Redefining Perceptions
About Yoga
October 25, 2007
Although Fairfield County
is peppered with yoga studios specializing in everything
from Eastern meditation to high-power Ashtanga, few
focus on families. Sara Holland, the founder of the
newly opened Growing Tree Yoga at 25 Van Zant St.,
hopes to redefine the perception of what yoga is and
who can do it. "I'm a firm believer in the connection
between mind and body," Holland said. "Yoga
gets you back in touch with yourself. You realize
you have more control from within than you may have
realized."
A former physical educator and coach, Holland has
more than six years of experience in childhood education,
psychology and exercise. "I've always had a deep
love for children and for sports and fitness,"
she said.
Holland wasn't always a devoted yogi. "I used
to be the person always on the treadmill," she
said. "I was always in the gym. I loved to run."
A track and field star in high
school and college, Holland discovered yoga's "myriad
benefits," she said, only a few years ago. "I
wanted to try something different. I'd always had
the impression yoga was about stretching and sitting
and calming the mind. But it's about so much more.
It really teaches you important skills, not only in
relaxation but in discipline. It's also an amazing
total-body workout."
Holland is a certified yoga instructor
through Lotus Gardens, a yoga center based in Sherman.
She is also a member of the American Association of
Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Additionally, Holland is certified in infant/child
and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She teaches
the Growing Tree's children's yoga programs, "Parent
& Child Yoga" and "StressLess Yoga for
Adults." Growing Tree's additional instructors
are Ruby Laughter and Karin Terebessy. Both women,
Holland said, are longtime yoga adherents.
Holland acquired her studio through
Glen Katz, the founder and manager of Integrated Sports
Training, a facility for area athletes.
"Managing my own business
has been my goal for a long time," Holland said.
"I recognized the absence of family-centered
yoga programs, and now I'm changing that."
Holland praised Katz's enthusiasm for Growing Tree
Yoga. Katz "has been instrumental in making my
dream a reality," she said. "We hope to
collaborate further and enjoy a long, successful business
relationship."
Holland said the name for Growing
Tree Yoga is based in Eastern philosophy. "There
are eight limbs in yoga," she said. "Each
limb represents an aspect of achieving a healthy and
fulfilling life." The tree symbol is emblematic
of those goals, she said.
Growing Tree offers a number of programs for children
and their families, as well as special events, including
"Yoga Slumber Party" and "Yoga for
Young Athletes." One-on-one consultations, private
lessons, pre- and post-natal programs and children's
parties also are available.
The biggest misperception
is among parents "who tell their children yoga
class will have them sit and relax," Holland
said. "But it's so much bigger. Yoga requires
a lot of focus and concentration, which is why it's
so beneficial for children who are stressed about
school, or children who have special needs, perhaps
certain medical or psychological conditions."
Redefining
Perceptions About Yoga
