Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 62 It , s been shown that people have a decreased "preceived effort" when excersizing outside as opposed to indoors. Jen utilizes several spots for FLOW's snowga classes, including a wooded area by Mt. Ellis, and an open area on the same land with views of the surrounding mountains. Class members are enveloped by the serenity of the woods, views of sur- rounding mountains, and are able to create a mindful connection to the outdoors for the duration of class. Aside from the mental and emotional benefits, doing yoga outside (in the snow or not) adds an additional level of balance challenge, as the ground is not perfectly smooth and flat like a studio floor… you may even find yourself on the side of a hill! Even this small change helps increase strength and stability throughout the poses. For the most part, snowga classes follow a similar structure to indoor yoga classes, with minor adjustments. Snowga classes have fewer seated poses — it is in the snow, after all — but depending on the class, Jen and her participants lie down in the snow for Savasana, the relaxation period at the end of practice. While FLOW Outside is currently the only studio in Montana offering snowga, the popularity is growing, and it's likely that other studios will jump on board and take advantage of the snowy season. If you can't make it to a class, give it a try your- self. Just make sure to get your muscles warmed up with a brisk walk beforehand, and have plenty of layers on hand to keep yourself bundled against the cold. It can be tough to go outside during the winter. Daylight hours are shorter, and many winter sports are notoriously expen- sive. Snowga offers people the opportunity to get their exercise in an accessible loca- tion, inexpensively (snowshoes and poles are provided, and classes are around $15) and a chance to socialize. So if the gym is getting boring and you don't feel like driving to the ski hill, give something new a try — take your yoga practice outside. Namaste! FOR SNOWGA INFORMATION AND A CLASS SCHEDULE, CHECK OUT FLOW OUTSIDE, AT WWW.FLOWOUTSIDE.COM. Serving Western Montana for Over 50 Years with Comprehensive Orthopedic Care Hand/Microvascular Surgery Sports Injuries Work-Related Injuries General Orthopedics Total Joint Replacement Spine Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Urgent Care Physical Therapy missoulaboneandjoint.com 2360 Mullan Road • Missoula 721-4436 OFFICE 829-5591 URGENT CARE State-of-the-art facility including on-site surgery, digital imaging, MR imaging and physical therapy. MB&J loyola ad 2013 1/22/13 12:19 PM Page 1

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