Class Styles
ALIGNMENT BASED HATHA YOGA (Iyengar Influenced)
Hatha is a classical form of practice where there is longer holding of yoga poses. Classes will include warm up exercises, sun salutations (a graceful series of poses performed as one fluid movement, coordinated with the breath), and postures to encourage flexibility, strength and balance, as well as relaxation. There will be a strong focus on alignment inspired by teachings from Iyengar Yoga.
You will explore basic poses more deeply, as well as practice intermediate and advanced poses. By repeating poses and staying in them longer, you have time to discover a deeper level of understanding of both basic and more refined levels of alignment: inner and outer, shape and direction, form and function. Being still in a pose will become effortless and joyful.
Beginner to advanced, moderate to vigorous intensity.
.jpg)
Students will be invited into yoga postures through step-by-step verbal description and demonstration. Emphasis is placed on student safety and stability within each pose.
GENTLE "QIGONG INFUSED YOGA"™
This class is perfect for Seniors, health-challenged or anyone looking for a gentle class. Please have a chair to sit on and also use for support if you stand. Make sure you can see the ZOOM projection and preferably that I can see you. I will do my best to watch you, but it is not easy to do on ZOOM. Always, always take good care of yourself and listen to your body. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable or challenged, stop or do what you are able to do. Comfortable clothing is all that is needed with or without shoes.
This classical form of Hatha Yoga integrates the various components of traditional yoga - Asanas: physical postures and stretching; Pranayama: breathing techniques; Yoga Nidra: deep relaxation; and Dhyana: meditation. During the class, each student is encouraged to practice at his/her own level of strength, flexibility and endurance. This style of Yoga was developed by Swami Satchidananda of the Yogaville Ashram in Buckingham, VA and Integral Yoga Institute in NYC.
Beginner to intermediate levels, intensity varies from gentle to moderate.
Iyengar Yoga emphasizes precise body alignment and follows a safe, systematic progression of learning. Developed by yoga master Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar, it is suitable for every age, body type, and fitness level. Iyengar Certified Instructors are rigorously trained, demonstrate poses clearly, and give detailed instructions.
Poses are held longer and done one at a time to deepen the students’ experience and intelligence. Individual corrections and adjustments are made as needed, often by the use of props. Iyengar Yoga is a complete approach to life, intended to create and maintain physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual well-being.
Suitable for all levels, moderate intensity.
REIKI HEALING CIRCLE (Monthly)
2022 seems to be a year that will bring much action, transformation and stepping into a more profound sense of personal power.
The monthly Reiki Circles are an opportunity to connect with our inner selves, center, regroup, receive healing and bring it all into the world, and then repeat. The format of the circles includes a meditation tailored each month for the needs of the group, followed by Reiki transmission and healing.
All are welcome, complete beginners and Reiki practitioners alike. Drop-in or use your class card. Classes are held third Thursday a month.
In this class we will create an environment which is optimal for relaxation. Hence, we will learn to use props to support or body so it can completely let go and relax, the breath can settle and the mind can quiet down. The supported poses are held for a long time allowing our parasympathetic nervous system that provides “rest & digest” to become dominant. At the same time our body enjoys physical benefits, such as openings of the chest and pelvic area promoting better flow of our breath. We will further explore breath awareness to help the mind tune in and become aware of our inner space and as we progress and become more familiar with these exercises and our body, we can include some pranayama techniques.
This is an excellent class if you feel stressed, fatigued or perhaps mentally a little down due to Covid-19 that has affected our lives in so many unforeseen ways.
SLOW FLOW VINYASA (Breath Centered)
This class will slow down the more vigorous pace of a traditional vinyasa class. Suitable for all levels, we warm up the body to slowly increase flexibility and strength, transitioning from asana to asana with ease and grace. Some restoratiave poses may be practiced as well.
The breath is the focus of the practice. Emphasis is placed on synchronizing breath with movement, with the breath pacing the movement and setting its tempo.
