| "Trust your
intuition as you practice yoga, and a new world of possibilities will unfold for you". - Victor Van Kooten |
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Yoga, the union of our physical, mental and spiritual selves, is far more than a form of exercise - it is a way of life. Although many of us gain our first introduction to yoga by going to classes which help to relax and tone our bodies, we soon find that yoga also encourages us to focus our minds and become more aware of the internal flow of energy.
About Maggie Wong
When I began to teach yoga, a new world opened to me. I was amazed to see people of all ages and physical abilities work the postures and breathing exercises. I came to appreciate that yoga is an individual path for everyone who undertakes it. No two people are the same and no two yoga practices are alike. My personal practice of yoga is evolutionary and I continually learn from my teachers, my students and myself. I move from strong and athletic to soft and gentle depending upon the moods and demands of my life and the needs of my students, experimenting and learning as I go, incorporating new ideas for sharing with others. My classes are not pure, traditional yoga with prescribed static postures, although I draw heavily from tradition. I favor flowing movements that improve coordination, balance, strength and concentration. I am always careful to ensure that participants are first fully warmed and stretched. My classes incorporate routines with the Body Massage Ball, a great way to warm and elongate muscles in preparation for yoga poses and stretches. I
am now in my tenth year of a successful yoga practice in the Washington metropolitan area. I and my associates teach primarily at the Carderock Springs Swim Club in Bethesda and the Potomac Tennis Club, both in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. The facilities have large, bright and clean exercise rooms. I now concentrate on teaching at these locations, but in the past have taught for the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, and at several fitness clubs in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. I am a member of the Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association (www.mayayoga.org) and have presented Yoga Workshops for the Association (where I was once honored as a top instructor). I have also taught at the General Accounting Office, Department of Justice and other government and corporate institutions including the AKS and Baltimore massage schools. I keep my training up-to-date, and possess an Advanced Yoga Studies Certificate issued by the Yoga Teacher Training Program of Donna Farhi (2000); have trained under Victor van Kooten (2000) and Angela Farmer (2004); studied Vini Yoga with Gary Kraftsow (2001); and am certified for Pregnancy Yoga ( Kripalu Yoga Center of Lennox, MA). Yoga Plus Associates Shauna Simon Shauna has taught yoga to all ages from 3 year olds to teens to adults. Teaching yoga to children helps Shauna stay playful while seeing the beauty of what is possible. Nathan Young A former amateur soccer coach, Nathan took up yoga in his 40's as a way to get in shape. He chose yoga because it was compatible with a busy professional career, requiring little in the way of space, equipment or schedule. In less than two years, Nathan was able to lose over 40 pounds, and permanently alleviate chronic wrist and knee injuries. To deepen his experience of the other benefits of yoga, including relaxation, awareness and spirituality, Nathan has taken to teaching yoga. He brings to his matter of fact teaching style, a variety of systematic professional activities including a Ph.D. in Economics and over 20 years in consulting, research and technology. Acknowledging that every yoga student will have both different objectives and different abilities, Nathan teaches with the intention of continually challenging students in a fun, non-competitive and progressive environment. “Yoga is not about reaching your potential, yoga is about changing your potential”. Testimonials:
Hi Maggie: Just wanted to say thanks for last night's class. I felt taller and stronger this morning! - M.T. , Potomac, MD
Maggie, -M.L., Potomac, MD |
