What is Amara?
Amara Yoga & Arts is a yoga studio and art gallery serving the Champaign-Urbana area. We offer over 20 drop-in yoga classes weekly in a variety of styles, workshops, teacher training, kids yoga and art classes and summer camps.
Yoga and art are two practices that have the potential to lead to a flow state, a state of optimal experience and performance characterized by a sense of effortless concentration and enjoyment. While both practices involve different physical and mental activities, they share some common elements that can facilitate the flow state.
One way that yoga and art can lead to the flow state is through their emphasis on present-moment awareness. Both practices require the practitioner to focus their attention on the present moment, whether it be on the breath in yoga or on the materials and techniques in art. This focus on the present moment helps to quiet the mind and to create a sense of mental clarity, which can facilitate the flow state.
Another way that yoga and art can lead to the flow state is through their use of challenges and goals. Both practices involve setting goals and working towards achieving them, whether it be mastering a new yoga pose or creating a work of art. This process of striving for and achieving goals can lead to a sense of accomplishment and flow.
Finally, yoga and art can lead to the flow state through their ability to provide a sense of meaning and purpose. Both practices can be deeply meaningful and can provide a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, which can contribute to a sense of flow.
In conclusion, yoga and art are practices that can lead to the flow state through their emphasis on present-moment awareness, challenges and goals, and meaning and purpose. By engaging in these practices on a regular basis, it is possible to cultivate a sense of flow and optimal experience in daily life.
Our goal is to make people feel nurtured, welcome and comfortable and to share the practice of yoga with every person who joins us. We believe that yoga is for Every Body, even babies and kids. Our beautiful studio with two separate practice spaces is the perfect place to take time out and care for yourself with a cup of tea and some yoga. Get your Bliss Om!
Amara Yoga & Arts Studio Philosophy
In our inclusive and diverse studio community, we warmly welcome Every Body. Regardless of age, shape, size, or fitness level, everyone is invited to embark on their yoga journey with us. Our staff embodies this inclusivity as well, celebrating a rich tapestry of styles, lineages, and teaching strengths. We recognize that each teacher brings their unique background, viewpoint, and way of teaching to the table, and we honor and embrace this diversity.
At Amara, we understand that students are drawn to the class types and teachers who are continually evolving and learning within their chosen styles. We encourage our teachers to grow, to explore, and to adapt their practices to meet the ever-evolving needs of their students. It is through this process that they create a truly unique and enriching experience.
We believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to yoga. Every teacher has their own perspective and methodology, which should be respected and honored. By engaging in open discussions about choices and viewpoints, our teacher trainees come to understand that there is no absolute right way. Instead, they learn to explore various ideas and concepts, ultimately crafting their own path that resonates with them and their future students based on a solid foundation of safe and best practices.
Here at Amara, we honor the history and traditions of yoga, as well as the teachers who have come before us. We reject the notion of blindly following personality cults or idolizing a single "guru," style, or lineage of yoga. Instead, we encourage our teachers to cultivate their own creative expressions of different yoga styles, while still adhering to safe practices. We firmly believe that providing teachers with scripts or set sequences only leads to robotic, clone-like instructors, devoid of authenticity and personal connection.
Within our philosophy, we place great emphasis on the journey of imitation, integration, and innovation. We understand that as teachers, it is natural to begin by imitating the wisdom and techniques of others, as we absorb their knowledge. However, genuine growth occurs when we integrate these learnings with our own unique perspectives and experiences. Ultimately, our aim is to empower our teachers to innovate, to create something fresh and authentic that truly reflects their individuality and serves their students in the most profound and meaningful way possible.
At Amara, the fluidity of yoga intertwines with the boundless potential of creativity. Join us on a transformative journey that embraces diversity, respects individuality, and inspires the exploration of limitless possibilities.