ARLINGTON, Texas— Arlington Yoga Center hosted a session to help participants unwind after Thanksgiving festivities.
On Nov.24, Arlington Yoga Center hosted Harmony and Gratitude Yoga: A Thanksgiving Practice. The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, especially for cooks and peacekeepers of the family get-togethers. The Friday following Thanksgiving can also prove stressful, especially for all the Black Friday shoppers and for people who might have had a little too much to eat the day before.
Arlington Yoga Center’s post-Thanksgiving session is aimed to help participants unwind from holiday-induced stress.
The yoga center’s guests started their day early with Harmony and Gratitude Yoga starting at 10 a.m. The session kicked off with instructor Sarah Campbell leading the class with a quick meditation.
“Remember a comfortable position and you’re bringing awareness into this space and into your body,” Campbell said. “Maybe do a quick little mental scan and just notice how you feel.”
Throughout the session, the yoga studio played soft, serene music to help guide the mind’s thoughts to a point of focus, making sure all the participants are relaxed.
“Whenever you happen to notice that your attention has drifted around yourselves and thinking about something, try to let go of whatever it is and try to do so without any internal frustration or judgment towards yourself,” Campbell said.
The session, much like others at the studio, guides participants to set an intention for the practice and guide their thoughts with love and respect to complete the session together as a class, creating a welcoming environment in the studio that aligns with the studio’s mission.
Throughout the session, Campbell constantly reminded participants to remember to breathe correctly and to always hold a position that is comfortable to them, never putting the body in too much physical stress.
After closing the yoga session, Campbell let the class do some final reflecting, opening a discussion on how yoga aids in each participant’s life.
“I like how calming it is, but I also like wearing bright colors to the classes,” a participant who identified herself as Ava said.
Along with an appreciation for yoga, The Arlington Yoga Center holds a deep appreciation for art in the city of Arlington. The yoga center has many special classes that collaborate with the Arlington Museum of Art, including a class held on Nov. 9 for the Taylor Swift Exhibit. The class, Sound Bath and Chill, featured a meditation practice using soundwaves that complemented Swift’s songs, perfect for any Swifties looking for a relaxing time away from home and work.
Like the Arlington Art Museum, many other local organizations collaborate with the Arlington Yoga Center such as the Sanford House, which hosts Brunch and Yoga sessions. This yoga session features a morning full of stretching and unwinding out on the open patios of The Sandford House. After the session, participants are then invited to enjoy a brunch hosted by the hotel. Brunch and Yoga is one of The Arlington Yoga Studios’ frequent events.
As the yoga studio is a fan of brunch, coffee is a fan favorite as well, especially when paired with the company of cats at the Cozy Catfe. Cats and Mats is a frequent event hosted by the Arlington Yoga Center and is special to entry-level yoga practitioners who would like to unwind without the pressures of having the correct form.
This month’s Cats and Mats is scheduled to be hosted on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m.
