Yoga studio aiming to provide niche service, relaxation, health benefits

By Sara Smith
Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008

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By Sara L. Smith
VIEW Staff Writer

GRAND BLANC — Looking to de-stress, unwind and forget the day’s mind-boggling dramas and ever-present headaches?

Then check out Prana Yoga, the only bona fide yoga studio in Grand Blanc currently open to the general public.

The studio, operated by certified yoga instructor Jennifer Whipple, is located at 11225 South Saginaw St. in the Old World Village shops. It opened its doors Aug. 1.

For Whipple, who has more than seven years experience teaching yoga, the yoga experience is meant to provide a serenity of sorts, a clearing of one’s mind from the hustle and bustle, chaos and swirling activity of daily life in contemporary society.

“It’s a terrific way to relax and it’s really a great physical workout and it also provides a perfect compliment to any physical exercise regimen,” Whipple said. “It’s not a religion. I want people to be comfortable when they come here. It’s such a therapeutic system, but some people actually are fearful of yoga, but yoga is highly beneficial in many areas.”

In today’s stressful economy and with fearfulness of financial issues and the constant demands of family issues, obligations and demands, the need and desire to relax and unwind for a few hours a week is more important than ever, indicated Whipple.

“In these times, with their lives so busy, my clients need to relax,” she said. “Afterward, my clients can feel amazing. They feel as if they just walked out on cloud nine.”

Upon walking into the studio, clients are greeted by a relaxing environment, awash in candles and ambient music to help soothe the soul. The experience is designed to be as relaxing and comfortable as possible, says Whipple. There are no mirrors inside, in an effort to minimize body consciousness problems, she says.

A wide array of courses for everyone from the novice to the aficionado are offered — ranging from Slow Flow, a creative sequence of classical postures designed to maintain a healthy and pain-free backs and Lunar Vinyasa, aimed at providing a moving meditation of postures connected through the breath, both for beginners; to Ashtanga, an invigorating practice including both standing and seated postures, as well as inversions and backbends, and Prana Vinyasa, an energetic approach to embodying the flow of yoga via postures connected to the breath for a balancing effect, for the advanced student.

Whipple says yoga provides something beneficial for just about everyone. Professional business people, expectant mothers, athletes, and just individuals hoping to gain a little rest and relaxation along the way make up the bulk of her clientele, she indicated.

Yoga is great for offering pain relief for chronic back and spinal problems, in addition to being a great stress reliever, according to Whipple. She mentioned that she had a client who was once on the verge of surgery for a chronic back ailment when she was advised to seek out yoga by her doctor as an alternative treatment.

Following several sessions, the woman saw marked improvement with regard to her back problems and is pain-free and required no spinal surgery.

Yoga also provides for the basis of a healthy lifestyle, often aiding in weight loss for women, particularly in the oft-stubborn middle section, in which weight gain is governed by stress and hormones, Whipple mentioned.

“I hope to provide through yoga classes a better quality of life, better-quality relationships, and to bring a balance to my students,” said Whipple. “Really, I want to help my students reach their absolute greatest potential physically, spiritually and mentally with yoga as a new way of life.”

Whipple found herself thrust back into the world of yoga after re-entering corporate America for a brief period, following the dissolution of her partnership in another yoga studio. She refers to yoga as her calling and credits her husband, Steven, with helping guide her hand back to yoga as her profession.
She calls him her creative support and together the pair opened up Prana Yoga. He works on the marketing side of the business, while she currently devotes herself to teaching.

Yoga tapes, workout clothing and a full line of “energy muse” jewelry, made with jade, citrine and amethysts, hand crafted by artisans and shipped via catalog out of California, also are sold at the studio.

A “Welcome Back” special package rate is now being offered, including two months of unlimited yoga classes for $89. A special grand opening is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 19. The public is invited to attend.

Class schedules vary, but most classes occur during times from about 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday-Thursday and from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday, from 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday.

For details, call 810-965-0184.