"Easy Yoga Plus!" History
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In my early 70's, my activities became less enjoyable because of developing limitations. This was when a Groupon offer for 30 days of unlimited yoga prompted the beginning of my yoga practice. After my first class I noticed a new "spring" in my steps when I got off the elevator on arriving home. This encouraged me to go back and learn more in an effort to improve my qualify of life.
After a year, I decided I wanted to become a certified yoga teacher so I could share yoga with other older adults like myself. I completed my certification in May 2016.
HOW "EASY YOGA PLUS!" BEGAN
After graduation I taught my first classes at Frost Woods Senior Apartment where I lived. Having gained some confidence, I scheduled class at Perennial Yoga and Fitchburg Senior Center. The owner of Perennial asked me to decide how to list my class and that was when the name "Easy Yoga Plus!" was born.
HOW "EASY YOGA PLUS!" GREW
Initially I scheduled classes at senior apartments such as Chapel Valley Senior Apartment in Fitchburg and Rosewood Vilas Senior Apartments on the west side of Madison. As the program grew, classes were scheduled at senior centers, at different Madison libraries, and for organizations like the Literacy Network.
The biggest growth in the classes came after partnering with Goodman Community Center where class sizes grew to 30+ students just before the pandemic. As seniors learned about the program NewBridge became interested and sponsored a class at Sequoya Library which also grew rapidly, necessitating the need to create a Wait List.
Educational programs dealing with The Risk of Falls, Bone Health, and Somatics have been offered at Goodman Community Center, Fitchburg Senior Center, Sequoya Library and other Madison libraries.
THE PANDEMIC HITS
In March 2020 when the CDC declared the pandemic, classes were cancelled. The determination of Goodman Community Center to continue to provide services to the older adults pushed the concept of "Easy Yoga Plus!" on the Zoom platform. And so began the twice weekly classes that continue even today.
POST PANDEMIC
Classes continue on Zoom with many students preferring to continue their practice in the comfort of their homes, especially during bad weather. We also again started educational workshops at Goodman Community Center and Fitchburg Senior Center in November 2022. In-person classes at Goodman Community Center resumed in 2023 and we plan to continue as long as there is interest.
THE FUTURE
In 2022 Linda King officially became my partner. Another exciting happening as Linda is younger than me and can continue the business when I reach retirement age. This provides both of us the joy of sharing our passion for making life easier for the older adult. The future is bright and we are excited to meet the new opportunities that lie ahead.