Ron Stewart believes yoga is for everyone, but you need to be brave to practise his particular style of Vinyasa Flow.
B次元官网网址淚t takes guts just to step into the room,B次元官网网址� he says, standing inside the Deer Leap Yoga studio on his Metchosin property where he offers his signature Skyclad menB次元官网网址檚 classes B次元官网网址� yoga practised naked.
His students move through postures free from the distraction of fabric bunching or pulling as they stretch. ItB次元官网网址檚 a subtle difference, but Stewart says it changes the energy in the room.
B次元官网网址淪tripping away our clothing, itB次元官网网址檚 like weB次元官网网址檙e also stripping away all the baggage from the outside world and we can just focus on the yoga,B次元官网网址� Stewart says.
B次元官网网址淭he class is about taking people deep into their bodies for an hour and a half, so they get up from the final savasana (relaxation) feeling like somethingB次元官网网址檚 happened, even if they donB次元官网网址檛 know exactly what.B次元官网网址�
Many of his students tell him that they forget theyB次元官网网址檙e naked once they start the class.
B次元官网网址淓veryoneB次元官网网址檚 nervous their first class, but itB次元官网网址檚 never as bad as people imagine,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲hen weB次元官网网址檙e in a pose everyoneB次元官网网址檚 looking at the ceiling or the floor, theyB次元官网网址檙e not looking at each other.B次元官网网址�
Steward developed Skyclad yoga in Vancouver six years ago with classes at Davie Street a dance studio. When he moved with his partner to Metchosin two years ago, the Vancouver classes were taken over by his former students.
But it didnB次元官网网址檛 take Stewart long to realize a former art studio attached to his new home would be perfect for a new yoga studio.
He went to work on renovations and last fall Deer Leap opened as a yoga retreat with studio space for 10, spa services and a guesthouse for overnight stays. His Skyclad sessions usually draw about six men.
StewartB次元官网网址檚 partner Tanya Horn is studying to become a yoga instructor B次元官网网址� to teach with her clothes on.
B次元官网网址淲e do more than just naked yoga in the studio, but thatB次元官网网址檚 what we get the most attention for,B次元官网网址� Stewart says. B次元官网网址淔or people who have done yoga for a long time, they find a whole new experience doing it naked.B次元官网网址�
He compared it to skinny dipping in a lake: B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e only missing your swimsuit, but wow, it makes such a difference.B次元官网网址�
Stewart offers drop-in Skyclad yoga Wednesdays, 7 p.m., at Deer Leap Yoga, 709 Pears Rd. in Metchosin, and Mondays, 6:30 p.m., at The Yoga Shala, 1322 Broad St., in Victoria.
For details visit www.skycladyoga.com.
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