Beginners yoga welcomes everyone

Yoga for Beginners has been a common sight on the Newfield website calendar since January of this year. During that time, the Newfield Public Library has hosted the event on its upper floor. Yoga for Beginners is held every Saturday at 10 a.m.

Phyllis KuanYin Chi, a soon-to-be-retired registered nurse and yoga instructor, had wanted to start a yoga class in Newfield for some time but noted that  restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other things had kept Chi’s dream from coming to fruition.

“I started teaching yoga in Newfield toward the end of January this year. I had been wanting to start teaching on a regular basis since getting my training, and with my job, then the pandemic, that didn’t happen,” said Chi. “I contacted the Newfield Public Library to ask about teaching there, as I wanted to bring yoga to Newfield.”

Chi has been doing yoga for all of their adult life. In 2019, Chi got their 200-hour yoga teacher training for Vinyasa yoga, a style of yoga that connects conscious breathing and body movement. Chi also completed another 300 hours in Kundalini and Ayurveda yoga. Kundalini yoga isa form of yoga based in Hinduism, and Ayurveda yoga focuses on physical and mental healing. Not only does Chi have specialization in these forms of yoga, she also has 80 hours of trauma-informed yoga, which heavily influences Chi’s yoga teaching.

Yoga for Beginners has a group of about three or four regulars, although some sessions have had up to 11 participants. Chi’s class is also open to those with mobility issues. There is elevator access to the second-floor classroom. Chi welcomes anyone who has mobility issues to attend.

Chi noted that she has seen positive responses to the yoga classes, especially since they cater to those with mobility issues.“Every week, I base my class on the people that show up and their needs,” she said. “[We] have had a student with mobility issues who brings his own props to help with poses. I think that’s great! I like to encourage people to become empowered and make the yoga practice their own.”

Chi added, “I’ve gotten good feedback from the regulars who come. They tend to be older people with flexibility issues, and several have stated that their mobility has improved since doing yoga.”

Chi stressed that the class is open to those who are just getting into yoga or who might not be able to do advanced moves.

“You are only as young as your spine is flexible! That’s a phrase my yoga instructor, Jeannie O’Neal from Yoga Farm, uses a lot, and I can vouch that it’s true. I try to go easy on folks, especially if it’s their first time,” Chi said. “And I’ve gotten a few more experienced yoginis in my class. I always tell my class every week that my instructions are only suggestions. [Students] are free to follow the cues from their own bodies. If a pose is a little too much for your body, I encourage you to back out of it. I may give suggestions on modifications to make it easier, and I also encourage you to lay down, go into a restful pose or do any other stretching or movement that feels good for you in the moment.”

But Yoga for Beginners isn’t only for beginners. It’s also for those who want to practice yoga with other yoga enthusiasts.

“I’ve also encouraged those with more experience to deepen into the next level of the pose if they are comfortable with that. I love it when students listen to their own bodies and do their own thing during the class,” said Chi.

Yoga for Beginners is held every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mat, although Chi has some in case attendees forget or cannot obtain a mat. Chi also accepts donations for the class, but nobody is denied due to a lack of funds.

“I just think it’s a nice option to have a yoga class available close to home, and thought it would be a good addition to the Newfield community to have this,” said Chi. “The library is the perfect place for it, in the center of town on Main Street, and being a community hub.” 

For more information, visit the town of Newfield’s website, where you can also sign up for the town newsletter.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In Brief:

Planning board to meet

The Newfield Planning Board will meet Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the town hall.

Coming up at the library

Lego night is happening at Newfield Public Library Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Legos and refreshments will be provided.

Family Story Time will be held at Newfield Public Library Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The event includes stories, songs and more for infants through age 5.

Newfield History and Activity Center hours

The Newfield History and Activity Center will be open Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.