Angel Copeland, originally from Portland, has been living on the Oregon Coast for the past two and a half years with her husband, Dave.

She teaches several levels of yoga and a belly dancing conditioning class for strength, posture and stamina at the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District in Seaside, which is where I met her. For people of all ages and abilities, she goes out of her way to be certain that the poses are done correctly, and patiently corrects her students as they stretch. The classes run a little more than an hour, and if you go consistently, you will notice a difference in how you feel. Both Copelands are available for classes in other locations as well.

This past summer, Angel taught “Yoga for Surfers” for Oregon Surf Adventures. She says, “All the standing yoga poses are great for the sport. After several sessions, a surfer becomes better aware of his or her center line. Yoga is about getting connected to your breathing.” She says she has been surfing for the past 10 years and has put the techniques into practice.

She traveled to India in 2001, attending the

Maha Kumbh Mela, a spiritual festival held every 12 years. Thousands attend from all over the world. She went to take photos of the event and got interested in several forms of yoga while there. She continued her interests in what she saw there, returning and continuing to read Indian classics and philosophies. She also studied classical Indian dance, which she continues to do. She is currently studying classical Sanskrit with Edwin Gerow at Reed College in Portland. She says that most of the intricate Indian dances are done to Sanskrit songs and it adds a dimension to her dance to be able to understand the message being conveyed.

She and Dave are interested in learning as much as they can about the “mind-body connection.” “My life is devoted to all this right now,” she says.

Dave teaches tai chi and chi-gung at the Seaside International Youth Hostel. He says one of the most dramatic things about these practices is people changing their posture, feeling connected and focusing. He is working on incorporating sound treatment, relaxation, meditation, chi-gung, tai chi, yoga, massage and other modalities, and says that the conditions of the mind are reflected in the body. Our bodies are in a constant state of flux and flow, according to Dave. Changing these conditions can change a person’s overall health and well-being.

Both agree that yoga and other similar disciplines can affect depression, hypertension, body aches and pains and sleep disorders, among other ailments.

“I am so happy to be married to someone with all the same interests,” says Dave. “Yes, it’s working out pretty well,” answers Angel.

The Copelands can be reached at info@sacredcircuits.net or on their Web site, sacredcircuits.net, for more information on what they have to offer. For class information, call Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District at (503) 728-3311.