Still breathing after all these years…
Sun Do: Still Breathing After All These Years -Martin Kemple In the early-mid 1990s,
a group of people in Montpelier began practicing this rather obscure and mysterious yoga breathing meditation called Sun Do. Almost daily every late afternoon, or more often early in the pre-dawn hours, they diligently practiced in a downtown yoga studio which they retro-fitted themselves. The group has expanded and contracted over the years, but today, almost 30 years later, most of them are still at it. In the early 2000s, they moved to the Clothes Pin Factory at 1 Granite Street, where they still hold practice 7 mornings a week, and Wednesday evenings. They also participate in more intensive 3-day, 5-day and 7-day retreats four times a year at the Sun Do Retreat Center in Barnet, as well as a 9-day ‘Mountain Retreat’ during the summer.
Sun Do is an ancient holistic practice that includes yoga postures, structured breathing meditation, and exercises to increase strength and flexibility. Specific breathing techniques combined with simple postures are aimed at stimulating one’s internal energy (called "Ki" by the Japanese and Koreans, "Qi" or "Chi" by the Chinese). By tapping into the body’s natural energy center, practitioners can better maintain an ongoing balance between their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Yet those who have been practicing Sun Do for a long time often find it difficult to describe why the practice is so compelling, and why they’ve stuck with it for so long. Except that it works: In building energy, increasing flexibility, and enhancing a deep sense of calm and inner confidence in the body.
Betsy Barstow of Adamant has been practicing Sun Do continuously since 1994. She says that she has noticed that the practice “tailors itself to the needs of the individual– whether those be physical, emotional, etc.” “When I start my days by practicing,” she says, “I feel prepared for anything that can happen because I’m coming from a more centered, tranquil place. I feel like I’ve nourished myself.” She adds: “If I miss a few days, I notice a difference in how I approach things. Sun Do is a very balanced practice, it’s very centering for me. And I like the physical aspect.”
Betsy Forrest started in 1995 and has been doing it ever since: “I’m 71 and still strong and flexible thanks to Sun Do,” she says. “I can't imagine what my life would be without it.” As the long-time coordinator of the Montpelier Sun Do group, she points out that people who have taken up the practice over the years have reported remarkable results: “Some practitioners have claimed that it’s cured their depression, and helped with injuries, such as back injuries,” she says.
Beginners are welcome on Wednesdays, from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., through February into March, starting February 1. The cost is $15 per class, or $80 for six classes. The first class is free with no obligation to complete the series of beginner classes.
Early morning classes are also available; all at the Clothes Pin Factory on Granite Street, right before the bridge. Anyone interested or with questions can email: bforrest777@gmail.com
Excellent timing for a mid-winter tune-up!
Published 1//25/2023 The Bridge
