Class Descriptions:

Basics (and/or Intro to Yoga):

A foundational course designed to teach beginners and students from other styles of yoga a universal way to safely practice and focus on alignment.

Come and experience the joyful, uplifting practice of Yoga.  In this entry-level class (and/or workshop) you will experience how the principles of alignment can elevate your body, mind and spirit.  The Class will perform a variety of poses; a great place to start.

All Levels:

Open to everyone.  The emphasis of this class is on refining and building endurance and introducing intermediate poses such as Surya Namaskar, standing poses, backbends, hip openers, forward bends and meditation.

Chair/Office Yoga:

A gentle and stress-free class designed to open joints & strengthen muscles.  You’ll feel great!  Good for all levels of yoga experience.  Chair Yoga is done while sitting in any chair and delivers guided, healthful body work through breathing, stretching and relaxing exercises.  Practicing these techniques, one becomes both energized in body and peaceful of mind.  "Yoga in Chairs is a wonderful way for people with physical limitations to experience the relaxation and increased flexibility that yoga brings.  Many health benefits are seen with regular yoga practice, and now everyone can participate, even if they cannot get onto a floor mat" Dr. Jane Murray, M.D.  This gentle form of Yoga works the joints and muscles to increase flexibility, strength, balance, and circulation.  It goes beyond typical exercises in that it encourages quiet reflection, proper breathing, and better posture.  The benefits of this program are remarkable.  Students report reduced blood pressure, faster recovery from injury or surgery, better sleep, increased mobility, improved posture and some students have even gained height.

Elements:

Expand your body awareness and stamina.  A class for students ready for more intensity.  You’ll hold more complex poses for longer periods of time.  We’ll explore the philosophy as it relates to the poses.

Flow:

An intermediate class that includes standing poses, linked together with Chaturanga, up-dog/cobra, down-dog, forward and backward bends.  It is a great workout as well as a lot of fun.  It is recommended that you take Basics before attending this class.

Gentle/Candlelight/Slow-motion Flow:

Gentle Flow is an slower class that includes standing poses, linked together with Chaturanga, up-dog/cobra, down-dog, forward and backward bends.  It is a gentle, smooth, and quite flow and is quite peaceful.

Also, flow combines classic yoga postures with vinyasas (a flowing sequence of poses) with breath.  The result is an incredible body/mind workout.  Excellent for those who are looking for better body strength, tone and definition combined with stress reduction and total relaxation.

Restorative:

The developments of Restorative Yoga and its poses are credited to Judith Lasater, PhD http://www.judithlasater.com/ B.K.S Iyengar, of ....Pune, India.  Author of the contemporary classic Light on Yoga and numerous other books, Iyengar has been teaching yoga for more than sixty years.  Widely recognized as a worldwide authority, he is one of the most creative teachers of yoga today.

One can research and discover Iyengar's early teaching experience showed him how pain or injury can result from a student straining in a yoga pose.  He experimented with props, modifying poses until the student could practice without strain.  Iyengar also explored how these modified poses could help people recover from illness or injury.  It is because of his creativity that the restorative poses in this book-most of which have been developed or directly inspired by him-are such powerful tools to reduce stress and restore health.

Lasater refers to Restorative Yoga poses as active relaxation.  By supporting the body with props, one can alternately stimulate and relax the body to move toward balance.  Some poses have an overall benefit.  Others target an individual part, such as the lungs or heart.  All create specific physiological responses which are beneficial to health and can reduce the effects of stress-related disease.

In general, restorative poses are for those times when one feels weak, fatigued, or stressed from your daily activities.  They are especially beneficial for the times before, during, and after major life events: death of a loved one, change of job or residence, marriage, divorce, major holidays, and vacations.  In addition, restorative yoga can practice the poses when ill, or recovering from illness or injury.

Likewise, Restorative Yoga is a therapy promoting natural healing.  Growing older, our body shrinks and the spaces between the body tissues and the skeletal joints decrease.  The regular practice of yoga stretches and strengthens the different muscle groups and creates space in the body.  This type of yoga has a unique place in the search for better health because it offers a practical technique for experiencing unity and harmony of every aspect of our being.  All poses are supported with props to facilitate deep relaxation.

Restorative Yoga is also described as a slower paced class for people with ongoing health concerns or who have been inactive for a while.  Pregnant and menopausal women are welcome and will have personalized instructions.

In addition, Restorative Yoga is a great balance for the body, mind and soul.  One can learn how to do poses and hold them in a way that refreshes and restores your entire system.  The teacher practices with the students, guiding and helping students learn the poses they include: supine poses, inversions, and techniques that open the upper back and shoulders.  Also includes pranayama (breathing) and meditation.

Again, Restorative Yoga is branch of Hatha yoga specifically designed to restore vitality during fatigue, stress or illness.  A variety of props are used to let muscles completely relax in the various yoga asanas.  Restorative yoga is also active because while the body is inclined, draped, twisted and stretched into different positions, internal organs are exercised and circulation of blood and lymph increases.  Restorative yoga calms the nervous system, reduces anxiety, improves digestion and enhances overall immunity.

Yin
A yin approach works to promote flexibility in areas often perceived as nonmalleable, especially the hips, pelvis, and lower spine.  Intensify your yoga by holding poses longer with deeper stretching.  A great compliment to an active (Yang) practice.