Spring 2016
In general, a yoga class has a positive effect on your body: stretching and strengthening muscles, re-aligning bone structure, releasing blockages in the connective tissue, increasing mobility and stimulating organ function. Once your physical practice is well established, it can also increase the ability to balance, breathe more easily and be more energized. Deeper still we find equilibrium and an inner calm. Even deeper, insight can occur.
Yoga also increases our proprioception: the sense of the relative position of one’s own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement; our body awareness. This is always helpful but particularly so after an injury, when physical/emotional issues assert themselves or when a special condition arises. Speciality classes can then allow you to continue your practice, address your specific issues and find what will alleviate your discomfort, ease your body and rest your mind. Speciality classes can also focus your practice towards a specific goal.
Two such specialty classes are Yin and Restorative. These both are distinguished by the hold time of the pose (3-5 min for yin; 10-20 min for restorative) and the generous use of props. In yin poses our muscles become soft and gravity takes us deeper, thus allowing the connective tissue to release/stretch; in restorative our bodies open and come to deep rest.
Chair yoga is a safe, energizing class for those who have joint injury, are recovering from illness, or simply want a gentle class. Through the use of a chair you are supported while relieving stiffness and stretching muscles. This will increase your capacity for a freer, more vibrant life!
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation. Participants will experience deep levels of inner peace and health than you ever imagined possible while giving themselves permission to rest, balance, and restore, tapping into new sources of energy. Yoga Nidra, like restorative, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system helps combat the symptoms of stress and anxiety.
In prenatal classes the focus is on opening and strengthening the hips for running the marathon and for crossing the finish line of pregnancy. Heart openers ease heart burn and soothe sore necks while also preparing for the myriad of emotions motherhood brings.
Finding the right class for you is the first step towards an optimal practice for you!
