yoga class descriptions

Therapeutic Yoga

Therapeutic Yoga is available to students with a desire to find ease in each of the traditional yoga poses. This type of yoga takes one pose and breaks it down into its components working on each muscle group one at a time, until the student is able to "feel" their way into proper alignment. In therapeutic yoga we focus on specific areas of the body, namely - shoulders, hips, and knees, and meld the physical aspects together with breathwork and relaxation techniques. Therapeutic yoga excellent for persons recovering from injury or for those with specific goals in mind (improving posture and flexibility, golf game, skiing ability, etc.) This type of yoga encourages the student to "feel" what their body is telling and improve overall physical awareness.

Restorative Yoga

Similar to Therapeutic Yoga, Restorative is designed for those recovering from injury or illness or for those with specific goals in mind (especially relaxation). The main component in this type of yoga is breathwork while focusing on releasing tension in the hips and shoulders. Multiple props are used and the student is placed in a fully supported yoga pose and is encouraged to relax and breathe. Each pose is held for anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes. Visualization and meditation techniques are incorporated into each session.

Gentle Yoga for Stress Relief

This class is designed as an Introduction to Yoga for brand new students. It is also an opportunity for more experienced students to enjoy a slower paced class. It is filled with gentle stretching and strengthening poses and incorporates more breathing and relaxation techniques specific to the release of stress and tension. This class would be a good option for someone who is recovering from illness or injury as it contains elements that are YIN YOGA, restorative, and therapeutic in nature.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga is described as accupuncture without the needles. This style of yoga focuses on Yin tissues of the body such as connective tissue (ligaments, fascia, and joints). Yin yoga is centered around activating the body's energy (Chi) and stimulating the body's organs through the Chinese energy meridians that run up and down the body. Poses focus on five different sets of meridians; Kidney/Urinary Bladder, Liver/Gallbladder, Spleen/Stomach, Heart/Large Intestine and Lungs/Small Intestine. For the most part it is strictly mat work, moving the body into yoga-style positions supporting with props where necessary and holding those positions for 3-6 minute. Students are encouraged to find their appropriate edge, hold the position and turn inwards into themselves to explore the breath, physical sensations, emotions and feelings.

Hatha Yoga Level 1 (Beginner)

This beginner yoga class is available to all yoga students regardless of age, experience or ability. It is a class that introduces some of the traditional physical aspects of Hatha Yoga asanas and basic Sun Salutations. In this class, you can expect to learn the fundamental standing and balancing poses, side bends, back bends, forward bends, inversions and twists. We will explore some basic breathing (pranayama) and meditation/relaxation techniques.

Hatha Yoga Level 2 (Intermediate)

This intermediate level class is available to students with some previous yoga experience. It is a class that continues to draw on the basic Hatha Yoga asanas and Sun Salutations, while adding some additional challenges and complexities. In this class, you will enjoy asanas that work on increasing your strength and flexibility. We will continue to learn and employ breathing (pranayama) and meditation/relaxation techniques.

Hatha Yoga Level 3 (Advanced)

This advanced level yoga class is designed for more experienced students. It is recommended that you have at least one previous level 2 class prior to enrolling in a level 3 class. In Hatha Level 3, we will continue to build on what we have learned in the previous two levels, adding additional depth to the physical asanas and exploring some of the other aspects of Yoga (Kriyas, Pranayama, Mantra, Meditation).

Freedom Style

Erich Schiffmann’s Freedom Style yoga is all about being free to do what feels right in the moment. This class encourages students to find their own natural alignment through experimentation and inner listening. “Freedom style yoga is an intuitive approach to both yoga AND life, and can be summarized as; not deciding in advance what to do or not do. Instead, allowing yourself to listen inwardly for guidance and trust into what you find yourself already knowing. Though not strenuous, it is an advanced practice. It requires that you be brave enough to follow your deepest impulses about what feels right and what doesn’t. It involves the development of self-trust based on the growing conviction that YOU are the specific and unique self-expression of that which is ultimately trust-worthy: Life, Love, and Truth.”

Exploring Meditation

This class is designed to give students the time and space to reach deeper into themselves and ask that fundamental question: Who am I? This class does not involve physical asana practice and instead incorporates the fundamental breathing techniques associated with meditation. We will learn and practice various meditation techniques both seated and lying down during each session. Both Beginners and Advanced students are welcome to join this class.