Yoga in the Hamptons

Yoga in the Hamptons
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Cousins Yvette Chang & Lee-En Chung visit Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts in Westhampton Beach, NY.
Cousins Yvette Chang & Lee-En Chung visit Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts in Westhampton Beach, NY.

Last weekend I discovered the Hamptons thanks to my kind-hearted cousin Yvette Chang who invited me to Westhampton Beach for the weekend for relaxation…

Instead of crying about the loss of my mother 30+ years ago (her birthday was earlier this week), I actually experienced true joy – by practicing yoga. I tagged along with cousin Yvette (who is super fit), and we signed up for Jivamukti Open on Saturday morning at Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts in the heart of Westhampton Beach.

Storefront of Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts in Westhampton Beach.
Storefront of Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts in Westhampton Beach.
Archway leads participants to Hamptons Yoga's side door.
Archway leads participants to Hamptons Yoga's side door.

As an engineer, I liked the oh-so-heavenly layout of the picturesque studio – lined with wood floors (ideal for bare feet and yoga mats and later headstands) and flanked with opened French doors at the east and west ends of the studio – allowing the ocean breeze from perhaps nearby Roger’s Beach to cool down my anxiety and permeate my senses…

Hamptons Yoga studio open to its terrace overlooking nature and a canal.
Hamptons Yoga studio open to its terrace overlooking nature and a canal.
Hamptons Yoga studio with front door open to allow cross ventilation.
Hamptons Yoga studio with front door open to allow cross ventilation.

Instructor Abby Vakay (owner and founder of Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts) was popular indeed!

Abby Vakay (founder and owner of Hamptons Yoga) is perched on the terrace before the Jivamukti Open yoga class.
Abby Vakay (founder and owner of Hamptons Yoga) is perched on the terrace before the Jivamukti Open yoga class.

Three yoga mats in parallel turned into four, then we had to make room for five – just in the front row! Perhaps 30 “downward dog” aficionados packed the space – mostly regulars who traveled from NYC on the weekends or even North Fork for this class. I trekked from sunny Sarasota, Florida and met Karen Ascher, who is thinking about moving to Sarasota County because her son Steve Ascher has been training in baseball at Charlotte Sports Park on his climb to MLB with the Tampa Bay Rays. Delighted to meet many devoted Abby followers, I had no idea how amazing her class would be…

Cousin Yvette convinced me again to join her for a second morning of yoga on Sunday. “Yoga for Surfers & Athletes” (taught by Jesse Falk, whose tall, lean and limber build is a cross between volleyball champion Gabby Reese and volleyball Olympian gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings) preceded our 9:30 am session. Even surfer Jesse participated in our 1-½ hour session.

Instructor Jesse Falk teaches "Yoga for Surfers & Athletes" at Hamptons Yoga in Westhampton Beach, NY.
Instructor Jesse Falk teaches "Yoga for Surfers & Athletes" at Hamptons Yoga in Westhampton Beach, NY.
Jesse Falk lunges and stretches her arms way overhead.
Jesse Falk lunges and stretches her arms way overhead.

All these lean and limber bodies (including two men) did not intimidate me. All these ladies dressed in LuLuLemon or brightly-colored Just Live and Jiva outfits made me wonder whether I should have ordered my first Fabletics wear from Kate Hudson!

On Saturday, Abby empowered us to be present in the moment, though I could not help but ponder about my dear friend orchestrating his Mom’s funeral service in Tampa that morning. Sunday I awoke to an email about my friend whose husband came home from the hospital on Thursday and passed away on Friday (they met in 5 grade, became high school sweethearts and were married 59 years).

Life is too short and unpredictable. Yvette is my shining angel! So is Abby!!

I am 4’-10” (that’s 2” taller than the Olympics US gymnast gold medalist Simone Biles!), and my gymnastics maneuvers ended after 5 grade. How could I ever twist my petite torso and loop my right arm under my right thigh to only grab my left hand behind my back (Did you get that picture?!)??

I mastered some moves: the plank,

Surfer Jesse Falk demonstrates a plank.
Surfer Jesse Falk demonstrates a plank.

cobra,

Jesse Falk reveals a cobra stretch.
Jesse Falk reveals a cobra stretch.

downward dog

Yvette Chang demonstrates a "downward dog" yoga pose.
Yvette Chang demonstrates a "downward dog" yoga pose.

and child’s pose. Oh yeah, I was even proud of my warrior poses – stretched outward, tight and smiling.

Once, when I stretched my right leg out to the side from a squatted position, Abby commented to the class that my pose was a good modification. Woo-hoo! I was elated with newfound yoga confidence!

Abby Vakay instructs the yoga class from the studio's storefront.
Abby Vakay instructs the yoga class from the studio's storefront.

Abby meanders by the yoga mats – monitoring us and even spotting the advanced yoga participants with their headstands.

My cousin and new Barnard alumna friend in the front row needed no help in their quick transition to a headstand.

Headstands at Hamptons Yoga.
Headstands at Hamptons Yoga.

When our eyes were closed,

Meditation at Hamptons Yoga with soft chants by instructor Abby Vakay.
Meditation at Hamptons Yoga with soft chants by instructor Abby Vakay.

I could actually hear the outdoor frogs croaking to a rhythm and then feel the sporadic breeze brush by my now disheveled French braid.

After class, I took a lovely photo of our yoga instructor Abby.

Instructor Abby Vakay smiles along with accomplished yoga student Yvette Chang.
Instructor Abby Vakay smiles along with accomplished yoga student Yvette Chang.

Yvette later showed me poses I have yet to achieve...

Tree pose by Yvette.
Tree pose by Yvette.
Yvette stretches the right leg pointed upward and to her right, while clasping her hands behind.
Yvette stretches the right leg pointed upward and to her right, while clasping her hands behind.

Cousin Yvette whips her high ponytail this way and that…

Yvette bends down into the splits and stretches downward.
Yvette bends down into the splits and stretches downward.

Then I witnessed Abby and Jesse ease up to striking poses:

Yoga instructors Abby Vakay and Jesse Falk strike a pose.
Yoga instructors Abby Vakay and Jesse Falk strike a pose.
Jesse Falk and Abby Vakay strike another joyful pose.
Jesse Falk and Abby Vakay strike another joyful pose.

Jesse tested Yvette’s flexibility, strength and spirit by creating mini Cirque du Soleil gestures for me to cheer.

Yvette Chang stands outstretched on Jesse Falk.
Yvette Chang stands outstretched on Jesse Falk.
Balancing pose by Yvette Chang & Jesse Falk at Hamptons Yoga.
Balancing pose by Yvette Chang & Jesse Falk at Hamptons Yoga.
Yvette & Jesse in a balancing pose.
Yvette & Jesse in a balancing pose.

I learned a lot of incredible stretches from the Hamptons Yoga, and I left feeling over 5’ tall! Next time I take yoga, I will reminisce about Hamptons Yoga – from staring out at nature…

Flowers on the terrace at Hamptons Yoga.
Flowers on the terrace at Hamptons Yoga.

And sometimes gazing up at trees upside down…

Trees cascading over Hamptons Yoga.
Trees cascading over Hamptons Yoga.

To recalling Abby Vakay’s soft hymn:

Melting at the heart…

At the heart…

Heart of the matter…

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