Class Descriptions
Foundations of Yoga
Appropriate for all levels.
Curious about yoga? Never taken a class before? If so, this class is for you. Students will learn and explore the ABC’s of yoga from breathing techniques to detailed posture alignment and much more. Even experienced practitioners can be challenged in this class.
The Tibetan Five are sometimes offered with this class type. They are five exercises believed to increase energy, mental acuity, suppleness and strength.
Vinyasa Yoga
Appropriate for all levels.
Vinyasa or flow yoga is a creative form of yoga. Poses are linked together with the breath in a flow sequence.
The beauty of Vinyasa yoga is the variety. There is no standard sequence in Vinyasa yoga and the style, pace and intensity may vary.. The class may be dynamic and focus on strengthening postures or it may be a slower flow with an emphasis on mobility and flexibility in the spine or the hips.
Introduction to Ashtanga
Appropriate for all levels.
Students will learn the basic fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga in a safe and supportive environment. The basic technique for breathing and movement (vinyasa), meditative gazing (dristhi), and internal energy locks (bandha) are taught. Students will also be guided through the initial sequence of poses.
A great and informative class for those interested in starting an Ashtanga practice.
Restorative Yoga
Appropriate for all levels.
Restorative yoga is a restful practice designed to slow down the body and mind by holding passive stretching poses. It targets the CNS and helps in creating new neural pathways. Typically, no more than 3-5 poses are practiced and props such as bolsters, pillows, blocks and straps are used to help hold the pose with little effort. It is practice of deep relaxation that focuses more on the meditative aspect of yoga.
Breath is largely focused on during the class. Relaxing the mind helps the body to release tension. This allows the student to become more aware of the distractions and tension in the mind and body. Stillness is an important key to learning awareness; breath control is essential to releasing unnecessary distractions that may cause tension. Restorative yoga enhances the connection between mind and body which is a key element for not only your practice on the mat but also off of the mat.
Ashtanga Yoga
Not for absolute beginners.
This class starts with 5 Surya Namaskara As and 3 Surya Namaskara Bs to warm up the body and is followed with a series of standing, seated, inversion and back bending poses.
The Led Half Primary Series class is led up to Boat Pose and followed with the traditional closing sequence.
For both new and experienced students, led classes are an important component to a regular Mysore practice that will be added soon. It is an opportunity to ensure that each vinyasa is being learned and practiced correctly. Following the teacher’s count and pacing increases internal and external strength. Students will be guided through the poses based on their familiarity and proficiency in the practice. This is also referred to as Power Yoga on the scheduling page.
Guided Meditation
Appropriate for all levels.
Meditation is an ancient and increasingly popular practice of mental concentration and relaxation. As the stress levels of our society become higher and higher, so does the number of people looking for a method to relieve that stress inexpensively and effectively. Guided meditation will do that, and provides direction and focus for both new and experienced practitioners.
Guided meditation is a state of relaxed concentration invoked and led by your instructor. The guide will instruct you to relax specific muscles in the body until they are comfortable, and will then lead you through mental images and visualizations, often of healing light or the dissipation of past wrongs. Guided meditation can be as short as a few minutes or as long as several hours. Either way, the purpose is to achieve mental, emotional and physical healing and stress relief.
Yin Yoga
4:30 Class - Appropriate for all levels.
6:30 Class - Not for absolute beginners.
Yin Yoga targets the CNS and the deep connective tissues of the body - ligaments, joints, bones and deep fascia networks. The class consists of a series of floor poses held for up to 5 minutes or more, that target the lower part of the body – the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine, which are areas rich in connective tissues.
Yin yoga improves energy flow and enhances the flow of energy in the organs and it also offers mental and emotional benefits.
“Yoga is a light which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your future.”
-B. K. S. Iyengar
