Shakti Yoga

Helping students increase their flexibility, strength, alignment and confidence through an intelligent, dynamic and safe yoga discipline. Founder Linda Lalita Winnick has created an insightful approach to the yoga practice drawing from her 30 years experience as a student and teacher. A rich knowledge of yogic philosophy, anatomy, and physiology, and extensive Ayurvedic background adds a deeper dimension shared during classes at Shakti Yoga of Woodstock, Saugerties, and Kingston. Shaktifitness is the latest creation , adding a well-rounded mix of physical actions to increase strength, stamina, coordination that can be practiced in small groups or as personal training.

Many of Shakti Yoga’s experienced instructors are trained by Linda and share her approach while our other instructors have joined Shakti offering their talent and skills from other styles.

Linda Lalita Winnick

Linda Lalita Winnick’s focus is the cultivation of Shakti or Inner Power. A certified yoga teacher, with an M.A. in Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga Philosophy, Linda’s teaching of yoga integrates her twenty-eight-year experience as a yoga practitioner and teacher with the principles of exercise physiology and the energetics of Ayurveda. Her classes reflect the attunement of time, place, season, and group dynamic. Unbound by a single lineage, Linda has developed creative sequencing of pranayama (breath work), Vinyasa Krama and Shat Karmas (cleansing techniques). This sequencing and her masterful demonstrations promote the growth of flexibility, strength, and efficient alignment. Classes are challenging and at the same time punctuated with laughter at her whimsical commentary. They can be adapted to all levels of ability and individual limitation. Shaping her offering with joy, Linda creates an inclusive space that challenges each person to feel free to do what they can to foster their own strength and wellbeing through the art of yoga.

Linda Lalita is owner of three Shakti Yoga Studios in the Hudson Valley New York. She was a popular workshop instructor at the Omega Institute for a decade. Linda trains yoga teachers in her methods. (200 Hour and Advanced 500 Hour) She is invited to teach in programs around the country and in Europe.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is commonly translated as “The Science of Life and Longevity.”It the fully developed traditional healing system of. It has been influential in the development of similar medical sytsems in Asia for thousands of years. Ayurveda is also the sister science of Hatha Yoga, as they share many of the same philosophical and healing techniques. The Five Elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth) are fundamental toAyurvedic theory. Ayurvedists observe interactions between and fluctuations in the rhythm of these elements in the body and mind. In common practice, these observations are organized in reference to constitutional types, or doshas. The main doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Every person has in his or her make-up all of the doshas in a proportion unique to that individual.The goal of Ayurveda is to reestablish and/or maintain the individual’s natural doshic balance.

According to Ayurveda, the unique constitutional (doshic) type inborn inevery person shows up in vibrational patterns resonating through the pulse. Pulse diagnosis is therefore central in determining a person’sconstitutional type and his or her individual norm. Deviations from this norm due to habit, emotions, diet, interpersonal relationships and other influences are also reflected in the pulse. If doshic imbalances are detected in the early stages, through such diagnosis, illness can be prevented. Ayurveda addresses doshic imbalances through a number of techniques organized into an individualized lifestyle regime, which restores the balance of the doshas natural to a person and preventsfuture disturbances.