Shopper Blog: It's no stretch − On a farm or in a hammock, yoga helps a body

HALLS

It's no stretch − On a farm or in a hammock, yoga helps a body

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Yoga became a big part of Brittany Charnley’s life when she was forced to deal with her first knee surgery at the age of 22.

Since her start, her passion for the activity became enhanced. About nine years ago, she dedicated one weekend a month for a year to learning to be an instructor.

“There are so many mental and physical benefits to the practice,” Charnley said. “It clears your mind. It brings positivity. It helps regulate the nervous system.”

The improvements in balance and flexibility are a couple of the more tangible physical by-products from yoga.

Though an instructor, Charnley occasionally likes to take classes as a student.

“I like to be around people,” she said. “I like to be able to share the experience with others, and not always be in charge.”

That was the case a couple years ago. She was taking a class with 30 other people on a lavender farm on McCloud Road in Halls owned by Marcee Matthews and her husband. Charnley and Matthews had met in their jobs as activities directors for the elderly.

“I was there for the class and the instructor didn’t show up,” Charnley said. “People knew I was an instructor, so I taught the class.”

Beautiful backdrop for yoga

That experience planted a seed for Charnley. The next year, she scheduled one class on the same farm during the peak of the lavender season. This summer, she has had three in June.

Once the lavender was done, Charnley scheduled farm yoga sessions at the same outdoor location in July, August and September. Classes were scheduled on two Thursday nights and two Saturday mornings each month.

Registration for the farm classes is required. Cost is $20.

“We did a lavender class near sunset,” Charnley said. “It was just beautiful. The sky was a lavender color. Everything smelled so good. There’s a pond on the farm that’s amazing. There are some beautiful valley views.”

Charnley said the Matthewses have lavender lemonade and bundles of lavender for each participant. Also, lavender soaps and other items are for sale.

Allowance for physical limitations

In addition to a job working with the elderly, Charnley teaches different types of yoga. She has an aerial yoga class at the Renegade Yoga Center. The practice uses hammock-like silks that allow the participant to defy gravity a bit.

“It’s kinda like you’re training to be in the circus,” Charnley said laughing. “It’s not as difficult as most people would think. We have beginners in that class who are amazed at how well they can pick it up.

“You can do some deeper stretches than you can in floor yoga. Everything we do, there can be modifications for skill and physical limitations.”

The positive mental and physical benefits of yoga sometimes can get lost in the misconceptions that there is something more mysterious around the practice.

“Some people can be confused,” she said. “It’s not a religion, it’s an exercise that focuses on the mental and the physical. People think it’s harder than it really is. Most every pose has a modification.”

For more information or to register for a class, go to Charnley’s Bend It Like Britt Facebook page or email her at: brittany@benditlikebritt.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community