Flow Yoga | Sugar House Studio
2065 East 2100 South, SLC, UT 84109 801-485-5933 | info@flowyogaslc.com
East Millcreek | 2927 E 3300 S, SLC, UT 84109
Kalarippayattu
What is Kalari?
Simply put, Kalari is an Indian Martial Art form that is as old as yoga and ayurveda, kept alive in Kerala as a closed oral tradition for thousands of years. It is the sister to yoga and ayurveda, and there are elements of those practices in Kalari. More information on Wikipedia.
Kalari in Salt Lake City?
Flow Yoga owner/director Jennifer Ellen discovered the practice through a series of ‘coincidences’ relating to two of her favorite people, her teacher Shiva Rea and her friend Dave Stringer, a fantastic Kirtan artist. After just a couple of months of practicing 1st with Kai Hitzer, then his teacher and senior instructor in the Kalari lineage, Gerhard Schmid, she knew that the next big journey in her life had begun. Along with Dallas and Aubri, we are striving to bring this highly powerful, transformative practice in a real and authentic way to the Salt Lake community.
What is the Kalari practice like?
Kalari has a systematic approach to training the complete Self: the body, the emotions and the mind. Practice begins with movement-based warm-up and conditioning exercises. Then the practitioner moves to a set of flowing movement sequences called forms. Each form takes on a specific quality of either energy-generating (masculine) or energy-focusing (feminine). Both types are equally important to the practice of the student and are equally challenging. Kalari is a physically demanding practice, but the beauty is that persons of any physical condition can participate.
What do I bring & wear to class?
No yoga mat, special clothing or equipment is needed. Wear exercise/yoga clothes. A bottle of water and small hand towel (for sweat) may be helpful.
Classes are for all levels of experience to enjoy. In Level 1 classes, we give more attention to the basics of the practice. In Level 2 classes, the basic part of the practice goes more quickly and we give more attention to the Shiva and Shakti forms that come after the basic practice. In Self-Practice, we all practice together as a group, some focusing on the basics, some focusing on more intermediate elements of the practice. An instructor is present, but very little instruction is given. This is more like the traditional way Kalari is practiced in Kerala. Self-Practice classes are half-price.
