I would like to share a beautiful review of Gentle Kripalu Yoga class at SOHUM written by Sarah Kacevich. This class is taught every Wednesday by Malu Doherty from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Visit www.SOHUM.org for details.
"In mid-November, I had the pleasure of taking a Gentle Kripalu Yoga class with Sohum instructor Malu Doherty. From the first call ofOm that began class, Malu’s gentle, warm, yet firm energy provided for an evening of dropping-in to listen to my body and its energy. As someone who typically practices a flowing Vinyassa style at home, I had looked forward to the opportunity to explore Kripalu Yoga in a classroom setting.
Not only did I gain an introduction to Kripalu Yoga, but I also garnered an appreciation for the class’s focus on the subtle movement of energy in the body. Leading us through generally simple, approachable poses, Malu’s approach helped me to understand how small adjustments to already-familiar poses could release energy, tension, and pain in new, much-welcomed ways. Manyasanas were similar to my Vinyassa-style personal practice, while others were a creative departure from the familiar. The focus on energy and breathwork meant that students of varying abilities could seamlessly find common ground.
As I currently work a physically demanding job, my body responded quite positively to the invitation to relax into a gently flowing evening class. It was one of those practices where I thought, “Ahhh! This is what I have been craving all week!” Malu’s emphasis on the breath helped me to draw inward, leaving the class with a tuned-up awareness of my breath and body alignment. Beginning with meditative poses and breathwork, then transitioning into more demanding asanas, we nevertheless maintained a commitment to a gentle, inward-focused practice.
As after all classes at Sohum, I left the studio feeling renewed, physically and mentally. Malu’s Gentle Kripalu Yoga class provided a relaxing evening practice that piqued my curiosity about this energy-focused style of yoga."
