A vacation stay atop Lookout Mountain in Mentone, Alabama, is more than just a getaway. It’s a time of relaxation, of surrounding yourself with the wonders of nature, of spending time in a mountaintop cabin with amazing bluff views. Visitors to the area can now add private yoga sessions to their long list of reasons to spend time in Mentone.
Beginning in 2022, instructor Courtney Willingham will share her passion for yoga with visitors in the Bluff View Cabins perched on the brow along County Road 89 in Mentone. This unique grouping includes cabins designed for large families, small groups and couples. Courtney will visit on site and provide private yoga sessions against the breathtaking backdrop of a bluff view across three states.
A Registered Yoga Teacher, Courtney teaches at Yoga Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Body Vision in Rainsville, Alabama; and The Opera House in Fort Payne, Alabama. “I’m passionate about guiding my students in a way that can benefit the mind, body, and spirit as a whole,” she says.
Courtney leads her students in three types of yoga:
Yin Yoga works deeply into the human body using passive, longer-held poses. “It targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues,” explains Courtney, “such as ligaments, joints, bones, the deep fascia networks of the body and the meridians.” The benefits of Yin Yoga are many. It increases circulation, reduces stress, calms the mind, encourages deeper relaxation, improves joint mobility and brings balance to the organs. Courtney incorporates breathing exercises and meditation into the Yin Yoga practice.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga is a creative form of yoga where poses are linked together with the breath in a flowing sequence. “The beauty of Vinyasa Flow yoga is the variety during the practice,” says Courtney. “A Vinyasa yoga practice will consist of a series of asanas (yoga postures) that can be beneficial for the entire mind, body, and spirit.” A Vinyasa practice can provide cardiovascular benefits as well, as heat is created within the body during the flow sequence.
Mindful Vinyasa Yoga is similar to the above class, but moves at a slower pace.
“I love the Mentone area, and have spent so much time enjoying the woods, trails, waterfalls and rock formations there,” says Courtney. “I’m so excited to bring together these two passions of mine — yoga and nature — to share them with everyone. Mentone is a special place, and I understand why visitors come from all over to enjoy the peacefulness and natural beauty here. I can’t wait to share the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of yoga with them.”
To add yoga to your stay in any of the Bluff View Cabins, choose your Mentone cabin here and call 256-465-1258 to arrange for your private yoga session.
