What’s the class is like?
Our Yoga classes are appropriate for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Our experienced certified instructor will guide you according to your level and physical abilities.
Make sure to mention to the instructor if you have any previous injuries or health concerns, so she can help you modify the practice according to your needs.
Our classes are traditional Hatha Vinyasa classes for all levels and include Asana (physical practice of yoga) and some aspects of pranayama ( breathing techniques). Vinyasa means that postures are linked together and coordinated with the breath.
You will get a great work out, practice according to your level and physical abilities. You will also release stress, calm your mind, and find balance. After class you can expect to feel more refreshed, energies and peaceful.
What is Yoga?
When the word yoga is mentioned, many people immediately think about stretching. Stretching is a part of a yoga practice, however a very small one.
“Yoga is 99% practice, one persent theory” Sri Patabhi Jois
In other words, yoga is something that can only be learned and experienced by actual practice, by doing. There are no words that can fully describe and explain the deepness of this ancient practice. So, please give it a try and allow a few classes for your body and mind to adjust to the practice and start feeling the benefits.
Systematic Hatha yoga has originated in India sometime in the 6th century A.D.
Yoga is a methodical approach, a set of techniques, which will lead a practitioner towards healthy, strong and youthful body, deeper understanding of mind and free spirit.
Word yoga, (from Sanskrit) means union. On the very basic level, it is interpreted as a union between one’s body and mind; on a higher level, union between the entire universe, also ability to see oneself as one with the universe.
Yoga system consist of eight limbs or aspects:
Yama ( means “ restrain” from violence, lying, stealing, exploiting sensual pleasures and hoarding)
Niyama ( means “observance” of purity, contentment, tolerance, study and remembrance)
Asana- physical exercises.
Asana is currently the most common and well known aspect of yoga. This is the system of physical postures and sequences of postures.
Pranayama- breath control practices
Pratyahara- “ withdrawal of the mind from senses” in preparation for meditation
Dharana- Concentration, ability to focus on a single object
Dhyana- meditation, prolonged concentration
Samadhi- complete absorption with the object of your meditation.
Traditionally, the yogic teachings and traditions have been passed down from teachers to students via oral discourse and demonstrations for thousands of years. As a result, the way the techniques are taught today is influenced by the lineage of each teacher.
Yoga is not a religion
Even thought yoga originated in ancient India, it is not a form of Hinduism. People of may different religions as well as atheists happily practice yoga.
Benefits of yoga. Yoga as medicine.
“The part can never be well unless the whole is well” PLATO
Yoga will reduce your stress, strengthen your body, and improve flexibility, posture, balance, and coordination. It will also improve your cardiovascular conditions, lower blood pleasure, help loose weight, strengthen bones, increase overall energy level, relieve lower, upper and middle back pain, shoulder and neck tension, sciatica, anxiety, sleep disorders and more.. With practicing of yoga you are strengthening and calming the nervous system. You increase the blood and oxygen flow to internal organs and cells. Since the asana practice requires your full concentration, your mind gets a chance to let go of the nonstop chatter and experience complete clarity. Deep relaxation techniques practiced as a regular part of a yoga session, create a profound sense of peace and restfulness. Through reduced stress, purifying the body, and calming the mind, yoga creates an overall sense of wellbeing and fulfillment, leading to overall increased health and radiance in the body.
Even though, yoga was not originally designed to improve health or to facilitate recovery from serious illnesses, it’s role as a healing tool and its therapeutic value are undeniable.
Through experimentation with physical postures and breath work and careful observation of the results, ancient spiritual aspirants and yogis found ways to balance out the nervous system, stimulate various internal and external organs. Nowadays, yogic practices and exercises are been successfully used to treat conditions such as: arthritis, asthma, Anxiety, back pains, depression, sleep disorders, infertility, Irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, high blood pressure and many others.
Yoga for Stress Release
Stress in our lives can contribute to a number of physical illnesses and discomforts such as depression, anxiety, tension in shoulders and neck, tension headaches, ulcers as well as obesity, diabetes.. etc.
No matter what the external factors are, the real stress is very often intensified and produced by our thoughts. The practice of yoga will help you tremendously decrease the amount of stress in your life and feel more relaxed and at ease.
Who can practice yoga?
You do not have to be flexible, fit, in good health, or young to practice yoga. The practice can be modified to work for your body in exactly the state that it is in right now.