Description of Classes

Ashtanga:
Yoga has been used to mean union, union between body, mind, and heart. It is a philosophy and a lifestyle, which is meant to bring the practitioner vibrant health by way of physical postures, breathing, and internal awareness. In yoga we work physical postures (asana), movements synchronized with the breath (vinyasa), gaze points (drishti), and internal awareness (bandhas). The practice of primary series (known as Yoga Chikitsa or Yoga Therapy) is designed to cleanse and purify the entire body. Each posture has specific benefits. By synchronizing breath and movement we build internal heat which purifies the body by releasing toxins as well as beneficial minerals and hormones. The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system places emphasis on the breathing and moving synchronicity first and foremost. Strength, flexibility, and stamina are developed equally through this practice. Ashtanga Yoga benefits body, mind and spirit. It is a challenging series that purifies, strengthens, detoxifies and aligns the body, combining the benefits of Yoga and Exercise. This information was taken from the website www.befityoga.com with permission from Bobbi Misiti. Classes consist of ...

Hatha:
A gentle moving yoga class focusing on relaxing flow and gentle breath. This class will help to calm the mind, relax the body and improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Great for beginners and those seeking a more meditative practice.

Kundalini:
Called the yoga of awareness. It enables one to access and utilize his or her own creative energy. This form of yoga, from the northern regions of India, was introduced and taught by the master of Kundalini, Yogi Bhajan. Practicing Kundalini helps to balance the glandular system, strengthen the nervous system, expand lung capacity, and purify the bloodstream. The practice combines physical postures (asanas) with breathing techniques (pranayama), hand positions (mudras), sound currents (mantras), and meditation. Kundalini Yoga offers a physical, mental and spiritual program that provides a simple guide to living in health, peace, and harmony. Learn more...

Mysore:
Self practice with an Instructor assisting you. This class is taught as Ashtanga Yoga is taught in India, you are not cued through the class, you do your yoga practice while an instructor is present to assist you. You can either come and do a whole class or just come and work on some postures that you may be struggling with. This is the best class to get individual attention during the class setting, it is the preferred form of practice for Ashtanga Yoga students. Please contact Jenna for more information.

Power Yoga:
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advance yoga student this class is for you. Power yoga is a general term used in the West to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to yoga. Power Yoga is an inclusive training program that blends strength with flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination and concentration. It yields strong, fluid movements that require a focus of the mind and the body that is both challenging and invigorating. This class mixes the east (yoga) and the west (pilates and traditional strength training) with a special emphasis on the quality of movement.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga:
A creative, vigorous form of yoga, linking breath, body and mind, Vinyasa means connecting. Expect some uplifting music during the asana practice and a deep relaxation at the end. We do three different sun salutations, standing pose sequences and balances, forward bends, hip openers, arm balances, spinal twists and inversions. Pranayama (breath work) will be introduced.

Sivananda Yoga:
(named after Swami Sivananda, as following his teachings, and brought to the West by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda) is a form of Hatha Yoga that focuses on preserving one's health and wellness by following the five points of yoga: proper exercise (Asana), proper breathing (Pranayama), proper relaxation (Savasana), proper diet (Vegetarian) and positive thinking (Vedanta) and meditation (Dhyana).
A typical Sivananda class includes pranayama and is slow paced to allow a full exploration of each pose. After pranayama and a warming up with sun salutations, the focus is on 12 basic postures. In final relaxation autosuggestion leads to complete relaxation of body and mind.
The goal of this practice is to reach a well balanced state of body and mind.

Strength and Flexibility:
An invigorating, fitness based workout which includes elements of Vinyasa yoga, this class can be adapted to any level.

Yin Yoga:
Taken from Taoist yoga rather than the Hindu tradition, yin yoga is a gentle, restorative and meditative practice which focuses on stretching the connective tissues of the body, including ligaments, joints and fascia. Unlike most yoga practices, which are predominantly yang (or active) in nature, yin yoga involves fewer poses which are held for longer, between 3-5 minutes (more advanced practitioners hold for even longer). The reason for this is that connective tissues in the body best respond to a slow and steady stretch, unlike the rhythmic contraction and release that best stretches muscle. Stretching the connective tissues of the body is important, because if not stressed, the tissues will slowly shorten to the minimum length needed to accommodate our activities, which usually means decreased mobility. Paul Grilley, a well-known yin teacher, compares the after effect of this shortening to “shrink-wrapped” joints.

Yin yoga predominantly focuses on the connective tissue in the hips, pelvis and lower spine, while at the same time gently encourages upper body strength and a calm, meditative mind. This practice is a wonderful antidote to stress as well as a great counter balance to more active styles of yoga, such as power, vinyasa or ashtanga. In spite of the fact that yin yoga is a more passive practice, it can also be quite challenging, due to the length of time postures are held.

Yin yoga classes are open to all levels and abilities.