Twists are an amazing family of poses that can be explored for a variety of different effects. They are powerful tools that awaken the mid and upper back, and essential preparation for backbends and inversions. Conversely, they are also wonderful counter poses after these postures, and as such can have a cooling and neutralizing effect. We’ll look at standing, seated and supine twists and examine what they share, as well as their different energetic impacts. You’ll leave class refreshed and alert, with increased awareness and mobility in your thoracic spine.

About Natasha:

A former ballet dancer, Natasha Rizopoulos began practicing yoga in her 20s. Her teaching style combines an emphasis on precise alignment with a commitment to finding joy and ease in the practice. She is celebrated for her ability to communicate the essence of a pose or an action, exploring and explaining theory and practice in a manner that immediately connects students to their yoga in profound and transformative ways.

A dedicated Ashtanga practitioner who has studied in India with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Natasha has also been very influenced by the Iyengar system. These two traditions form the basis of her teaching technique, combining the heat and energy of Ashtanga with the precision and attention to detail of the Iyengar method. In her teaching Natasha weaves these two styles together so that students can become fully alive to potential in their own yoga.

Natasha is the featured teacher in Yoga Journal’s Yoga Step-by-Step DVD series and has appeared in magazines and on television, as well as in the photo essay Yoga: A Yoga Journal Book. She is a contributing editor and columnist for Yoga Journal and writes the on-line column “Ask the Beginner’s Expert” for YogaJournal.com. In addition to her classes in Boston, Natasha travels extensively, teaching at conferences and leading workshops and teacher trainings around the world. http://www.natasharizopoulos.com/

Cost: $40 by April 19th, $45 after