Community Center offers gentle yoga classes

Betty Kuropat offers the same warning to everyone who rolls out a mat at her gentle yoga class.

“Just because it’s gentle doesn’t mean it’s easy,” she says. “You still get a workout and still work the core.”

Her yogis quickly find out what she means as they attempt to balance on one leg with the other extended in front.

“It looks easy, but it’s not so much,” she jokes with the class.

Many use a folding chair to stabilize until they’re comfortable enough to let go.

For the past two years, Kuropat has led a free gentle yoga class each Tuesday at the Whitefish Community Center. The classes focus on moving at a slower pace than one might find in a traditional yoga routine. Poses are adapted and attention is paid to breathing.

“A lot of people think they can’t do yoga because they’re not flexible. But you don’t have to be flexible. You just work from where you are and with regular practice, you will gain some flexibility and stability.”

Modifications are often made to traditional poses.

“I try to adapt it because some people are not as able to get up and down from the floor,” Kuropat said. “We’ll take our time working on a pose. We have chairs available to help with balance so you can stand on one leg and not feel like you’re going to topple.”

“It’s accessible to everyone.”

Kuropat has been practicing yoga since she was 17. After retiring in 2012 as a silviculturist with the Forest Service, she began exploring the idea of teaching yoga to the baby-boomer generation.

“At the time there wasn’t anything like [gentle yoga] being offered,” she said.

She is now a Yoga Alliance Certified yoga instructor. Along with her volunteer work at the community center, she instructs gentle yoga at The Wave.

The benefits of gentle are noticed after just a few sessions, she says, once the initial soreness wears off.

“People say they have an easier time getting in and out of chairs,” Kuropat said. “One man said his golf game improved because we paid attention to foundation and stance and how our feet are connected to the ground.”

Others say they feel more peaceful and open after a session.

“It’s calming,” Kuropat said. “It’s good for the stressful lives that we lead.”

Come as you are to gentle yoga, Kuropat suggests, there are no rules about appearance, age or abilities.

“People from their 20s to their 80s have showed up,” she said

It’s suggested to wear loose clothes to move freely.

“Although there are some people who come in Levis and they do just fine,” Kuropat said. “Wear your shoes or wear bare feet.”

Class sizes are typically from five to eight people.

“It’s usually a small group and anyone is welcome,” she said.

The one-hour sessions are each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.