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 with Jim: Moon Salutes 30 min
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10-min Pick Me Up with Jim
mountain pose
standing tow balance, side stretch, squat sequence
dynamic warrior 1
easy forward fold
dynamic warrior 2
mountain pose -
10-min Healthy Low Back with Jim
supine windshield wipers
dynamic bridge
supine hamstrings stretch -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Multi-dimensional Sequence 30 min
kneeling salutes
lunging hip circles
lunging twists
sphinx
bullfrog pushups
step throughs
wrist rolls
bullfrog pushup step through combo
windshield wipers
shinbox lifts
meditation on the breath -
15-min Morning Ritual with Jim
self-massage
seated windshield wipers
bird dogs
wrist rolls
shoulder circles
chin circles
kneeling salutes
standups
side saddle standups
seated twist
seated breathwork and meditation -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: 30 min
standing toe balancing
side stretch squat sequence
half salutes
full salutes
step throughs
hand balance -
15-min Shoulder Mobility with Jim
kneeling salutes
shoulder roll
locust variation
monkey with a block
swimmers -
5-10 min of Fake Tai Chi with Jim
standing meditation
"push hands" variation -
Hip Mobility with Jim - Old School Meets New School: 30 min
foot and ankle mobilization
windshield wipers
shin box lifts
kneeling salutes
sphinx/cobra/updog
low lunge
classical(ish) sun salutes
gorilla pose
transvers lunges
cossack squat/windshield wiper combo
plank
crocodile
simple cross legged seat
standups
reclined bound angle
reclined windshield wipe... -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: The Basics 30min
balancing on the toes
side stretch - squat sequence
lunging hip circles
plank
sphinx
updog
down dog
diving dogs
split squats
step throughs
crocodile
scorpion variation
locust
windshield wipers
90/90
bridging
leg lower
rest -
Meditation with Jim: The Space of Consciousness 10 min
any comfortable seat
balance the nostril flow
observe thoughts visually -
Tutorial with Jim: The Revolving Disc (Chakri)
Jim shares some important details about one of his favorite movements.
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Better Balance with Jim: 15 min
foot and ankle mobilizations
windshield wipers
bird dogs with hip circles
lunges with hip circles
mountain pose
tree pose variation
"step overs" with a chair -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: 30 min
corpse pose
supine hamstring stretch and hip mobility
dynamic bridges
knee circles
windshield wipers
bird dogs
down dog
split squats
cossack squats
sphinx
updog
shin box lifts
butterfly
diaphragm strengthener -
10-min Hip Mobility with Jim
hip circles
lunges
sphinx
updog
downdog
windshield wipers
shinbox lifts
butterfly -
Healthy Low Back with Jim: 60 min
corpse with arm raises
windshield wipers
dynamic bridge
bird dog
plank and side plank
crocodile
sphinx
updog
downdog
lunging hip circles
split squats
warrior variation
transverse lunges
plank
locust
crocodile rolls
windshield wipers
90/90
clam shells
shin box lifts
butterfly
tadaka mudra -
Basic Strength and Mobility with Jim: 20 min
toe balancing
side stretching
squatting
lunging
kneeling salutes
bird dogs
child pose
sphinx
updog
down dog
windshield wipers
90/90
forward fold
bridging
rest -
5-min Chair Yoga with Jim
warrior 1 variation
chair pose variation -
Healthy Knees with Jim: 30 min
foot mobilization/massage
seated ankle mobilization
seated windshield wipers
bird pose
hip circumduction
lizard lunges
standing heel raises
squats
lunging wipers
90/90 sequence -
Warrior 1.5 with Jim: 60 min
kneeling salutations
plank and side plank sequence
sphinx
updog
downdog
lunges
sun salutes
warrior 1.5
crocodile rolls
forearm stand
boat pose
windshield wipers
90/90
bridges
knee circles
rest
mental alternate nostril breathing -
Strength and Mobility with Jim: Vigorish 30min
balancing on toes
side stretch and squats
gorilla squats
lunges
planks
frogs
pushups
step through sequence
windshield wipers
90/90
butterfly
crocodile -
Mobility Warmup with Jim: 20 min
kneeling salutes
plank/side plank
sphinx/updog
downdog
lunge
squat
mobility salutes
step throughs
wrist mobilization
shoulder mobilization -
Vigorous Multidimensional Mobility with Jim: 60 min
balancing on toes
dynamic side stretch
squats
mobility salutes
tai chi warrior
multidimensional mobility salutes
handstand
boat pose
windshield wipers
90/90
bridge
rest
meditation