You know that delightful feeling you get with the first sip of a perfectly delicious coffee in the morning?

Or perhaps for others it’s that tingly sensation you get when you slide into a candle lit bath on a chilly night. The name of the feeling we get from these moments is bliss, and it’s precisely what I found at Flourish Yoga.

Truth be told, I find it very difficult to “live in the moment”. Like many, I tend live in a state of constant frenzy, bouncing from one task to the next, perpetually over thinking and making plans. Needless to say that a life lived this way can be taxing. Stressful. Exhausting.  So naturally, I leapt at the chance to road test Flourish Yoga.

For me, walking into the studio on Mort Street felt like sliding into that bath. A peaceful haven above the buzzing streets of Braddon, the open space feels peaceful and welcoming – quite fitting really, considering the similar nature of its owner, Bernie Morris.

Bernie tells me that like me, most people come to Flourish Yoga seeking calmness, peace of mind, flexibility and strength. Let me tell you, this is the place to find it. Flourish offers a range of classes, primarily of the Vinyasa Flow style. For those new to Yoga, Vinyasa Flow is a style where the focus is on moving in time with your breath. It’s as much about the transitions between poses as it is about the poses themselves. While it can be very physical practice which helps build core strength, there is always a focus on breathing, relaxation and meditation as well.

The “Flourish Yoga family” consists of eight to ten instructors who each bring something different to the table, with backgrounds ranging from physiotherapy to nutrition to psychotherapy. Bernie herself has degrees in medical science and public health, so you know you’re in safe hands. Flourish recognises that starting a yoga practice is very personal experience and it’s about finding a teacher who you connect well with. Bernie explains “we have a different teacher every evening after work so that if the Monday evening class doesn’t quite click for you, you can try Tuesday evening and see if that instructor does”.

The timetable is extensive, with something on offer for everyone. “We like to have variety” Bernie tells me, and she’s not just referring to one’s fitness level. “For me, partly because of the stage of life that I’m at (having a little boy) it’s also been about trying to make yoga accessible to people of all ages. So we have kids classes, we have toddlers classes, and we have prenatal and mums and bubs classes. At the same time, we have classes for the big people, the grown ups”. These include a beginners course, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Yin/Restore classes to name a few with meditation and ashtanga courses planned for 2014.

Hmm, which to choose?

As a twenty something single lady, I give the prenatal and Mums and Bubs classes a miss and sign up for a week of yoga including a beginners class and Bernie’s Vinyasa class.

It would be very difficult to choose my favorite class, as each was a unique experience. In a nutshell, I found that the beginners class was a great way to get a handle on the poses and ask questions, whereas the Vinyasa class was great workout that tested my strength, stability and flexibility.

The classes I sampled all shared a similar format, with the bulk of the class dedicated to a sequences of poses. Be prepared to work hard, as this is the most physical part of the class, comprising of deep stretches and poses that help strengthen your muscles and correct your balance. Each of the teachers gave clear instructions and demonstrations, while keeping an eye on my form. What I really appreciated was that I was given the opportunity to ask questions or check that I was doing the pose correctly without feeling like I was interrupting the class. This is particularly true for the beginners class, where everyone was finding their feet and didn’t take themselves too seriously. During the sequences you really get to know your body and it’s limitations, and the instructors explain how to modify poses to suit your body and fitness level, providing equipment like blocks or straps to help as you go. As someone with quite tight hamstrings from running, I was grateful when I was quietly handed a stretchy strap from an instructor who could clearly see I was struggling.

After you’ve completed the poses, it’s relaxation and meditation time. To be honest, I’m a bit of a lazy girl at heart and this was my favorite part. Nestled comfortably under blankets, we were taken through a guided relaxation, bringing our attention to certain parts of our bodies, engaging those muscles and then releasing. After a few minutes, I was completely relaxed from the tips of my toes right up to my scalp, and it was blissful. As someone with the attention span of a goldfish, there were times during the meditation where my thoughts wandered to my Christmas shopping list or what I had planned after the class, but I was reminded to gently bring my mind back to the meditation when my thoughts strayed.

One part of the classes that I really enjoyed was that at the end the instructor reminded us to express gratitude to ourselves for making time to come to the class. Not only does this act acknowledge the importance of clearing time in our busy schedules to better our minds and bodies, but it also reminds you that you’re part of a community. We’re all here together for the same (or similar) reasons. Bernie tells me that this is one of the things that makes Flourish Yoga special – “people realize that they’re not alone, they’ve got people to help them through their everyday. It’s a shared experience”. Both the students and instructors were so welcoming and kind, always up for a chat and a laugh. In fact, Flourish Yoga is exactly what I would recommend for anyone who’s always been curious about yoga but too nervous or intimidated to try. It’s the perfect environment to learn and get to know your body. It’s worth noting that there are no mirrors in the class either, which helps ease concerns that you’re being watched. “To me, yoga is about experiencing how your body feels rather than how it looks” Bernie says. The classes are also kept quite small, so you can get personal attention from the instructors and aren’t intimidated by the volume of class, as can be the case for many women in a traditional gym environment.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week at Flourish Yoga. I left every class with a smile on my face, feeling relaxed, restored and a couple of inches taller (and perhaps a wee bit shaky an sore – in the best possible way!) After a stressful week at work I would usually find myself tense, sleep deprived and seeking refuge in the form of a glass of wine (or four). But not this week. I’ve not only reaped massive benefits during the classes themselves, but the effects have flowed on to other aspects of my life. I’ve coped with conflict and tension better in my personal life, my sleep has improved and I’m more mindful of my posture and the food that I’m eating.

If you’re looking for stress relief, flexibility, or a greater sense of mindfulness, I would highly recommend Flourish Yoga. It’s only been a few days since my last class and I already miss it. I’ll be back, and I hope to see you there. Save me a mat, would you?

YOUR OFFER

Flourish Yoga is offering HerCanberra readers their first class and a free guided relaxation mp3 free during December (you’ll be given the download link for your mp3 following your first class.) Valid during December.

If you ‘find your bliss’ and would like to continue, you’ll get $50 off a 10 visit pass or one month unlimited pass ($120 instead of $170); or $100 off a three month pass ($320 instead of $420).Valid until the end of January 2014. For new students only.

the essentials

What: Flourish Yoga
Where: 28 Mort Street, Braddon
When: Explore their timetable here
Web: flourishyoga.com.au
Email: bernie@flourishyoga.com.au
Mobile: 0409 391 454