Every Thursday, from 12:30-1:30, I take a yoga class at the Pacific Asia Museum, a place with a fascinating history. I like the class for many reasons, not least of which is the walk through the serene courtyard, with its Koi pond and stone lions. At the far end of the courtyard I ascend the stairs and enter a treetop room with huge windows and a high ceiling, where for one hour I practice gentle yoga with a small, quiet group.
At the Pacific Asia, which is a museum of culture and not a yoga studio, instructor Jill Zepezauer teaches a gentle, accessible form of Hatha yoga. Her style is perfect for beginners and older people (I'll acquiesce to being an older person when I'm ninety), and for folks like me making a comeback from an injury. If you're looking for power yoga, well no, not here. Jill's instructions are detailed and soft-spoken but don't be lulled; you don't want to miss the little jokes she tosses in now and then. "Okay, raise your arm," she sing-songs. "It doesn't matter which one. No, not that one."
The price is amazing. I won't even tell you, just look at the first link above. The only place you can get a cheaper yoga class around here is the South Pasadena Senior Center. And that's a decent class. It's just crowded.
I hope the Pacific Asia class will never be crowded. But best kept secrets can only be kept for so long.
Update: I found a free yoga class in Pasadena. It's every Sunday morning at Lululemon. They suggest you arrive early. I haven't tried it but it sounds like fun.
14 comments:
It sounds like an absolutely lovely, soulful experience. And the light in your photo is sublime.
I've been a yoga girl for over 20 years and I'm still just as in love with it as I ever was, if not more so. I do mine at home, but if I was in Pasadena, I'd want to come along and bask in that atmosphere with you, Petrea.
Love the angle u took this at!. I think you just leaked your secret!
:-)
I absolutely love the serenity of this. How appropriate that you found a yoga haven here.
I would so look forward to Thursdays. An hour of quiet and peace that's good for you. Priceless.
I wish they held the class more often! It is my Thursday oasis.
Thanks for compliments on the photo. There are many angles in the courtyard to photograph. Of course I arrive just after high noon, so that directs me somewhat. One of these days I'll stay after class and investigate the museum further. I've done that before but it's been a while.
Shell, I've been doing yoga off and on for about as long as you have. I'm not like you, though. I'm not disciplined enough to do it without a teacher to lead me through the poses.
How nice...you are meeting Londonlulu who has commented above. I recognise the building....wonderful. (I'll 'forget' to tell my friend about your Yoga class :)
Hope it's helping your injury to heal. The museum's very photogenic, so more photos would be very welcome. It sure has a fascinating history.
LOL, with you (from Pasa) blogging about Coventry and LondonLulu blogging about Princeton I keep forgetting who's where! But that keeps me on my toes.
I hope it's helping, too, Bellis. It's too early to tell. As in any yoga class, the teacher always asks new students to disclose injuries. Jill is good at working with our individual needs.
You're kind to reveal such a gem of a secret. I used be committed to a yoga practice before the pitties came into my life. I've been wanting to start again. Might just have to ease back into it in your class. I'll be quiet and hide in the back so you won't even know I'm there.
Come on down, Susan. We're all quiet, so you'll fit right in.
Gorgeous photo. And sounds like you've found a great yoga class. Grace Nicholson sounds like quite a woman; and the history of the building is very interesting. And how cool that Marcel Duchamp played chess with a nude woman in the courtyard!
Isn't that wild, Katie? Apparently Duchamp spent some time impressing people around here.
Maybe I'll try and take my daughter this summer. That might be perfect.
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