Press Releases

For press inquiries please contact:

Jamie N. Hodge
jamie@yogayoga.com
512-326-3900

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For Immediate Release
December 9, 2004

Austin, Texas - (December 9, 2004) This January will mark one of the first ongoing Deaf Yoga Classes in the United States. These classes will be held at each of the three Yoga Yoga locations in Austin. Each 75 minute class will be taught in American Sign Language (ASL) by Lila Lolling, and open to all who can sign or who have a desire to learn.

Lila will be providing three FREE Community "Introduction to Yoga" lectures for people who know ASL at various locations.

Sunday, December 12, 2004 - Yoga Yoga South (S. Lamar) - Noon - 2:30pm
Sunday, December 19, 2004 - Communication Services for the Deaf (S IH 35) - 10am - Noon
Sunday, January 2, 2005 - Yoga Yoga South (S. Lamar) - Noon - 2:30pm

The class will begin with a brief introduction into Yoga, its benefits and philosophy, and then flow into a basic yoga class. This will ensure appropriate yoga postures (asanas) for all experience levels.

Beginning January 4, 2005, there will be four weekly classes held at Yoga Yoga. All classes will be guided in American Sign Language (ASL), and some are signed and spoken.

Tuesday - 7:30pm - North - Signed & Spoken
Thursday - 7:30pm - Westgate - Signed & Spoken
Saturday - 9:00am - South - Deaf Yoga
Saturday - 12:00pm - South - Deaf Yoga

According to News 8 Austin, there are nearly 60,000 Deaf individuals in Travis County. They have been previously neglected in their ability to take yoga classes and learn about natural health, healing and the numerous benefits associated with yoga. To make an even more potent point, there is no current vocabulary for such things as meditation, yoga and its philosophies in the Deaf community. This is why it is so critical to establish and share the ancient teachings of life with the Deaf.

The vision of Deaf Yoga (TM) began with a simple search for yoga classes for the Deaf. This quest revealed that throughout the entire United States, there are only three yoga studios offering classes to the Deaf Community. A hearing instructor teaches these yoga classes and communication is facilitated through an interpreter. Although this is still a wonderful opportunity for the Deaf, it is not targeted for their specific needs (i.e. lighting, language, instruction, etc).

Deaf Yoga (TM) is the new movement to educate the Deaf population in natural health, healing and Yoga. Over the past four years Yoga has flourished throughout America, however, the Deaf community has been restricted in experiencing it fully.

For more information, contact Brenda "Lila" Lolling, Director of AYA Austin and Deaf Yoga (TM), at (512) 583-1029 or DeafYoga@yahoo.com. Also visit www.deafyoga.com.

About Yoga Yoga (http://www.yogayoga.com)
Yoga Yoga is Austin's premier source for yoga with three locations and over 250 classes weekly. With 60 certified yoga teachers, Yoga Yoga provides a wide variety of yoga styles including Hatha, Ashtanga, and Kundalini, and special classes including gentle, restorative, prenatal, postnatal, and children's yoga. Yoga Yoga also offers a nationally recognized Teacher Training program which provides teaching certification at the 200-hour and 500-hour levels as developed by the Yoga Alliance. For more information, contact Yoga Yoga at (512) 326-3900 or visit http://www.yogayoga.com.

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