In the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, the primary text of yoga, it says “sthiram sukham asanam“, which means to sit in a position which is comfortable and steady. The goal of yoga is to find this steadiness and comfort, physically, mentally and spiritually. Through the practice of the physical yoga postures (asana), you can heal your body and soul and find stillness within. 

We currently offer Hatha and Restorative yoga asana.

Prana is the sanskrit word for “life force”. The practice of pranayama involves the use of particular breathing practices which are aimed at manipulating this “life force”. The practice of pranayama cleanses and calms the body and mind, allowing you to go deeper into your yoga practice.

 The practice of meditation is food for the body, heart and soul. Meditation evokes your childlike innocence and helps you to become more in touch with your true state. There are numerous practices of meditation. We will teach and practice Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep), Vipassana (Buddhist Meditation), Transcendental Meditation (TM), and Osho Meditation.

Shat means six and karma means actions. Shatkarma consists of the 6 groups of purification practices. These purification practices help to heal your body to help deepen the practice of pranayama and asana. Shatkarma creates harmony between the two major channels (nadis) in the body, ida and pingala, and creates harmony and balance in the body. 

Yoga is a practice that is thousands of years old. One of the first texts on yoga, and the most foundational text, is the Patanjali Yoga Sutras which was written around 400 CE. Some of the other key texts of traditional yoga are the Bhagavad Gita, written around 200 BCE, and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written around the 15th century CE. These texts are the primary sources of the philosophy of yoga and will be explored more deeply in our courses.

**Philosophy is only offered in our courses because it requires a methodical approach. In our Foundations of Yoga course, we will cover the Patanjali Yoga Sutras as well as an overview of yoga and the 8 limbs of yoga. In our Yoga In-Depth Course, we will cover the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, an overview of yoga and the 8 limbs of yoga, the different types of traditional yoga and how to practice them, an overview of the chakras, and how to do yoga sadhana. 

Mantras are short phrases that are repeated or chanted alone or in a group setting. The chanting of mantras calms the mind and is a practice of meditation commonly known as Transcendental Meditation (TM). Mantra chanting will be be incorporated into the asana and meditation classes. 

Mudras are the hand or body gestures commonly used in asana and meditation practice. Different mudras cause different affects on the body and mind and can be used to help direct energy flows in the body. Mudras help link the individual pranic force with the universal force. 

Bandhas are the various body “locks” used in asana, meditation and pranayama practices. These locks help direct the flow of prana in the body to particular areas and redirect the flow of prana into the sushumna nadi for the purpose of spiritual awakening.