As my classes begin to fill up and I am opening more and more weekly sessions, I want to take a minute to provide a closer look at the different types of yoga that I teach. I feel as if so far most of my students have booked their classes based on what their work schedule looks like and when it’s convenient for them to come to the studio, and that is totally fine! But for newcomers, there are other considerations as well. Before signing up for a class it’s a good idea to know your “why.” Are you a high energy person who is looking for a physical challenge? Are you seeking stress management or a way to ease anxiety and depression? Do you have an injury or are you physically limited in any way? If you have flexibility in your schedule, you might find that asking yourself these questions as you choose the right class will ensure that your yoga experience is giving you what you need most.
The great thing about ALL of my yoga classes is that they are suitable for most ages, sizes, and levels of experience; all humans are welcome. There is a physical aspect and plenty of opportunity for meditation in every class that I teach. All of the classes will help improve mobility and flexibility, and they are all designed to encourage mindfulness, balance, and inner peace. Students are given pose modifications, suggestions for alternate poses, and the space to choose rest or support their bodies as needed in all classes, without exception. All yoga classes are friendly, fun, and judgement free. There is no downside to taking one class over the other; there just may be an added benefit of taking a class more closely aligned with your personal goals and wellness journey.
As of right now, I am offering three one-hour long classes each week, as well as a two-hour long open studio session each week:
Restorative Yoga - Saturdays at 9am
Restorative yoga is the gentlest class, and its objective is to bring you a feeling of peace, tranquility, and calm. In restorative yoga, students are encouraged to use lots of props, like pillows, blankets, bolsters, and straps to hold and support the body (there are many props for loan in the studio). Students are encouraged to modify poses to suit their needs, and I give lots of options for adjustments, or students can choose an alternative restful pose at any time during the class.
Each pose is held for several minutes, and there are many opportunities for rest and meditation throughout the class. The sequence of the class is traditional, with a meditation upon arrival, where I often guide students to arrive fully by checking in with their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves. This is followed by a long slow warm up. The peak poses section is made of both grounding poses using props and supports, and slow, meditative movements done to the natural breath rhythms. Cool down poses are done mainly lying down on the mat, and Savasana (the ending mediation) is longer, with less vocal guidance from me, so students can spend time focusing on their own meditations as they rest.
Restorative yoga is best for students who have never done yoga before, students with injuries or other physical concerns, and anyone who is seeking rest, relaxation, and serenity. The restorative class has a lovely vibe to it, and I often leave it feeling both rested and awakened simultaneously. It’s a great way to start your weekend.
Hatha Yoga - Mondays at 3pm
Hatha yoga is most likely the type of traditional class that most people think about when they think about yoga. Hatha classes consist of a short opening meditation, warm up movements, peak poses, a cool down, and an ending meditation. Some yogis teach that “ha” means sun and “tha” means moon, and the joining of those energies is a way to balance both the body and the mind. The word Hatha more literally means “force” and the objective of practicing Hatha yoga is to reach a state of balance by force. This “force” is a combination of physical poses, breathing techniques, mudras (hand symbols), mantras (affirmations and chants) and meditation. Basically, you are doing things with your body that force you to reach a balanced state.
Hatha classes are fairly gentle and medium-paced, and do not include any advanced poses like headstands, chaturangas, or challenging inversions. When you come to Beginner Hatha, you should bring your own yoga mat, but you will not need any other props to participate in the class (and I do have a few loaner mats as well). You might expect to break a sweat during the peak poses, depending on where you are in your own personal wellness journey, but these classes are mostly for gently activating the physical body, stretching tense muscles, and practicing breathing techniques throughout. I will always offer alternatives or modifications for poses as needed, and you are, as always, welcome to choose a resting pose at any point during the class.
Hatha is the perfect class for someone who has never taken a yoga class but is interested in starting, or for the more experienced student who likes a traditional sequence where they can practice and improve upon their base of knowledge. This class is great for relieving tension, stretching sore muscles, and improving mobility. I like practicing a traditional Hatha sequence when I am feeling stressed, because the combination of movement and breathing keeps my mind in the present moment when I need it most.
Chakra Yoga - Thursdays at 6pm
The Chakra yoga classes are designed specifically to energize, open, and balance the chakras. Chakras are energy centers in the body which are connected to the various organs and nerve bundles running up and down the spine, from the tailbone to the crown of the head. Your chakras are said to manage the energy flow in the body, and each chakra is associated with different aspects of your emotional self. When your chakras are blocked or out of alignment, you can suffer from various unwanted physical and mental symptoms.
The Chakra classes are the more physically demanding of the three, as they are designed to specifically target one area of your body at a time (for example, a root chakra class may have several poses in a row that require you to use your lower body and legs). This class does prepare students to practice some inverted poses, hold their own body weight for several seconds, balance, and challenge the body with deeper stretches and faster flows between poses. The use of blocks and straps is encouraged for students, especially when practicing something new or challenging.
This class is a series, and it is designed to begin at the bottom, with the root chakra, and end at the crown. Each chakra class is practiced twice before we move on to the next. Many poses, especially the warm up poses, and some of the peak poses, may have overlap from class to class, but you can expect the sequence for this class to change every 2-3 weeks as we move to another energy center. Each chakra will come with it’s own affirmations (I provide an affirmation card for each student), and you will learn at least one mudra for each chakra as well.
The chakra yoga class is great for students who are looking to challenge themselves mentally and physically, are interested in learning more about chakras, and who enjoy the repetition of affirmations in their mindfulness practice.
(Note: The next Chakra class with spots available is August 5th, and will focus on the Solar Plexus -3rd- Chakra. Students are more than welcome to join the series at any time, and can loop back around to the beginning, but please be aware that you may be starting in the “middle” of sorts if you decide to start Chakra Yoga now.)
_____________________________________________________
While choosing the right class is important, the most important decision you can make is simply to start. You will find that my classes are filled with kind, accepting, and friendly people who are all there for the same reasons as you are; to improve their mental and physical health. If you have been putting off taking a yoga class out of fear of judgement or nervousness about your abilities, know now that you will find nothing but loving kindness and self compassion in the studio. If you have been putting it off because you don’t have a friend to go with you, find the courage to do this for yourself, and you will likely find your tribe in yoga. If nothing else, remember that creating inner peace is creating world peace. What better reason to give it a try, right?
Namaste
Comentarios