classes

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga encompasses a holistic approach.  The practice generally seeks to bring about a calm still mind and encourages this through incorporating pranayama,, mudras and meditation during a usual asana class.  These classes are good for beginners and advanced students with modifications being offered for more challenging asanas.  Students are always encouraged to keep within their limits and listen to their bodies while allowing themselves to explore their physical possibilities and meditative capabilities.  Sometimes these classes are taught with calming music.

Vinyasa Flow

Vinyasa is a"breath-synchronized movement," and Vinyasa yoga is a series of poses that will move you through the power of inhaling and exhaling. Vinyasa movements are smoothly flowing and almost dance-like, which explains why it is sometimes referred to as Vinyasa Flow or just Flow.  This class can be challenging but over time the focus on the power of the breath through the movements of transition can bring you to a meditative state. We welcome beginners to this class as it is a good introduction to the benefits of the breath  while allowing your body to physically work and sweat out toxins.

Dynamic Flow

This style stems from traditional Hatha Yoga poses.  It's breath guided movement sequenced with repetition to gain maximun stretching and flexiblity.  The sequences combine seated and standing poses.  This class is usually a one hour session and gives modifications for more advanced postures.

Iyengar

yengar Yoga, created by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form of Hatha Yoga known for its use of props, such as belts, blocks, and blankets, as aids in performing asanas (postures). The props enable students to perform the asanas correctly, minimising the risk of injury or strain, and making the postures accessible to both young and old. The development of strength, mobility and stability are emphasized through the asanas. B.K.S. Iyengar has systematised over 200 classical yoga poses and 14 different types of Pranayama (with variations of many of them) ranging from the basic to advanced. This ensures that as the students gradually progress by moving from simple poses to more complex ones and develop their mind, body and spirit step-by-step

Yin & Yang

IIn ancient Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describe the opposites - such as heaven and earth - that exist in the natural world.
Yin is traditionally passive and introspective, and the perfect counter-balance to upbeat, energetic yang.
So it is with yoga. A yin practice is slow, quiet, and practised entirely in sitting and lying postures. It aims to relax the body and soften the body's connective tissues.
By contrast, yang yoga is active and lively, creating energising, ashtanga-like heat in the body.

Ashtanga 

Ashtanga Yoga is a modern day form of the most classical of Indian ancient yogas.  It has become very popularized through the teachings of K. Pattabhi Jois and the   “eight limbs of yoga” which is the Sansrkit meaning for “Ashtanga”.  This style of yoga can be challenging and follows a series of poses that are practiced in prescribed order to ensure maximum benefit.  It is also hugely rewarding as daily practice is highly recommended.  Traditional Mysore Sytle Ashtanga is not lead by a teacher and a class would have students going at their own pace through the series.  Teachers involved in these classes generally guide students and give adjustments to students while in poses.   Our classes will be lead unless they are Mysore style and guidance will be given throughout.

Mysore Ashtanga

The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore.   This class is different in many ways from a usual yoga class.  Firstly, the class is not "lead" as a whole but rather all instruction is one-on-one within the group class setting.  The students practice their own portion of the Ashtanga sequence of asanas at their own pace. The teacher assists each student individually by giving physical adjustments & verbal instruction.
Each student is given their yoga routine according to their ability. Newer and beginner students tend to have a much shorter practice than do those with more experience. As one gains more strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration, additional asanas are given to the student. The sense of the word "given" in this context comes from how the practice is taught in India, where a yoga practice is something that a teacher gives to a student as a spiritual practice. In the West, people are accustomed to learning a lot of asanas all at once – such as in a typical modern "lead" yoga class.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures or asanas that are held for comparatively long periods of time--five minutes or longer per pose is typical. Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues—the tendons, fascia, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. Yin Yoga poses are also designed to improve the flow of qi, the subtle energy said in Chinese medicine to run through the meridian pathways of the body. Improved flow of qi is hypothesized to improve organ health, immunity, and emotional well-being. Yin Yoga is not intended as a complete practice in itself, but rather as a complementary practice to balance the effects of more active forms of yoga and exercise.

Vin &Yin

This class merges two styles of yoga Vinyasa and Yin. The two blend into what we believe to be a magical combination.  The class begins with the more dynamic vinyasa class and finishes with more passive Yin postures.  The class is typically longers than our normal classes so expect to stay up to 1.5 hours.

Meditation or Intoduction to Meditation

This is a guided class to various types of meditation techinques.  The Introdcution class will help you to get familiar with some of the basics of meditation.  From showing you how you may be best to sit and orientate yourself to how to get started with a practice of your own.  The meditation and pranayama classes offer different guided techniques to take you further in your meditation practice. This class is good for beginners or those with a regular practice. 

Community Accupunture/Meditation

In this experiential session, you will be guided through a series of relaxation techniques, a wonderful way to ease the stresses of daily life and transition into a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state.  During this class, you will receive auricular acupuncture paired with breathing techniques and other healing art therapies.

