In these classes you will learn all about yoga, which encompasses so much more than just the asanas (physical postures). The purpose of yoga is not to simply learn a pose. But rather to “yolk” or unite the mind and body as a means of spiritual enlightenment and communion with God, the Universe, Source, your Higher Self, Absolute Truth, or whichever higher power you believe in. In each class you will learn how to still the mind by tuning into your body and your breath as a practice for meditation.

Each class offers a short guided meditation to round out your practice by calming the mind. Over time, meditation can allow the practitioner to become a passive observer of his or her own thoughts. In doing so, he or she can learn to separate identification with ego and the body from identification with his or her divine higher Self.

Vinyasa yoga uses the same asanas (poses) as those of a Hatha yoga class but incorporates more fluidity. Sequences generally follow a certain pattern that allows the practitioner to flow easily from one asana to the next. Use this time to allow your soul to dance and express itself through movement and breath, while also building overall muscle strength.

Yin yoga is a much slower paced class than Vinyasa and can be practiced even when the muscles are cool (i.e., in the morning upon waking up or before going to bed). It offers students the opportunity to practice introspection and tuning into their individual bodies. Incorporating fewer asanas (poses) and deeper holds than in vinyasa, students learn to engage their softer tissues such as joints, tendons, and ligaments. Over time, students may experience an increase in flexibility and range of motion as well as decreased recovery time between more muscle-intensive workouts.

Similar to Yin, Restorative yoga is a slower paced class designed to be exactly what its name entails: restorative. This practice relies more heavily on props (bolsters, pillows, blocks, books, chairs, walls, etc.) to give the student as much support as possible to comfortably and consciously hold asanas (poses) for extended periods of time. Restorative yoga will have asanas with plenty of options to meet you at your level. These sequences give you the practitioner time to let go of tension in the body and the mind and enjoy the feeling of being mentally and physically supported.

Ayur-Yoga combines the ancient intuitive medicne of Ayurveda with Yoga asana to improve the health and wellness of our bodily tissues, organs, and functional systems. Ayurveda specializes in understand the subtle nuances of our body’s functions so that we can hear when it is communicating an imbalance. By understanding the what and the where of our imbalances, we can craft asana sequences that target those physical locations of imbalance in the body. As a certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor, I can help you bring balance back into your mind and body using Ayurvedic principles of health and wellness that have stood the test of time.