Yoga gains acceptance in Bigfork and grows in popularity

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

"When we first started teaching yoga a lot of people didn't even know what it was. They thought it was a religion," Montana Bliss owner Dana Stoddard said.

Now, four-and-a-half years later, Stoddard has seen people opening their minds about yoga and a significant growth in the practice in the area.

"We had to be really patient and show people that it wasn't a religion, but was something that could augment whatever religion they practice."

Last November Nancy Thurston opened Swan Mountain Yoga, a new yoga studio on her property near Echo Lake.

"I think there was room for more yoga in the area, and by opening a studio on my property I thought I could offer something unique," Thurston said. "I think people are much more interested and open to yoga than when I started a decade ago. Back then I was looking for classes outside of the valley. I think that it helps to have so many different studios and classes to choose from in the area. It allows people to try out different teachers and settings and decide what works best for them."

There are currently four different places in Bigfork to practice yoga. Swan Mountain Yoga, Montana Bliss, A Sante Wellness Studio, and the Montana Athletic Club. All of the studios have certified instructors who are insured.

"I think it is going to continue to evolve in the area," Thurston said. "As there is more interest, I think there will be more expansion in the types of classes and workshops offered."

Krista Sanderson has been a yoga instructor at the Montana Athletic Club and A Sante for two years.

"Having it at places like the MAC, where it is more populated, gives more people the opportunity to try it and realize that you don't have to be able to put your leg behind your head to do yoga." Sanderson said. "People are realizing that there are many different kinds of yoga and they can find one to suit them."

Sanderson said that after moving here from California a couple of years ago that she noticed that Bigfork has a population that is a little older and credits that to the growing popularity since yoga is good for balance, strength, flexibility and posture, and even has preventative benefits for disease, including osteoporosis. Also, because this is such an active community, and yoga is good for people who take part in activities like hiking, skiing, snow boarding and biking, it is really growing in Bigfork.

Teresa Kennedy, who teaches yoga at Swan Mountain Yoga, Montana Bliss and to private groups, has been working with a group of golfers to use yoga to improve their game on the green. The group started after the men saw information on television about the benefits of yoga for golfers. In the beginning they focused on golfer specific poses, but now they have expanded to doing full yoga work outs. The group meets three days a week in the spring and summer since three of the four members of the group live in Bigfork seasonally.

"I think the community is becoming more open to yoga," Kennedy said. "I think there are a lot of misconceptions of yoga everywhere, but it is more apparent in a small town. But over the years people have shared their experiences with one another and I've seen people become more open. I think the benefits are countless. People typically come for the physical benefits because that's what they've heard. But they come away from it more mind, body, heart connected and that translates to the real world, and that's the real benefit."