Art and Yoga: Celebrating Five Years at the Toot

Posted by Mary Murray on January 18th 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: museum

Art and Yoga: Celebrating Five Years in January 2011

It’s a bit difficult to believe but the Saturday morning Art & Yoga class celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. The class has a faithful following thanks to the talent of our instructor, Barbara Hays-Klein, who trained at Kripalu and owns the Universal Yoga Center. Each week she inspires us towards the joyful and peaceful.

 

This episode of Voices includes the voices of class participants who share their enthusiasm for this unusual mix of engaging the body, mind and spirit. 

Susan Anacker:
I have been a participant of the Art & Yoga class for two years now, and it has broadened my mind to the world of art, and beyond. Being a “left brain” thinker, I welcome the exposure to the art pieces that we view and discuss before the yoga class. We also get a dose of poetry thrown in for good measure. Our yoga instructor, Barbara Hayes-Klein, is warm and inviting, and takes us through the asanas with grace and ease. The class affords me the chance to take a breather from life, and open my mind to other possibilities. It is a wonderful experience, with a wonderful group of people.

Thank you for offering the class at the Institute.

Pam Bart “Serendipity, Art and Yoga:” For me, our yoga class being held at MWPAI is like kismet-a marriage made in heaven. Both try to elevate our hearts and minds. As we need to slow ourselves down to practise yoga mindfully, we need to slow down our bodies to see the beauty of art. As someone who has never studied art, this class is the perfect way to “see” a painting, a sculpture, a table. Throughout class, I think of the art piece and the poem we read each week. The beauty of the piece, the architecture of the building, the sun coming in through the skylights –I use all throughout the yoga flow. The beauty of yoga+the beauty of art=kismet.

 

Sharon Brown Burns: I love this yoga class at MWPAI. The first 15 minutes of the class is held in a different gallery each week with a curator (usually Mary) leading a discussion of a particular piece or painting in the museum. The curator also provides a poem for the class to read together after the artistic discussion – this poem complements the theme of discussion of this artwork. Our class then moves to a different gallery in the museum where Barb conducts our comfortable yoga class. Barb leads the yoga poses with an emphasis on relaxation, acceptance, and love. This class is unique in that the multiple ocmponents of a wonderful yoga class coupled with the introduction to art in the museum leaves one feeling educated, refreshed, and blessed all during the same visit!

 

Ellen Cramer: When I have to miss a yoga class, I feel badly about it. It’s really become an important part of my life, and I always feel much better when I’m doing yoga because it’s very relaxing and “de-clutters” my mind.

Sue Dailey: “It’s my favorite part of the week and I look forward to every yoga class. It’s the one hour of the week that my mind gets completely quiet. I leave the class with a sense of peaceful calm that I wish would last all week! The instructor, Barbara Hays Klein, is a wonderful teacher who offers a great class even though all of us have different levels of ability. She is an inspiration and a joy to learn from. The art lesson is always an eye-opener for me. Not only is it interesting to learn about the history of a piece of art but it’s fascinating to me to hear other people’s opinions on the piece and how different the opinions can sometimes be. With thanks to Facebook, I’ve been attending Art & Yoga for just over a year now. Wish I’d known about it four years ago! “

 

Carol Dinger: “The MWP Art and Yoga class is a gem. Surrounded by artwork certainly adds to the peace and tranquility that yoga instills in one’s being. Our instructor, Barb Klein, is highly skilled and this class is adaptable to all ages and levels. I would certainly recommend it.”

Patti Elko: “What I can tell you is that I’ve learned more about art in the two years since I started the class than I have in my entire life up to that point. I have an appreciation for art that I never had before. I look forward to the class each week for the art, the yoga and the wonderful people who participate. I feel like I’ve grown personally from being a part of the group.”

Mary Finkle: I began taking the Art & Yoga class in 2008 to stretch and relax. I did accomplish this, and gained SO MUCH MORE! The class is truly transformative! The informational art session is delightful. From the simple to the complex, [curator] Mary presents the piece in a way that draws you in, and makes one feel the essence of the art and the time. The poetry readings are peaceful and impactful. While I began yoga to heal my body, it also changed my life. Yoga is a way of life. Taking the class has increased my mindfulness, and has given new meaning to the world around me. Kudos to MWP for creating this unique & inspiring class – I can’t wait to come back!”

 

Judy Gorman: Art and Yoga classes in 2010 were my introduction to yoga and I feel so lucky for the combined experience of art, poetry, and exercise in such a spectacular setting. With Barbara Klein’s encouraging and supportive teaching style I feel as if I change from an individual trying to focus on my breathing at the beginning of class to a very relaxed practitioner of a peaceful group as we finish. The funny thing is I usually find myself thinking about the art on the way home … (not good for my driving)… but able to focus on it in a new way. In short, the classes are a great gift for me!”

Mary Hillick: We moved to the Utica area in 2005 and I signed up for the Art & Yoga class at MWPAI to try something new and get to know the area a little better. I look forward to each class as an opportunity to learn something new about the wonderful collections at the museum. We’ve had some interesting discussions, as each person brings a new perspective to the work being presented.

The yoga class is much more than a form of exercise. It is a stress reliever and helps me to “let go” of some of life’s baggage. Our group has a great dynamic and we truly appreciate Barbara’s dedication to the practice of yoga.

Ron Kamp: Yoga and art may appear to be disconnected at first impression. In fact, they are truly quite complimentary and each seeks to bring harmony to the soul. Both are easily dismissed at face value with little thought given to the germination or spark of their respective creation.

Art is the physical embodiment of the artist’s feelings or interpretation of a subject. The MWPAI docents have the capacity of placing the observer in the shoes of the artists. It is through this intercourse or exchange of ideas and comments that one begins to gain an appreciation of the thought process and development which brings an abstract idea into an original piece of art. You do not always have to like the art to appreciate the beauty and elegance it reflects. Most importantly, art does not mean the same thing to everyone. The inner beauty of art is subject to interpretation of the beholder and there lies the true gift of the artist’s creation.

Yoga is a lifelong adventure much like art and has similar characteristics. It is about developing one’s inner self, finding calm in a rough sea and thereby building a quiet inner strength to guide you throughout life. Everyone comes to yoga for different reasons. . Finding one’s center and acceptance with oneself provides a quiet confidence in life that is the gift of yoga. Our forms and movements, like art, are no two alike. Yet, we can find peace and resolve from the inner peace we have each created just like the artist when he/she completes their masterpiece.

The beauty and gift of art and yoga are all about self discovery.

Learn more about Art & Yoga  at the Institute’s website or by contacting the Museum of Art Education Department, 315-797-0000 x2158.