I have been doing yoga at The Georgia Aquarium in The US…the classes are in front of the Beluga whales and it can best be described as a dream.
To flow into poses as the whales swim and float through the water is so beautiful…it is hard to find words. As I connect with their dance and vibration through my yoga practice I can dive into my inner spirit. It is a truly beautiful experience and has had a powerful impact on my dreams since I began
classes there a month ago. I am so grateful to Kimberly Hard and Be Well Atlanta for this powerful experience!
By Stephanie Jolluck

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) – There’s the cobra, the cat and the down dolphin.

  

The yoga classes are held on Sunday with Be Well Atlanta’s top instuctors in front of the tank where the aquarium’s three beluga whales live.

1 of 2

Now, the world’s largest aquarium is introducing a new animal to complement those centuries-old yoga stances — the beluga whale.

The Georgia Aquarium — which with 80,000 animals and 8 million gallons of water is considered the biggest facility of its kind — has begun offering yoga classes in front of the tank that holds its belugas, whose playful nature and graceful movements have made them a favorite of visitors since the aquarium opened in late 2005.

“The beluga whales are so slow and so smooth in their movements, which is indeed what this is about — slow movements of the body,” said Todd DeLaune, one of the instructors of the weekly sessions. “And I think the energy of the belugas corresponds with the practice that we do.”

The classes — billed as the first of their kind — are part of an ongoing effort the aquarium has made since its inception to keep things fresh and keep visitors coming back, even in tough economic times.  Watch yoga class at aquarium »

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, who bankrolled the aquarium almost entirely out of his own pocket, said in 2005 that attractions such as aquariums have a habit of starting strong but fading after a few years, something he was determined to avoid.

“We are trying to do something new all the time, so every time you come to the aquarium there’s something new — a new program, a new animal, a new exhibit,” said spokesman Dave Santucci.

Santucci said the aquarium largely has weathered the dismal economy well, with a decrease in out-of-state and international visitors being offset by an increase in visitors who live within 100 miles and are forgoing long-distance trips themselves.

Children’s classes will be offered at the same time as the adult ones. The cost is $20 for aquarium members and $35 for nonmembers, who also get a day pass to visit the rest of the aquarium.

At a recent preview class, student Stephanie Jolluck said the atmosphere at the aquarium enhanced her practice of yoga, the physical and mental discipline believed to have originated in India as early as 3000 B.C.

“For me, it’s a dream to be here in this calm space, to watch the whales,” she said. “The music … the lights — everything is a dream.”

“The first time I came to the aquarium, I was impressed by the animals and the landscape,” she said. “One has always known that the ocean generates peace and calm.” 

Be Well Atlanta invites you to join us Sunday Feb 8th for the launch of Yoga under the Sea. This is the first class of its kind in the world. You will find the experience truly unique and life changing for adults and children.

Here is what one student had to say……

There isn’t a proper word in the English language to describe the immediate and long-term effects of the Beluga yoga class at the Georgia Aquarium. The whales are such mesmerizing and hypnotic creatures that I found it difficult to close my eyes and focus on the postures instead of the playful whales. I kept sneaking a peek at them instead of focusing inward but eventually it was possible to tune in to my body and get into the yoga. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the high vibrational energy from them. It was a bit intoxicating and powerful. Yoga has been an important part of my life for over 12 years now, but this class was oh, so different.

I walked away with an incredible sense of inner peace, serenity, and joy. What a shift from “I really didn’t have the time to take the class today, I have a million things to do” to “what a beautiful and necessary gift I just gave myself!”

Yoga means “union” and experiencing that union with the peaceful and gentle Beluga whales was transformational on many levels. It is an event you will definitely want to experience for yourself!
Jennifer H Atlanta, Ga

Details: Please join us…..
Adult + Children Classes ages 3-14 (Parents can get a break)
Georgia Aquarium (Main Gate)
225 Baker Street
Atlanta, GA 30313
404-581-4000

Yoga classes begin Sunday February 8th
9:30AM-11 (Worth waking up early)

Cost:
Adults $35 (non-aquarium members) you get a free pass to the aquarium good for 90 days
Members $20

Children $25non-aquarium members) you get a free pass to the aquarium good for 90 days
Members $20

Value program (This is amazing)
5 classes passes, Aquarium Annual membership, Be Well Atlanta lifestyle card $290 value Your cost $145
You can only receive this program through the call center
Visitor Services:
Call (404)581-4000

www.georgiaaquarium.org
(You will be able to sign up online next week)

you can send us a message on facebook if you have any question.

Look for Be Well Atlanta in this months Atlantan magazine, CNN,CNN Espanol and the AJC

Be Well Atlanta is excited to announce its partnership with the Georgia Aquarium.

