
Time:       6:00-8:00pm
Cost:        $45 for each workshop
Register: Call Colleen at IHC Towson at 410-296-5160

>Click here for current schedule.

WORKSHOP FOR UPPER BACK, NECK & SHOULDERS
with Karen Shavin, RYT, LMT

This workshop will focus on short, simple therapeutic yoga practices designed promote health in the upper back, neck and shoulders, when practiced as a part of a daily regimen. The class will include a presentation on the causes of back pain, instruction on safely practicing the postures, and a handout with therapeutic practices for you to do at home. The exercises are based on the work of Gary Kraftsow and designed for everyone, even those who never practiced yoga before. NOTE: These exercises are not intended to replace medical advice and treatment. You must be healthy enough to practice yoga or cleared by your doctor in order to participate. The workshop will be canceled if there is not a minimum of 4 people registered.

When:      Fourth Thursday of each month (begins in March)
Time:       6:00-8:00pm
Cost:        $45 for each workshop
Register: Call Colleen at IHC Towson at 410-296-5160

>Click here for current schedule.

8-WEEK MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION CLASS
with Gina L. Sager, MD, RYT

This class presents mindfulness meditation, breath work and yoga as critical skills for managing life's challenges.

These practices enable participants to see the value and preciousness of the present moment, open to the possibility of transforming crisis into opportunity, and minimize the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual tolls of ordinary and extraordinary stresses. The class is based the curriculum of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his group at University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society, with whom Gina has done training. Dr. Kabat-Zinn is an internationally known teacher and author of Full Catastrophe Living; Wherever You Go , There You Are; and Coming to our Senses.

My classes include elements of yoga, ayurveda, meditation, and even some traditional Chinese wisdom. Although the class is based on the ancient Buddhist practices and philosophy of mindfulness, I aspire to present a class that is balanced and available to all people, regardless of spiritual or religious tradition.

So the work of mindfulness is about learning to pay attention moment to moment, without judgment…paying attention intentionally in each moment. And in each moment we always get to choose what gets our attention. The practices teach us how to change the mind to understand that things happen, many of which we can’t change; yet regardless of what occurs, we ALWAYS get to choose how to relate. So we don’t have to change what we’re thinking, but can always change our relationship to what is already so, or how we’re thinking about what is already happening.

This class trains us to do just that. Together we practice working with breath, re-inhabiting the body through the practices of yoga and yoga nidra, and learning to work with the mind by practicing formal sitting meditation. There are homework assignments weekly including 4 guided CDs for home practice-1 Body scan, 2 yoga and 1 sitting meditation. We practice together in class, but if you wish for your life to really change, you are invited to take this work seriously, do the homework as offered and really let it infiltrate all parts of your life.

When:              Tuesdays 6:30-9:00pm

Sessions:        Apr 10-May 29, 2012 (retreat May 19)
                          Jun 12-Jul 31, 2012 (retreat Jul 21)
                          Aug 14-Oct 2, 2012 (retreat Sep 22)
                          Oct 30-Dec 18, 2012 (retreat Dec 8)

                          DOWNLOAD FLYER HERE!

Cost:                $475

Registration:  Call Gina at 410-667-0468 or email her at gina@ginasager.com
Pre-registration required.

>Click here for current schedule.

LAURA MANNARINO, RYT

Laura began practicing yoga in 2005 while living in Shanghai, China. She discovered the amazing benefits for mind, body, and spirit and has been practicing ever since.

She completed the 200 hour teacher training course with Kim Manfredi through Charm City Yoga.
Come let her guide you through a practice that will leave you feeling great mind, body, and spirit!

KAREN SHAVIN, RYT, LMT

Like so many others, Karen came to yoga looking for relief from pain but stayed for the healing benefits to mind, body, and spirit. In 2008 she left her career in education to pursue the study of yoga and massage so as to be able to share these gifts with others. Now she has the best job in the world, helping people feel better in their bodies and in their lives and watching the positive changes that happen to them over time.

Karen completed yoga teacher training at yama studio in Baltimore. Stan Andrzejewski, her primary teacher, introduced her to the precision of the Iyengar tradition combined with heart-opening Anusara practice. She continues to study locally and to take workshops with nationally recognized teachers including Judith Lassiter, Kofi Busia, Gary Kraftsow, Jenny Otto, and Shakta Kaur Khalsa.

GINA SAGER, MD, RYT

Gina L. Sager, MD, RYT is a retired board-certified general surgeon, named one of Baltimore’s Top Docs in October 2000. She permanently left the practice of traditional Western medicine in May 2002 to explore her long time interest in holistic healing. She’s had professional training with Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, studied and practiced Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition, studied at Tai Sophia Institute in Maryland and is certified in Integrative Yoga Therapy.

She has used the wisdom of Ayurveda for personal healing since 2000, has recently completed a 60 hour certificate in Ayurvedic Nutrition with renowned author and teacher Amadea Morningstar, and works with Calvert’s Gift Farm, a small family owned organic farm in Sparks, Maryland to encourage the use of seasonal, local, organic produce for health and well-being. She is currently incorporating this work with her Ayurvedic and mindfulness training to offer seasonal, farmer’s market-based workshops on food, eating and self care in Baltimore.

She has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction since 2004, yoga and yoga nidra since 2005, and teaches in yoga teacher training programs at Golden Heart Yoga in Annapolis and Tranquil Space in Washington DC. She also offers her programs to cancer patients and their families at HopeWell Cancer Support.

Gina believes that her path is to share what she has learned on her transformative journey by offering others the opportunity to reconnect with their own deepest nature, and learn to care for themselves using these ancient, holistic practices. You can visit her online at www.ginasager.com or email her.