Active Asana (flow or alignment – based)
This weekly class starts with warm ups, proceeds through a balanced sequence of yoga poses, and ends with a 10 to 15-min relaxation practice. Poses may be presented in a flow or have an alignment focus with or without props. Participants should be in good health and a moderate-to-good level of fitness, and they are advised to eat only lightly before participating.
Meditation
Although focuses on what is commonly known as the basic instructions for mindfulness. Sitting can take place “on the cushion” or while sitting in a chair. Learn how to sit for formal meditation, focus, deal with distractions and setbacks. We also learn and practice walking and eating meditation and how to bring mindfulness into daily life.
On an approximate basis, the first class is comprised of
- 10 min instruction,
- 25 min practice and
- 10 min for questions.
Thereafter, we have
- 5 min for questions,
- 10 min instruction,
- 25 min practice, and
- 5 min for questions.
LifeForce Yoga for Management of Energy and Mood (less emphasis on alignment/musculo-skeletal issues)
Using yoga poses, breath, hand gestures, sound, imagery, intention and inquiry practices (sometimes using two or more of these at once), we meet our current mood and, if needed, gently shift it to a more balanced state. In this class, focus is away from perfecting the physical form of poses and instead, using yogic tools including yoga postures to calm or energize, directing attention to sensation in specific areas of the body, releasing chronic tension and using evidence-based yogic practices to access the wellspring of well-being that resides beneath. Class concludes with a yoga nidra (guided relaxation) or meditation practice. Winter 2016 is supporting a pilot study on the effect of aromatherapy on mood and relaxation in yoga practice and participants will be asked to respond to approximately 3 brief questions at the end of each class.
Using Restorative and Gentle Dynamic Yoga Therapeutically
This weekly class is comprised primarily of long holds of supported, passive poses using props such as bolsters, blankets, straps and blocks, intermingled with gentle movements synchronized with the breath targeted to specific therapeutic goals. Participants are able to gently release chronic tension. While some props are provided, ownership of a medium-to-large sized bolster is recommended. Cost includes a mandatory, private 1-hour assessment to customize the practice to each participant’s individual needs.
Yoga Balm for Backs
Drawing from the work of a variety of yoga therapy models, this class is designed to increase awareness of problematic tendencies, release chronically-held areas, tone and teach recruitment of stabilizers, and increase mobility of the shoulders and hips. Not intended for those suffering from acute back issues (private yoga therapy is recommended in such cases), but rather, for people whose back discomfort / pain tends to be in the background most of the time and occasionally flares up. Cost includes a mandatory, private 1-hour assessment to customize the practice to each participant’s individual needs.
Stretch!
This slightly shorter asana class takes participants through a progression of gentle to increasingly deeper stretches, stabilizing as necessary to provide safety and ends with a 10 to 15-min relaxation practice. While a certain bodily area may be of particular focus in a given class, overall stretch is be addressed each session. Participants should be in good health and a moderate-to-good level of fitness, and they are advised to eat only lightly before participating.