Devi Yoga

Start to relax and listen to your body…
… stretch out and stay awhile

by Rhonda Palance

Let’s face it, you came to Sedona to relax.

Whether you live here, just moved here, or you’re simply soaking in the red rocks for a couple of days or hours, you came here to slow down … take the load off your feet, and the weight of the world off your shoulders … reconnect with who you really are … de-stress.

Well, if you’re familiar with yoga, you can skip down a paragraph or two, because you already know what I’m going to say.

There is no quicker way to decelerate … ease up … chill out … clear your mind, and rejuvenate, than with the wonderful art of yoga.

Whether it’s the quiet and sacred space to revive in, the peace and clarity in your mind, or the amazing feeling in your body, yoga’s got a way of inducing a beautiful, peaceful calm.

Sedona is lucky to have one of the most comfortable, friendly, and well-instructed studios you’ll fine anywhere, Devi Yoga, on Coffee Pot Dr., in West Sedona.

The first time I decided to try a class there, I must admit I was feeling nervous and somewhat intimidated. However, recent life events had left me holding way too much stress, and both my family and my doctor let me know I had to do something to help myself. So, I overcame my resistance and just went for it. I am so grateful for that life altering choice that I had made.

I began with the ìmild… practice, as I gently wanted to find out what I was getting myself into. When I first arrived, all my reservations began to fade away. The beautiful studio space carries such a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

At the front desk is Soni Gangadean, the owner – she knows just what to say!

She encouraged me to relax, enjoy, listen to my body, and to have fun exploring the practice … and to rest whenever I needed to. I felt assured that I could be myself, and that there was no spirit of competition, comparison, or pushing too hard in the studio. So the journey had begun.

Before we began the movement, Soni sets the stage for our practice. She reminds us to ìsimply breath deeply,ì unplug from the external world, and begin to sink inside ourselves for rejuvenation, restoration, and recharge. She explains that the practice is just as much for peace of mind, emotional freedom, and spiritual strength, as it is for physical health and well being. She encourages us to relax, step out of the way, and allow the yoga journey to guide us back to an overall sense of well being … our natural state.

This is fun ñ and relaxing!

As the practice progressed, I found myself feeling more and more light, peaceful, clear, and alive. Soni kept reminding us that the key is to ìsimplyì be as you are now, and enjoy the practice that will increase exponentially the ability to thrive within our lives – to start just where we are – and to use this precious time and space to take a clear and direct path to higher ground. It wasn’t until the practice was over that I truly understood what she meant by that.

After moving through a delicious flow of yoga postures and reminders about all the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits to receive, it all began to make sense to me. I had been disconnected from my inner self, and that was creating outer stress in my life. I actually felt like I had come home and had already begun to reclaim my power and my true self.

All throughout the day, I began to notice that years of back pain began to alleviate. I noticed things that would normally cause me stress simply did not get the best of me. I noticed a sense of aliveness I had not felt in quite some time. I felt peaceful and connected, and I knew I had begun my journey through healing, and would soon be able to focus on flourishing in my life.

Several mild classes later and feeling completely free of my stress, I decided to muster up the courage to try the ìspicy… version of the practice.

Once again, I was reminded to play, have fun, and not to push too much or be harsh or judgmental of myself in any way. I decided to take that advice and to just go for it. I had no idea how invigorating and fun it would end up being.

Once again, I was encouraged to only do what felt right, and above all, to be kind to myself. I was so inspired by the strength, balance, and grace that can develop from the spicy practice.

I also realized, in a practical way, that I had discovered what might just be the best possible form of preventative medicine for my body. This practice will reverse the effects of aging, detox and rejuvenate my vital organs, boost every system – including immunity and metabolism, strengthen every bone and muscle, and above all, release the thing that creates the most damage to the body… stress! The effects are obvious, as my family and doctor are no longer worried about me!

I asked Soni where she got her training, and who her yoga guru was. First, she told me about how she stumbled across ìvinyasa flow… yoga, while living in the jungle of Costa Rica, trying to heal from years of damage to her body from teaching aerobics back in the day, as well as enduring years of emotional turmoil. The practice helped her heal so deeply on so many levels she knew she found her calling … to help others do the same.

Then, she told me how her grandfather was a yoga teacher who migrated from India during the 1950s to help bring yoga to the West. He was the personal teacher to the Arizona governor at the time, and actually helped name Carefree, Arizona. Her father is a world-renown global crusader for the awakening of humanity into the New Age, and is currently spearheading many global initiatives with very well known leaders of the spiritual community.

Soni has been teaching almost daily in Sedona for the past eight years. She makes sure to step aside and allow the gift from her lineage to pour through her … ever fresh and new every day. As for a guru, Soni jokingly says that all that means is ìgee you are you,… that the key is cheering people on to finding the light within themselves.

Soni is not the only teacher at Devi Yoga. Sean Cooke has been teaching there for years, having completed the one and only teacher’s training course held at Devi Yoga so far. He has become an amazing teacher, with much to offer, and also an invaluable support for the studio over the years.

Nathan, Soni’s brother, is now back teaching, after taking time to focus on his budding music career. An aspiring musician, Nathan is reconnecting to the naturally magnificent yoga teacher that flows through him, by way of lineage of the Gangadean family. His style is compassionate and valuable to reaching deeper and more subtle levels of the awareness of living in the moment.

Sedona is also lucky to have Geoffrey Taylor, a well known and gifted teacher of yoga, returning to the studio to teach classes earlier in the morning, later in the evenings, and on the weekend, to support those whose schedule does not coincide with the class times that Soni and Nathan, both raising young children, are able to offer. Geoffrey’s style is the perfect complement to the other classes, as he is masterful at helping with the form of each posture.

Also, Pilates and yoga work well together. A practice great for core strength and form, Mona is offering Pilates classes throughout the week to enhance your yoga practice. And for those much needed adjustments and healing sessions, Dr. David Milgram, magical chiropractor, is at the studio every Wednesday, and drop-ins are welcome.

So, I wanted to let people know about this hidden Sedona treasure that has been so life-changing for me, and many others. I hinted to Soni to reach out to people who are going through the same ambivalence that I felt before I started, to encourage people to commit for at least two weeks so they can try the different styles, times, and teachers – and get through the initial challenges of awakening your body and senses.

In response, she is offering an introductory two weeks of unlimited classes for $25. People can now experience for themselves if yoga can be life-changing for them without a heavy financial commitment.

Now more than ever, it seems people need support in healing and opening to their true potential.

Devi Yoga is located at 215 Coffee Pot Drive, in West Sedona. You can reach Devi Yoga by phone, (928) 203-4046.

So there it is. See for yourself!