What is Yoga?
Yoga originated in India many thousands of years ago as a system of personal development to help people improve the body, understand the mind, and free the spirit. The ancient practitioners had a profound understanding of essential human nature and how to live in harmony with one’s self and with the external environment. Yoga has something to offer regardless of age, physical condition or religion - all can benefit from Yoga practice.
Yoga has a number of tools that can help a person manage daily energy demands and simultaneously avoid the repercussions of stress and its ability to undermine health. All of the practices of Yoga can be adapted to meet a person's needs to help them conserve and maintain muscle tone and energy resources gently building stamina while also improving the body’s ability to rest, relax and restore through meditation, guided imagery, relaxation and breathing practice. Yoga can also be a spiritual tool for finding meaning and feeling more at peace within one’s self.
Beginner Hatha Yoga Class
Saturdays from
8:30-10:00 am
Sundays from
9:00-10:30 am &
11:00 am-12:30 pm
Must RSVP to Maria @ 650-281-3678
Private Instruction
Enthu Yoga offers you individualized, detail-oriented sessions to help you with the most challenging aspects of yourself. We provide you with experienced instructors to create a practice suited to your specific needs, goals, and expectations.
40 Ways Yoga Heals
Excerpted from Yoga as Medicine by Timothy McCall, MD & the Sivananda Companion to Yoga by Swami Vishnu-Devananda
1) Increases flexibility, 2) Strengthens muscles, 3) Improves balance, 4) Improves immune function, 5) Improves posture, 6) Improves lung function, 7) Leads to slower and deeper breathing, 8) Discourages mouth breathing, 9) Increases oxygenation of tissues, 10) Improves joint health, 11) Nourishes inter-vertebral disks, 12) Improves return of venous blood, 13) Increases circulation of lymph, 14) Improves function of the feet, 15) Improves proprioception, 16) Increases control of bodily functions, 17) Strengthens bones, 18) Conditions the cardiovascular system, 19) Promotes weight loss, 20) Relaxes the nervous system, 21) Improves the function of the nervous system, 22) Improves brain function, 23) Activates the left prefrontal cortex, 24) Changes neurotransmitter levels, 25) Lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, 26) Lowers blood sugar, 27) Lowers blood pressure, 28) Improves levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, 29) Thins the blood, 30) Improves bowel function, 31) Releases unconscious muscular gripping, 32) Uses imagery to effect change in the body, 33) Relieves pain, 34) Lowers need for medication, 35) Fosters healing relationships, 36) Improves psychological health, 37) Leads to healthier habits, 38) Fosters spiritual growth, 39) Elicits the placebo effect, 40) Encourages involvement in your own healing.
Hatha Yoga - Beginning level
Perfect for beginners or advanced students to welcome soft openings and mind-body awareness. Learn proper alignment of basic postures. Emphasis is placed on strength, flexibility and balance as well breath control, meditation, guided imaginery and relaxation.
Each class includes a check-in to allow students to communicate their needs and goals and the areas they wish to concentrate on for that session’s practice.
Each class will provide individual adaptations for each student with choices to enable each student to maintain safety and comfort throughout our time together.
About the Instructor
Maria Colina began exploring complementary approaches to medicine to achieve health and wellness while attending medical school in Venezuela. This discovery, combined with her interest in physiology, and her love of working with people, have made her transition to teaching yoga and energy work a natural progression.
Maria offers instruction in Vinyasa, Sivananda and Prenatal Yoga to students of all levels and abilities.
While in Venezuela, Maria obtained her practitioner certificate in Reiki healing. Here in California she has gone on to become a Teacher of this system. She continues to update her methods to offer inventive approaches to her clients.