Getting in shape through yoga

Many Sisters residents are feeling more centered and balanced through the regular practice of yoga. Yoga originated as a spiritual practice in India; as it is performed in the United States, yoga practitioners assume a series of positions to develop fitness, flexibility and relaxation.

Classes are currently offered for men and women at Cascade Fitness, Sisters Athletic Club and Sisters Art Works.

Debbie Dippre, a licensed massage therapist, a yoga therapist and owner of Follow Your Heart Healing Arts, is teaching the classes. Currently, she has about 60 students. Dippre has been a yoga instructor for the past 15 years and has taught in Sisters for three years. She is offering a beginning level class at Cascade Fitness on Wednesdays at 10:45 a.m. and a mixed-level class on Fridays.

She additionally teaches at Sisters Athletic Club on Mondays. The class is open to anyone, not just athletic club members.

"If they come to yoga, they can use the club the whole day," Dippre said. She also teaches a class on Wednesday mornings at Sisters Art Works.

According to Sue Coxen, owner of Cascade Fitness, Dippre started the beginning class last fall and the response was huge.

"There's a lot of people who want to do yoga, and they feel like they have to jump into an existing yoga class, and they're intimidated because they are beginning beginning. She (Dippre) thought: 'OK. Let's just do a straight beginner class,'" said Coxen.

That class has carried over to this quarter, and beginners who have never taken yoga before are still welcome to enroll.

"It's for beginners, slightly intermediate, but you can still feel comfortable as a beginner to jump in," Coxen said.

Dippre likes to chat with people before they enroll in one of her classes. Through this process she is able to better judge which class would best suit the person.

"Some people have had a lot of other kinds of backgrounds that crossover nicely to yoga. Even if they haven't had yoga, when I talk to them I learn things and direct them to the right place," she said.

According to Coxen, Dippre is a master at making her students feel comfortable. She honors each person's body "where it's at," said Coxen. "If you can't do all the moves in the beginning, that's fine, because eventually you'll get there. Then again, because of some physical limitations if you can't, that's still OK. She can modify it for you."

Some of Dippre's yogistas take one class per week; others take two or more. Those who come more than once like to come because of the benefits they feel, Dippre said.

A student and practitioner of yoga for 25 years, Dippre has gained a great respect for the practice.

"There are a multitude of benefits. First of all, it helps to center the person and make the person feel more balanced and grounded and more in touch with themselves," she said. "The body gets stronger, healthier."

Dippre also subscribes to the philosophy of teaching with a sense of lightheartedness and humor.

"Classes are fun. People have a good time. It's not uncommon that there's laughter. There a real sense of community," said Dippre.

For more information or to enroll in one of her classes, contact Dippre directly at 977-4477.