January 28th marks 15 years since we opened our doors at Inspiring Actions! Owner and founder Tracey Mortenson had a vision to create a yoga studio that paid special attention to beginners, people who are interested in learning about the healing benefits of yoga but might be hesitant to walk into their first class. A consistent yoga practice has incredible healing benefits, but for someone who has never tried it before, it can be intimidating to start.
We see yogis in twisted up poses with the flexibility of Gumby and the ability to do a handstand for five minutes straight and we think, “I can’t even touch my toes!”. Tracey wanted to create a space where all are welcome, where it is understood that things like strength and flexibility come with consistent practice. The important thing is to try yoga. Once someone experiences the many benefits of practice, it becomes something to look forward to, an oasis from the daily grind of life and our own minds.
Hear from Tracey about her early years of yoga and why she wanted to create Inspiring Actions:
“I found myself in yoga classes with anywhere between 20-30 people. Big classes! I didn’t know what I was doing, everyone moved faster than me, there was NO WAY I was asking any questions, I was intimidated, and upside down half the time! But I kept going. Why? Because I felt so much better afterwards. My mind felt calmer and my body let go of tension and I could relax. I also learned an important tool for my “toolbox for life”, called BREATH. This was a game changer.”
Inspiring Actions: The Home of Yoga 101
From this vision came Yoga 101, a 4-week series specifically designed for beginners to learn about yoga poses of course, but also to learn about the reasons we do yoga in the first place, and how a consistent practice can improve our lives. Yoga 101 is for anyone and everyone who would like to try yoga, regardless of whether or not you’ve ever stepped on a mat.
This series introduces the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga in an inviting and applicable way. The goal of Yoga 101 is to provide the opportunity for newcomers to experience yoga in a relaxing, inviting atmosphere that is free from judgement and competition. Students leave this series with a much deeper understanding of what yoga really is, beyond the poses.
We are proud to be the oldest and longest running yoga studio in the St. Croix Valley. Since we opened our doors in 2008, hundreds of people have taken Yoga 101 and learned how to incorporate this invaluable healing tool into their daily lives. At Inspiring Actions, we understand that the only ‘goal’ of yoga is to quiet the mind, not learn how to hold a more graceful Warrior III than our neighbor. In this way, we make yoga accessible to everyone in hopes that everyone will give it a try. We want our students to understand that everyone had to start somewhere, and yoga is about practice, not perfection.
Here’s what Tracey remembers from her first yoga experience:
“My favorite part of the class was the eye pillow we got at the end of class. I lied down, placed it over my eyes, it smelled like lavender and reminded me of being at the spa. Heaven! Except, we had to keep lying there. I wasn’t sure what this was all about, but that 5 minutes of “relaxation” seemed like half an hour to me. It took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. I didn’t have time to be laying around. I had things to do and places to be! I continued to dabble with yoga on and off for the next 5 years. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I realize now, that I just didn’t get it.”
At Inspiring Actions, we are here to help you “get” it!
Inspiring Action’s Expert Staff
All of our instructors at Inspiring Actions have at least 200 hours of training and have been teaching for a minimum of two years, some much more than that! Many of our instructors also have certification in other holistic health practices like reiki, pre and postnatal yoga, meditation, and more.
Our instructors bring unique gifts to our classes and events, but each one embodies our dedication to make yoga accessible for everyone. Their different areas of expertise make Inspiring Actions much more than a yoga studio. Visit our about page for a list and description of all the Inspiring Actions instructors!
At our studios in Hudson and River Falls, Wisconsin, we offer classes from beginner to teacher training, and tons of special events to incorporate other practices like meditation, pranayama, sound healing, and reiki. If you want to dip your toe in the pool of yoga with something other than asana, the physical poses of yoga, there is something at Inspiring Actions for you to try. Here is a full list of the types of classes and services we offer:
- 4 Week Intro Series – Yoga 101
- Yin Yoga
- Hatha Yoga
- Heated Yoga
- Yoga For Pregnancy
- Vinyasa Yoga
- Restorative Yoga
- Group Yoga
- Private Yoga
- Corporate Wellness
- Hypnotherapy
- Yoga Teacher Training
- Business Coaching
- Nutrition Coaching
All are Welcome at Inspiring Actions
Inspiring Actions offers a space where all can feel welcome to try yoga, regardless of experience, flexibility, or age. Starting a consistent yoga practice can be like removing a veil from in front of our eyes that keeps us from experiencing life authentically, and to the fullest. We learn simple yet valuable tools like how to pay attention to our breath, and how doing so can help us not only in practice, but in every day life.
If you’ve been thinking about giving yoga a try, you are officially invited to practice with us at Inspiring Actions in Hudson or River Falls, Wisconsin. We even offer some classes online! Take a look at our schedule to see a full list of our classes and check out our upcoming events.
If you’re an experienced yogi, we have classes that will challenge you. If you’re new to yoga, maybe even stepped foot on a mat, we have classes that will introduce you to the invaluable tool of yoga in a non-intimidating way. Click here for a video from our owner and founder inviting new yogis to Inspiring Actions Yoga 101 series and check out our blog just for beginners for information to prepare you for your first yoga class. We hope to see you an Inspiring Actions!
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