Welcome to Sequoia!
Sequoia is an independent, woman-owned Mindful Movement studio in Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood offering classes in yoga asana, strength training, mobility practice, dance and rest.
Mindful Movement practices emphasize non-judgmental awareness of the body and mind in the present moment. Each posture, movement or pattern is taught with clear, detailed language thereby guiding the body away from habitual movement patterns and towards motion with awareness and intention. Detailed guidance also ensures students are not guessing about what they are supposed to be doing or seeking to replicate an image in their mind of someone else’s body and practice. Instead, students develop an understanding and acceptance of what is possible for them in the present moment.
Sequoia group classes have either fixed sequences so students can better understand their day-to-day physical and emotional capacities or changing sequences for those times students are looking for the freedom to explore something new or something old presented in a new way.
Sequoia also offers private instruction, workshops, teacher trainings and international and domestic wellness retreats. All offerings are grounded in the ethic of mindfulness and community.
Sequoia is building bridges with other, independent and Chicago based businesses and is proud to host Paper Lantern, a non-profit Urban Engaged Zen Buddhist organization. Through its partnership with Paper Lantern, Sequoia is able to offer meditation classes to the community free of charge.
Why Sequoia?
Sequoias represent strength, resilience, adaptability and community, which is exactly what we hope to offer through Sequoia: Mindful Movement!
Sequoia trees can live for thousands of years. Sequoia trees have cones which release seeds when exposed to extreme heat (like fire). The cones can stay closed for sometimes 20 years, but open up and release seeds when there is wildfire. Then, the cones drop their seeds to the ground below, which has been cleared by the fire - allowing the seeds to germinate and grow. The adaptability and resilience of the Sequoia tree helps show that suffering can lead to growth and that just because something appears destructive, does not mean it cannot lead to something beautiful! Sometimes we need a fire to grow and change.
Additionally, Sequoia trees are a beautiful representation of community. While each tree stands individually, Sequoia trees have long root structures, which intertwine and connect with the roots of other trees within the grove, allowing them to support each other in difficult times and storms.
Join us and see how the Sequoia community can help support you!
More about Mindful Movement
Our goal is to help our students and community undo the automation or movement by bringing non=judgmental awareness to the physical emotion and cognitive aspects of emotion patterns in yoga asana, strength training, mobility practice, dance and rest.
Mindful movement has been scientifically studied and
is a comprehensive approach integrating various bodily, emotional and cognitive aspects into physical activity, promoting overall well-being. Mindful movement programs have been shown to improve mental health, stronger links between physical sensations and emotions as well as enhanced confidence in one's body and increased autonomy.
Here is a link to one way in which mindful movement has been studied.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11196965/
