Yoga Moves MS is now offering live virtual yoga classes seven days a week
Yoga Moves MS is very excited to announce a new partnership with oMS Yoga. The two organizations have merged their virtual classes into one schedule to bring yoga to people with neuromuscular conditions everyday.
Yoga Moves MS students will notice two new classes on the schedule. On Sundays we’ll be offering On Your Seat (Chair Yoga) at 2 p.m. EST and on Mondays we’re adding to the schedule with Standing and Mat Flow at 10:45 a.m. EST.
These new classes will be taught by oMS teachers, Barb and Chelsea. We warmly welcome them and encourage you to check out their classes.
Meet oMS yoga teacher Chelsea
Chelsea Franklin
Chelsea Franklin received her 200 RYT from MBody Yoga and leads the Southside oMS class. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she’s been practicing yoga for over 14 years and teaching for over 12 years. Chelsea is a 500 RYT/200 E-RYT. She encourages and empowers her students to listen to and meet themselves where they are, rather than where they think they should be. Her goal is to always leave students feeling more connected, aligned and present in both their bodies and minds. When not on her mat or teaching, Chelsea loves spending time in the great outdoors!
Meet oMS yoga teacher Barb
Barb Baker
Barbara Baker began practicing yoga in 1977 after the birth of her second child. The breathing and concentration were familiar to her, and the stretching came naturally. She was hooked. She attended a Kripalu style yoga training in 1982 as a huge fan of mind–body practice. Mindfulness is the inspiration for how she teaches.
Surviving breast cancer, and meeting Christina Phipps, inspired her to obtain her RYT 200 certification in 2011. Following that, she participated in Christina Phipps Foundation Yoga training. Teaching yoga, and sharing yoga with this special community brings her the greatest joy. In fact, she found a new calling! Her growth in yoga has led her to workshops in restorative yoga, yin yoga, and ultimately to receive her RYT500 certification in 2019. Life is a journey, and having yoga interwoven into her life’s path has been a blessing. As she continues to grow, she is happily adding studies in accessible yoga for the MS population. Having a family member with MS has inspired her to reach out and share the practice through the oMS community.
The history of oMS yoga
In partnership with oMS, we welcome Barb and Chelsea to our team of teachers for our virtual classes. oMS Yoga, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 2012 by Cheryl Russell, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Megan Weigel, a nurse practitioner who specializes in the care of people living with MS. In January, Megan presented at the YMMS Giving and Gratitude Challenge wrap-up event with her talk “Monday Mantras with Megan.”
After a brief introduction at a National MS Society luncheon where they shared their desires to teach yoga to people living with MS, Cheryl and Megan ran into each other a year later at a master class in Jacksonville taught by Baron Baptiste. The next day, Megan wrote a grant to the North Florida Chapter of the National MS Society. Mary Lyn Jenkins, owner of Big Fish Power Yoga in Jacksonville Beach, opened her studio doors to the possibility of oMS Yoga, and within a couple of weeks, the grant was funded. The first oMS Yoga class was held at Big Fish on November 5, 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed oMS the opportunity to meet the goal of a virtual program. oMS Yoga is now available to people living with MS all over the world in partnership with Yoga Moves MS.
Props for Zoom Yoga Sessions
If you have any of the props below, place them nearby as you set up for class. Placing your chair near a wall is nice but not required.
1 yoga mat
1 or 2 chairs (2 stable chairs are highly recommended)
Wall for balance
2 blocks or alternative props such as books, or a small exercise ball
Strap or alternative prop such as a tie, rope, scarf or any fabric
1 to 2 blankets or towels
Join us 7 days a week for virtual yoga by registering for free at yogamovesondemand.org/