Yoga Class Descriptions
Hot Yoga
A challenging series of postures with intervals between poses to facilitate deep healing/relaxation while keeping the heart rate up. This series is the best cardiovascular exercise available, deeply detoxifying, rejuvenating, when practiced regularly completely restructures your entire body from head to toe from the inside out. While all yoga is considered "Anti-Aging" Hot Yoga puts the ultimate U-turn on the aging process. Most practitioners sweat profusely so please replenish with electrolytes and bring a large towel for your mat. Recommended for everyone regardless of ability level.
Power Yoga
Also known as Vinyasa (flow) this yoga is also done in a heated room linking breath with movement through the transitions in between postures. Styles vary from instructor to instructor and generally focus more on abdominal/core and upper body, spinal twists, arm balancing and full inversions. Power yoga will strengthen and define each and every muscle in your body. Welcome to beginners and advanced students; please work at your own pace and enjoy the ride!
Hour of Power
Same as Power Yoga but only an hour long so you can have your yoga for lunch!
Restorative Yoga and Gentle Yoga
Deeply relaxing yoga with the assistance of props to support the body in releasing stress, tension and supporting of the body. Anyone can benefit from this practice. Helps to increase range of motion and develop inner awareness. Emphasis is on deep relaxation throughout class; great for chronic injuries and disabilities or anyone who wants to slow down.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga unites the body, mind and breath while strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility and stamina, developing proper body alignment, improving concentration and increasing energy. Appropriate for all levels. Ideal for beginners, those who want a less strenuous yoga practice and pregnant women.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga consists of mostly seated and reclined postures to gently stretch and release the connective tissues around major joints. This practice increases mobility within these joints and promotes better flow of energy throughout the body. Postures are performed with muscles held as relaxed as possible and are held anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. This practice is very calming and a great complement to all the activity in our lives. Appropriate for all levels.
Ashtangha Vinyasa
Essentially identical to power yoga with a slightly more traditional emphasis focusing deeply on alignment, breath, and more deliberate transitions. Power is faster/lighter and more playful, Ashtangha a bit more concentrated. Please work at your own pace and allow your body's wisdom to shine through. You will leave class completely renewed. Open to any and all levels.
Core/Strengthening Yoga
Core/Strengthening Yoga focuses on breath and alignment to build strength, focus and perspective that practitioners can use on and off the mat. All parts of the body are engaged while specific attention is paid to strengthening the core muscles: abs and back.
Bootcamp Hour
A total body workout with our star personal fitness trainer Archie! Come ready to work hard, sweat and have fun. You will be sore the next day.
Sunrise Yoga and Integral Yoga
Hatha Yoga practiced in a 'warm' room with emphasis on breath, alignment and sustained holds of postures. Meditation and beginning pranayama (breathing practices) are central focuses to integral yoga with extra focus on spinal twists. You will develop deep states of awareness to free up your body/mind in life while getting an awesome workout. This class takes the best of all that yoga has to offer in one well-rounded session. Open to all regardless of ability level.
Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutations)
Surya Namaskara is a sequence of yogic asanas performed dynamically. In Surya Namaskara one yogic posture follows the previous. It has been practiced in India for thousands of years. It is perhaps the most complete yogic exercise. It promotes flexibility, and muscle tone and depending on the duration and speed it also promotes cardio vascular health. The sequence of postures is also combined with breathing pattern.
The sequence of movements and poses can be practised on varying levels of awareness, ranging from that of purely physical exercise to a complete sadhana which incorporates asana, pranayama (yogic breathing) and dhyana (meditation). At its highest level of practice, Surya Namaskara is meditation in motion which promotes complete physical as well as mental health.
Pranayama (Yogic Breathing) and Dhyana (Meditation)
Prana means the vital energy and Yama means control. Pranayama is about harnessing vital energy of breath. Pranayama helps reduce stress and increase concentration. It prepares for the next stage which is dhyana (meditation). Here you will learn specific techniques of yogic breathing that will vitalize your body and mind, relax you and prepare you for dhyana (meditation).
We will practice five step meditation. The five stages of meditation are:
- Steady Body
- Relaxed Body
- Peaceful Mind
- Peaceful and alert Mind
- Spontaneous and Natural Mind
There are many misconceptions about meditation. For example, mediation is not about concentration but about relaxation. Meditation is not about excluding thoughts but about witnessing thoughts. Only way to learn what meditation is to practice meditation.
Kids Yoga
Entertaining & Imaginative Hatha Yoga for children of all ages.
Parents Yoga
This Hatha Yoga class is open to anyone. We just want to make sure we have a class for our parents who drop their kids off for Kids Yoga. This is an easygoing stress free class to renew your health and is also a great place to build your confidence as total beginner to yoga. Practiced at room temp.
Mommy & Baby Yoga
A fun Hatha Yoga class designed for moms or primary care givers to get a practice in while bonding with our little ones.
Community Classes
These are classes by donation only. The suggested donation is $10 but any amount less or more that comes from your heart is fine. An existing membership with Ayuh is also acceptable.
