RAVE: Yoga Among Friends

For anyone who has been paying attention, it's no secret that I'm a big advocate of yoga. Not only is it great exercise and injury prevention, it's also good for the soul. Yoga helps me relax, it helps me stay sane.

You question that, just ask my fiance...he'll be the first to tell you that I'm much happier after a yoga class (and probably easier to live with in general when I'm practicing regularly).

After moving to Chicago, I was doing what I could to save my pennies, so I spent $10 on a couple yoga DVDs from Amazon in hopes of continuing my practice at home. Turns out, I'm not so good at 1) getting the motivation to take an hour out of my evening at home to pop in a yoga dvd, or 2) get my head into the practice with all the distractions that happen when you're at home.

I'm just the kind of girl who needs a peaceful space to get away from the cell phone and the ever-growing pile of laundry to really focus.

So, I decided to venture out and explore the world of yoga in the West Chicago suburbs. I had the intention of trying out a number of different studios before settling on one, since there seems to be an abundance within driving distance. But, after visiting just one, I think I might be hooked.

A couple weeks ago I headed to Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove for my first yoga class in Chicagoland. I went to a level 1 vinyasa flow class because I wasn't entirely sure what level 1 meant in their terms, and since it'd been a few months since my last class, I wanted to ease into it.

Well, let me tell you, though it was a rather basic class, it was exactly what I needed. The class was a bit bare, mostly because it was during the holidays and everyone was too busy making and eating cookies to venture out, but with only a handful of people in the class, the instructor was able to provide plenty of 1 on 1 attention. It also was one of those classes that you could make into your own level of difficulty.

It was a 90 minute class that started with some inspiring thoughts to get your meditation juices flowing. We worked our way up from the floor and back down again. It was slow and basic, but still very challenging. I made a lot of mental realizations through this practice, let go of some things I'd been holding on to for far too long, and really got into the groove.

This is a class I've been thinking about ever since that first visit, and it makes me want to continue going back for more.

Beyond that, everyone there was very welcoming and friendly. Fellow classmates introduced themselves and instructors went out of their way to chat with me. I made it a point to mention that I have intentions of working toward my 200-hour certification and they all took an interest in that. HUGE bonus, as I've yet to find a studio that has been interested in that statement.

I'm excited to check out some of the other class options, as they have a wide variety for every yogi need and skill level. There's even a gentle asana/meditation class - that's a must visit in the coming weeks.

This is definitely a yoga studio that I would recommend to any of my friends. The name, Yoga Among Friends, speaks for itself. If you're in the Chicagoland area, be sure to check it out. You won't regret it.

Cheers!

-A