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Jaime Tam in Barefoot Sanctuary
Photo Credit: DK Howe
On Tuesday nights I usually go to Panevino for Martini Tuesday. But since I recently decided to give up drinking (except for special occasions) and since the very Italian maitre d’ seems to have given up greeting customers with hugs and kisses (something I loved every bit as much as the martinis), last Tuesday I decided to check out a new yoga studio instead: Barefoot Sanctuary. The class I attended was led by Jamie Tam, someone who, I have learned, is always good for a hug and a warm, “Hi, honey.” You may know her as Jada Fire, the name she went by until almost a year ago.
Jaime and her husband Alvin Tam opened Barefoot Sanctuary about three months ago. It is located in the Whole Foods Market in Town Square, the first and only Whole Foods to have a yoga studio. The studio is warm and cozy. The subtle lighting contributes to the soft, gentle feel of the room. A mural with a large sun and earth elements adorns one wall and paintings on canvas by Jaime and her friends hang on the other three.
Jaime has put a twist on her training in traditional yoga and developed her own style that she calls Expressive Yoga. Instead of static asana, she teaches a slow-moving, swaying, twisting, undulating flow that she combines with primordial sounds like “ha” to open the heart, “shh” to cleanse toxins from the liver and “sss” to open the lungs. Her yoga is obviously influenced by her years in Australia studying the aboriginal people. "When you get a class that really gets into it, the sound becomes the music," says Jaime.
During class it felt good to flow in and out of down dog and plank. With each repetition my muscles released a little bit more allowing me to drop deeper into the pose. My body also relaxed under Jaime’s non-judgmental style of teaching that is filled to the brim with loving-kindness. The class seemed easy, but the next day I could feel the work it had done on my biceps and abs. I also recognized the effect it had on a deep cellular level.
Jaime’s Expressive Yoga is a class that anyone could do. I give it two aums up and recommend everyone give it a try. Now I have to check out her Expressive Yoga Dance class.
For more info:
Barefoot Sanctuary
Comments
I am so happy to see this article of praise to Jamie...much deserving and I agree always there for hugs and inspiration. I am her number 1 fan of many years and highly reccommend her as a local Spa Director of 20 years . I have hired Jamie at all of the spas I have management and she is always a joy.
I love Jaime's expressive dance class. She has such a shining personality it would be hard not to love her. I recommend her classes.
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