Sunday Classes - Styles of practice

Restorative Yoga in a nutshell - Enhances flexibility. Deeply relaxes the body. Stills the mind. Improves capacity for healing and balancing. Balances the nervous system. Boosts the immune system. Develops qualities of compassion and understanding toward others and self. Enhances mood states.

A restorative practice is more of a yin style of yoga, as opposed to more yang styles that involve more movement and more muscular effort. Restorative yoga uses long-held, supported resting poses to create the conditions for us to cultivate the skill of conscious relaxation and most importantly to release unnecessary habitual tension in the body and mind. It's a little bit closer to a meditation practice than a movement practice—it's a way of practicing "meditation" as a somatic, embodied experience. For many of us, hatha yoga practices can easily become another opportunity to get caught up in accomplishing or striving to get better at a pose. Restorative yoga is about, "How can I let my body and mind unwind? How can I do less?"

Slo..Flo..Glo - The complimentary styles of Yin & Yang, Shakti & Shiva - This practice will begin with a series of Restorative yoga positions to encourage relaxation and release of the connective tissues within the body and to quieten the mind. Once we are restored we will follow a gently invigorating flow sequence and complete our practice with a long and deep relaxation.   

Spring Clean - Tuning into the seasons; We will celebrate the arrival of Spring with an enlivening practice of asana and pranayama, balanced with some Restorative poses, Meditation and a deep final Relaxation. Enhanced by a fun playlist, this extended morning practice will encourage you to shrug off your winter coats and embrace the start of spring.

Sivanada Ashram Style Hatha Yoga - Along with a contemporary playlist, this two hour, 15 minute morning practice will be primarily a ‘Sivananda’ session. We will follow the principles of this style, beginning at the Crown Chakra, slowly travelling downwards through each Energy centre and finally completing our practice at Muladhara, the Root Chakra.  

Summer Equinox - Historically a spiritually significant time of year; We will celebrate the Summer Equinox with an enlivening practice of asana and pranayama, balanced with some Restorative poses, Meditation and a deep final Relaxation. Enhanced by a contemporary playlist, this extended morning practice will invite you to release the old and embrace the new.