Village Yoga - Yin Vinyasa

YIN YOGA with Michelle
This is a calming and re-energizing practice that focuses on stretching and stimulating the deeper connective tissues through long held floor postures. It combines focused breathing and intention to target specific connective tissues, meridians and their corresponding organs. This increases the flow of energy (Chi & Prana) which restores vitality and range of motion.

Yin Yoga specifically targets the hips, pelvis and lower spine. These are the deep yin tissues of the body, relative to the more superficial yang tissues such as muscles. It is the perfect practice for meditators & those who lack flexibility because the effect will increase range of motion and suppleness of the joints.

Most forms of Yoga practiced in the U.S. are active/Yang; they emphasize muscular movement, contraction, and stabilization, all of which are essential for a healthy body and yoga practice. To balance that active/yang energy, we also need the Yin/receptive/introspective practice to focus inward and create harmony on all levels of being….body, heart and mind. This type of practice complements the more muscular styles of Yoga like Ashtanga & Vinyasa.

Years of a dedicated asana practice will make anyone healthier, stronger, and more flexible, but at some point the muscles will have reached their limit of flexibility. New depths in postures, deeper ranges of motion, or an increased flow of energy may only be achievable by focusing on the deeper tissues of the body. This is why so many students are finding Yin Yoga to be the perfect compliment and balance to their more active, yang practices. For some, this class is one of the most challenging, due to it’s introspective nature and emphasis on simply being versus our tendency toward doing.

GENTLE FLOW YOGA with Claire
In this class, students will be guided to experience comfort and ease in each pose. Each student is encouraged to find "their own yoga" by drawing their attention inward, connecting to their breath, relaxing into the pose, and "doing" less while "feeling" more. Taught primarily as a flow, postures will focus on safely developing flexibility, balance, and strength.

MINDFULNESS-BASED VINYASA with Michelle
This is a unique practice that integrates the wisdom teachings of mindfulness with a skillful sequence of flowing postures that develop deeper body awareness and energetic integrity. This well-rounded practice progressively awakens the muscles while engendering a sense of coordination and competency through slow, strong and conscious movements. This practice utilizes ujjayi breathing, a slow and deep style of breathing that strengthens your lungs and diaphragm, while allowing a deeper intake of oxygen and full expulsion of carbon dioxide, enriching the blood. Ujjayi breathing also slows down the passage of air, calming the nervous system. As this happens, your body relaxes and the mind quiets, allowing you to refine your sensitivities to subtle energy, and to flow through your postures with increased ease and grace. It brings length and strength to all of the major muscles, strengthens the core, activates and awakens the psoas muscles, and creates stability and warmth through the whole system. This is an intermediate level class, appropriate for those with a regular yoga practice.

VINYASA FLOW with Manuela
When you synchronize movement and breath, something powerful happens: the mind chatter starts to quiet down, the body is reenergized, and you get a sense of exhilaration. Vinyasa Flow is a style of yoga that allows for a lot of variety and it always includes a warm-up, several rounds of Sun Salutations, and core work. It is a well-rounded practice which covers all the asana families: forward bends, backward bends, twists and inversions. The emphasis is on building upper body strength and lower body flexibility, while maintaining a soft and receptive attitude. Similar to other forms of more athletic yoga like Ashtanga and Power Yoga, Vinyasa Flow is more like a dance. Gracefulness, poise, and a playful attitude are strongly emphasized. Due to its flowing nature, this practice is better suited for people with at least one year of previous yoga experience.