restoring one's sanity

as a runner, i've come to realize the importance of flexibility. and how tight muscles and stiff joints can be a major pain in the butt. or in my case, have led to all kinds of pains in my butt :(

i've also realized that there are times when my body can only take so much abuse. so instead of my continuing to push it so that it'll "learn" endurance -- blame it on my 80's "no pain, no gain" mantra -- i now find myself pampering it with massages and restorative classes when it's had enough. and for the most part, it seems to be happy... ok, maybe somewhat happier.

so after completing a 13-mile training run with my running group this morning, i stood under a hot shower and contemplated my yoga class options for the day.

power yoga? definitely not. i had none left.

vinyasa flow? nope. my back felt too creaky.

anusara? the fun classes had the usual assortment of arm balances and inversions. but my arms wanted to have nothing to do with any of them.

iyengar? kundalini? ashtanga? my mind was getting tired just mulling about all the choices!

unfortunately, the longer i thought about it, the longer it took me to get dressed and out the door. it was getting later and later in the day, and my class choices were quickly getting whittled down. i was tempted to just hop in bed and call it a night. problem was, it was only four in the afternoon. argh.

it soon became clear what my body was craving at that moment: a good restorative class. and after checking studio schedules, i headed for the one closest to home -- lynda carre's 5:30pm yin+restorative class at exhale venice. 90 minutes later, after some slow stretches and quiet meditation, the obsessive-compulsive in me was happy that it got a yoga practice in for the day. and the exhausted runner in me was happy that it suddenly felt re-energized...

and now that i'm wide awake again, i'm putting all this late-night energy to good use -- i've compiled a list of restorative/stretch classes* around town. maybe you'll need to refer to it one day. i know i will!

* note: i've also listed other classes that concentrate on stretching and/or relaxing the body and included their descriptions


MONDAY

9:30-11:00am Deep Stretch, All Levels - Heidi Kaufman
Black Dog Yoga, Sherman Oaks

11:00am-12:30pm Deeply Meditate and Relax - Tej Kaur Khalsa
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood

1:00-2:00pm Yoga Stretch - Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank

4:30-5:30pm Yoga Stretch - Priscilla Williams
Yoga Blend, Burbank

4:30-5:55pm Yin Yoga - Doug Binzak
A Taoist form of Yoga that targets connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and spine. Postures are held for longer periods of time facilitating deeper opening. Meditation may be used.
Yoga Works Pacific Palisades


TUESDAY

8:00-9:00am Gentle/Stretch - Bindu Dan Dexter
Yoga Blend, Burbank

8:30-9:25am Deep Stretch, All Levels - Heidi Kaufman
Black Dog Yoga, Sherman Oaks

9:15-10:30am Deep Slow Stretch - Christopher Quain
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

12:15-1:15pm Slow Deep Stretch - Guin Lyster
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica

6:00-7:15pm Deep Slow Stretch - Christopher Quain
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

6:00-7:15pm Restorative, Stretch and Unwind - Carl Dawson
Yoga at the Village, Glendale

6:00-7:25pm Level 2 with Yin - Jaclyn Hinds
A flow class ending with postures that deeply stretch the connective tissue of the pelvis, hips, and lower back. These poses are held for 3-10 minutes for maximum benefit and rejuvenation.
Yoga Loft, Manhattan Beach

6:30-8:00pm Hatha Restorative - Rick Feldman
Revive Yoga, Chatsworth

8:15-9:30pm Slow Deep Stretch - Cindy Fraser
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica


WEDNESDAY

1:00-1:55pm Restorative - Erica Kyriakatos
TruYoga, Santa Monica

1:00-2:00pm Yoga Stretch - Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank

4:30-6:00pm Restorative - Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank

4:30-5:55pm Yin Yoga - Doug Binzak
A Taoist form of Yoga that targets connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and spine. Postures are held for longer periods of time facilitating deeper opening. Meditation may be used.
Yoga Works Pacific Palisades

