GENTLE yoga (the easiest)

A great starting point if you haven't done any yoga before, are re-starting your practice, working with an injury, just testing the waters or maybe just want to stick to a softer-style practice. We work at coaxing you out of your brain, and cultivating a connection with your body. Expect functional stretching - gently lengthening muscles & opening joints, guided breath work and gentle introduction to some of the less-threatening yoga poses, with modifications made to keep them accessible and safe for YOU, in the body you’re in right now. Emphasis is on correct technique, learning about the movements as you go while honouring where your body is, with your practice. A great lead-up if you wish to progress toward the OPEN class - though that certainly doesn’t have to be ultimate goal.

We recommend people who've NEVER done any yoga before do a few GENTLE classes. It's not about how fit or strong you are, it's about learning the basics of technique and alignment - how to perform the poses properly and what's important about them. The GENTLE classes will give you the tools and confidence to attend an OPEN yoga class.
* Due to low numbers this term, the GENTLE Yoga class is in hibernation. We will bring it back next term (late September 2010) ...STAY TUNED. 

OPEN yoga

This Hatha style class (inspired by, and often including parts of the Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinyasa styles) infuses traditional yoga poses with safety principles. This well-rounded practice offers more in terms of physical intensity, as well as delving deeper into the other rich aspects of the Yoga practice. The OPEN class can still be modified to suit all shapes, sizes and levels - making the poses either more challenging, or perhaps softer where required. If you can't make it to a GENTLE class first, and you are healthy & fairly mobile, you should be OK to join this class.

PRENATAL yoga

Pregnancy can be the most incredible time in a woman’s life. It’s a time for nurturing, slowing down and listening to your body with your intuitive ear. Prenatal Yoga connects women with their breath, their bodies and their baby by providing safe, simple and effective exercises to strengthen and relax your rapidly changing body, preparing you for your best possible birthing outcome. Join other pregnant women in our community, in this warm, supportive environment as you strengthen and relax your physical body with yoga, and bring clarity, fearlessness and peace to your mind through breath-work and meditation. By honouring this incredibly magical and also challenging time, you’ll support, nurture and trust yourself through this profound physical and emotional time of change.
All women at any stage in their pregnancy are welcome.

If the class time is inconvenient, or you're experiencing pelvic pain (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), high blood pressure, are carrying twins or are experiencing discomfort and/or immobility in your third trimester, we recommend PRIVATE SESSIONS so that we can tailor a programme to meet your specific needs. Please enquire.


PILATES (mat) class

Focusing on strengthening core muscles (ie. Muscles of the abdominals, torso and back) as well as balancing the entire body, Pilates is a great choice for anyone to strengthen their lower back, firm their abdominals and improve overall muscle tone and strength.

The Pilates method is a comprehensive set of principles and movements designed to dramatically improve strength, mobility, posture and coordination. As your core becomes stronger you'll find your posture will improve, in turn alleviating lower back pain and muscle tension. It's an ideal program for desk-sitters.


Max. and Min. class numbers

There is a maximum of 20 bookings taken for classes. If the class you were hoping for is booked out, click here to join a wait list for that class - and BE SURE TO TELL US which class day/time you're interested in. There is also a minimum of 12 students required to viably run a class. Should bookings fall short of that and you've already registered, we will be sure to inform you & offer you an alternative solution, or a refund.

Not sure ?

If you're wondering whether to 'take it up a notch' and move onto a stronger class level next term, ask yourself: "Do I no longer feel challenged in class?" "Do I know most of the poses we regular practice in class, by name - and how they should correctly be executed?" "Do I really need to go up, or am I really enjoying my practice just as it is?" "Is my ego making this decision for me, or is my body actually craving the next level?" "Am I still carrying that chronic injury (and should I continue to nurture it in a lower level class)?" The BEGINNER program basically flows on into the OPEN program...which in turn flows into the ADVANCED program. PLEASE ask if you're not sure which class is appropriate for your current practice, and if we think you've made an inappropriate choice, we'll discuss it with you.

NOTE: Rather than teaching you some of the more 'remarkable-looking' yoga poses, all classes have a FUNCTIONAL focus. It is a well documented fact of corporate life that inevitably the many hours spent sitting in front of a computer and the associated pressures of our corporate culture lead to serious detrimental effects on the body and our mental well-being and can eventually lead to postural issues, work related injury, chronic stress, lowered productivity, reduced longevity and compromised self care. The yoga programs above have been designed and implemented to gently initiate significant postural corrections and positive long-term physiological change. Testimonial evidence constantly reaffirms that regular participation leads to arresting and reversing chronic work related physical issues such as back and neck pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, tendonitis (wrist, elbow, etc), tension headaches, stress, high blood pressure and many other related problems. Yoga also encourages an overall improvement in general health and quality of life, encompassing increased energy levels, improved sleep patterns, enhanced ability to handle stress and quieten the mind, increased strength and flexibility and overall postural improvement. YOGA comes from a Sanskrit word meaning 'to yoke', or 'to join'; the union of opposites. The mind and body joins to rejuvenate, strengthen and stretch the body, relax the mind and revitalize the spirit.

YOGA AT YOUR DESK

This is a 30 - 60 minute presentation actually presented in the office environment.  YOGA AT YOUR DESK is a functional, simple set of seated yoga-based poses and breathing techniques – all designed to be performed briefly at one’s desk or workstation, with no alteration or disruption to the office environment. Its purpose is to gently stretch and open the body, while calming the mind, initiating significant postural corrections and positive long term physiological change. Testimonial evidence constantly reaffirms that regular participation leads to arresting and reversing chronic work related physical issues such as back and neck pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, tendonitis (wrist, elbow, etc), tension headaches, stress, high blood pressure and many other related problems. A 'quick-fix' of yoga, without having to leave your desk. Enquire about this presentation here.