Baxter Bell to lead 'energetic' yoga classes

It so happened that during the height of the recent oil spill that so drastically affected our shores, physician-turned-yogi Baxter Bell was reading the Yoga Yajnavalkya, the original hatha yoga text published in A.D. 200. He was struck by its discussion of how humans “spill” energy, of how it leaks out of the body and into the space surrounding us, where it is effectively lost. This led Bell to think of yoga practice as a way to reduce, if not entirely prevent, such “spills” of our precious life force and in turn led him to the concept of “sustainable yoga.” This concept views yoga as a source of energy that, kept fresh and relevant, can actually increase its production. And sustainability is the theme of the weekend’s worth of workshops that Bell will teach in early March in Sarasota.

If you are not into yoga, you may well be scratching your head and wondering what this is all about. That’s to be expected. Knowledge of yoga typically starts off as superficial and body-oriented — the asanas, or poses, and their value to physical conditioning. And if that is where you are at the moment, you will still find plenty to master in these classes. Students who are open to learning, however, will discover or enhance their understanding that yoga offers amazing benefits for the mind, for stress reduction and for however one spiritually connects to the world.

This will be Bell’s third annual visit to Sarasota under the auspices of Lynn Burgess and Yoga from the Heart. He has four workshops scheduled, all at the Sarasota Memorial Healthplex near Clark Road and I-75.

“Laughter, a Light Heart and Yoga,” billed as a playful session that will focus on the sheer joy of movement, the therapeutic benefit of laughter and the support of the community, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4. The class will include some arm balances and the use of locks, or bandhas.

“Regaining our Power” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 5. It speaks to the role that yoga can play in handling the stresses of daily living and will include inversions and pranayama.

“Discharge to Recharge: Yoga for Insomnia and Your Wrists” takes place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. This session includes ways of addressing insomnia through yoga techniques and is an obvious choice for those who have discovered this particular curse of the aging process.

“The Wind Beneath Your Sails — Vayus and Backbends” takes place from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 6. The title comes from the literal translation of “vayu,” which is “wind,” and refers to how prana, or energy, flows through the body in various positions. Opening the heart region is the essence of backbends and will be addressed in this session.

The workshops are billed as appropriate for students of all levels, and the classes are large. (The room can accommodate 80 students.) Longboater JoAnne Dickerson, who attended a workshop last year, reports that Bell “makes everyone relaxed and comfortable and gives individual instructions.”

Says Bell: “In all of the sessions, I make it a point to present easy-to-more-difficult options. There is almost always something everybody can do.”

It also appears that there is much here for more advanced students, particularly in the Saturday morning class. Bell does not teach a strong vinyasa flow but structures sessions thoughtfully to build toward more challenging poses. Namasté.

IF YOU GO
What: Baxter Bell, M.D., RYT 500 hosts workshops presented by Yoga from the Heart.
When: March 4 to March 6, at the Sarasota Memorial Healthplex, 5880 Rand Blvd., Sarasota. Friday workshop is 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday workshops are 9 a.m. to noon and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday workshop is 9 a.m. to noon.
Price: Pre-registration prices are $50 for Friday evening, $75 for Saturday morning, $50 for Saturday afternoon and $75 for Sunday morning. Day of prices are $55 for Friday evening, $85 for Saturday morning, $55 for Saturday afternoon and $85 for Sunday morning.
Info: For more information and to register online, go to Yogafromtheheart.com. Private sessions are also available.

Molly Schechter is an ACE-certified personal trainer with a specialty in older adult fitness plus YogaFit Instructor Training, SCF Yoga Fundamentals and Power Pilates™ Mat Certifications. She teaches classes at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center and the Longboat Key Club. E-mail her at [email protected].