Posts in Balance
Meditation: Presence Through Body Awareness

For those of us who count ourselves as worriers, focusing on our breath during meditation can be anxiety-inducing. This meditation invites you to focus on sensations of the body- the part of you that’s always present. You might find this technique to be very relaxing, because it helps us to arrive in the present moment where we belong and feel the most content. It’s also useful for those of us not accustomed to feeling our bodies and helps us befriend them and the sensations within.

Meditation, body, Calm, Balance, soulLisa Dumas
Morning Ritual: Go With the Flow and Glow

The second sheath in the yogic map of a human being is the “pranic body” or energetic body. This aspect of us is affected by everything that we take in or put out. When our energetic system is out of balance we might feel depleted, or we might feel overly activated. This practice consists of 15 minutes of guided breath work, visualization, fluid, gentle movement and mudra with the intention to get the energetic body harmonized and glowing while encouraging the mind to be present with life, one flowing breath at a time.

Morning Ritual: Ground and Connect to a Sense of Safety

The yogic map of a human being consists of five sheaths (koshas) that we can work with to balance our system and connect with our true nature more often. The first sheath or layer is the physical body. For many of us, connecting with our physical body is a path to feeling more at ease because we become present, the only place life really exists. Use this morning ritual when you want to ground and calm a nervous mind and body and focus scattered attention.

Grounding into the Qualities of the Heart

This slow flow hatha class begins with a breath technique to ignite the symbolic heart space. The physical practice is structured to "open" the front of the body and strengthen the back of the body and it closes with relaxation and meditation intended to help us stay connected to love, gratitude, compassion and the other expansive qualities of our hearts.

Balancing Body, Balancing Energy

Yoga views the human being as being multi-dimensional, and when we practice, we not only tend to the physical body, but our internal life force and or minds so we can reconnect with our true nature. This is a moderate class designed to strengthen the physical areas that will help to "balance" many bodies, along with a harmonizing practice for the pranic (energetic) body.

Processing Change

A Therapeutic Practice to support us as we learn to digest our life experiences skillfully; to take the lessons we need and release what doesn't serve us. Expect a moderate practice to open the front line of the body.

Balance, 75 Minutes, Calm, heartLisa Dumas
Attention and Intention at the Heart

A moderate to challenging practice that invites the mind to focus on the sacred mantra OM and the visualization of "implanting" it into the heart. Placing a mantra into our practices is intended to help us embody the meanings of sacred mantras. "OM" helps us connect to the expansive part of us that is connected to everything.

Open Heart, Strong Back (boundaries)

A moderate hatha practice that encourages expansion across the physical chest and an intention to cultivate a receptive open heart through movement and a specific breath technique. We can create space at the front line of the body by strengthening the muscles of the back body which invites you to consider nourishing your strong back (or strong, healthy boundaries)

Magic Morning

Start the day by stepping into who you want to be, rather than reactivity. Connect to your body, breath and heartfelt intentions with this moderate to challenging class designed to wake you up with purpose and presence.

Getting Grounded

A hatha practice with additional focus on stretching and strengthening the feet and muscles of the legs. Expect to experience how calming and empowering it can be to really "feel your feet on the ground" and learn to establish a firm foundation on and off the mat.

75 Minutes, Balance, body, Calm, mindLisa Dumas
Energy Goes Where Attention Flows

A more mellow and slow (still strong at times) practice that keeps you closer to the ground throughout. Featuring skills to experience the fullness of the present moment, including a centering breath visualization and an invitation to focus on what's going right. Perfect for re-energizing when feeling tired or starting your day with a gentler, inspiring awakening.

Balance, 75 Minutes, heart, mindLisa Dumas
Cultivating Compassion Without a Reason

One of the underpinnings of yoga is the potential to cultivate a sense of fulfillment and wellbeing in the present moment. This kind of contentment is the practice of wanting of what we already have. Explore this concept while moving through a slow, balancing flow focused on strengthening areas of our physical bodies that can tend to be weak and stretching areas that can be habitually tight.