Practicing yoga for relaxation and muscle building may seem contradictory, but a new yoga joint in Malta is bringing those concepts together.
Julie Lindenbaum opened The Yoga Studio at the Beauty Society Salon at 123 Dunning St. in June after teaching the activity for more than a decade at other venues, including the Malta Community Center. She’s also a psychology professor at Russell Sage College, and as such, brings a holistic concept to the practice of yoga.
“Just as active yoga practice facilitates physical strength, quiet and sustained restorative yoga poses supported with props such as bolsters, pillows and blocks allow the mind and body to find balance,” said Lindenbaum.
She said that as she develops the studio’s offerings, she is dedicated to meeting the needs of those in the community.
“I believe that yoga should be accessible to everyone – those with little to no experience with yoga to those who have a strong personal practice,” she said.
The Yoga Studio offers classes from beginner to advanced levels in group sessions or one-on-one. There is also a YogaFit class, which focuses on building muscle, strength and endurance and is structured more like a fitness class.
“The warm-up phase would be like one breath, one movement. The work phase will hold poses like warrior one for a longer period of time or perhaps taking them to a deeper lunge. … That’s where you can focus on different areas,” said Lindenbaum.
Max Rodriguez of Malta has been taking classes from Lindenbaum for two years and said that his flexibility has improved during that time.
At “over 70” he said he’s still a beginner and finds Lindenbaum’s teaching methods very effective.
“She very helpful and talks you through everything to maximize your efforts and the benefits,” he said. “It’s important for older people to be aware of classes like this and participate in them.”
Rodriguez spends part of the year in Sarasota, Fla., and has also taken yoga classes there, but he prefers Lindenbaum’s. He said that her classes allow him to clear his mind and finds them very calming.
Maria DosSantos, 52, of Troy has been taking yoga classes on and off for two decades, and found Lindenbaum through a friend a couple of years ago. She makes the trek to Malta once a week just to take the classes and said that she’s taken others, but what Lindenbaum offers is unlike any of them.
“I just love her classes and her relaxed, non-competitive manner. She challenges us and allows us to take things at our own pace,” said Dos Santos.
She also takes aYogaFlow class with Lindenbaum and said, “It’s more of a cardio workout and Julie can speed it up a little to try and challenge you. You really get a good workout and a good stretch.”
“She’s just a natural, and it’s such a relaxing atmosphere. Her whole manner is wonderful andis what taking yoga is all about,” added Dos Santos.
Lindenbaum said that her goal is to be able to reach everybody interested in yoga whatever level they may be at and plans on including Yoga Therapy in the near future.
“I have seen the promise yoga holds for healing from my own students,” she said.
For hours, classes and more information on the studio, visit JVLYoga.com.