Challenging, but not harming: Moderate Yoga Class with April Ropes, June 19th

   Ahimsa, just one principle a part of the yogic system of living, is the Sanskrit term for non-harming.  The word is an essential reminder to push oneself to new goals of strength, flexibility, and balance, but to simultaneously be mindful of the limits of one’s body and mind. Just as yogic philosophy encourages humans to “do no harm” to fellow humans, animals, and the Earth, ahimsa likewise encourages humans to avoid harm toward themselves. Last week’s Moderate Yoga Class, taught by instructor April Ropes at Sohum Yoga and Meditation Studio in Westborough, was a beautiful exploration of that principle.

   April, weaving the idea of ahimsa throughout the class, helped me challenge myself with new poses and options, while remaining considerate of the body’s limits. My request to relieve shoulder pain proved to provide perfect material for this balance: an equilibrium of poses that stretched and opened the shoulders and chest, without inducing pain. From “thread the needle” pose to a twisting runner’s lunge with hands in namaste (prayer position), we covered a wide range of options for upper body relief.

   April is trained in the tradition of Pranotthan yoga (Pranotthan meaning “the awakening of prana, or life force, and its intuitive intelligence”), a style that is closely related to Kripalu Yoga. Beginning the class with a series of breathing exercises—dirga breathing followed by alternate nostril breathing—we grounded ourselves and welcomed in the renewed “life-force” that would sustain our hour-and-fifteen-minutes practices.

   By the end of class, I felt that wonderful mix of equally restored and challenged that sometimes only yoga—especially, yoga mindful of the ahimsa principle—can provide. I commented that my shoulder felt so relieved, it was as if I had gotten a massage!

   April Ropes teaches Moderate Yoga (in the Kripalu and Pranotthan styles) each Thursday morning at 9 a.m., followed by Pat Lebau’s Gentle Kripalu Yoga class at 10:30 a.m. You can see a full schedule of Sohum’s yoga and meditation offerings at www.sohum.org, and you can find the studio on Lyman St. in Westborough.