Tulsa Yoga Meditation Center, 5319 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74145
  • HOME
  • TEACHERS
  • Blog
  • PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
  • YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
  • REIKI

"NAMASLAY"  - YOGA FOR METAL HEADS

8/14/2018

 
“We’ve got to become old metalheads gracefully,” says Yoga Instructor Angela Fontaine, 42, who is also a middle-school teacher and a fan of heavy metal music. 

Fontaine first conceptualized and taught metal yoga in 2014 at Vortex Dance and Fitness, an Easthampton dance studio she previously owned. It seems incongruous with the peaceful, relaxing tone of most yoga classes. But for those half-dozen loyal practitioners who sign up whenever she announces a new series of classes it’s a way to unwind and keep in shape while listening to their favorite bands — Cradle Of Filth, Nightwish, Black Pyramid, Iron Maiden, Graviton, Savatage, Forever Autumn, and Puscifer.

Fontaine seeks to reach that unique group of musicians and music lovers who might never be drawn to yoga believing it's too "soft and gentle" for their tastes physically or emotionally. Yet,  Fontaine’s metal yoga classes are laid back but sometimes loud. Throughout, she gives her students advice about their health, describes how poses positively affect the body, and provides alternative stretch-es for anyone who is having trouble. During class time, practitioners are encouraged to ask questions about poses or talk about the music.
Because her practitioners appreciate heavy metal music so much, Fontaine, who says she equally enjoys the music still goes to local shows.  For her classes, she plans carefully what’s played during the yoga session.

Each playlist, which often includes local bands as promotion, takes hours for Fontaine to curate.  Fontaine’s hour-long classes always start with ‘mountain,’ a standing yoga pose, peak in the middle with ‘warrior,’ and then wind down to ‘corpse pose.’ Playlists mirror the physical arc of the class, starting with quieter symphonic metal and moving into louder and more intense music to reflect the more challenging poses.

Because Fontaine sets the tone for the class carefully, even hard core metal heads enjoy the savasana (final relaxation) at the end of class.





Comments are closed.

    Victor M. Parachin ...is a

    Vedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. 

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.