Limber at the Library: Fountaindale Offers Free Yoga Classes

We were all born little yogis.

Lying in our cribs as youngsters, we could effortlessly pull our toes up to our ears.

But then we aged, lost flexibility, inherited stress and began carrying it in our necks, shoulders and backs.

In short, we became unbalanced.

Regaining that balance is one of the many reasons our neighbors rush from their high pressure jobs every Monday evening to the , where they can tune in to the mellow voice of local yoga instruction Carole Savard, the library's yoga instructor, promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Savard, a self-proclaimed "activity junkie" who grew up in the mountains of Morbier, France, seeks to indoctrinate harried locals with a little of the carefree approach to life she experienced growing up.

"Yoga is more holistic, it's the integration of body, breath and mind that’s all about strength, flexibility and endurance," she said.

Savard’s goal is to help Bolingbrook residents incorporate a discipline in their lives that restores their troubled bodies—a cure, she said, that heals like no other.

Marilyn Their, who has rarely missed a class in the past three years said the way she feels after Savard's class is blissful.

"The way I feel afterward ... you move at your own pace," she said. "It's like this class: we started out slow, but we’ve picked up quite a bit."

Even before the new library was built, officials made the decision to offer free classes to the public to capitalize on a trend that more than 15 million Americans have embraced as part of their fitness regimen.

Jeanette Novak practices yoga as a compliment to the challenging daily workouts she and her husband are committed to.

"We are actually one of those people who ordered the P90X from the infomercials on TV," Novak said. "It is a really intense workout. You need a strong core and I’ve found this really helps with sustaining poses."

Regardless of all the different types of yoga that exist, they all share a common thread: yoga is based on the same physical postures—called poses—and each pose has a particular emphasis.

Savard’s class is more slow paced and gentle, although she likes to mix in a few challenging poses. Instruction is provided to modify the more advanced stances.

First timer Diane Weaver said the moves were difficult at first, but eventually she came along.

"That was different," she said. "But I’m going to try it again. I need a minute to think about it."

Jennifer Cruz, Weaver's classmate, said she liked how Savard adapted to all levels, noting she would be back for many weeks to come.

And if you're wondering "Will the class be right for me?" The only way to find out is to experience it for yourself.

"You must be kind to yourself when you practice yoga," Savard said. "Go slowly, especially in the beginning, and listen to your body. It knows what it can do. If it says 'stop,' stop. Don't push it.

"Yoga is not a competitive sport," she said. "You don't win points for matching a picture in a book. If you push too hard, you probably won't enjoy it, you may hurt yourself and if that happens you won’t come back. My advice is to stick with it. If you practice you will improve and you will feel better."

When it comes to yoga, the conventional wisdom is to work with a certified instructor, and to ensure your posture is correct by referring to books, videos and websites.

Once you are familiar with the postures, only then should you increase the degree of difficulty.

Jeanette O’Brien, a 62-year-old convert who works through each pose with ease said she is a regular exerciser and is always looking for new ways to challenge herself.

"I swim every morning and work out with a trainer at the (Bolingbrook Park District)," she said. "This class is great. Your body grows stronger, more toned and more flexible. That why I’ve been coming for years."

To learn more about the class, contact Savard at carolesavard@sbcglobal.net.

Editor's Note: There will not be a class on Monday, May 2. The next class will be held Monday, May 9.