Yoga

Yoga literally means union. Often thought of as uniting body and mind, yoga can offer practitioners much more. Ultimately it is the union of individual being with the One. Yoga recreates a state of oneness from where we originated. To experience our true nature, oneness, spirit.

The benefits of asana (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques) include:

• increased flexibility
• increased muscle tone, endurance, and stamina
• improvements in balance and strength
• improvements in breathing capacity and lung function

We currently offer the following styles of classes at Balance:

Vinyasa Yoga - A blend of styles, Vinyasa has emerged from its roots in Ashtanga and Power Yoga to become one of the most popular forms of yoga practiced in the US today. The class flows from pose to pose integrating breath with movement leading students deeper into their moving meditation practice. Most classes begin with centering and breathwork, then we build heat with various Sun Salutations, continue with a Standing Flow Sequence, and then return close to the floor for a combination of seated forward bends, backbends, arm balances, inversions, twists and final relaxation. Different options are offered to accommodate varied levels of students' abilities. This is a physically challenging class best for those with some prior yoga experience.

Gentle Yoga - A soothing sequence of postures to prepare the body for rest at the end of the day. This class begins with a variety of pranayama (breathing techniques) to quiet the mind and instill a sense of stillness and peace. We then move through a gentle warm up sequence close to the floor to loosen stiff joints and to prepare the body for standing poses. This is followed by basic standing poses that encourage improvements in balance, endurance, and flexibility. We then return to the floor for leg stretches, gentle backbends, hip openers, and twists. We end in final relaxation or Savasana. Appropriate for all students. Great class to begin your yoga practice

Hatha Yoga - A classical sequencing of breathing techniques and poses based in the Sivananda style of yoga. Class begins in relaxation pose and explores breathing techniques to cleanse and balance energy. We then move into hip openers and sun salutations, leg stretches and abdominal strengtheners, inversions, backbends, standing poses to improve balance and flexibility, and then final relaxation. Appropriate for all levels. Please alert instructor of any physical limitations prior to beginning of class. 

Private Sessions are availabe in the following styles:

• Prenatal
• Ashtanga
• Restorative/Yin
• Vinyasa
• Sivananda
• Partner
• Children's/Family