people&places ✴ yoga
for her ailment. Since yoga, Lisa is no longer filled with anxiety; she no longer takes medication for her migraines and rarely suffers from impairing headaches. “I’ve seen people come off of their blood pressure and diabetes medication from yoga alone,” says Lisa. “I’ve seen people who could barely make it into my studio due to medical issues [who are] able to come in now, roll out their mat, do the class and leave with no problem. It’s really incredible.” “Anyone can do yoga,” Lisa encourages. “I have worked with babies and children, all the way up through elderly clients. I have worked with people who are bed or wheelchair bound… people with disabilities, medical issues and prenatal women. Yoga isn’t just about movement or physical exercise. It can also be very gentle and soothing… a mind-body connection. Anything from meditation to breathing techniques is still yoga. So even if you aren’t able to get up from your hospital bed, you can still practice yoga. That’s what a lot of people don’t understand.” Lisa describes a class she taught previously in the day, consisting of a 70 year old, a prenatal woman and a young man suffering from a traumatic brain injury with limited mobility, all able to participate and gain strength and clarity from the class. Lisa’s eyes light up with gratitude as she explains how rewarding it was to see the disabled man sitting up, unassisted, for the first time since his accident, and his wife being there to witness such a feat. “It was truly amazing.” Lisa describes yoga as the art of “moving the body and calming the mind.” No other form of exercise can be described in this way. Yoga is unique in that it is touted to improve not only physical strength, but also mental, spiritual and ethical strengths. “It makes you so aware of all aspects of your life: morally, ethically, what you are eating, how you are treating others. Many people think it’s religious, but that’s not what yoga is about. It’s about being aware… aware of your body… aware of everything and everyone around you,” says Lisa’s husband John, an avid push-up, pull-up, sit-up kind of guy. He discovered yoga when he returned from deployment in 2011. “I was so tight and had back issues. I feel like a different person now. I am flexible and my back pain is gone. It has made my life so much better in all aspects. Yoga is honestly the best thing that has happened to our family!” The ethical awareness in yoga is derived from the Yoga Sutras, “an ancient textbook of ethical and moral principles for living,” that is often referenced during yoga classes to encourage inner reflection on ethical and behavioral aspects of life. Lisa and her husband agree that no matter what religion you are, if you practice yoga, “It will only deepen your spirituality, whatever that spirituality may be. And if you’re not spiritual,” Lisa says, “it may spark something inside of you.” These ethical reflections are minimal at Awakening, but they are im-
portant to Lisa and are one of the reasons why she believes yoga is so successful in uniting mental, physical and spiritual awareness. Quieting the mind and focusing inward is fundamental to yoga, yet it is a deterring factor for many high-energy or anxious individuals. “It is all about the practice. You must practice yoga regularly to find this ability,” says Lisa, a naturally energetic person herself. Lisa recommends practicing yoga three times a week, with a day of rest in between. For those who are just starting out, she recommends a beginner class or better yet, a one-on-one session, which will prepare individuals more readily for a full class. “When people begin yoga, it’s usually because of something — an injury, medical issue or inner ailment,” says Lisa. “In those one-on-one sessions we can really address the issue, whether it be a back problem, migraines, etc. This way, the person feels more prepared and ready when they enter into a full class.” The new studio is spacious, warm and soothing, and I had the privilege to attend a Saturday morning class where Lisa began with a meditation, encouraging us to reflect on a habit we’d like to change in our lives and to continue this reflection throughout our morning practice. The active meditation was brief, yet it sparked an introspection that wouldn’t have occurred during my regular gym workout. As the class came to a close, my entire body felt worked, stronger, more limber, while my mind felt more at ease. As I reflect on Lisa’s teaching style, three words come to mind: fun, challenging and accepting. I will be returning! Lisa Ripa is a strong woman, committed to helping and healing others through yoga. She attributes her strength, commitment and the woman she has become to her life as an Army wife and her everpresent support of her husband and three children: “My family is what drives me to reach my goals.” She also derives incredible strength and focus from yoga. Lisa’s life, like all of our lives, has been filled with mountains, valleys and rocky paths. Yet, she is able to manage life’s rough terrain through yoga. “I know that in my life, with yoga, I will only get better. It is only up from here.” q
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