Soul Journeys, Yoga with Greg Barringer

Westport CT

24 June, 2021

9:13 PM

Description

For Greg Barringer, yoga is part of a holistic approach to personal transformation, and it is seen as an integral conduit to a healthy way of life – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Greg is no stranger to teaching or to Fairfield County. He’s been a teacher or guide for over 35 years. Having arrived here from Boston in 1999 to run the Norwalk River Rowing Association and teach competitive rowing to youth and adults, for the past fifteen years he’s dedicated his acumen to teaching the nuances and benefits of yoga, meditation, and higher consciousness. Greg began practicing yoga and meditation while training as an athlete in Boston. He received a BA and MBA from Boston University, and first studied yoga at the Adult Education Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Later he received his initial teaching certification from the Kripalu School of Yoga, followed by advanced certifications in Thai, Hatha, and Kundalini Yoga. “My teaching has evolved through my life and experiences,” says Greg. “I began with something more measurable, how to row and make racing shells go faster. Now, my teaching is more ethereal. How do we let go of suffering and live more fulfilled, joyous, and self-realized lives? Through it all I’ve had one theme in common: What do I love? And how may I share it with others?” In many respects, people can benefit from yoga now more than ever. As people are going from a long period of lockdown to rejoining the world, there is natural trepidation. We keep finding ourselves adjusting to a new definition of “normal”. At the onset of the pandemic, people adjusted to spending most of our time at home, socially distant from others. Now we are adjusting to being socially active again, and reconnecting with other people. These changes in our way of life are not made easily. How can we overcome the agita that comes with these changes? “We live in a complex society and a world of uncertainty,” says Greg, “and the pandemic has heightened the anxiety that comes along with that. There is so much around us that is out of our control, but we can achieve calm through yoga – becoming centered, grounded, and better equipped to cope with an unpredictable and ever-changing world.” It is so important for us to feel safe with ourselves. This is a message that resonates for a lot of people. Conventional wisdom tells us that we can’t have good, healthy relationships with others unless we have good, healthy relationships with ourselves. Therein lies the critical importance of a central tenet of yoga: to achieve inner peace. Greg believes that yoga plays an integral part in healthy living. Eating right and exercising are great steps toward physical health; yoga takes take a giant step further toward establishing a heathy mind-body connection. According to Greg, “My intention is to elevate our consciousness, connection, and build our capacity for healing, and sensation. The benefits of practice include releasing blocks that keep us stuck in our patterns of suffering, raising energy and awareness, strengthening the body, enhancing the immune, circulatory, glandular, and nervous systems, and increasing awareness and developing inner peace.” During the pandemic Greg, like all of us, had to juggle things around. He quickly got onto Zoom and maintained a solid following through the months of isolation. “Zoom was much better than I thought it would be.” says Greg. “We were able to keep a strong sense of connection to each other and our practices. It really was a lifeline for all of us.” Greg still maintains an online presence, but he is very glad to be teaching in-person again. “It’s so great to see people, practice, and guide alongside my students. They really are like family.” he says, “The pandemic has been very hard on all of us. We need each other and these practices now, more than ever, to renew our strength, regain our peace of mind, and connect us.” Greg teaches at the Lachat Farm in Weston on Saturday mornings. On Sunday morning he teaches at Pickney Park in Rowayton. Both classes are outside with beautiful surroundings and open to the public. His students couldn’t be more pleased about Greg’s return to in-person classes. For more information about Greg and his outside classes please visit: https://www.shaktiananda.yoga/outside Testimonials: “Greg’s classes have been a lifeline for 15 months, and now that we’re outside, in-person, with others, it’s even better. His thoughtful guidance and sharing are a true blessing.” ~Barbara Gross, Weston CT “When I leave Greg’s class, I feel a notable increase in my vitality. Everything seems brighter. I hear the birds, see the trees, feel my whole body, more viscerally.” ~Martha Risom, Rowayton CT