Downtown Yoga Shala Classes
Experience the harmony of body, mind and spirit with yoga. Regardless of the style of yoga you choose, you will see life-changing results when you practice on a regular basis. A yoga practice anchored in a calm focus and steady breath does wonders for the mind and body. Please don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations on which style fits your needs. Please click here to view our current schedule.
Click here to sign up for a class.
ACROYOGABHAKTI VINYASA FLOWCANDLELIGHT HAPPY HOUR YOGACORE FLOW VINYASAGENTLE VINYASAHEATED VINYASA FLOWHIP OPENING – RESTORATIVEINTRO TO ASHTANGA PRIMARY SERIESKUNDALINI YOGARESTORATIVETIBETAN HEART YOGATIBETAN MEDITATION AND YOGAVINYASA FLOWVINYASA FLOW 2/3YINYOGA FOR ATHLETESYOGA FOR CHILDREN (AGES 4-12)SEE ALLHIDE ALL |
ACROYOGAWorking with a partner, we will embody support, receptivity and trust. Students will solidify spotting techniques in basic inversions as the foundation for acrobatics. The progressions lead to basic partner acrobatics cultivating strength and flexibility while working as a team. A playful, safe, supportive environment will empower the whole room to be upside down and connect to the divine! BHAKTI VINYASA FLOWA challenging and dynamic flow incorporating pranayama, mantra, kirtan, meditation and yogic wisdom. This class will strengthen your body, open your heart and nourish your soul. Bhakti means LOVE — totally dedicated, fearless and selfless. Bring your practice back to the heart! CANDLELIGHT HAPPY HOUR YOGABetter than a two-for-one Margarita special! Like a good cocktail, we’ll be mixing up different flavors of yoga, starting with an energizing and invigorating flow that will fire up your inner weekend warrior, and moving on to some gentle restorative poses to leave the stress of the week behind. More advanced postures and techniques will build on basic poses, creating a challenge for every practitioner. Set to a playlist of fun, upbeat and inspiring music, this class is sure to leave you feeling balanced and blissful. CORE FLOW VINYASAAn alignment-based Vinyasa flow class incorporating the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment focused on core musculature and increased flexibility. This challenging but moderately paced class creates a balance of heat and calm in the body, exploring elemental yoga poses, and building upon them in dynamic asana sequences that strengthen abdominal and back muscles while developing pelvic stability and abdominal control. GENTLE VINYASAA slower sequence of gentle flowing postures synchronizing breath with movement. Ideal for beginners. Modifications may be suggested for all levels of practitioners. HEATED VINYASA FLOWA regular vinyasa flow class taught in a moderately heated room of about 85-90 degrees. Traditional yoga principles of breath, flowing postures and safe alignment apply, but with the introduction of the element of heat, the added physical discomfort in the body allows the opportunity to practice connecting and calming the breath and the mind, bringing a challenging and yet invigorating, spirited practice. RESTORATIVERelax and rejuvenate in a tranquil environment. Through the use of props, poses are held restfully and comfortably to allow the breath, body, mind and spirit to open. Focus on hip-opening poses. INTRO TO ASHTANGA PRIMARY SERIESAlso known as Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, the Primary Series of Ashtanga is a scientific approach to yoga practiced in a methodical, systematic manner, as taught by the late great master, Sri K. Patthabi Jois. This deep, rich system of yoga is the foundation and soul of vinyasa, using the concepts of prana (breath), drishti (gaze) and bandhas (energy locks) throughout a set sequence of poses to direct us inward, experiencing heightened body-mind awareness and when practiced regularly, ultimately has the effect of purifying our bodies of toxins, healing our heart-minds from thoughts and patterns that cause pain and suffering. The Primary Series set of postures flow together using a specific breathing technique and movement, encouraging symmetry and purification. This Intro class will prepare you for our Led Ashtanga 6:30 a.m. classes. It is ideal for those who have a regular yoga practice and would like to know more about the Primary Series sequence. KUNDALINI YOGAThe practice of Kundalini yoga balances the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system, and enables us to harness the energy of the mind and the emotions, so we can be in control of ourselves, rather than being controlled by our thoughts and feelings. This system combines breath, mudra, eye-focus, mantra, body locks, and postures in a precise, conscious manner to affect body, mind and soul. Kundalini Yoga is a yoga for everyone, for people who have to cope with the daily challenges and stresses of holding