Class Descriptions

Adaptive & Chair Yoga

This class is not a traditional active yoga class. It is designed for people who have limited agility or those with illness such as COPD, Multiple Sclerosis, Heart Disease, Cancer, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Parkinson's, etc. It consists of a carefully designed and comprehensive system using gentle repetitive movements of the body, sometimes performed while seated in a chair or standing with use of the chair for support, plus restorative yoga postures (which are relaxed supported positions, using props such as blankets and foam blocks to gently support the body). All movements are simple and fun yet effective in building strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

There will be a strong emphasis on breath awareness and breathing technique, relaxation, and guided meditation. This class is suitable for anyone with health concerns and the benefits are accessible even to those recovering and living with injury or illness. These classes are a compassionate way to relax & renew, to build inner awareness and are infinitely adaptable to individual needs.

Ashtanga Inspired Vinyasa

A vigorous practice based on a sequence of dynamically linked asanas.

Buddha Baby

Buddha Baby Yoga classes is practiced with your baby.  It is doing yoga to help restore your muscle strength, breathe more efficiently, as well as stretch and relax as you hold your baby or have your baby next to you.   This class is appropriate for the beginner as well as for someone who has been practicing yoga for years ( 6-8weeks postpartum to just crawling).  The movements used during class respect the special demands put on the body of a new mother and care giver.  $16/class

Community Yoga

Community classes are priced to benefit the individual looking for quality yoga training at a price they can afford!  $8/class

Conscious Dance

With facilitation and DJ’d music, we create a safe and sacred container to express yourself through movement, dancing from the inside out! Go beyond the limits of your habitual movements and thoughts and explore your unique inner dance. No experience needed, just a willingness to move and be moved! Put your soul in motion and give yourself permission to dance freely in community!  We dance barefoot, drink lots of water and wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows for maximum freedom of movement and expression.  The experience of each dance and of each dancer is different.  Please respect others in their process and share in conversation off the dance floor. Cost $10

Foundations

is perfect for beginners or for anyone wanting detailed, compassionate and light-hearted instruction in the foundation of yoga practice. Classes may include some flowing sequences, but the focus is on teaching the building blocks of practice – philosophy, skillful breath, basic postures, proper alignment, awareness and non-harming.

Foundations from the INside OUT

Appropriate for all levels, this vinyasa-based class will challenge you to observe how your internal self (mind, heart, and spirit) informs your external (physical) self during your yoga practice.  Through a combination of pranayama (breathe work), meditation, and asana (physical postures), this class invites you to connect with the inherent wisdom present within your own body, learning to gently guide yourself to your most expansive yoga experience.

Foundations from the OUTside IN

Appropriate for all levels, this vinyasa-based class will integrate various Eastern modalities such as mantra, mudra, pranayama, chanting, various forms of meditation and more to assist you in meeting, acknowledging, listening to and identifying with the true essence of internal self (mind, heart, and spirit).  Sometimes it takes a source outside ourselves to help us find our way in. 

Back Aware Yoga

This series of classes will address the aches and pains of the back (upper and lower), neck, shoulders and hips. This class is suitable for anyone with health concerns and the benefits are accessible even to those recovering and living with injury or illness.

In this therapeutic based yoga practice, you will learn proper postural alignment, efficient ways to move & breathe plus relaxation techniques which all help reduce current discomfort and prevent future joint pain. There will be a strong emphasis on alignment, breath awareness and breathing technique, relaxation, and guided meditation. These classes are a compassionate way to relax & renew, to build inner awareness and are infinitely adaptable to individual needs.

Gentle Yoga

is suitable for everybody. Focus is on breathing tech-niques, postures, relaxation and meditation to release tension and improve flexibility, resulting in a reduction of pain and stress.  Appropriate for the older student as well as those with special physical concerns, or for those who are just interested in moving at a slower pace.

Gentle Yoga Flow

Bring joy back into movement, health back into body and peace back into mind.  Learn to listen to the inner wisdom and combine it with outer expression building strength, stamina, relaxation and increasing energy. 

This gentle class is appropriate for the older student,  for students with special physical concerns, or for those who are just interested in moving at a slower pace.   Yoga Basics is recommended, but not required.

