Class Descriptions

Restorative Yoga*: Restorative poses help relieve the effects of chronic stress. Restorative Yoga supports the body with props to remove physical strain, and alternately stimulate and soothe the body to move it towards balance. Restorative poses have a particular ability to leave us feeling nourished and well-rested. This type of yoga practice offers benefits to both the body and mind, for conditions including insomnia, asthma, chronic pain, migraines, and depression. 

_______________________________________________________

Pilates

Pilates Mat* classes emphasize control, fluidity, and flexibility utilizing the body's abdominal and back muscles. Pilates improves alignment and balance, creating strength from the inside out. Learn the foundation of movement in this class while sculpting long lean muscles and improving your posture. All levels of experience are welcome.

*Classes marked with an asterisk are suggested for beginning students, seniors, pregnant women, or those with injuries.

Ashtanga is a more vigorous sequence of Yoga postures, geared towards warming the body to increase flexibility, strength and endurance. There is an emphasis on synchronizing the breath with movement. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. The same poses are repeated in each class (called the "Primary Series). A fundamental knowledge of Yoga is recommended.

Gentle Yoga* teaches the basic principles of Hatha yoga, including alignment and breathing, in a safe and nurturing environment. This class is suitable for those with little or no previous yoga experience as well as those who enjoy a slower paced, quieter and therapeutic yoga class. Students focus on deep relaxation and breath work, at a slower pace while increasing flexibility through gentle stretches, and strength, stamina, and balance through standing Yoga postures.

Hot Yoga explores the asanas within a heated space (depending on the time of the year and how many students, the temperature typically ranges from 80-90 degrees). This Hatha style class allows the student to discover his/her own limitations at a slower pace, designed to invigorate and detoxify the body while sharpening the mental focus and rejuvenating the spirit. All levels are welcome but some knowledge of basic yoga postures is recommended. You will sweat, so bring your own mat and towel (we provide both if needed).

Level 1-2 Yoga: Looking for a Hatha style yoga class with a little more intensity than the Gentle Yoga class? Well, look no further. This class resembles our Gentle yoga class, but adds more challenging postures to encourage you to explore more possibilities within your yoga practice. Fit beginners and those ready to move forward from the Gentle classes are welcome. Pranayama and meditation are complete the class.

Healing Yoga For Cancer Patients and Survivors

This class uses a combination of restorative postures, relaxation and breathing techniques to help reduce stress and manage the symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatments. There is an emphasis on strengthening and increasing the flexibility of the spine, as well as postures to help reduce fatigue. Each class has a meditative flow and ends with a seated meditation.

Power Yoga is America’s version of Ashtanga Yoga. It emphasizes developing a stronger and more flexible body. Our power yoga class is a 75 minute class that will consist of several different poses that are connected by sun salutations. All levels are welcome but some knowledge of basic yoga postures is recommended. This is a fun class for anyone who wants to sweat!

Yin Yoga* targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis and lower spine. Yin postures are seated postures that help rejuvenate and recondition these tissues are held one to five minutes at a time. It is the perfect compliment to the more active styles of yoga. Many consider it to be the original form of asana practice. Yin Yoga helps everyone from the most tight to the most flexible student reach new depths in postures, by opening up the rarely activated parts of the body. Come experience this slower, deeper class, not only as a balance to your other yoga or exercise, but also as a balance to the rest of your life. All levels welcome.

Yin and Flow Yoga* will boost your mind, body, and spirit. It is a beautiful blend of seated Yin Yoga postures designed to open the body’s deeper tissues (improving flexibility and greater range of motion in the joints) and standing Yoga postures designed to build strength, balance and fluidity. All levels are welcome!

Awareness Through Movement™ is a class which offers you the opportunity to retrain your brain with the Feldenkrais Method™ of teaching and learning through movement. In these classes, Kate Heald will verbally guide you through a sequence of gentle and intriguing, but often novel and challenging, movements that will help you develop a greater awareness of how you move. Results are immediate and include such benefits as reshaping your posture and alignment, gaining strength and power, relaxing, becoming flexible and graceful, improving your balance, reducing pain and discomfort, and heightening your abilities to sense and feel.

Meditation* is a 30 minute class utilizing various techniques in Pranayama (breathing) and guided meditations to calm the mind and the body.

Nia classes allow students to discover how dance arts, martial arts and healing arts are used to trigger health and healing. We use nine NIA Movement Art forms to recognize, restore and alter your energy levels; create and shape the body, enhance pleasure and reduce pain. Discover a body that is fit, graceful, and expressive.

Pilates Mat* classes emphasize control, fluidity, and flexibility utilizing the body's abdominal and back muscles. Pilates improves alignment and balance, creating strength from the inside out. Learn the foundation of movement in this class while sculpting long lean muscles and improving your posture. All levels of experience are welcome.

Pilates on the Ball* utilizes balance balls to bring variety and fun into the typical Pilates mat class. We explore the Pilates movements with this prop to encourage students to deepen their sense of balance and strengthen their core muscles. Come have a ball with us in this class!

Tai Chi* uses slow movements timed with your natural breathing to focus the mind and body. The Yang style of Tai Chi we offer keeps an even tempo and emphasizes keeping the body soft, while strengthening the connection between body and mind to improve balance, flexibility and awareness.

Writing With The Body* classes combine very, very gentle yoga with breathing exercises and journaling for a real mind-body-spirit experience. Have you ever had a feeling or thought during yoga practice, but then you're off and running to the next errand? This class will allow you the space to explore what comes up-- in private, not-to-be-shared-with-the-group, journaling practice, we will learn how to write in harmony with our bodies. Bring your mat and your journal (if you don't have one, bring a notebook or paper, or go treat yourself to a yummy new one!) and come prepared to relax and let your body, mind and spirit soar.

Partner Yoga allows us to experience some postures that can only be done with the assistance of another person. Sharing in a posture with a partner, coordinating movement and breathing, and supporting one another increases awareness and brings a new dimension to one's yoga practice. Working with a partner deepens our understanding of yoga and our awareness of others. Through partner yoga, feelings of separation may be replaced with a sense of connectedness. We will juxtapose individual postures, offer support for postures, and manipulate our partners using Thai Yoga techniques. Come to class individually and we will partner up for our practice.

All Levels Yoga is a treat for all! All Levels classes are faster in pace than our gentle Yoga classes. They combine standing, seated, inverted and twisting postures into a flowing sequence that links the breath with movement. Pose variations and modifications are offered for more or less of a challenge. Anyone can attend but it is advised for beginners to start with some basic classes first. Be prepared to smile and feel good!