I run and host the following programs:
Mondays "Mobility Yoga" 11am-noon EST
This chair yoga class will focus on increasing range of motion and mobility, encouraging circulation, and improving breathing mechanics to optimize physical and physiological health. This class will be done seated with a few standing postures holding the chair and include a balance of relaxation and strengthening exercises. *please have a belt/scarf/tie and pillow handy*
Tuesdays "Mindfulness" 11am-12pm EST
Practice tuning in to your body, breath, thoughts, and emotions to encourage health and wellbeing in all parts of your life. These mindfulness sessions will consist of mindful walking and movement to prepare for our sit, different guided meditations each week (recordings will be sent out after class to participants), as well as mindful listening when participants share how practices are working for them inside and outside of our class time.
Wednesdays "Prevention Yoga and Exercise" 11am-noon EST
This exercise class focuses on all the needs that an aging body may have–balance, reflex, and vision improvement; fall prevention; sustaining memory; and keeping up mobility. We will start seated with some vision and reflex games, move to standing and walking balance and strengthening exercises, and finish with some relaxing stretches seated or lying down to release any strain we built up earlier in the class. *please have a belt/scarf/tie and small ball (tennis ball) handy*
**SPECIAL EVENT** Breathe Healthy: Going Deeper w/ Kassandra Prus
Wednesday June 23: 1-2:30pm EST
Join Kassandra Prus (E-CYT500, C-IAYT2021) Yoga Therapist and Yoga Educator to deepen into discussions and practices after our workshop last month:
• Time to share anything you've noticed since last month's workshop
• More information about how to choose certain breathing practices for different effects
• Breathing practice all together
Expect a powerpoint with some explanations, some practice time, and Q+A.
**Register here** https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtcOmrrj0sHtZWwHsXQXeSnyz1eDhde8nY
Thursdays "Social Time: Games and Laughter!" 11am-12:30pm EST
Need some giggles to help lighten the load? Want to shake things up and find your inner child again? Join us in playing online Family Feud, Jeopardy, Pictionary, collaborative word finds, and team guessing games (be warned, we have a good shout in these!), and give your brain a little exercise with our favourite "concentration" memory game. Share your favourite riddle, pun, brain teaser, or joke, or pass along a list of your favourite songs for us to dance along to in “Name That Tune”! Come join us at this social gathering, drop in anytime, bring your lunch or coffee and have some giggles with friends!
Fridays "Yoga for Stress + Anxiety" 11am-noon EST
This chair yoga class focuses on relaxation, to support unwinding at the end of the week. Expect to spend the first half of class seated or standing, gently moving all of the joints in your body and breathing fully. The second half of class will include relaxing stretches that you can do either seated or laying down, emphasised with visualizations to revitalize your muscles and organs, and then finish with a guided meditation to refresh your mind. please have a belt/scarf/tie and pillow handy. If you will stay seated, have 2 chairs available. If you will lie down, have a yoga mat or your bed nearby
Mondays "Mobility Yoga" 11am-noon EST
This chair yoga class will focus on increasing range of motion and mobility, encouraging circulation, and improving breathing mechanics to optimize physical and physiological health. This class will be done seated with a few standing postures holding the chair and include a balance of relaxation and strengthening exercises. *please have a belt/scarf/tie and pillow handy*
Tuesdays "Mindfulness" 11am-12pm EST
Practice tuning in to your body, breath, thoughts, and emotions to encourage health and wellbeing in all parts of your life. These mindfulness sessions will consist of mindful walking and movement to prepare for our sit, different guided meditations each week (recordings will be sent out after class to participants), as well as mindful listening when participants share how practices are working for them inside and outside of our class time.
Wednesdays "Prevention Yoga and Exercise" 11am-noon EST
This exercise class focuses on all the needs that an aging body may have–balance, reflex, and vision improvement; fall prevention; sustaining memory; and keeping up mobility. We will start seated with some vision and reflex games, move to standing and walking balance and strengthening exercises, and finish with some relaxing stretches seated or lying down to release any strain we built up earlier in the class. *please have a belt/scarf/tie and small ball (tennis ball) handy*
**SPECIAL EVENT** Breathe Healthy: Going Deeper w/ Kassandra Prus
Wednesday June 23: 1-2:30pm EST
Join Kassandra Prus (E-CYT500, C-IAYT2021) Yoga Therapist and Yoga Educator to deepen into discussions and practices after our workshop last month:
• Time to share anything you've noticed since last month's workshop
• More information about how to choose certain breathing practices for different effects
• Breathing practice all together
Expect a powerpoint with some explanations, some practice time, and Q+A.
**Register here** https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtcOmrrj0sHtZWwHsXQXeSnyz1eDhde8nY
Thursdays "Social Time: Games and Laughter!" 11am-12:30pm EST
Need some giggles to help lighten the load? Want to shake things up and find your inner child again? Join us in playing online Family Feud, Jeopardy, Pictionary, collaborative word finds, and team guessing games (be warned, we have a good shout in these!), and give your brain a little exercise with our favourite "concentration" memory game. Share your favourite riddle, pun, brain teaser, or joke, or pass along a list of your favourite songs for us to dance along to in “Name That Tune”! Come join us at this social gathering, drop in anytime, bring your lunch or coffee and have some giggles with friends!
Fridays "Yoga for Stress + Anxiety" 11am-noon EST
This chair yoga class focuses on relaxation, to support unwinding at the end of the week. Expect to spend the first half of class seated or standing, gently moving all of the joints in your body and breathing fully. The second half of class will include relaxing stretches that you can do either seated or laying down, emphasised with visualizations to revitalize your muscles and organs, and then finish with a guided meditation to refresh your mind. please have a belt/scarf/tie and pillow handy. If you will stay seated, have 2 chairs available. If you will lie down, have a yoga mat or your bed nearby
**One recording a month of each yoga class is uploaded to UCCC's private YouTube account for participants to use on days that they cannot make class. Mindfulness meditations are uploaded twice a month.**
Past Talks
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"Joining a yoga class wasn't something that I would have considered doing several months ago. Why? First, I'm a 60+, heavy set woman. Second, getting down to or up from floor level would be too difficult and painful given my size and knee/hip issues. And third, I couldn't see myself fitting in with young, trim, physically fit younger folks. What changed? I was introduced to the concept of 'chair' yoga and a wonderful instructor whose style I like. Kassandra is a very knowledgeable instructor. Her voice is soothing. She explains moves and poses in easy terms and supplements with physical demonstrations. She recognizes the diversity of the group and respects each individual's level of capability and progression timeline. I feel so good after 1-hour of deep breathing, stretching and muscle toning. Flexibility in my lower body as well as range of motion in my hips has improved. I'm also concentrating on my breathing outside of class to help get through stress or simply to relax to get a good night's sleep. I highly recommend 'chair' yoga à la Kassandra to anyone who is looking for a gentle start to a more active lifestyle."
Nadia Tataryn
"I have been practicing chair yoga with Kassandra for 4 weeks now. I feel stronger in my injured hip, my posture and wellbeing are much improved, and I have more energy. Kassandra is an excellent teacher"
Suzanne Karima
"Although I'm a very active person, I never spent time looking after myself physically. I really demonstrated to myself my years of self neglect after committing to and beginning chair yoga. Kassandra has slowly but steadily helped me gain better balance, become a bit more flexible, and stronger. It will take time to come back to the level I aspire to but little by little I am improving."
Lydia F
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