All levels welcome. Intensity level is moderate to vigorous. Each student is encouraged to practice at their own level of strength, flexibility and endurance. Yogis can embrace modifications for poses, as well as explore advanced options as needed.
.jpg)
The practice of somatic movement brings awareness of the body within.The aim of somatic exploration is to recognize one’s unconsciously held muscular tension in order to relieve it. Sensing and feeling the body in a conscious way helps retrain the brain, creating new patterns of movement, with more freedom and better physical functioning.
Using simple, gentle, natural movements, we become aware of our habitual patterns that cause tension and tightness in order to change them.
Somatic movement supports our yoga practice. By approaching the asanas with somatic exploration, we can create a safe and easeful experience.
Gentle and accessible to all levels of practitioner.
A one-hour early morning yoga practice designed for yogins of all levels who want to get their yoga on, but have busy days ahead of them. Typically, the Sunrise Yoga practice starts with a few moments of seated breath work, followed by sun salutations to warm up the body and an ever-changing sequence of postures including standing poses, hip openers, shoulder openers, inversions, twists, forwardbends, and/or backbends.
You will leave Sunrise Yoga feeling relaxed yet energized and ready to start your busy day with a clear and quiet mind and a spring in your step, ready to face the challenges of the day with a positive outlook that will improve your productivity, efficiency and concentration.
All levels are welcome. Intensity level is moderate to vigorous.
Class is being held in Maplewood's Memorial Park near the ball park area under a big tree off of Dunnell Road, near Oak View.
VINYASA FLOW (Breath Centered & Alignment Based)
.jpg)
Vinyasa Flow is a fluid yoga practice based on the Ashtanga system of yoga, focusing on the integration of body movements with the breath in a continuous flow.
Moving with the breath and mindful awareness through sun salutations and basic or more advanced postures, vinyasa is a dynamic practice emphasizing strength, flexibility and alignment.
Like a moving meditation, this class will help quiet the mind and leave you feeling calm, balanced and rejuvenated. All levels are welcome. Intensity level is moderate to vigorous.
.jpg)
Welcome to the other side of Yoga: Yin Yoga. While many types of yoga classes focus on strengthening our muscles (our yang tissues), Yin Yoga allows us to work on the other half, the deeper yin tissues of our ligaments, joints, fascia and bones. All of our tissues are important and need to be exercised so that we can achieve optimal health and vitality.
The many physical, energetic and mental/emotional benefits of Yin Yoga include: improves our range of motion and flexibility; makes our ligaments and bones thicker and stronger; improves lubrication of joints; reduces inflammation; reduces osteopenia and osteoporosis; awakens and balances prana, our life force; slows the whirling thoughts of the mind; stimulates and awakens the kundalini energy; stimulates the production and flow of chi and jing energies; nourishes the organs through acupressure through the stimulation of the meridian lines; reduces fight or flight response; activates rest and digest response; and improves immune system to name just a few.
Each class will be built around a particular theme, (examples could include a part of the body, a chakra, or yogic philosophy), will include 6-10 poses or asanas, and end with a meditation. Yin asanas are held from 3-5 minutes each (examples of Yin poses that are similar to other yoga poses are pigeon, sphinx, straddle, etc).
*Please note that Yin Yoga is not restorative yoga. If the tissues you are targeting for your exercise are damaged in some way, please give yourself time to heal before resuming your regular practice.
Especially designed, but not exclusively for, the 50 and better practitioner.
This class will benefit muscle tone and strength, with a focus on breathing and postural alignment, promoting better balance and more self-confidence.
Copious use of props will enable people of all levels to enjoy a deeper understanding of and access to yoga practice.
|
February 2023 at
.jpeg) This is an intensive 3-week
residential training with a full schedule daily. Small group
with 2 Excellent Teachers
and lots of Personal Attention.
Join Anna in Thailand in January
Teaching yoga & meditation
at this Thai Massage Retreat
 NEW Shakti Merch!
 Tanks, Ts, Dresses & Hoodies!!
March - Nov 2023
.jpg) |