The auricular acupuncture is based on NADA protocols that are used globally for detoxification and relaxation.  Tuning forks and/or singing bowls will be used to help align the body’s energy centers and calm the nervous system through producing gentle sound and healing vibrations.  Additionally, if time permits—hands on energy work based on Craniosacral and Polarity techniques will be incorporated to further enhance your state of relaxation. 

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga focuses on relaxing the body in restful postures. Although 'rest' is different than sleep. Rest provides the body an oppotunity to renew and heal.

Restorative yoga help to trigger the Parasympathetic nervous system also known as the PNS. The PNS is responsible for balancing the body and bringing its response system back into equalibrium. Stimulating the PNS helps to lower heart rate, blood pressure; it helps to healthily stimulate the immune system and keep the endocrine system operating healthily. When this system gets out of whack, or when the Sympathetic nervous system, SNS gets over-stimulated, the PNS helps to bring all back in balance. It is believed that is the PNS is tapped out or under-active, illness pervades. Thus, forms of relaxation, such as yoga and meditation, that help to stimulate the PNS are generally beneficial for overall body health

Pranayama

This practice is one of controlling the breath or "Prana".    From Sanskrit this translates into ones "lifeforce".  This is done by many techniques and sequences to control the breath and enhance the phyical and energetic body.   It's an integral part of a yoga practice and should be done alongside and part of any asana practice.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is an ancient art and science dealing with the transformation and expansion of consciousness, the awakening and raising of Kundalini Energy up the spine through energy centers called Chakras. The activation and balancing of the chakras is accomplished by the mixing and uniting of Prana (cosmic energy) with Apana (eliminating energy) which generates pressure to force Kundalini to rise, by means of Pranayama (breathing exercises), Bhandas (body locks), in Kriyas (exercise sets), using Asanas (postures), Mudras (gestures), and Mantras (sacred sounds).

Prenatal Yoga

A safe, welcoming class to connect you with your baby through yoga.  This class is instructed by a certified instructor and is usually taught in a group for a length of weeks to complete the course, however drop-ins are welcome.  It is helpful for women in any stage in their pregnancy and we highly recommend choosing one of these sessions over a regular yoga class if you are pregnant.

Pilates

Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates,
Pilates called his method "Contrology"
The original six principles were concentration, control, center, flow, precision, and breathing.It's the little instruction leaflet for the body machine that you never could find in the box....
It was initially created for rehabilitation, but was later adopted by dancers and athletes and is now utilized by millions. A beginner class generally consists of very gentle exercises done on a mat or a ball in either a sitting or lying down position. The primary focus is on awareness of the spine, proper breathing, core strength and flexibility. The outcome of Pilates training is a balanced body which is strong and supple, flat stomach, balanced legs, and a strong back.
Yoga will help your Pilates practice, as Pilates will help your Yoga practice.

TRE

TRE® or Trauma & Tension Release Exercises, is a somatic body based practice for anyone suffering with stress, tension, anger, anxiety, pain, contraction in the body caused by emotional and physical activities, trauma or PTSD. It overcomes language barriers as it is a process that doesn't require talking about the event, feeling or issue. We do a series of 7 easy stretches, stressing the muscles of the lower body, and building up a little shaking in the legs.  We then lie on the floor, and encourage these natural vibrations to move through the body, without trying to control them.  Most people enjoy the sensation; for some, they report a physical or emotional release, without becoming overwhelmed in the process.

TRE® is a simple technique that uses exercises to release stress or tension from the body that accumulate from every day circumstances of life, from difficult situations, immediate or prolonged stressful situations, or traumatic life experiences (i.e., natural disasters, social or domestic violence).

The uniqueness of this technique is that this shaking originates deep in the core of the body of the psoas muscles. These gentle tremors reverberate outwards along the spine releasing tension from the sacrum to the cranium.

TRE involves a paradigm shift in understanding that involuntary shakes & tremors are not a ‘symptom’ of stress & trauma, but a primary recovery reflex that has evolved in all mammals including humans to naturally restore our body & mind to a calm, relaxed & balanced state.   

TRE is a simple but profound self-care process that can not only be used to ‘release’ stress & trauma after the fact, but just as importantly to prevent stress & burnout by building capacity & physiological resilience in the nervous system through ongoing & regular use.

Conscious  Flow

This is a hatha based class which guides you mindfully through each posture. Giving more conscious thought to each of the poses.   The class takes a more deeper approach to the higher self and giving back through self love and appreciation.  

Zumba

Zumba is a fitness programme which involves dance and aerobic elements. Zumba's choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo and martial arts. Squats and lunges are also included.

Kids yoga

Add some fun and laughter, calm and tranquility into your child's life with an introduction to yoga.  These fun filled classes cater to different age groups and are designed to expose children to specific poses in a fun yet beneficial way. Some classes are taught with music and creative stories while each  incorporate a calming element to allow for balance within..  Exposing children to yoga early promotes healthy living and a better future.  Kids gain confidence in a non-competitive environment through classes which encourage each child to celebrate their uniqueness. Classes which focus on balance and co-ordination often enhance concentration   THere is so much that can be gained from exposure to yoga so why not came and see what yoga can do for you or your children.