In the Moment at Fusion Yoga

2011-01-25T20:37:34Z

Now in my 40s, I wake up a little stiff each morning and think about getting older. In the next moment, I am suddenly cooking breakfast, packing lunches, and rushing to take the kids to school.

Amidst this frenzied routine one day, I slammed the car door to the yelping of our four-legged family member, Piggie. Because of my thoughtlessness, poor Piggie was inside the car whimpering with her tail poking out from the doorjamb. Ugh.

How can I be more conscious of my actions and be “in” the moment?

These days, so many people are turning to yoga. Does it really work to pull oneself into the present as well as help with those aches and pains?

Ashtanga. Vinyasa. Power. Knowing where to start can be confusing, and while I’ve taken classes here and there, nothing stuck. Some studios were intimidating and appeared to be for the “in crowd” wearing hip attire and smiles on their bums.

An Internet search brought Fusion Yoga Studio to my attention, and I decided to check out the karma class. It is offered twice a week to make yoga accessible regardless of one’s ability to pay. A donation bowl accompanies each class for voluntary contributions.

It was noon on a Wednesday.

The yoga room was lit by an array of candles on the floor and a few wall sconces. Two palm plants and a framed mirror surrounded the candles against a backdrop of deep crimson. The ceiling and wall to the right were painted black, the wall to the left painted yellow. No windows. It felt like a warm cave.

After a few minutes to settle in, the instructor asked if it was my first visit and whether I had injuries. She then instructed us all how to ujjayi breathe. Seeming to hear my mental queries, she answered with where to put body parts, how to listen to the body and reminded us to breathe.

Learning to connect physical movements with consciousness of the mind is central to the class. The focus is internal, less about a physical goal of having a perfect pose.

Not looking around the class at anyone else nor looking at myself in a mirror, I was focused and, for the first time, I was learning yoga. There are moments of being “in” the moment.

After class, I sat with instructor and owner Lori Moore McCormick.

“You have to be taught to work mentally in your postures,” McCormick said. “You can’t be thinking about your grocery list while trying to do a headstand.”

Fusion instructors have several years of experience and are trained to use language to guide students through yoga postures. The goal of Fusion instructors is “to teach, not just lead … so that one day you won’t need the teacher,” McCormick said.

While this concept seems to run counter to an effective business strategy, the emphasis is on helping students develop an individual awareness of body alignment, mental presence, and well-being, all of which may vary on any given day.

According to McCormick, instructors are also required to be able to teach mixed levels. A class may have a cancer survivor, an athlete recovering from an injury, and another in vibrant health. Fusion serves a diverse clientele.

Bob Enright, 59, cleans the studio in exchange for free yoga classes and has been a patron for the past year.

“I had a bad back,” he said. “Yoga completely cured my back, and it helps me to feel calm, more patient.”

A climber who also works out at Pipeworks, Enright shared his perspective: “Studios can be intimidating, especially for mid-aged men. Some think exercise should be macho. But I tell my friends, ‘No matter what you’re doing as a sport, you do it longer and better with yoga than without yoga.’”

McCormick further explained Fusion’s approach: “We try to tailor the practice to the needs of the individual, rather than try to take set flows regardless of who is in front of the instructors.” Otherwise, people can develop injuries.

Straightforward and knowledgeable, McCormick comes across as down-to-earth without being preachy. Meanwhile, there is a spiritual element to her practice.

“There is no finished down dog,” she said. “Every day one comes to the mat with all that comes with that day. We are all mind, body and spirit. Sometimes people forget that. Depending on what type of day one had at the office or whether there was a death in the family, one’s body may be in a different place.”

Holding firm to her convictions about yoga, McCormick also responds to the needs of her patrons and community. Fusion hosts concerts and wine-tastings in addition to offering yoga instructor trainings and renting out rooms to community groups. Becoming a meeting place is part of the studio’s evolution.

In February, tai chi will be offered for the first time. The studio will host the Nada Brahma Music Ensemble for a night of Indian music on Feb. 12, and kirtan is coming in March.

Getting back to the question: “Does yoga really work?” I think it can, depending on what you bring to the mat and that you keep going back. Certainly, finding a studio or instructor with the right fit makes all the difference. There are more than 20 yoga studios in and around Sacramento to check out!

Fusion Yoga Studio is located at 2310 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite C2, in Sacramento. Fusion offers a range of classes, from Yoga Basics to Power Flow and other advanced classes. To learn more about the studio, see fusionyogasac.com.

Health and Exercise

In the Moment at Fusion Yoga