About our Yoga
 | Although we have classes called "Beginner" we feel that there is no such thing as a true beginner or advanced yoga client.You are either familiar with or not familiar with yoga.
Beginner classes are meant to get you "familiar" with yoga. There are also classes that anyone may take to focus on details.Power, fusion and all other classes are for those familiar with yoga and interested in creating a personal practice guided by the instructor. Our classes are primarily Ashtanga based, with a focus on yoga therapy for every stage of life and abilities. More on that below if you'd like more details. |
New To Yoga or Our Studio?
- of our classes are appropriate for all students for the most part. It is personal preference if you choose basics, fusion, power, etc. *many of our students have had knee or back injuries or surgeries, as well as other limitations. You are not alone if you have limitations.
-Please arrive at least five minutes before class to settle in.
-Please do not leave the yoga room during savasana (end of class relaxation/meditation). If you must leave, leave before.
-No late arrivals.
-Be prepared to focus on your dynamic breathing and in engaging in facilitation of your inner heat.-Dress in layers, modesty counts.
You MUST register online. NO DROP INS!Bring Room Temp Water (it is probable that you will cramp with cold water)Bring -or rent a mat from usIt's a good idea to bring a hand, bath or yoga towel
Getting started
-Pay online (bring receipt in) or via check or cash (exact change) or redeem groupon receipt.-Schedule classes online.
If you need to cancel, please log in and find the cancel button under your appointments.
When you enter Studio: Keep chatter to a minimum or soft speaking onlyBe mindful if a class is in session.
Sign in
Place items on white shelfDress in layers
-Please arrive at least five minutes before class to settle in.
-Please do not leave the yoga room during savasana (end of class relaxation/meditation). If you must leave, leave before.
-No late arrivals.
-Be prepared to focus on your dynamic breathing and in engaging in facilitation of your inner heat.-Dress in layers, modesty counts.
You MUST register online. NO DROP INS!Bring Room Temp Water (it is probable that you will cramp with cold water)Bring -or rent a mat from usIt's a good idea to bring a hand, bath or yoga towel
Getting started
-Pay online (bring receipt in) or via check or cash (exact change) or redeem groupon receipt.-Schedule classes online.
If you need to cancel, please log in and find the cancel button under your appointments.
When you enter Studio: Keep chatter to a minimum or soft speaking onlyBe mindful if a class is in session.
Sign in
Place items on white shelfDress in layers
We are an Ashtanga (or Astanga) yoga based studio that utilizes other forms of yoga as well as various meditation styles and various modalities, to create the most complete experience for you.
Raja (means royalty) or Ashtanga (means eight limbs) yoga is synonymous with "Power" yoga. However, every yoga instructor has their own style, unless they are a franchised studio where they teach in the same exact style and methodology. Vinyasa just means (in Sanskrit) "to place in a certain way". It is considered in the west a more flowing "breathing" yoga. To clarify: Power, Raja, Astanga, Ashtanga and Vinyasa are all synonyms for the same general practice; it just depends where you go and what style your teacher enjoys. I've been to classes called Vinyasa that would be considered Power to some... I've been to classes that are very methodical and only in a sequence of a certain teacher (Iyengar, Birch, Baptiste) that have been called Raja. There are MANY yoga styles, some more popular via their names (like Birch, Baptiste and Forrest) as well as Christian Yoga, Jewish Yoga, Kids Yoga, etc. In whole, if you are doing bakasana or downward dog, you are still doing Ashtanga yoga.... just a variation of.
There is also NO such thing truly as "beginner or advanced". Everyone is on their own path. A flexible, chatty person is not any more advanced than a tight person who can focus on being inward. For the sake of marketing to help clients, I name classes in the styles that we teach. In a "Very Beginner" class you can expect more communication and less flow, with more instruction. In Power, you can expect sweating with minimal communication, while in Vinyasa we focus more on breathing through postures not the postures themselves as much. Peaceful Power is a combo of breathing focus, posture focus and inward focus.Be assured, when people were practicing yoga, in a toga, on a mountain next to their llama, they didn't say "oh wait, you need to come back at 8 pm for Power"... they just moved and focused on the philosophy as a whole.
