Classs descriptions vary, but generally break down into Beginning, Continuing and Intermediate.
Beginner – A Beginning level class which incorporates breathing exercises, alignment, physical postures and relaxation. Suitable for brand new students or for students who prefer a more basic level practice.
Continuing – This class bridges the gap between introductory and proficient. The poses are mostly basic but begin to move toward more challenging. The depth and alignment of each pose is explored more thoroughly.
Intermediate – These slow flowing classes focus on deepening breath and awareness as well as improving structural and subtle alignment while moving deeper into postures and exploring more challenging poses.
Funday Monday – A Continuing class which incorporates jiggling, laughing, free movement, and other techniques that get people out of their regular routine and helps to release stress as well as explore new ways of moving.
Deepening – A Continuing practice of Hatha yoga for unifying mind, body and spirit. Classic yoga postures (asanas) and sequences combine with breathing techniques, meditation and deep relaxation to increase strength, flexibility, balance, and body awareness. As the mind quiets and centers, a general sense of well-being arises, and a deep appreciation for life emerges. While some yoga experience is helpful, this class can be practiced by students of all ages and fitness levels.
Flow and Restore - This all-level, gentle flow class will focus on the exploration of basic Yoga poses and how to connect them through attention to breathing, alignment and mindfulness. In a flow (or vinyasa) style of Yoga, the breath serves as the link between the body and mind, and allows us to stay focused, calm and aware as we move in and out of poses. This class will also include Restorative Yoga poses to help students relax and rest deeply. The use of props (blocks, blankets, straps) provide support and total relaxation. This class is perfect for overall well-being as well as for anyone who wants to unwind from a busy day.
Gentle/Therapeutic – A class for students with physical limitations or for those who just prefer an easy-going class. Students explore body awareness, moving with the breath and specific alignment principles which can address the limitations of the students in the class.
Kundalini Yoga is similar to other forms of yoga in that it is a series of postures (asanas) with focused breath. This form of yoga, however, also focuses distinctly on different types of breathing (pranayama) and subtle energy. Each class begins with a mantra, then works on a kriya, a specific sequence of postures to bring about a change in awareness, metabolism, or energetic shift in the body. Each class will also conclude with a meditation and a closing mantra.
Dao Yoga is based on the philosophy of Daoism. This theory of health and well-being addresses Chi (Qi) or internal energy and its pathways (meridians). All postures in Dao Yoga are practiced with the intention of opening, stimulating and strengthening meridians so that energy can flow more freely throughout the body. Dao Yoga focuses in vibrant breathing techniques to benefit all the systems of the body.
Vinyasa – A Continuing level class in which students move through a series of poses with a focus on flowing gracefully between poses. Students should expect to move and be challenged.
Tai Chi – (ShenXing Tai Chi (Taiji)) is pure energy and walking meditation. T’ai chi ch’uan literally(“Supreme Ultimate Fist”), often shortened to Tai Chi in English usage, is a type of internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. It is also typically practiced for its hard and soft martial art technique, demonstration competitions, and longevity. In China, T’ai Chi Ch’uan is categorized under the Wudang grouping of Chinese martial arts—that is, the arts applied with internal power. Although the Wudang name falsely suggests these arts originated at the so-called Wudang Mountain, it is simply used to distinguish the skills, theories and applications of the “internal arts” from those of the Shaolin grouping, the “hard” or “external” martial art styles.