I really enjoyed reading your responses to my “On Showing Up” post. They were very thought provoking and insightful. I will be responding to all of them and also writing a “Part 2” post because I have a lot more to say about the topic.
I also appreciate the concern and kind words about my hip. I have been babying it a ton and it’s feeling so much better than it did earlier in the week. There’s been no running or CrossFit and I’ve been focusing on yoga. In a stroke of good luck, I made plans a couple of weeks ago to attend a deep stretch class at MOGA today.
MOGA is a yoga and mobility program that focuses on improving athletic performance and as well as just helping the general public feel and move better. They specialize in deep stretch and mobility classes and also offer Thai massage and private stretch/mobility sessions. The classes are small, personalized and feature hands-on assists. They have partnered with CrossFit gyms and sports teams in the area to make mobility and stretching an important part of the athletes workout routines.
It’s tucked away in the Atherton Lofts in Southend Charlotte. I got hooked up with MOGA through lululemon. The two ladies behind MOGA, Beth and Emily, are new ambassadors. I met them through lulu and CrossFit events. I was so excited when they reached out to me about trying a class.
Their studio space is exactly what I love…light and airy. I am always drawn to open spaces with lots of natural light so I felt right at home and totally at ease once I rolled out my mat. Beth was our instructor for today’s deep stretch class and she was so welcoming and easygoing.
I was so happy when Beth announced that the focus of the class was going to be on IT bands because I know that some of my hip issues come from a giant knot in my IT band that I cannot get to release. The one-hour deep stretch class absolutely flew by. I am admittedly so terrible at making myself slow down and take classes like this and it was exactly what my body needed today. The class featured long holds in poses where I could totally let go and let things release. I felt so sleepy and relaxed after spending three minutes in pigeon on each side. It was luxurious! I also loved Beth’s playlist. Heavy on stuff like Ray LaMontagne and David Gray.
MOGA utilizes props in their classes. Today we used blocks, blankets and straps to assist us in getting deeper and feeling more comfortable in poses. I don’t know how such a stigma has formed around the use of blocks in classes but I am all for them and regularly use them. I try to encourage my students to do the same but I still find that most muscle and cheat through poses when a block would make all the difference in the world. It doesn’t make you less of a yogi. Just a smarter yogi. (Small rant.)
A fun surprise at the end of class was a small cup of coconut water beside my mat. I thought it was a cute touch.
If you live in the Charlotte area and are looking for a restorative practice with a focus on stretching and mobility then I would definitely recommend checking out a class at MOGA. I want to go back and check out one of their mobility classes that focuses more on foam rolling and myofascial release.
Do you incorporate stretching into your weekly routine? Have you taken a specialized deep stretch class?
Lunch after class was a big salad with beets, bacon, candied pecans, goat cheese, eggs and dried cranberries.
Dinner tonight was grilled cheese and tomato soup. I added two types of cheese, cranberry sauce and arugula to the grilled cheese. Perfect.
It’s late. Off to relax. I need to be MEGA productive tomorrow!