Modern society has a fabulous way of turning anything into a commercialized assembly line; our goals are to create a personal experience, sans the llamas, where we get back to the core of what yoga is, and fully appreciate and experience what it has to offer.Hot room vs room temp: I'm a firm believer that a true inner heat is the only way to be flexible from the inside out, not just react to the external and be flexible from that. Of course, there is merit to a hot room. It helps you feel flexible and helps you sweat with less effort on your part, and that feels good. Our rooms get warm from student-generated heat, but it is student or individual generated, which is impressive. We sometimes practice yoga outdoors for workshops, and enjoy the elements as yoga was practiced in it's original form. I am not against hot yoga; I just don't teach in that style. It's a personal preference. I honestly haven't figured out how teach someone how to raise their inner heat if they can't feel their own inner heat vs an external heat. That being said, don't expect a lot of air conditioning in the summer months. We work with nature, not against it.
Within our style are the eight limbs; you will see the physical aspect is just one of the eight.
- Acting honorably (Yama)
- Keeping ethical principles (Niyama)
- Developing strength without restlessness (Asana)
- Channeling the flow of life’s energy (Pranayama)
- Inspiring the senses (Pratyahara)
- Focusing the mind (Dharana)
- Experiencing deep connection (Dhyana)
- Knowing one’s true nature (Samadhi)
Yoga is supposed to be about a philosophy not just a series of postures; in fact, the inward focus is a goal and attaining that is through only partially, the physical process. That being said, the physical process is needed to create the limbs as a whole, as it is an anciently-proven venue tried and true; including currently, medically proven, sound and supported.
What to expect:
There will be moments where you focus on your quadriceps, and moments where you focus on quiet contemplation. You'll feel frustrations rise, joy, sadness and everything in between; this is what we call the processing of yoga. Beginners tend to feel it more with postures, while those who have practiced a while often experience the process in meditation.
For example, a person new to yoga will focus on the more outer layer where they look at their body limitations and triumphs during the physical practice. They may be focused on losing weight or firming up. They may find it hard to quiet the inner and vocal chatter. This is all very "external". The more seasoned student enjoys the challenges in yoga but their process is more on how to create a relaxation in postures, or perfecting a posture with an inner peace, and also in creating an intention for their practice - to bring even deeper meaning.
In any class you could have a mix of goals; so you never know what anyone is working on or where they are in their levels of depth of the study. This is fine, and expected, and all are correct.
Our yoga is therapy based and all yoga instructors or yoga therapists - hired or trained in our studio, have a focus on utilizing yoga as a healing, empowering modality, regardless of your goals.
Our yoga is about harnessing your power. That power comes when you harness with integrity and intention.
I have news for those who are hoping this is some esoteric, magical, moon-beam filled experience. It's not. It's work, and it's focus.
RELIGION: Yoga has been used in religions, far beyond Buddhism/Hindu. Kneeling, bowing, stretching, hands in prayer- all behaviors that predate any of the more common religions.
However, also realize this. If you are concerned about using yoga in your lifestyle, you should also eliminate books and candles, as they are used in other religions predating Judaism and Christianity. It would seem silly to deter using a scented candle in your home, correct? Well, that is how benign yoga is.
Now, if your religion or personal practice in spirituality allows you to love, have compassion, be responsible, forgive and to see the body as a gift from God, we'll get along fine.
Our style of yoga predates any other yoga by at least 1000 years... it's ancient, time-tested and can fit any lifestyle.
| We do not rely on a host of props for your yoga practice; instead, we rely on the body.
A mat is the only "prop" that we use on a regular basis, and when it can give the student a bit of safe aid, a yoga straps. Yoga blocks are not used nor are they allowed in the studio. They not only can cause injury quite easily, but can be a crutch to progressing in practice. |
