What is yoga?
Yoga is a total system of health and fitness that originated in India at least 5000 years ago. The word yoga means "union" and was designed to bring a person's mind, body, and spirit into balance for complete health. This is accomplished through a series of yoga postures, special breathing, relaxation techniques, and meditation. Yoga is a wonderful experience that can be adapted to work for nearly everyone, regardless of age, body type, or fitness level.
Is yoga for everyone? What if I'm not flexible or overweight or a senior citizen?
The only prerequisite to do yoga is being able to breathe. Our instructors will show you how each posture can be modified to fit your individual needs. Yoga is not competitive. Each student is encouraged to go at his or her own pace.
Will yoga help me lose weight?
Yoga can make you look and feel better regardless of your weight. Yoga brings a new awareness to the body and it's alignment and to how you nourish it. Yoga can completely change your attitude about your body and the ways you move it, feed it, and take care of it. Practicing yoga regularly will tone and firm your body, reduce body fat, and create long, lean muscles. The relaxation and meditaion can also help to curb "stress eating" and change your mindset of how to eat healthfully.
Can yoga help me sleep better, and be more alert during the day?
Absolutely! Yoga will not only teach you how to relax and calm a restless mind, but will guide you in preventing stress from running your life. Yoga helps you to get in touch with the part of you that is not riding the highs and lows of everyday life, but is peaceful and serene.
What should I wear or bring to class?
You can wear anything that is comfortable and allows you to move and stretch. Many people find that shorts or loose-fitting pants and a t-shirt work fine. Yoga classes are done in bare feet, so you can wear any shoes you like. There is no need to bring anything but yourself. We have mats, blankets, blocks, straps, and other props at the studio. If you have your own mat, feel free to bring it. Try not to eat for at least 1 hour prior to class. It is much easier to perform the postures on an empty stomach and you will feel better afterwards.
How do I know which class is right for me?
If you are new to yoga, or have only done yoga without the assistance of a qualified instructor, then Beginner Yoga is for you. Beginner Yoga will teach you safe and functional form for basic yoga postures and prepare you to begin to link the poses together into a flow.
If you are familiar with the basic yoga postures and are ready to begin linking poses together and coordinating movement with the breath, then you are ready for Yoga I or Open Yoga. Yoga I will incorporate the sun salutation series with more intermediate postures. You will also work on breathing exercises and meditation. Open Yoga is taught in a "stair-step" manner so that newer students and advanced students can all work together.
If you have a good understanding of correct body alignment in the basic postures and are ready for more challenging poses, then you are ready for Yoga II. You should be comfortable performing the sun salutation series unassisted and be familiar with Ujjayi breathing.
If you are ready to full integrate Ujjayi breathing with movement for a powerful practice, then you are ready for Power Yoga. Students should be familiar with basic and intermediate postures, including inversions, full backbends, and deep twisting.