We will be offering a full array of yoga and wellness classes for adults and children beginning in January 2009. Through this partnership we will have the ability to educate  thousands on the benefits of yoga and meditation. It is our intention to bring a sense of peace and well-being to our community. Through the power of meditation and yoga ,you can expect to calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, ease depression, stress and increase your ability to focus. 

Be Well Atlanta has formed a yoga alliance bringing  together the best teachers in our city. We will be launching a variety of beginner sessions, mommy and me classes, senior seated yoga, prenatal, and family classes. Through this program we will be offering corporate and private group classes. This will be a great team building program as well as an opportunity to bring people together. Be Well Atlanta can customize your program based on your companies’ needs. 

With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. This is the perfect way to slow down, connect with yourself and others, learn how to maintain optimum health, and enjoy the animals of the Aquarium. Through the commitment of both Be Well Atlanta and The Georgia Aquarium serving the community, we will also be offering classes to a full array of non-profit organizations such as, Head Start. Through this effort we will be supporting the children in our community to learn the skill of handling stress and teaching them to be self- empowered.

The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practicing a simple breathing meditation. We choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. 

We can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If we wish, we can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep our back straight to prevent our mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.

We sit with our eyes partially closed and turn our attention to our breath. Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control our breath, and try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is our object of meditation. We should try to concentrate on it excluding everything else around you

If we discover that our mind has wandered and is following our thoughts, we should immediately return it to the breath. We should repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

Enjoy!

Millions of children and adults are being prescribed medications like Prozac and Ambien for issues.This has been a growing concern in our country for quite some time. Depression, anxiety, and sleep issues are commonly treated with such mood altering medications.

I have been teaching meditation for over ten years and have personally experienced its unlimited benefits.  Through the power of meditation you can expect to calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, and ease depression, stress and add the ability to focus.  By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances.

With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. For many, the use of prescription drugs assist in attaining proper sleep, aiding in ones sex life, and altering moods. 

Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It often affects our health. The common thought is that there is no time to stop and meditate! But the practice of meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. 

A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.If we train in meditation, we will be able to attain a more peaceful and healthy state from many common problems such as depression, sleep issues, lack of focus, and low libido. We will also discover I amsure the need for less medication in our lives.

In this way, we will come to experience a permanent inner peace, known as “liberation” or “nirvana”. Then, day and night in life after life, we will experience only peace and happiness.

Turn on your kitcthen tap for a glass of water and you get as much clean, fresh water as you want. But what if you just got a trickle, or worse yet, nothing at all?

It’s a problem for every one of the 6.6 billion people that live on this planet. Fresh water makes up just 3 percent of the world’s water supply. 

“There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people – and the environment – suffer.

“Water is everybody’s business” was one the the key messages of the 2^nd World Water Forum.

Small changes that protect water supply and improve water quality

• Check all water-using appliances and equipment in your home for leaks. Running toilets, steady faucet drips, home water treatment units and outdoor sprinkler systems are common sources of leaks.
• Consider water-efficient landscaping in your  yard. 
• Replace old toilets. The major water use inside the home is toilet flushing. If your home was built in 1992 and you haven’t replaced your toilets since then, you probably could benefit from installing high-efficiency toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. A family of four can save between 14,000 and 25,000 gallons of water per year be making this change. 
• Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Before pouring water down the drain, consider using it for other uses, such as watering plants. You can catch this water by placing a bucket in the shower or the sink.
• Operate the dishwasher only when completely full.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than hosing them off.
• When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shutoff valve.
• Install low-flow shower head 

The word “yoga” means union – to connect with all living beings and finding balance within the body, mind and spirit. Yoga is an Eastern philosophy of health living that has existed in the East for thousands of years and is in no way a religion.

 Yoga will assist you in achieving unlimited possibility and discover your inner beauty and stillness. This practice will allow you to find the time for yourself, unlock your fullest potential and overcome physical, emotional, and mental obstacles to develop confidence in yourself and your body. Discover the delicate balance between creating harmony in your life and equalizing the mind and body. Align yourself with the universe, becoming conscious of your inner self as well as everything around you.

Yoga’s Effects On the Body:The following is only a partial list of yoga’s benefits:

• reduced stress
• sound sleep
• reduced cortisol levels
• improvement of many medical conditions
• allergy and asthma symptom relief
• lower blood pressure
• smoking cessation help
• lower heart rate
• spiritual growth
• sense of well-being
• reduced anxiety and muscle tension
• increased strength and flexibility
• slowed aging process

Yoga’s benefits are so numerous, it gives a high payoff for the amount of effort involved.

Here is a few of our favorite yoga studios in Atlanta: