National Yoga Month is a national observance awareness campaign, designated by the Department of Health and Human Services held in the month of September. The purpose of the campaign is to educate people on the benefits of yoga and inspire a healthy lifestyle.
111 Yoga Project, a Brentwood yoga studio, is not only celebrating National Yoga Month, but also offering free classes during the month of September.
Dena Munoz, owner of 111 Yoga Project, is a “grass roots, organic girl,” devoted to building a yoga program that is centered around the community. She’s passionate about giving back and will be starting a Y.O.G.A. for youth program in the studio which mentors local children who are considered “at risk” through yoga practice.
Munoz believes National Yoga Month is all about getting people to try yoga, which is why she offers free classes. It’s all about “getting people on the mat and experiencing it for the first time,” she says. “It’s a personal awakening.”
The benefits of yoga are astounding.
According to the Yoga Health Foundation, a regular yoga practice detoxifies your body, lowers blood pressure, enhances brain function, lowers cholesterol, improves skeletal alignment and strengthens bones and joints, as well as increases flexibility and generates happiness and inner peace.
The benefits are “personal to each individual,” says Munoz. “Along with the huge physical health benefits of moving your body and breath, yoga also allows you to become more complete. It allows you to accept where you are right now, every day, on the mat.”
Munoz also explains that yoga allows you to let go of negativity. “You gotta let it go,” and you can do that on the mat. Yoga makes “you more tolerable of yourself and others.”
You learn to be present in the moment, to be calm, and to watch your thoughts. “In today’s society that doesn’t happen, “says Munoz. “You’re burning the energy you need for your friends and family and have nothing left for yourself, much less those you love.”
People usually start practicing for one reason. Sometimes it’s an injury or they want to lose weight. The practice “transforms into something much more astounding in their lives,” says Munoz.
When you add a regular practice to your life, “you become so aware on the mat that it spreads into your life,” says Munoz. “You don’t feel ahead of someone or anything else, you feel present.”
Yoga is “the evolution of each individual,” says Munoz, and “you can find contentment on the mat.”
Munoz believes that yoga should be affordable to everybody. For $33 a month you can have unlimited yoga at 111 Yoga Project. Classes are catered to the individual. “When you come in, know that you will be supported in whatever goals you have,” says Munoz.
If you’re trying a class for the first time, the studio has mats you can borrow. It’s best to come on and empty stomach. No food 2-1/2 to 3 hours before class is best. It’s also best to wear clothes that are comfortable but not too baggy and not too tight. Hold off on wearing excess jewelry, perfume and watches.
The class schedule is as follows: Monday, Rise and Shine Yoga: 6-7am and Balanced Yogi: 9-10:15am, Tuesday, Heated Vinyasa: 10-11:30am. Thursday, Balanced Yogi: 4-5:15pm and 7-8:30pm, Friday, Rise and Shine: 6-7am and Balanced Yogi: 8-9:30am. Saturday, Heated Vinyasa: 6-7:30 am and Balanced Yoga: 8-9:30am.
Munoz is offering two free classes, per person, at the studio. Participants can just show up to a class, according to her schedule.
111 Yoga Project is located at 55 Broderick Drive, Suite C in Brentwood.
For more information visit: http://www.111yogaproject.com/ or call owner, Dena Munoz at 925-234-6051.
Munoz is a certified Ashtanga teacher, student, practitioner and graduate of the Mount Madonna Center in Watsonville, California. While at the Mount Madonna Center, she studies under Baba Hari Dass and Ginger “Kamalesh” Hooven. She also studied Ashtanga vinyasa flow under Marc McCauley and Family at the Yoga Loka Center in Marin County. Munoz has over 500 hours of teacher training experience and continues to improve her skill set. She is currently enrolled in the teacher training program at Y.O.G.A for Youth, which was developed by Los Angeles based Kundalini Master Krishna Kaur, and will graduate in late October of 2013
Photos provided by Dena Munoz
By Amy Schrader
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Email: [email protected]
