Yoga For Body and Mind

I used to be intimidated by yoga. I thought that I had to be flexible, or more athletic and thin. I had seen images of beautiful people with abs. They were wearing fancy yoga pants and were pretzeled into impossible poses on the covers of various yoga magazines. 

Last year, my doctor recommended yoga to help me manage chronic headaches. I had taken some yoga classes before, but it had been awhile. So I began by regularly attending Antoinette Primozic's yoga class at the

Primozic's class is refreshingly simple, yet challenging and effective. She teaches to various levels of ability and shows modifications to most poses, making them accessible to just about everyone. 

According to the American Yoga Association's website, the word yoga means to join together, as in joining the body and mind. Yoga is not a religious practice, but an ancient system of philosophy involving much more than stretching. The yoga postures, or “asanas,” are intended to teach the body how to use breathing to quiet the mind. 

I spoke with Primozic last week at the Community Center. She told me that she began doing yoga to help with breathing issues and found that her overall health improved dramatically. Regarding wellness, “the important thing is to find something you love to do, and then you’ll do it,” Primozic said. And it’s obvious that she loves teaching yoga.

Primozic teaches quite a few yoga classes, including two at the . One is at 6 p.m. on Mondays, and the other is at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. These are drop-in classes, and they are $5 for members. Non-members who are residents of Brecksville pay $7, and non-residents of Brecksville can attend a class for $8. The Community Center has yoga mats available.

Primozic also teaches a free yoga class at the . The church donated the use of the room, so Antoinette has generously donated her time, and there is no charge to attend the class. She only asks that guests bring a food donation for the church’s food collection and their own yoga mat. Anyone is welcome to attend, and no registration is required. The class is at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Bend Yoga Center, the , and  also offer yoga classes in Brecksville.

If you'd rather practice on your own, the website for Yoga Journal shows detailed yoga poses, workouts, philosophy and more. 

In my experience, yoga can result in a stronger body, increased range-of-motion and  better stress management, by training the brain to relax under pressure. My headaches are somewhat more manageable now, thanks to yoga.

I've also learned that it’s not about being flexible, or thin. It doesn't matter if all of my exercise pants are stretched out and paint spattered. It's about attempting to quiet my mind. And maybe if I keep it up, I’ll turn into one of those beautiful people, with abs.