An afternoon of free yoga classes will serve as an introduction to not just yoga and its many benefits but also to the new Joy of Being yoga studio in Moss Beach.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, Joy of Being will offer free workshops on a drop-in basis, headed by two women who teach regularly at the studio. From noon to 2 p.m., Bess Corey will discuss the philosophy, history and benefits of yoga, and follow that by leading a series of strength-building postures. From 2 to 4 p.m., Jessica Archer will lead a workshop designed for people recovering from injuries or experiencing pain, and follow that with an easy-pace introduction to restorative practice on a deep level.
 Joy of Being founder Jane Sanguinetti seems to capture the spirit behind the name of her new Moss Beach yoga studio. |
Joy of Being opened in September, and offers various avenues for experiencing increased enjoyment and presence in life: yoga, tai chi, dance, therapeutic movement, meditation, music, and Reiki — for adults and children. Also offered are several modalities of massage and bodywork including cranio-sacral therapy, deep-tissue massage, massage geared toward fertility and pregnancy, reflexology, Reiki, chakra balancing and shamanic restoration.
Founder Jane Sanguinetti, a Pacifica resident who has worked in massage therapy there for seven years, had a vision of “a place for local healers and teachers who do holistic healing or spiritual work, to come together,” she said. “It’s a chance for the community to connect with themselves in a deep way.”
To create the space, she restored the previous Seaside Serenity building using green and environmentally friendly technologies and materials. The building has new walls and bamboo floor with cork surfaces that “give a little cushion that’s so good for yoga.” The walls were painted with environmentally friendly paint that contained no toxins, and everything was made using reclaimed wood or recycled or fair-trade materials.
Besides Archer and Corey, the studio’s other teachers, well-established in yoga and related fields, include Klaus Lehrach and Andrea Dugay, who teaches “yoga for surfers” and pre-natal yoga. The studio serves all Coastside communities.
Saturday’s opening coincides with Yoga Day USA, which spotlights growing emphasis on yoga as a means of health care and therapy for mind and body. A 2008 Yoga Journal study cited 15.8 million Americans as yoga practitioners, and 14 million as saying that a doctor or therapist recommended yoga. Its benefits include weight and stress management, improvement in heart health and improved circulation; the practice of yoga has helped patients cope with illnesses including asthma and cancer.
The day was created by Yoga Alliance, which sets standards for professional teachers of yoga worldwide, with goals of protecting health and safety.
“Yoga is for everybody — young and old, flexible and not-so-flexible, from athletes to couch potatoes,” said Sanguinetti.
Joy of Being can be reached at 563-9821.
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