jobs, raising families, and managing businesses. Kundalini yoga is for everyone who wants the skills to cope successfully with the challenges of living in this day and age. RESTORATIVECalm and nourish your nervous system as well as build your immunity with this wonderfully relaxing practice. Learn to let go of the need to act or think. Heal yourself by doing nothing and simply being. Each posture allows you to explore the depth of your breath and the vastness of your spirit. This is a wonderful practice for those who have chronic fatigue, mental stress, compromised immunity, injuries and chronic health conditions. Restorative yoga is an effective way to bring balance to overstimulated nerves and to ease chronic tension. Stress and toxins are eased out of the tissues of the body and mind, allowing our natural state of physical harmony to arise. The postures, done in thoughtful sequence, are supported with props such as blankets, bolsters and straps. The spine is gently released in all directions. Given sufficient time, the nervous system eventually calms, bringing the mental and emotional bodies into a blissful balance, and a sense of relaxation, contentment and self-acceptance is felt. Restorative yoga is recommended for everyone, especially those of us with stress in our lives. Come at least once a week for optimal health. TIBETAN HEART YOGAA colorful and fun yoga practice blending breath work, meditation, and traditional Tibetan poses like Touching the Horizon and Niguma’s Sky Archer with more familiar Indian poses like Pigeon and Half-Moon. Tibetan Heart Yoga’s foundation is based on a yogic lineage that traces back to Lord Naropa, who lived around 1000 AD. The practices of Tibetan Heart Yoga are designed to help us experience the true goal of yoga: ultimate happiness while in service of others. Appropriate for all levels. “Tibetan Heart Yoga works on your heart in two ways: It makes your physical heart and your body healthy and strong, and it opens your heart to love others. And of course the first always comes from the second.” – from The Tibetan Book of Yoga by Geshe Michael Roach TIBETAN MEDIATION AND YOGATonglen is a Tibetan breath meditation used to develop compassion. The meditation is woven into asanas which are each used to cultivate one of the six perfections: giving, morality, patience, joyful effort, concentration and wisdom. This is a deep practice of beginning to relate with friends, enemies, and strangers with an ultimately compassionate mind. Using this “inner method” during your yoga practice will transform it from merely a physical into a transformative spiritual daily practice. VINYASA FLOWChallenging sequence of poses. Dynamic flow of breath and movement with music. Build heat from the inside and out, core strength, stamina and flexibility in this class. VINYASA FLOW 2/3A strong sequence of flowing postures, coordinating breath and movement. Build heat from the inside-out, develop core strength, stamina and flexibility. Not recommended for beginners. YINYin yoga bypasses the muscles and allow you to nourish and strengthen the deeper tissues. Connective tissues, fascia, joints, ligaments and bones receive gentle, low-load stress. The poses are held between 2-5 minutes or longer and the muscles stay passive in order to pass the stress on to the deeper tissues. Each Yin pose is an opportunity to go inward and meditate. It is a wonderful complement to an active (Yang) practice and a much needed tool for anyone who need to unwind tight body, mind and heart. YOGA FOR ATHLETESThis class encourages a healthy balance of strength training, flexibility, and mental focus for athletes through careful sequencing of traditional yoga postures. In this practice we emphasize core strength, hip and hamstring flexibility, and safe body alignment to reduce the risk of injuries in your activities outside the studio. Whether you are a cyclist with lower back pain, a hiker with sore hip flexors, or a runner with a tight IT band; no matter if you are at your fittest or are accomodating an injured knee; this class will work with your needs to support your active lifestyle. YOGA FOR CHILDREN (AGES 4-12)Children love yoga. They love the movement and creative expression associated with the poses (called yoga asanas). They appreciate the benefits and they cherish the opportunity to “rest” at the end of each class. The movements are organic. The asanas are modeled after appealing animals and elements – lions, snakes, rivers and trees. This naturally makes the practice engaging for children when presented in a dynamic way. A childrens’ yoga class typically features stories, games, animal sounds and laughter. This all adds up to the most important element – fun! Their enjoyment of the classes would be reason enough to teach yoga to children but the benefits go far beyond. Yoga can give children the ability to: HIDE ALLTOP |
