Jim Bennitt
Jim, a former wrestler, massage therapist and clerk at the Chicago Board of Trade, began his studies in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda in 1997. Originally he took up Yoga as a way to help heal back pain, but soon after, discovered how the practice affects not only the body, but also mind and spirit.
Jim has completed teacher trainings with Daren Friesen of Moksha Yoga Center which draws heavily from the Krishnamacharya lineage, apprenticed with Gabriel Halpern of the Yoga Circle (a studio in the Iyengar tradition), spent two months in Kiev with Ukrainian Yoga master Andre Lappa for an intensive in Universal Yoga, and in 2002 began a close apprenticeship with Rod Stryker, founder of Para Yoga, in the Himalayan tradition which continues to this day.
Featured in such publications as The New York Times, Chicago Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Breathe and Yoga Chicago, Jim is also a popular presenter at the Yoga Journal Grand Geneva Conference and the Midwest Yoga Conference and teaches workshops nationwide. Jim’s practice and teaching can be physically demanding, however it always has an emphasis on breathwork and meditation helping to unite body, mind and spirit. When you take a class from Jim, expect to sweat a little, breathe a lot, and feel a sense of inner peace.
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Strength and Mobility - Standing Warmup Sequence with Jim 20min
dynamic side stretching and squats
half salutes
twisting lunges
sphinx, cobra, upwards facing dog
downward facing dog
full sun salutes -
Gentle Class with Jim: Preparing the Body for Meditation 45-min
"The physical practice as a preparation for meditation."
basic joint mobility
side stretches and squats
half salutes
lunges and twists
crocodile
windshield wipers
bridges
breathwork: lengthen exhale
meditation: focus on breath pass through nostrils -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Post Workout 20-minute
crocodile pose
prone shoulder stretches
sphinx/cobra/updog
locust pose
down dog
pigeon pose
bridge pose
supine hamstring and adductor stretches
windshield wipers -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Plank-Lunge Sequence 60-minute
Warmup: kneeling salutes, side planks, twisting lunges, sun salutes
Most Challenging: pushups, step-throughs, cossack squats (transverse lunges), forearm stand
Cool Down: 90/90, supine leg stretches
Breathwork: mental alternate nostril breathing
Meditation: internal observation -
Gentle Class with Jim: Sankalpa and Yoga Nidra 45-min
Jim speaks a bit about "sankalpa" (aka intention or resolve) followed by simple joint mobility exercises and yoga nidra.
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Gentle Class with Jim: Slowing Down the Momentum 45-min
supine warmup movements
down dog
lunging twist
crocodile
sphinx/up dog
child's pose
corpse pose
ujjaii pranayama inhale with nadi shodhana exhale -
Multi-level with Jim: Core Strength and Hip Mobility 60-minute
Warmup: kneeling salutes and moon salutes
Body of class: core strengthening twist with a block, squatting, forearm stand, planks and side planks, headstand, windshield wipers, 90/90
Breathwork: ujjaii pranayama throughout, kapalabhati
Meditation: prana shuddhi (balancing the nostril flow) -
Gentle Class with Jim: Tapas and Expanding Your Comfort Zone 45-min
supine hamstring stretches
kneeling salutes
birddog
windshield wipers
bridges
breath work: ujjaii pranayama
meditation: observation in stillness -
Strength and Mobility for SI Joint with Jim: 20-minute
dynamic bridge with a block
supine "clams"
bird dog
locust variation
crocodile -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Dynamic Standing Sequence 30-minute
crescent moon side stretch and squatting
half salutes
lunging twists
single leg squats
transverse lunging/squatting -
Vigorous with Jim: Astavakrasana (hand balance) 60-minute
warmup: half salutes, lunging twists, sun salutes
body of class: plank/pushup/step through sequence, astavakrasana
breath work: nadi kriya
meditation: observation -
Gentle with Jim: Yoga for Better Sleep 20-minute
crocodile pose, knees to chest, bridge, windshield wipers, corpse pose
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Multi-level with Jim: Lateral Extension 60-minute
warmups: kneeling salutes, plank/side plank, sun salutes
body of class: side angle variations, transverse lunges, deep squat w/open twist, locust variation, forearm stand, windshield wipers, revolved head to knee
breathwork: ujjaii anulom (in both nostrils, out one nostril)
meditation: still la... -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: 15-minute Warmup
dynamic bridge variations
sphinx/upward facing dog
downward facing dog
lunging twists
windshield wipers
bound angle/butterfly
inverted plow to low lunge -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: The Basics 60-minute
Warmup: simple joint mobility, kneeling salutes
Body of class: planks/side planks, split squats, horse/saddle stance, transverse lunge/twist, handstand, step throughs, 90/90 lifts, bridges
Breathwork: kapalabhati
Meditation: sensation of the breath -
Multi-level with Jim: Morning Practice 30-minute
Warmup: dynamic side stretching and squatting, half salutes
Body of class: dynamic twisting, transverse lunging, runner's lunge, plank, locust, bridges, windshield wipers
Breathwork: kapalabhati
Meditation: sensation of breath -
Vigorous with Jim: Building a Stronger Pigeon 60-minute
Warmup: half salutes, lunging twists, sun salute "A", sun salute "JB"
Body of class: handstand, crane, locust, bow, camel, multiple pigeon variations
Breathwork: balancing the nostril flow
Meditation: spine as a blade of grass and pranic mudra -
Multi-Level with Jim: Handstand Practice 30-minutes
Warmups: half salutes, lunging hip circles, plank/side plank,
Body of Class: wrist stretches, open twist from table pose for thoracic extension and rotation, cobra variation, crocodile roll, handstand (with and without the wall) -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: The Splits 30-minutes
Warmups: half salutes, lunging hip circles, lunging twists, transverse lunges
Body of class: split squats, cossack squats, "strong" pigeon, front split, side split -
Multi-Level with Jim: Preparing for Lotus 30-minute
Warmup: supine hamstring stretches, dynamic bridges, windshield wipers
Body of class: lunges, up dog, (strong) pigeon, lotus
Breathwork: ujjaii pranayama
Meditation: observation -
Tutorial with Jim: Bharadvajasana Vinyasa - Windshield Wiper Variation
This breath-enhanced movement helps to build better core strength and hip mobility.
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Strength and Mobility with Jim: Core 30-minutes
meditation: spinal awareness
kneeling salutations
bird dog
plank
locust
core strengthening twist with a block
side plank
crocodile rolls
meditation: spinal awareness -
Tutorial with Jim: Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostil Breathing)
Jim goes over some of the subtle details in alternate nostril breathing that you may not be aware of
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Gentle Class with Jim: Preparing for Seated Poses 45-min
half salutations
dynamic twist
transverse lunge
lunging twist
kneeling salutes
bird dog
suping hamstring and adductor stretch
seated twists and forward folds
breathwork: mental alternate nostril breathing
meditation: spinal awareness