Chi Center

Willow Brown, LAc, CMT, Birth Doula

Willow has been actively involved in the healing arts since 2000.

10 years of teaching yoga brings her classes to a sophisticated level that is fun and appropriate for all students, integrating a wealth of knowledge in health and body care.  Her Pilates class is beginner-intermediate and focuses on core strength, moving from the center and presence of movement, so as to avoid injuries. Qi Gong is another passion that she shares with her classes, a slow form of movement exercise that builds internal strength, including immune system, hormonal/emotional balance, bone and blood strengthening and overall cleansing.

She has been administering bodywork of various styles since 2001, including Thai, chi nei tsang, polarity and cranial-sacral. She understands the many complex layers one has to work through in order to bring the body into  a state of balance and health.

Willow is trained and certified Doula (labor and delivery coach). Her presence and care are reassuring to the whole family as well as the primary care providers.

She practices acupuncture and herbal medicine at the Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine and Chi Center in Santa Cruz and at Pacific Healing Arts in Los Gatos, and teaches at various studios/clubs across Santa Cruz County.

To learn more about Willow Brown and her practice please go to yinwellness.com

Class: Pilates with a Twist of Chi on Tuesdays at 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Description: Pilates is an exercise that works to tone, strengthen and align the core muscles.  These include the abs, spine, glutes, and shoulders. As the core becomes stronger the limbs will follow.  When you work your body from the center outward, it prevents injury from occurring in daily activities.

The abdominal muscles are the antagonistic muscles to the spine, and when you strengthen the abs you will automatically be strengthening the spine.  The glutes are the antagonistic muscles to the hip flexors, so in toning the glutes you open the hip flexors for greater flexibility through the hips and pelvic. As you work to align the shoulders you will feel more open through the neck and upper back relieving tension in that area.

Pilates is very rewarding form of exercise that anyone can do and you will see your body begin to change as you strengthen, tone and align.