5:00-6:30pm Gentle / Restorative - Victoria Nichols
Yoga Loft, Woodland Hills

5:00-6:30pm Restorative Yoga - Colleen Carroll
Inner Power Yoga, Calabasas

6:00-7:15pm Restorative - Lisa Briedis
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

6:30-8:00pm Gentle Restorative - Jeanne Korn
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles

7:30-9:00pm Restorative - Sharon Skok
City Yoga, West Hollywood


THURSDAY

8:30-9:25am Deep Stretch, All Levels - Heidi Kaufman
Black Dog Yoga, Sherman Oaks

9:15-10:30am Deep Slow Stretch - Christopher Quain
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

12:15-1:15pm Slow Deep Stretch - Guin Lyster
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica

6:00-7:15pm Deep Slow Stretch - Christopher Quain
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

6:00-7:25pm Level 2 with Yin - Kyra Haglund
A flow class ending with postures that deeply stretch the connective tissue of the pelvis, hips, and lower back. These poses are held for 3-10 minutes for maximum benefit and rejuvenation.
Yoga Loft, Manhattan Beach

7:00-9:00pm Yin+Restorative - Denise Kaufman
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice

7:30-9:00pm Relax and Restore - Mesha Kussman
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood

7:30-9:00pm Stretch - Stephanie Hechtman
Revive Yoga, Chatsworth

7:30-8:45pm Restorative/Prenatal/MS - Rachel McClements
Yoga at the Village, Glendale

7:45-9:00pm Restorative Yoga - Kari Burgos
Inner Harmony Yoga, San Pedro

8:15-9:30pm Slow Deep Stretch - Guin Lyster
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica


FRIDAY

1:00-2:00pm Yoga Stretch - Nicole Honnig
Yoga Blend, Burbank

4:00-5:30pm Relax and Restore - Padmini Bergman
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood

4:15-5:30pm Pranayama and Restoratives - Rosie Good Umana
Yoga Bindu, San Pedro

4:30-5:45pm Gentle and Restorative - Simone Market
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

4:30-5:55pm Yin Yoga - Doug Binzak
A Taoist form of Yoga that targets connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and spine. Postures are held for longer periods of time facilitating deeper opening. Meditation may be used.
Yoga Works Pacific Palisades

5:30-7:00pm Restorative Yoga - Bebe Lin
Sacred Energy Arts, Santa Monica

6:00-7:30pm Deep Stretch, All Levels - Heidi Kaufman
Black Dog Yoga, Sherman Oaks

6:00-7:25pm Relax Deeply - Lisa L
Lyfe Yoga Center, Hermosa Beach

6:00-7:30pm Restorative - Marcy Mee
Yoga House, Pasadena

6:00-7:30pm Relax Deeply - Kim Fisch
Yoga Works Westwood

6:30-8:00pm Relax Deeply - Aaron Reed
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice

6:30-8:00 pm Yin Yoga - Catherine Luna
This class is designed to move you deeper into your body. Yin yoga is static in nature, the poses are held for a longer period of time. Due to this, it stretches and opens the body beyond the muscles into the connective tissue, allowing for a deep experience.
Harmony Yoga, Redondo Beach

6:30-8:00pm Restorative - Staff
Mission Street Yoga, South Pasadena

6:30-8:00pm Restorative - Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank

7:30-9:00pm Restoratives/Pranayama - Saraswati Browne
Yoga Works Montana Avenue, Santa Monica

7:45-9:00pm Restoratives - Koren Paalman
Yoga Works South Bay, El Segundo


SATURDAY

9:45-11:00am Yoga Stretch - Nicole Honnig
Yoga Blend, Burbank

10:00-11:15am Restorative - Monica Roman
Escape Above Spa and Yoga Lounge, Long Beach

4:00-5:30pm Slow Deep Stretch - Cindy Fraser
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica

5:30-6:55pm Yin+Restorative - Lynda Carre
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice


SUNDAY

10:15-11:30am Pranayama and Restoratives - Rosie Good Umana
Yoga Bindu, San Pedro

3:30-4:00pm Men's Stretch - Pat Andersen
Class is open to men and boys in need of flexibility. We work on lower back, hips, shoulders, and hamstrings.
Free Spirit Yoga, Long Beach

