Must see! Proves an experience can be rarified and exquisite while still being down to earth and fun.
Just up the road from Ashlawn Farms Coffee in a most picturesque section of Old Lyme, stone walls and multigenerational farms lead you to a farm with a small demure sign. "Yoga" it simply says. Driving slowly onto the property as requested on the website (animals live on the farm and slow driving is requested to protect them) down a long winding driveway through the farm towards, yes, a Big Red Barn rimmed in white holiday lights and surrounded by more old stone walls.
The building itself, though looking like an old barn is new (or perhaps just gutted and rebuilt?) so new that one smells fresh unfinished wood inside. The interior is gorgeous with unfinished wide board wood walls, wood flooring, vintage style lighting with old style bulbs for warm glow, and huge picture windows.
The crowd as well as the instructor was warm and welcoming. I was so nervous that I would be judged in this very wealthy area for not having the new style brand name yoga pants, or for being a curly headed slightly ethnic looking gal in the land of the whites, or for having a rusty dented up 20 year old honda. Nothing could be further from what I experienced. Diverse body types, friendly mellow people, normal workout clothes, and a very communal type class.
Joan engaged us in introductions and had a light and fun attitude throughout the class. To me, it was exactly the right amount of meditative vibe, prompts to release stress, etc, that one expects with yoga without being too spirit chakra pseudo science.
Most interesting was a series of balance poses in which we all gathered in a circle, and linked arms. That was different and really lovely to create a sense of community, and to make me feel even more welcome.
The class itself was challenging (for me, having not done yoga in years) and yet I felt like I could keep up, slow down if I needed, and follow along. One of the corrections made on my pose was pretty amazing, ad helped my body click.
Can't wait to try a daytime class to see the views out those big windows. read more