PILATES for PINK
Creating a schedule of yoga classes for Yoga Matrika has always provided me with great illumination and inspiration. When I first opened the little studio on South Negley, I was teaching the majority of classes myself and a number of very talented local instructors generously agreed to teach a few classes each week. But, for the most part, it was me and there were less than 10-classes on the schedule each week. The reality of finding talented instructors who were a good match for Yoga Matrika proved to be one of my earliest challenges in this business.
Then, what started to happen was that the Universe started to send me fabulous instructors and many of these teachers have shaped the path of Yoga Matrika. For example, Heidi —–an angel who took over at the studio without any guidance when I needed to travel for my grandmother’s funeral. And Julie who became one of the community’s favorite prenatal instructors after agreeing to take some of my own classes without very much guidance or support. And Bethany, who inspired me to stay with my prenatal passions even when I was feeling open to letting go of these programs all together. The list of instructors who have gently, and sometimes not so gently, shaped my experience and the growth of Yoga Matrika is long.
This autumn, the new schedule that starts on September 1st, is one that I am incredibly proud to offer to the community. There are over 27-drop in class options each week including four prenatal yoga classes and three class options for postnatal moms. Every single instructor on the schedule is accomplished and dedicated to the profession of yoga and sharing what they have to offer with the Yoga Matrika community. It is the most comprehensive class schedule that Yoga Matrika has ever offered.
In addition to theese 27-drop in classes, Yoga Matrika offers series of classes that provide opportunities for deep study in an intimate setting with some of Pittsburgh’s most talented and diverse instructors. Workshops are scheduled with Lisa Clark (EmbodiYoga) and KK Ledford (Anusara) and Yoga Matrika offers the only prenatal yoga teacher training program in Western Pennsylvania.
I’m delighted to start this new season and I hope that you will find a class or two (or three!) that work with your schedule and offer the style and pace of yoga or pilates that you desire so that you can join me in supporting this fabulous team and comprehensive schedule.
It’s that time of year again Pittsburgh! Shake out that box of shorts and t-shirts, bathing suits and sandals and expose your pale flesh to that yellow orb in the sky that many people know as THE SUN.
In honor of the more revealing attire of this fast approaching season, Erin Commendatore will be offering a “Bikini Season Yoga” class on Wednesday nights at 5:45pm. Yes, we’re being a bit cheeky at Yoga Matrika! You don’t need to be a woman or even consider wearing a bikini to take this energetic and core strengthening class. Erin will focus on using yoga poses and movements that shape the arms and legs, help you lose weight and tone the belly. Yoga tones and creates long and lean muscles so you look great in and out of whatever you decide to wear this summer.
This is also a great class for new moms (3+ months post-partum) who would like to use yoga to shape up and feel more energetic and fabulous after birth and any new dads who might have added a bit of pregnancy weight themselves. We are also starting to offer two pilates classes every week—-Mondays at 6:00pm at the Annex and Thursdays at 7:30pm in the Main space. These and our regular Yoga for Athletes and creative movement classes all combine to provide more cardio benefits and strengthening and toning options for yogis.