5:00-6:30pm Restorative Yoga, All Levels - Melissa Morgan
Black Dog Yoga, Sherman Oaks

5:00-6:30pm Gentle Hatha with Restorative - Amber
Karuna Yoga, Los Feliz

5:00-6:30pm Restorative - Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank

5:00 - 6:25pm Level 2 (with Restoratives) - Kyra Haglund
A flow class ending with restorative postures that utilize multiple props to open, stretch, and relax the body.
Yoga Loft, Manhattan Beach

5:00-6:30pm Restorative - Amy Friedman
Yoga Madre, Arcadia

5:00-6:30pm Restorative - Sharon Kay / Mona Apana
Yoga at the Village, Glendale

5:30-7:00pm Slow Deep Stretch - Samara Glassman
Goda Yoga, Culver City

5:30-7:00pm Relax and Restore - Mesha Kussman
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood

5:30-7:00pm Gentle Restorative - Cathie Baker (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Sunday of the month)
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles

5:30-7:00pm Restorative - Jessika Wood
Mission Street Yoga, South Pasadena

5:30-7:00pm Relax Deeply - Ashley Rideaux
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks

5:45-7:15pm Restorative - Katherine Newmark
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica

5:45-7:15pm Yin and Yang - Sara Ivanhoe
This class balances the yang quality of a strong vinyasa flow with the yin qualities of longer holds, restoratives, deep relaxation and meditation.
Yoga Works Main Street, Santa Monica

6:00-7:15pm Restorative - Lisa McGrory
Alive and Well, Hermosa Beach

6:00-7:30pm Restorative - Karen Byers
City Yoga, West Hollywood

6:00-7:30pm Relax Deeply - Aaron Reed
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice

6:00-7:30pm Restorative - Garth McLean
Iyengar Yoga Institute, Los Angeles

6:00pm - 8:15pm Chakra Restorative(TM) - Constance Hart (2nd Sunday of the month; reservation suggested)
This unique 2 hour class is a candlelit healing experience that combines gentle supported restorative poses with color, aromatherapy and meditations to clear, awaken and renew your seven major chakras (energy centers). Increases awareness and restores energy balance. A special treat with chakra-tuned music!
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles

6:00-7:25pm Iyengar Restorative - Michael Ruccuolo
Lyfe Yoga Center, Hermosa Beach

6:00-7:15pm bFresh Yoga - Sissy St. John
bFresh Yoga is a unique blend of visualization/meditation, breath work, and primarily basic poses, with a just a little aromatherapy thrown in. Leaving you with that "ahhhh" feeling of Freshness! The ultimate experience of renewal for the body, mind, and most importantly the spirit.
U Studio Yoga, Miracle Mile

6:00-7:30pm Restorative - Lara Catone
Yoga Groove, North Hollywood

6:00-7:30pm Yin Style - Carry Kim
A calming practice emphasizing sustained postures to gently release tension in the body.
Yoga House, Pasadena

6:00-7:30pm Relax Deeply - Doug Binzak
Yoga Works Pacific Palisades

6:30-7:30 pm Yin Restorative - Catherine Luna
Harmony Yoga, Redondo Beach

6:30-7:45pm Restorative - Ann O'Brien
Silver Lake Yoga, Silverlake

6:30-7:30pm Restorative - Audrey Klein
Yoga House, Pasadena

6:30-8:00pm Relax Deeply - Hazel Patterson
Yoga Works Westwood

7:00-8:30pm Relax and Restore - Kathy Bray
Urth Yoga, Echo Park

7:00-08:25pm Relax Deeply - Romy Phillips
Yoga Works South Bay, El Segundo

7:15-8:45pm Relax Deeply - Natalie Lawrence
Yoga Works Center for Yoga, Larchmont

7:15-8:30pm Restorative - Ali Laventhol / Ashley Rideaux
Yummy Yoga, Los Feliz

7:30-9:00pm Restoratives/Pranayama - Chris Stein
Yoga Works Main Street, Santa Monica