Jo Ann Yoga

Jo Ann’s Passions

Skiing

Jo Ann’s skiing season often starts with the first snowfall on the Santa Fe Ski Basin and ends with the final snows in May. Throughout the season she loves to ski in Taos, and the Kachina Peak runs are her favorite. Over the years she has become part of the Taos family and has assisted the ski patrollers in their final sweep of the day.

When the weather patterns focus on Pajarito, the hidden treasure of Los Alamos, dumping unbelievable quantities of snow, she skins-up before or after her yoga class. Every year, and with a group of friends, she also chases powder in Colorado and Canada.

Opera

The region Santa Fe has many incredible cultural treasures, one of which is the Santa Fe Opera, a worldwide renowned institution that offers an extraordinary program throughout the summer.

The house itself is an architectural wonder, with a sail-like roof that protects viewers from the monsoon rains and at the same time provides an open-air experience. Each year, the performances uphold the highest standards of operatic excellence, creativity in costume and set design, offering an unprecedented summer-opera experience. Frequent monsoon thunders in July and August may add drama to the production. Jo Ann and her friends, enjoy the rich program to the fullest, and attend the five extraordinary productions each year.

Tailgating at the Opera is a summer tradition that never grows old! Jo Ann organizes a sumptuous tailgate parties thoughout the season, creating an enriching and fun atmosphere. See you at the Opera, Santa Fe style!

Downward Facing Dog

Jo Ann was raised on a family farm in Colorado, where animals roamed free and were cared for as members of her family. Today she calls Santa Fe her home and shares her ranch with many heritage breed chickens and roosters, Cali the cat princess, and Chopo the caring black labradoodle who enjoys yoga, skiing and hiking just as much.

The adobe ranch house, located off the Santa Fe River biking trail, houses her spacious yoga studio. Take a yoga class in Santa Fe and you will have a rejuvenating experience. You will be surrounded by the traditional adobe structure with high ceilings, vigas and natural light entering through windows and skylights.

So what is the link between animals and yoga, and why are so many poses named after animals?

Consider the cat, an expert in relaxation. On awakening from sleep, they instinctively stretch and arch their spine in both directions before softening and moving onward. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that we use the Cat Pose (Marjaiasana) as an “awakening” pose at the beginning of practice that gradually loosens our body.

And the Downward Facing Dog (Śvānāsana) pose is powerful, requires a lot of strength, awakens the upper-body offering a wonderful stretch for the chest and abdomen, and strengthens lots of smaller stabilizing muscles, also in the foot

In India, the animal is not respected as many other animals, and many people may go to great lengths to avoid the slightest contact. However, a powerful reference to a dog can be found near the end of the Mahabharata, India’s monumental national epic.

The god Indra invites the hero-king Yudhishthira (pronounced you-dish-TEER-ah) into heaven if only he’ll “cast off” his loyal canine companion. The righteous king refuses, saying, “I do not wish for prosperity if I have to abandon a creature who is devoted to me.” As it turns out, the dog is none other than Dharma, the god of virtue. Upon hearing these words, he assumes his true form and says to Yudhishthira, “There is no one in heaven equal to you.”