Yoga Low Back Relief Specialty Class Offered Sunday, September 29th

Low Back Relief Specialty Class is offered by Stacey Johnson this Sunday, September 29th at the Sports Center. This 75-minute yoga class is designed to increase comfort and mobility in the lower back. Class includes a combination of core strength exercises, lengthening stretches, and gentle twists. What a fantastic way to try out Yoga! All levels are welcome. You can register for this class online using Activity Number 42042-A - click here for online registration at the Sports Center: http://www.monterey.org/en-us/departments/montereysportscenter.aspx. Class is only $12 with early registration or $15 at the Sports Center on the day of the class. Stacey is also offering a Posture Clinic from 12:30 - 1:30 pm this Sunday, but that class has filled. Stacey usually offers one or more clinics every month so we'll post when the next clinic is scheduled.

Over 120 Classes on Current MSC Group Exercise Schedule

The Sports Center features indoor cycling classes as early as 5:45 am through 7:15 pm and usually has two offered most days of the week. The latest trend is combing spinning with strength training for a total body workout in about one hour of work - helpful for working folks with busy schedules.

The Monterey Sports Center features an incredible group exercise schedule with more than 120 classes offered every week. Group Exercise Coordinator Lauri Ataide has developed an extensive schedule with classes that challenge elite athletes for a high-intensity athletic workout to restorative classes that provide gentle stretching, balance and strength training for seniors, individuals recovering from injury and/or women in the later stages of pregnancy.

Lauri has also managed to assemble an outstanding group of instructors featuring some of the best instructors on the Monterey Peninsula in a variety of formats from Yoga to Pilates to Aqua Aerobics to Athletic Training to Kettlebell and more. The strength of the program has much to do with long-term loyalty of many of our top instructors and this starts with Lauri who has been the coordinator of the program for over 17 years and has been with the Sports Center for almost 20 years.

Another strong point of the schedule is that Lauri is always looking for new formats and new classes that provide excitement and motivation for the many participants that follow our program and look forward to the new class schedules. Our latest schedule was released on September 9th and features several new classes and new class times including:

Cycle Express - HIIT w/Teresa on Mondays from 6-6:30 am

Sculpt Express w/Teresa on Mondays from 6:30-7:00 am

U-Jam w/Mae on Mondays from 6:45-7:45 pm

Functional Fusion w/Lauri on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:15 pm

Pilates Mat w/Lisa on Thursdays from 6:45-7:45 pm

Cycle Express w/Rachel on Fridays from 6:00-6:45 am

U-Jam w/Mae on Saturdays from 11:00-12:00

Athletic Training w/Terri on Sundays from 8:45-9:45 am

For the full schedule, check here: http://www.monterey.org/Portals/1/sportscenter/pdfs/GroupExerciseSchedule.pdf

MSC has several outstanding Yoga instructors including Stacey Johnson pictured above. Stacey teaches Yoga Flow & Yoga Flow II, Yoga Sculpt, Restorative Yoga, Power Yoga, Yin Yoga, Happy Hour Yoga, Power Core and more. MSC also has Aqua Yoga and more traditional Yoga classes offered seven days a week. Check out our current schedule here:  http://www.monterey.org/Portals/1/sportscenter/pdfs/GroupExerciseSchedule.pdf

Yoga at MSC

by Group Exercise Coordinator Lauri Ataide

We offer a wide variety of yoga classes at the sports center so whether you’re a beginner or advanced, we have a class that will fit your needs.  “Yoga” is a traditional hatha yoga class…poses vary from standing to seated and suitable for all levels.  “Restorative Yoga” and “Yin Yoga” are very gentle classes designed to help prevent and heal injuries and body imbalances.  Poses are practiced seated and/or lying down and suitable for all levels. 

“Power Yoga” is a vigorous, strength based yoga practice and many of the poses performed require you to hold your body weight.  A majority of the poses are practiced standing or holding body weight in plank and held for a longer duration of time.  The poses are not complex but require more strength so suitable for all levels who want a strength component to their yoga practice.  

“Yoga Flow” or vinyasa style, flows one pose into the next, combining standing poses with a vinyasa in between poses.  The vinyasa is consists of plank/hover/up dog/down dog.  Poses are not held long and require strength and flexibility because you are moving quickly from one to the next.  Previous yoga experience is recommended and note that “Yoga Flow” is strength based.  

“Happy Hour Yoga” is a gentler version of “Yoga Flow” and suitable for all levels.  Finally, “Functional Fusion” fuses yoga and Pilates…combining standing poses, balance poses, and strength based poses like plank and down dog with Pilates-based core exercises.  Suitable for all levels and designed for fitness enthusiasts new to yoga and Pilates.