Class Descriptions
oga
is about bringing union and wholeness to your whole being. Yoga is gentle,
challenging, supportive, restorative & self-defining. Yoga has taught
us to fill this void on and off the mat, bringing the higher Self out of
its depths...
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is used as a more general term to define yoga practices, especially in the West. Classes described as Hatha, are usually slower paced focusing on the intricacy of the asana (pose) and learning the practice of breath and centering. Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral disciplines, physical exercises (e.g., asanas (postures) and Pranayama(breath control)), and meditation. In my teachings, beginners will learn the solid foundation they need and connection with the breath, while learning various practices on how to empty the mind to truly connect with the essence of yoga. The choice is yours on how far you will go. In my beginners and ongoing hatha classes I also offer teachings of our chakra system and the 8 limbs of yoga. We will use Hatha Yoga as a base for all of our practices.
Vinyasa Yoga
(pronunciation: vin-ya-sa)
Breath-synchronized movement. When used to describe a style of yoga, Vinyasa means that poses will flow from one to another in conjunction with the breath. This could be fast paced or a slower class, but is not really meant for beginners unless notated by the instructor. Students should have an understanding of how to hold the body and move in and out of sun salutations and warrior poses to take these classes, since it is the flow that is taught more than the actual postures. Awareness of breath is needed as well to reap the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of this practice. Students usually feel lighter and more aware of their bodies.
Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep)
Yoga Nidra is a practice of very deep relaxation and incredible calmness. You leave the waking state (which is the state that meditation is in), and move into a guided or self guided state of consciousness that is past the dreaming state and past the sleep state, it is the deep sleep state, yet you are fully awake. The purpose is not to sleep, but to stay awake and continue to listen to the instructor as she/he takes you though a “rotation of consciousness” through the body and in your mind. Yoga Nidra is usually done in a short class, which is 20-30 minutes, or a long class, which can be anywhere from an hour onward. The benefits of yoga nidra are countless, but include calmness, relaxation, increased concentration, a decrease of bad habits, spiritual transformation, relaxes and trains the mind, releases tension and stress, increases creativity, manages psychosomatic and psychological diseases, promotes all over healing!
Chakra Yoga
Chakra yoga is a class that is coordinated to flow through the chakras, coming into various postures, breath flows or meditations that are needed to activate or balance that specific charka. Some classes will focus on one chakra, others will flow through the entire chakra system. The range of difficulty can vary, so please note class level. No previous chakra experience is necessary.
Therapeutic Yoga
Therapeutic yoga is done in a supportive environment for those who need special care and attention getting into and out of poses. Each pose is there to help stretch the body and awaken our physical systems, work our soft tissues and ligaments, lubricate our joints, de stress our minds and aid our overall well being. Most students come with some kind of an ailment that they wish to heal or soften. We connect with our breath, learning how the breath is deeply rooted to helping our mind/body conditions. Each class ends in a deep relaxation in a pose called shavasana, pose of relaxation to allow the body time to absorb the practice of the postures the student just experienced. The poses here are gentle and restorative, under close watch of the instructor, so brand new yogis can do this class! Modifications are made for the comfort of each student, so no one can ever say I can’t! This is not to be confused with yoga therapy.
Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga is what I refer to as supported yoga. Here the student uses various props such as pillows, blankets, blocks and bolsters to create a pose that they can fully relax for several minutes, because we stand or sit most of the day, blood and lymph fluid accumulate in the lower extremities. By changing the relationship of the legs to gravity, fluids are returned to the upper body and heart function is enhanced. Restorative yoga alternately stimulates and soothes the organs. For example, by closing the abdomen with a forward bend and then opening it with a backbend, the abdominal organs are squeezed, forcing the blood out, and then opened, so that fresh blood returns to soak the organs. With this movement of blood comes the enhanced exchange of oxygen and waste products across the cell membrane. This is the ultimate de stressor, especially if you pair it with a yoga nidra and meditation!