史密斯家族

Ahh . . . Thursday night yoga class with some good friends!

What a pleasant way to loosen up at the end of a week.  After playing soccer and rugby for 20 years, I though yoga would be just a relaxing stretch. 

I was wrong. 

From the beginning, yoga class with Xiao Yin was enjoyable, informative, and amazing exercise!  We were all beginners, and so Xiao Yin would start each class by explaining what we would learn, and why, as well as a short lesson on the techniques and their Indian terms.  I was very impressed by the depth of her knowledge and her understanding of its applications.  As we were all foreigners, I was also impressed by her excellent English and how clearly she could explain difficult positions in her second language.  As a teacher, Xiao Yin is both fun and serious.  She kept us motivated and entertained while also encouraging our personal development in a safe way. 

When I began yoga, I was still recovering from my second knee surgery.  Xiao Yin took great care in teaching me positions that would strengthen my knee without doing more damage.  In her free time, she also researched my problem and gave me great advice on how to take care of it.  During class she would first demonstrate then go around helping everyone individually.  She was always very patient, especially when dealing with difficult foreign men such as us. 

Through her excellent teaching I made improvements every class, my knee is much better, and I now have a good understanding of basic yoga including its history and theory.  I also know how to find my sitting bone and the importance of a loose groin!

Due to Xiao Yin’s wonderful introduction to yoga, I will continue to practice it in the future while always remembering to “Tighten your Thighs!”  

Thank you Xiao Yin, 
 

By:  Greg Laffradi