Gentle/Yin Yoga

Gentle yin yoga postures are all done on the floor so that the muscles can relax and allow the deep connective tissue surrounding the lower back, the pelvis and the joints of the femurs to be gently stretched. We hold each posture between 3-5 minutes, with 1 minute transition between postures ending with a 10 minute relaxation. The intention of yin yoga is to keep energy flowing smoothly throughout the body. By bringing simple awareness to the breath, without judgement or control, without striving to make it any different, the breath will naturally lengthen and deepen. The mind will begin to quiet, to be more at peace, becoming more still and present. This is the yin way. Joy in being alive here where we always are, in the present moment.

Meditation

If you are interested in learning to meditate and participating in the ongoing practice but haven't been able to participate in the Introduction to Meditation course, we recommend reading the book Meditation by Sri Eknath Easwaran (copies are available at Yoga Loka).  Prerequsite: Completion of Session 1, "How to Meditate on a Passage" from the online course.

If you have questions or would like to join us, please call Mary Dugan at 851-4408

Pre-Natal Yoga

A special practice addressing the changing phases of pregnancy, connecting mother and baby, while preparing for a healthy, mindful, more natural approach to the challenges of labor and birth.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is a Chinese style of energy building exercise designed to bring the body mind and spirit together as one.  It is a system that loosens the joints and spine plus relaxes the points of tension in the body (stress).  With the use of the breath, intention, and simple body movements Qi Gong strengthens the immune system, decreases healing time of injuries, improves sleep patterns and improves overall function of the body.

Qi (Energy), in regard to our health, means life force or vital energy.  Gong means work or technique. Qi Gong is a self-healing art that trains the mind to recycle the negative energy (toxins, stress etc.) and replenish with a more positive balanced connection to yourself and understanding of what is needed for healing.

The 18 movements of Qi Gong, developed in 1979 by Master Li Houshen at the Shanghi Hospital, were created for rehabilitative purpose but are extremely beneficial for everyone. The movements help to strengthen the mind, breath, and body.  They also help release pain and stress from the body increasing healing time of injuries.  The movements can be practiced standing, seated or lying down.

Sadhana Yoga-Qi

As all life forms share the same energy, yoga-qi is a way to become aware of that energy and
enhance our vital life force while opening deep tissues to move stagnant qi, and damage. While
finding the meditation in motion (dyana) and a sense withdrawal (pratyahara) to focus on
breathing techniques, body alignment, and internal muscular locks along with pranayama we
will learn to surrender and be absorbed with a natural flow of universal energy.
The class will mostly consist of soft vinyasa yoga with some power flow vinyasa for strength
building, we will also practice energy channeling and breathing techniques for qi awareness and
to build up our qi reserves.

Subtle Energy Flow Yoga

The healing potential of yoga can transform conditions of illness and dependency to wellness and self-sufficiency. Long before illness manifests in the physical body it begins with disturbances in the subtle energetic bodies. This early morning yoga practice sets the tone of your day creating an atmosphere of energetic awareness and balance.

Tai-Chi

is a form of slow moving standing exercise to keep you strong in body and mind. Tai Chi for Health is suitable even for a complete novice. The Yang Long Form is appropriate for anyone with 6 months or more experience in Tai-Chi.

Yoga for Recovery

Women living with, through and beyond breast cancer will find this six-week program to be an effective way to regain a sense of serenity, security and promise in their bodies through breath, gentle yoga and relaxation. This program will enhance range of motion and flexibility and enhance feelings of self-confidence and emotional equilibrium. Yoga is not about perfection, it's about learning patience and self-care. Come share the experience of yoga as a path to natural self-healing. Drop ins welcome based on space availability.

Offered in collaboration with the Complementary Therapies Program through Renown Institute for Cancer.

Yoga for Teens

offers a safe, secure and fun place to move your body, to breathe in life and to sit with calmness. Create space in your mind and body through a series of flowing yoga poses to enhance strength and flexibility, balance, and relaxation. Learn self-reflection and interact with your peers in a supportive environment to nourish your confidence, body appreciation and awareness. No yoga experience is necessary. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable or stretchy clothing (no jeans).

Vinyasa Yoga

describes an active practice in which we move from pose to pose along a strong and steady support of breath.  The state of yoga arises when mind, body, breath, and energy to come together in the flow and it becomes a moving meditation. Classes can be quite vigorous, building strength and flexibility, creating heat and clearing toxins, and moving energy throughout the body.  Be prepared to sweat! Sun salutations are the backbone of this practice, with classical postures of all types (including inversions and arm balances) included in the flow.  We will always offer variations and adjustments to ensure every participant finds his or her ideal pose, so anyone interested in finding the balance of intensity and ease in their practice is welcome.