Class Levels
Level 1 classes
Designed for beginners looking for a slower paced, more descriptive experience. These classes help develop body awareness, with basic hatha (sun and moon) postures (asanas) and their modifications. With emphasis on proper alignment, building strength slowly and safely. Learn yogic breathing and how to link breath with movement.
Level 2 classes
Suitable for students who have an understanding of postures (asanas). Basic postures are expanded to include more difficult variations and may be described in less detail. The class flows at a faster pace with asanas being held longer. L2 classes introduce more advanced breathing techniques and concepts in yogic philosophy including the energetic body.
Level 3 classes
For the intermediate/advanced practitioner with focus on asana variations that require strength and flexibility. Yoga postures may include arm balances like handstand and forearm balance, back bends and deep twists. These classes are not suitable for beginners.
Class Descriptions
Ashtanga Inspired Yoga offers a dynamic series of postures connected through breath based on a system of Hatha Yoga, taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The length of one inhale or one exhale dictates the length of time spent transitioning between postures. Poses are then held for a predefined number of breaths. In effect, attention is placed on the breath and the journey between the postures rather than solely on achieving perfect body alignment in a pose, as is emphasized in Hatha Yoga. This challenging and exciting class helps balance, strength and flexibility, as it tones the body. It will involve yoga postures involving sun salutations, standing poses, inversions, seated poses and back-bends. Appropriate for intermediate to advanced students.
Hatha Yoga is also known as hatha vidya or the “science of hatha” yoga. The word hatha comes from combining the two Sanskrit terms “ha” meaning sun and “tha” meaning moon. However, when the two components of the word are placed together, “hatha” means “forceful”, implying that powerful work must be done to purify the body. Yoga means to yoke, or to join two things together, hence hatha yoga is meant to join together sun (masculine, active) energy with the moon (feminine, receptive) energy, thus producing balance and greater power in an individual. While powerful, Hatha is also gentle and emphasizes proper alignment. This practice enhances muscle tone, flexibility and a peaceful mind. Appropriate for all levels.
Gentle Hatha provides a space to connect with body, heart, mind and spirit. It’s not about how many postures, or how deeply we do them but rather connecting to our inner edge. Gentle Hatha is appropriate for all levels and designed to cultivate warmth, presence, opening and compassion.
Anusara Yoga is a school of hatha yoga, which unifies a life-affirming Shiva-Shakti Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with Universal Principles of Alignment. Anusara yoga has an uplifting philosophy, epitomized by a “celebration of the heart” that looks for the good in all people and all things. Consequently, students of all levels of ability and yoga experience are honored for their unique differences, limitations, and talents.
Alignment Flow is a class that focuses on spinal alignment as it relates to a yoga practice. Taking core qualities from Iyengar, and Ashtanga styles of yoga, this class focuses on maintaing a neutral spine, while warming the body with the classical sun salutation series. Appropriate for students with some experience in yoga.
Restorative Yoga Our bodies’ natural healing ability can be compromised due to the stress of our everyday life. Restorative Yoga uses props such as blankets and bolsters to help us through a series of soothing and restoring poses giving the body permission to slow down and relax. Appropriate for all levels.
Tantra Yoga Inside each human being exists a world of potential. In its simplest form, “Tan” means to stretch and “Tra” means beyond limitations. Therefore, Tantra, by nature, can be considered limitless. In class, we will be introducing and exploring a small piece of this boundless tradition. We will embrace the physical body, while simultaneously expanding the mind, opening the heart and cultivating a greater connection with one’s Self and Spirit. Appropriate for all levels.
Vinyasa is vigorous “breath-synchronized movement.” Students move from one pose to the next with breath. This technique is often called Vinyasa Flow because of the smooth transition between poses. Each class offers students a variety of asanas (postures), including Sun Salutations. Appropriate for all levels.
Candlelight Slow Flow is the movement through a dynamic vinyasa series that breaks down postures and focuses on alignment while in a relaxing, candle lit studio. This slower paced class includes longer holds to generate internal heat and allow deep release to occur in the body. Slow Flow allows time to go deeper, explore the postures, and truly go inward. Appropriate for all levels.
Nia empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Nia draws from disciplines of the martial arts, dance and healing. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves in a way that is blissful, inspirational and packed with power. Appropriate for all levels.
Nia Basics Learn the basics of Nia, while having a gentle and fun conditioning workout. Sense the joy of movement!
Gracie Combatives (ages 14 and up)
SELF-DEFENSE
THE FASTEST WAY TO STREET READINESS, GUARANTEED
Since its inception, Gracie Combatives has been more effective at taking students from no knowledge to “street ready” than any other course in the history of Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What makes Gracie Combatives so unique, besides the street applicability of its techniques, is the structure of the course and the way in which we present the techniques. In place of the random curriculum that characterizes nearly all other BJJ programs, we designed Gracie Combatives specifically to ensure that each new student understands the principles, learns the techniques, and builds their reflexes, without confusion, in the absolute least amount of time!