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Enhancing A Natural Approach Toward Wellness
Lessons Designed Specifically for Your Unique Needs
Private & Semi-Private Classes
One-on-one instruction, or round up your friends for a semi-private yoga event.
"The depth of the asanas is not as important as the knowledge of how to approach them at a personal level."
David Swenson
Beginner
Beginner Basics
Are you interested in starting a yoga practice, but the thought of entering a class with seasoned yogis stresses you out enough to keep you from the relaxing benefits? This class is designed to teach you some of the basic jargon, like how "asana" means "pose" and "pranayama" means breath, as well as get you comfortable with the most common yoga poses you will encounter in most yoga classes. After one or two of these sessions, you should feel comfortable to strut confidently into any beginning or intermediate yoga class.
Restorative
Restorative yoga focuses on undoing stress. If functions like the more active styles of yoga, but typically works on a deeper level. Restorative yoga poses are held longer than more active yoga poses, usually about 5 to 10 minutes each, and during this time you are held in poses while being supported with blankets, blocks, or bolsters. The extended time spent in these poses allows them the time to penetrate your body's systems - including your mind - to create significant shifts in both physical and mental health.
Restorative
Flow
Flow
A flowing yoga practice, or Vinyasa in the case of my style of teaching, includes variations and movements in which we consciously connect the breath, mind, and body. In dynamic exploration, we move through yoga poses with the rhythmic flow of the breath. Dynamic movement allows the body to open more slowly, gently, and deeply so that the ultimate positioning becomes more assimilated into the body.
Lengthen
Lengthen & Strengthen
This type of class is similar to the Flow, or Vinyasa, class. The main difference is that in a flow class every inhale and exhale is coupled with movement into different poses, but Lenghten & Strengthen follows the Hatha style of yoga in which we hold the poses for a few breaths at a time. This encourages strengthening and stretching, depending on the pose you are holding.
Reproductive
Fertility
Stress reduction is one of the central ways that yoga can help boost fertility. One way the body responds to stress is by decreasing blood flow to pelvic organs, so that blood can be shunted to areas critical for fighting or fleeing, as part of the fight-or-flight response. Yoga can reverse some of the effects of stress by ratcheting down the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and turning up the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls internal functions, including the reproductive organs.
We also may adjust the practice and energy levels in sync with your cycle, after all, we all exercise very differently when we are pre-ovulation vs dealing with symptoms of PMS.
Reproductive Focus
Linking different aspects of what I offer - Yoga & Maternal Support - yoga specifically for individuals and couples going through their reproductive journeys is a fun way to stay in shape and reduce the stresses that come along with the journey. We may tailor your practice to how you are feeling in your cycle or different stages of pregnancy.
Pregnancy
It is important to work with a knowledgeable instructor during your pregnancy to keep you and your baby safe through all stages of development. As your body changes and shifts, certain muscles lengthen and others shorten, keeping these in balance will help you during your pregnancy and in the long run. Your body is also pumping you full of the hormone Relaxin, which allows your joints more flexibility. Because of this, you do not want to push yourself beyond your pre-pregnancy limits, or you may overstretch your ligaments injure your joints. You may also be advised by your doctor, depending on your circumstances, to reduce physical activity. Yoga is a great way to continue to work your body, but in a gentler way
Fertility
Pregnancy
As an aside for those who do not want Reproductive Focus in their yoga practice:
This is a very specific variation of focus for one's yoga practice. If this focus is not something that corresponds with your needs at this time it does not mean that you cannot take my classes. These focus options are simply highlighted here because of how it correlates with other aspects of what I do. I would love to work with you to integrate any focus you would like to involve in your yoga practice.
Postnatal
Postnatal
After giving birth, yoga (and any physical activity) needs to be reintroduced slowly, since you may not be as fit as before pregnancy. Although the levels of the hormone relaxin drop quickly after delivery, the ligament-loosening effects linger for about three months. Thus birthers need need to be careful not to push too hard or you may risk injury. If you've had a C-section you will need to restart your yoga practice even more gingerly, especially poses like twists and backbends, which can put pressure on the surgical scar. We will work together to get you back to regular workouts and yoga practice while fostering to your unique needs with safety as the first priority.
Menopause
Women of menopausal age are typically at the stage of life when they are facing a lot of stress from juggling the responsibilities of work, kids, and aging parents. Since it is thought that stress plays a significant role in the severity of menopausal symptoms, reducing stress is thought to be helpful in dealing with hot flashes and mood swings. Yoga can also help address the concerns of thinning bones and loss of muscle mass. Yoga offers weight-bearing postures that help build bone strength and build muscle.
Menopause
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