Keystone Ballet Academy will begin offering yoga classes for children and adults ages 12 and up. Classes will be held Monday evenings starting in January at his studio at the CAN BE Innovation Center, located at 103 Rotary Drive in the Valmont Industrial Park in West Hazleton.

“Yoga for All” is for anyone interested in a class offering a full range of yoga poses designed to stretch and strengthen the body. The course is led by Lucy Valente, who holds a Yoga E-RYT 200 certification and is also certified in Chair and Soft Yoga. Valente also has experience teaching beginner yoga, vinyasa flow, vigorous yoga, and meditation.

Emily Finer, Owner and Artistic Director of Keystone Ballet Academy, said: “For dancers, stretching is an essential part of a dance class and including yoga as part of your training can be of great benefit. Lucy brings her knowledge of yoga to her students with an emphasis on mind / body connection through safe movement, proper alignment, intentional breathing, balance, and body awareness. One of the main goals of her class is to get students to apply yoga holistically by integrating their classroom experiences into their daily lives.

Valente, who began practicing yoga in 1997 after switching from Pilates and taking ballet classes throughout her life, received her classical yoga teacher training in 2010 at the YogaLife Institute in Pennsylvania under the direction of Robert Butera, PhD.

She continues her yoga education today by participating in workshops, seminars, classes and intensive internships, including those at YogaLife Institute, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Yoga Vista Academy and Glo with Jason Crandell. Studies show that yoga can improve flexibility, confidence, balance, and body awareness.

In addition to helping people relax and relieve stress, yoga offers many health benefits that can improve a person’s well-being, including improved circulation, mobility, and flexibility of the hips. lung capacity, improving posture and strength and muscle toning.

Those attending classes should wear leggings or shorts and a fitted t-shirt or tank top. Loose clothing is not permitted. A personal yoga mat is required.

To register for yoga classes or for more information on Keystone Ballet Academy, call (570) 582-9100 or email [email protected]

For more information on the CAN BE Innovation Center, visit canbe.biz or contact Jocelyn Sterenchock at [email protected]