Heart of the Village Yoga

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Yoga Classes

Yoga Classes

Breathing in I calm my body. Breathing out I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Yin Yoga (Mild)

Yin Yoga is a slow, meditative, deeply healing practice that works deeply into our body with passive, longer-held poses. Yin yoga targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, and the deep fascia networks of the body – rather than the muscles (which are the physical focus of Yang yoga practices).

Benefits of a regular Yin yoga practice: Increases circulation and improves flexibility; Calms and balances the mind and body; Reduces stress and anxiety; Releases fascia; Encourages deeper relaxation; Improves joint mobility; Brings balance to the organs through meridian stimulation.

The key is holding each pose for an extended length of time, typically for two to five minutes (or even longer!). As for the poses themselves, many yin yoga postures are seated, reclined, or prone poses, since they require your muscles to be fully relaxed. Think: half butterfly pose, reclined knee down twist, pigeon.

While you’re in each pose, work to find stillness. Avoid fidgeting or moving around as best as you can in order to release fully into the posture. You want to move yourself to a point where you feel a deep sensation that helps stretch your fascia and ligaments. However, you should never stretch to the point of pain.

Yin yoga is also a great place to make use of props for added support or lengthening. Blocks can be used under your knees in a forward fold, for instance, while a bolster or rolled-up blanket can be placed under your seat during butterfly to ease tight hips.

Gentle Yoga (Mild)

This gentle flow class includes a long warm up and cool down and is gentle on the knees. This class incorporates meditation and simple flowing sequences to warm up the body, as well as, slower paced movements that focus on alignment, strength, balance, flexibility, all linked together with conscious breath. Suitable for all levels – no experience required.

Slow Flow Yoga (Mild-Medium)

Slow Flow Restorative Yoga opens and closes with restorative and yin poses, and flows through seated and standing poses in the middle of the class. Poses range from gentle to more challenging and are practiced with stable, self-centering energy. The slow pace of this class allows for emphasis on correct alignment and maintaining balanced even breathing. This style builds strength, stability and postural integrity. Suitable for all levels. Classes are limited for ages 13 and older.

Flow Yoga (Medium)

Flow yoga is a mixture of meditation, breath-work and energizing movement. Class begins with gentler movements to warm up the body, then moves into progressively more challenging flowing sequences. These may include standing poses, balances, inversions and peak poses. The classes tend to end with slower, deeper stretches, and often floor-based asana practice.

The breath synchronization found in flow yoga maximizes the positive benefits of the practice, turning it into a moving meditation. The breath primarily helps to maintain the pace of the sequence, preventing practitioners from rushing through poses. It can also be used to assist in deepening the expression of a pose, while providing greater mental focus and freedom from distraction. In this way, meditation and breath work are woven throughout class.

Regardless of the practitioner’s level, flow yoga can be modified to accommodate those with injuries or disabilities, as well as a varied level of experience. This is an all levels class where students can adapt the pose to themself, versus adapting themself to the pose. The teacher will offer ‘stops on the train’ for the poses, and in that way, meets each student where they are. Classes are limited to ages 13 and older.

OUTDOOR Flow Yoga (Medium)

This class is held outside, weather permitting, in back of Jo and Bob’s home located at 255 Hemlock Ridge Road, Manchester Center, Vermont.

If the weather is not appropriate we will notify you of class cancellation via email 1.5 hours before class. We will also cancel the class on the schedule 1.5 hours ahead of time.

Online pre-registration required. If you sign up for a spot and are not able to come, please cancel, so that someone else can have that space.

Power Yoga for Core Strengthening (Spicy)

We will perform a dynamic series of core-strengthening and standing postures designed specifically to improve core power and function, and to give an invigorating core workout, while providing ample time to cool-down and stretch out with a series of slow-flowing yoga postures.

LIVE STREAM Functional Strength and Power Yoga Fusion (Spicy)

Intended for yoga students who may be new to functional strength training, but formatted in a way to allow individual growth through progressive resistance and modifications, we invite you to give this class a try.

There will still be mindfulness and breath focus, enhancing a sense of personal presence and power. This class provides opportunities for strengthening in ways not emphasized in typical power yoga classes.

Although we will do our best to lead the class in such a manner that no home weight equipment is required, we recommend that you have at home the following: 1/4” and 1/2” 40-inch loop exercise bands and 9-inch loop lightweight mini-bands; suspension training device; appropriate-for-you weight kettlebells. If interested, these items and more are available at www.performbetter.com (use discount code PB15) or by calling Isaac Rodriguez at Perform Better (800-556-7464 ext 104, reference quote QB1108) and identify yourself as being a Heart of the Village Yoga Student client. Obviously, you are welcome to use your own home equipment and to adapt accordingly!Give the class a try… get your day going strong!

Give the class a try… get your day going strong! Maybe combine it with a 9:00 am Flow Yoga class to start your day in a new way!

A link to a recording of this class will be emailed to you after class and available for viewing for 1 day.

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