Both yoga and western science teach us that our inhales are associated with increased alertness, attention and invigoration. This full practice focuses on a deeper philosophy surrounding breath directions and how the inhale is related to opening and clearing the heart of heavy, stagnant (kapha) energy. Expect full body movement that may increase mobility of the upper back and shoulders.
Fluid, rhythmic movements and breath awareness to calm the mind, followed by posture holds to strengthen, enliven and shed stagnation. A complete practice of therapeutic movement for the whole body for grey and chilly days.
A 90 minute experience to acknowledge the arrival of the winter season and the longer days of light. Exploring the pause at the end of the exhale is a calming, balancing technique through an invigorating sequence and reflections to close the end of the year.
A practice of mindful movement intended to support the art of being present in all the moments we pour our hearts into creating. Full body mindful strengthening followed by slower stretches and a lengthened body scan meditation.
Utilize the yogic concept of the "koshas" (layers) to practice the art of mindfulness; the skill of witnessing the body, breath, mind and heart as a means of cultivating presence and ease within a full spectrum practice.
Explore your body's relationship with the ground in strengthening standing postures and yin poses to relax the nervous system and find ease in effort. Intended to help you practice feeling calm and connected to yourself and the present moment before moving into potential.
Warm up, strengthen and restore in a full body experience designed to help you move away from distraction and back to what matters most. This practice closes with a few restorative postures using a pillow or a bolster and 2 small blankets.
A slow flow matched with an intentional, balanced breath rhythm tethered to a focused mind blend to create the potential for a meaningful closing seated meditation. The ultimate in relaxation in aligned (sometimes strong) action.
Sometimes stronger (yet comfortable) movement is what we need to be able to slow down and really rest. Explore postures to strengthen, legs, core and arms, and then stretch, breathe and move into deep restoration.
An opportunity to reflect on what you'd like to receive more of, and what you'd like to offer to someone else through your earnest practice. You'll be invited to weave your intentions through a rhythmic, moderate flow designed to increase mobility, strength and flexibility.
Begin this complete strength and stretch experience with a guided body scan to rest the mind and encourage healing, present-centred thinking. You'll be invited to check back into the body often throughout this practice which closes with a more detailed scan for deeper relaxation and peace.
A full body hatha experience featuring guidance to help you connect with your inner experience. Useful for days when the mind feels busy and the body feels ungrounded.
Those of us with a more dominant fiery nature who have a hard time relaxing, or have a tendency not to stop until the point of exhaustion can become vulnerable to burnout as the weather heats up. Interestingly, many of us need stronger movement before we can truly relax. This is an example of a practice to help a busy mind and body finally take a break, cool down and replenish.
The underpinnings of yoga include the philosophy of the Yoga Sutras, an old text that continues to inspire modern yogis. One of the suggestions for creating inner contentment is the cultivation of "dharana" the Sanskrit word for concentration. Explore techniques to support this skill within a complete, full body hatha practice.
When was the last time you allowed yourself to just be? There are so many benefits to letting ourselves do nothing every once in a while, and be with what is. Here's a practice that guides you to presence through your senses throughout a rhythmic, engaging and strengthening flow. Learn to discern how to feel a balance of effort and ease and experience 75 minutes of mindfulness in motion.
One reason we may feel depleted is having to continue to take action to fulfill our responsibilities even when we may need rest. This necessary tendency can desensitize us to our energy levels and lead to burn out. The intention of this hatha flow is to re-sensitize yourself to how much energy you are expending by committing to work at 70-75 percent of your ability during the dynamic portion of this practice. The last third of this class is a series of restorative poses to further help us rebuild the energy we scatter through our lives every day.
In May's workshop, I offered you a bounty of ideas for helping you to start your day vibrant and tranquil.
We explored an exercise where we examine what we already do each morning, and where we could add in small new habits that can add up to big changes over time.
Workshop notes:
-New habit ideas from bed: Breathe into right side nostril/right side body to encourage a new day of energized activity, eye exercises, joint freeing. Cultivate a thought as your feet hit the floor, like: "May something wonderful happen today".
-Let the light in, a ritual while opening blinds, windows, standing joint freeing and shake off the night's sleep.
-5 essential yoga postures: Plank, Cobra (or Locust), Leg Lifts, Bridge Pose, Bow Pose (with modifications and options. Body Brushing
-Turning aspirations into reality through habit change (written exercise)
-Prana Nidra: a supine guided meditation intended to encourage presence, (the wellspring of vitality) and balance our energy.
We begin with three brief breath techniques intended to calm a distracted mind, invigorate and increase focus. The breath leads a rhythmic flow through a full body strengthen and stretch. Closes with more gentle concentration and overall ease for mind, body and heart
Strengthen your wrists, arms and upper body in a sustainable way by learning to mobilize joints and strengthen muscles without load, preparing the arms for appropriate challenge. In this 75 min invigorating therapeutic class, you'll warm up before weight-bearing movement and explore how focus on arms and chest can enhance breath and the connection with qualities of the heart.
A practice that begins with a breath technique intended to restore depleted energy, followed by a fluid sequence of asana meant to be approached with effort and ease. The experience closes with guided imagery to continue to rebuild and nourish.