Margot Andersen

Five years ago, I fell in love with yoga! My intention as a teacher is to provide a safe container in order to connect the sensations in the body with breath and present moment awareness. This exciting new LifeForce gentle yoga class is designed to manage moods (anxious or depressed), chronic pain, issues related to loss and grief by uniting body, mind, and breath. I invite you to practice self-compassion as you learn ancient healing breathing techniques, gentle postures, and yoga nidra, a restorative, guided deep relaxation. Research has shown that all of these techniques decrease stress hormones and change the neurochemistry in the brain to improve moods and the brain's perception of pain. Together, we will visualize and embrace your deepest intentions for peace, calm strength and improved health, while connecting body, heart and mind with present moment awareness.

Traveling the yoga journey to self acceptance is a natural outgrowth of my clinical social work training many years ago. I have had several significant traumas: surgeries, migraines, lower back pain, and the sudden tragic loss of my adult son. Using gentle yoga, visualization, guided relaxation, and many different breathing techniques has helped me move through each of these difficult experiences. Through yoga, the union of mind and body, you cultivate new intentions, visualize them, breathe in affirmations, and maintain calm strength in the midst of everyday stress.

I have been an educational advocate for families on behalf of their children with special learning and emotional needs for many years. I have worked with many people with anxiety, depression, trauma and grief. My experience also includes a successful career in the corporate world. This past year, I received my yoga teacher certification and have been certified to teach LifeForce Yoga developed by Amy Weintraub for anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. Yoga is a wonderful addition as a therapeutic intervention for stress, chronic pain and to "beat the blues"!