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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Gentle Class with Jim: Strengthening Standing Poses
half salutes
lunging
kneeling salutes
warrior 1
side angle
core strengthening twist (with a block)
breathwork: expansive breath with internal retention
meditation: objectless awareness -
Gentle Class with Jim: Floor Work 45-min
supine hamstring stretch
supine adductor stretch
bridge
windshield wipers
crocodile
sphinx
locust variation
lying side stretch
bow
breath work: inhale both nostrils, exhale through one (ujjaii anulom)
meditation: spinal awareness (sushumna kriya) -
Gentle Class with Jim: Lunges and Squats 45min
dynamic side stretching and squatting
half salutations
split squats (dynamic lunging)
cossack squats (dynamic transverse lunging)
dynaimc bridging
windshield wipers
breathwork: mental alternate nostril breathing
meditation/concentration: concentration on the space of consciousness -
Gentle Class with Jim: Moon Salutes and Twists 45-min
kneeling salutes
moon salutes
dynamic revolved triangle variation
transverse lunges
tree pose
revolved side angle
childs pose
tadaka mudra
breathwork: sitali or seetkari pranayama
meditation: akasha dharana (clear blue sky concentration) -
Vigorous with Jim - Rolling Sun Salutes and Balancing Twist 60 min
kneeling salutes
plank/side plank sequence
lunging twists
sun salute A
locust
crocodile roll
"rolling" sun salutes
split squats
revolved bird dog
revolved half moon
reclined hero
bound angle
tadaka mudra
breathwork: mental alternate nostril breathing (prana shuddhi)
meditation: still lake of t... -
Vigorous with Jim: MD Sun Salutes, Pigeon, Splits 60-minute
dynamic side stretching and squats
half salutes
multi-dimensional sun salutes
handstand
standing hamstring and adductor stretch
"strong" pigeon
front split
side split
plank
childs pose
bridge
supine twist
breath work: mental alternate nostril breathing
meditation: still lake of the mind -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Core 60 min
simple joint mobility exercises
kneeling salutations
plank and side plank sequence
lunging hip circles and twists
split squats
locust
advanced plank/bird dog
crocodile roll
swimmers
90/90
bound angle
tadaka mudra
breathwork: nadi kriya (alternate nostril breathing variation)
meditation: observation -
Multi-level with Jim: Moon Salutes and Core Strengthening 60-minute
kneeling salutes
moon salutes
lunging twists
bow variations
forearm stand
camel variations
reclined hero
bound angle
dynamic plow
supine dynamic twist
slow leg lowering
windshield wipers (passive)
breathwork and meditation: spinal awareness (pranic mudra and sushumna kriya) -
Vigorous with Jim: MD Sun Salutes, Single Leg Squats 60-minute
dynamic side stretching and squatting
half salutes
sun salute A
sun salute MD (multi dimensional)
handstand
single leg (split, shrimp, pistol) squats
crane pose
windshield wipers
90/90
star pose
tadaka mudra
breathwork: ujjaii pranayama with antar kumbhaka (internal breath retention)
meditatio... -
Vigorous with Jim: MD Sun Salutes, Hand Balancing 60-minute
half salutes
lunging hip circles
sun salute A
multi dimensional sun salute (MD)
standing hamstring and adductor stretch
hand balancing twist (astavakrasana and eka pada koundinyasana)
forearm stand
reclined hero
star pose
archer pose (akarna dhanurasana)
reverse plank
couch pose
leg lifts
brea... -
Vigorous with Jim: Sun Salute JB, Splits 60-minute
dynamic side stretching and squats
half salutes
dynamic lunging twists
sun salute A
sun salute JB
warrior 1
pyramid
revolved triangle
transverse lunge
side plank
forearm stand
thunderbolt
reclined hero
deep lunge
half split
full (front) split
side split
plank
cow face
breathwork: mental altern... -
Gentle Class with Jim: Yoga Anytime, Anywhere - Revolved Triangle 45 minute
simple joint mobility exercises
half salutes
dynamic revolved triangle variation
down dog
child's pose
bird dog
bridge variations
breathwork: ujjaii throughout
meditation: "window" -
Gentle Class w/Jim: Yoga Anytime, Anywhere - Standing Sequence
standing joint mobility
dynamic side stretching and squatting
half salutes
dynamic warrior one
dynamic revolved triangle
transverse lunge
runners lunge
breathwork: ujjaii anulom pranayama
meditation: still lake of the mind -
Gentle Class with Jim: Shoulders, Upper Back, and Neck 45 minutes
simple joint mobility for neck, shoulders, and upper back
half salutations
lunging twists
kneeling salutations
shoulder roll (Lapasana)
locust/airplane
swimmers
dynamic bridge
windshield wipers
breathwork: kapalabhati
meditation: prana shuddhi (mental alternate nostril breathing) -
Gentle Class with Jim: A Breath-Centric Practice 45 minutes
half salutations
dynamic revolved triangle
warrior 1/pyramid sequence
kneeling salutations
seated forward fold
bridge
windshield wipers
breathwork: ujjaii pranayama
meditation: spinal awareness (suschumna kriya) and still lake of the mind -
Gentle Class with Jim: Preparing for Pranayama 45-min
dynamic side stretching and squatting
half salutes
lunging hip circles
lunging twists
kneeling salutes
shoulder roll (lapasana)
airplane (vimanasana)
breathwork: alternate nostril breating variation (nadi kriya)
meditation: objectless awareness -
Gentle Class with Jim: Core Strength 45min
simple joint mobility exercises
bird dog
kneeling salutes
plank and side plank
locust
supine twists
slow leg lower
windshield wipers
tadaka mudra
breathwork: ujjaii pranayama
meditation: pranic mudra and sushumna kriya -
Gentle Class with Jim: Yoga Nidra 45min
arm raises
hamstring stretch
bridge
windshield wipers
yoga nidra (guided relaxation and meditation) -
Gentle Class with Jim: Standing Poses 45-min
dynamic side stretching and squatting
half salutes
dynamic revolved triangle
warrior 1/pyramid flow
supine mobility flow
breath work: ujjaii pranayama with anjali mudra
meditation: internal observation (antar mouna) -
Summertime (Gentle) Vinyasa with Jim 45-min
Warmup: kneeling salutes, moon salutes
Body of class: dynamic revolved triangle variation, bow, windshiled wipers
Breathwork: shitali or seetkari pranayama
Meditation: observation -
Gentle Class with Jim: Hip Mobility 45-minutes
Warmups: simple range of motion exercise for the hips, dynamic side stretching and squats, lunging hip circles
Body of Class: bird dog, windshield wipers, 90/90, bound angle, bridge
Breathwork: mental alternate nostril breathing
Meditation: clear blue sky -
Gentle Class with Jim: Healthy Low Back and Yoga Nidra 45min
Warmup and Body of class: supine arm raises, supine hamstring stretches, bridge, windshield wipers, crocodile, bird dog
Meditation: yoga nidra -
Gentle Class with Jim: Langhana Practice 45-min
half salutes
lunging twists
kneeling salutes
bird dogs
windshield wipers
90/90
seated forward fold
bridges
breathwork: ujjaii pranayama (emphasizing exhale)
meditation: concentration at the navel -
Gentle Class with Jim: Bhramana Practice 45 minutes
supine arm raises and side stretching
dynamic and static bridge
sphinx and cobra/upward facing dog
dynamic warrior variation
crocodile
shoulder roll/lapasana
locust
childs pose
windshield wipers/90-90
ujjaii pranayama and dynamic anjali mudra
hridaya dharana (concentration at the heart)
