SUSAN Wright is bringing her love and passion for Yoga to the Barkly in the form of Centre Yoga & Health.
Susan has taught classes twice a week in Canada and finished her Australian equivalency certification in NSW when she moved with husban Adrian McNamara from Tennant Creek to have their fourth child Indie, now 2.
Susan and Adrian, who manage the Goldfields Hotel, also have a 10-year-old son, Maceo and twin 7-year-old girls, Marlie and Ashara.
“I’ve always been involved in movement and dance,” she said.
“I started jazz and classical ballet lessons at the age of five, competed in baton twirling and tap dancing, which was really big in North America at the time, and began teaching dance at age 16.”
Susan also has a Certificate in Fitness and Nutrition and taught aerobics in the 1980s at the European Health Spa, “because that’s what you did in the 80s.”
“I was really intrigued by the positioning of the body in Yoga,” Susan said.
“I always wanted to be a gymnast but in my first year, I dislocated my shoulder and never went back.
“I can still do a mean cartwheel though and the splits and I’m 43 this year!”
Susan credits Yoga and the strength and flexibility it gives the body with keeping her fit and healthy.
She also attests to the calming influence involved in holding the asanas (poses).
“It’s a release to just be and think of nothing.”
Susan will be teaching classes commencing at 6pm on 3 August at the CWA Hall on Noble Street.
Classes will continue every Monday thereafter at 6pm.
Classes are 1.5 hours with the first part of class involving Pranayama, which is breath work.
Participants will learn the importance of proper breathing and using the oxygen inhaled to its full potential to nourish and calm the body.
“If you don’t breathe – you die, so doing it properly is very important,” she explained.
“In yoga, they say a life span is not measured in years but in breaths so the more relaxed and long flowing your breath is, the longer your life will be. Have you ever noticed how when you get angry or upset, you automatically hold your breath? Pranayama will help remind you to let go and breathe.
“People think that yoga is about contortion but it is really about relaxation, about stretching and in doing so strengthening your ligaments, tendons and muscles.
“It’s about getting your lymphatic system, which is essentially your immune system, going.
“Your lymphatic system has no way to move around on its own, so it needs your body’s movement to move itself.
“Yoga squeezes and squishes parts of your body to stimulate that movement and it also brings more oxygenated blood to those parts of your body that might not receive it.
“The asanas are tailored to your individual level.
“I have plenty of props, belts and bolsters to aid anyone at any level.
Susan said yoga was not a competitive sport, was unique to every individual and the one main rule to to do what you can.
“Never compare yourself to someone else,” she said.
The class will end with a 20 minute relaxation and meditation.
“I like to use a guided meditation, something with a these, maybe someone is having a particular issue they need to deal with,” said Susan.
“I also use Hemi Sync music which has been chosen for its ability to balance the two sides of the brain. The meditation is my favourite part. Almost like a reward after the harder work.
“I love Tennant Creek and this is where my family and I have chosen to live.
“There aren’t a lot of options here so I am hoping to expand from Yoga and offer some products to the community as well, such as enriching greens, essential oils, vitamin and mineral Supplements and children’s products.
“One of my children has a lot of allergies and I notice that the products we get in town that she can eat are always the ones to be sold out first.
“I order a lot of product in for her and thought it isn’t so difficult to order just a bit more since I will use it anyway.
“Children’s health is really important to me and I will be adding children’s yoga classes to the weekly schedule as well in the near future.
“ I am studying with the Australasian Institute of Yoga to complete a children’s course called Yoga Ninjas.
“It incorporates karate with yoga to balance a child’s need for dynamic activity with quiet relaxation.
“I would love to add a second adult class to the week as well if there is enough interest in it.
“Yoga isn’t something you do, it is a way of life.”
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