ALIGN your SPINE...Yoga for a Healthy Back...offered weekly... Monday's @ 5:15pm Most back pain is caused by poor posture, faulty body mechanics, and weak back musculature, which are the result of a lifetime of habits formed as we go about our daily routine. Most of what we do is in front of us therefore we develop tightness in areas that pull us forward and weakness in areas that pull us backward. You will learn poses to strengthening the back extensors; that deep layer of back muscles that hold the body up against the force of gravity, while stretching certain areas to restore normal body alignment. This class is designed for people who would like to explore the therapeutic benefits of yoga and promote healing for back injuries or to prevent back pain and weakness. This open-level class will focus on specific poses and breathing techniques that will promote spinal stability, strength and flexibility while protecting any per-existing injuries. If you currently have a back injury and are under a health care provider’s care, please consult the instructor prior to participating in the class. 1...Standing Postures... Lakshmi will give you key techniques to apply the principles of alignment in Yoga Postures that will help you maintain proper Structural Alignment by stretching and strengthening the supportive spinal muscles and connective tissue. The abdominals, hip flexors and hamstrings are three muscle groups that attach to the pelvis and lumbar spine, strongly influencing normal spinal postures. Often, these muscle groups are unbalanced from prolonged sitting, poor work habits and highly repetitive tasks. This class will give you the fundamentals to break the habits of incorrect posture and give you the tools to incorporate body awareness in everyday activity. Applying and maintaining physical alignment gives us the information to understand our own body, showing positive results across the spectrum of health. Our physical relationship with gravity determines whether our journey through life will be one of buoyancy and lightness or tension and struggle. Yoga Stretching is a subtle activity to be performed daily for life. 2...How to use Props... Active yoga props let you reach poses and stretch muscles you may not otherwise be able to -- enhancing your yoga practice no matter what your level of fitness or flexibility. This workshop will focus solely on the use of blocks, mats and straps. Lakshmi will instruct you on using a yoga mat on any surface, how to use a strap to get the results you may have been missing, the proper way to position a yoga block and the benefits of using blankets. Teaching you the fundamentals to get you started using props in the most effective way. Arthritis & You... Yoga Postures to promote healthy mobility... "Yoga & Living with Arthritis...How YOGA Asana & BREATH work can improve ROM & decrease the discomfort of tightness in the muscles. Experience the healing benefits of safe physical movement incorporated with breath awareness to increase energy, stamina & strength while promoting flexibility & enhancing relaxation. Classic Hatha Yoga...beginners welcome...Offered Weekly... Wednesday's @ 5:15pm For students interested in the traditional Hatha Yoga. If you have always wanted to try yoga, but felt uncomfortable going into a class, feeling as though you know nothing about it… or, feeling self conscious about being new at something? This Classic Hatha Yoga class welcomes you… even if you have been doing yoga for years and want to deepen your practice and get back to the basic foundation of the Pose… Our studio has a very caring, nurturing, non-competitive atmosphere where you will receive the instruction necessary to build a safe & enjoyable yoga practice… Each week a combination of postures will be explored with in-depth instruction for each pose, placing emphasis on structural alignment and proper breathing techniques; all poses can be modified by adding or subtracting props to accommodate the students’ current abilities and offering attainable challenges. The pace of this class is very gentle. It includes asana demonstration, the opportunity to stop and ask questions, and extra individual attention. A comprehensive, balanced class with a steady flow, relaxation between postures, and guided instruction throughout.… Integral Hatha Yoga for Beginners... offered weekly...Saturday's @ 11:30am This class teaches brand new beginners yoga fundamentals and provides students with the guidance they need to develop a safe and beneficial yoga practice. In this class, students will receive individual attention while learning basic yoga postures (both in English & Sanskrit), yogic breathing, chanting and relaxation techniques, based on the Integral Yoga Tradition. Iyengar Level I and I/II... offered weekly...Monday's @ 6:45pm In practice; Iyengar yoga focuses particularly on correct alignment which allows the body to develop harmoniously in an anatomically correct way so that the student suffers no injury or pain when practising correctly. As all bodies are different and people have different weaknesses and strengths. The use of props are integrated throughout the class to help the body into the correct positions required to maintain the pose and work in a range of motion that is safe and effective. Emphasis on breathing techniques. Kidz Yoga...Storytime Yoga ages 4-5 & Yoga Warriors ages 6-10... Pre-registration required One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the freedom to find their own sense of self. In Supatha Yoga's safe, fun, inspirational environment kids will learn yoga through song, dance, art and movement to help them experience the power of imagination. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life's challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive. Fostering cooperation and compassion—instead of opposition—is a great gift to give our children. Living with Scoliosis and Practicing Yoga... In the practice of doing the yoga postures, there is an emphasis on postural alignment, particularly in the Iyengar system. One becomes more aware of imbalances throughout the body and learns methods of improving one's posture. For someone with scoliosis it is very important to both lengthen ad strengthen the muscles that support the spine in order to relieve tightness and pain. There are many postures where the spine is simultaneously being lengthened and the para spinal muscles (longitudinal muscles sown the spine) and other supporting muscles of the back are strengthened which together help offset further lateral curvature and rotation. When the body is balanced and aligned with gravity, a yoga posture will be almost effortless. You will learn there are six major areas of the body to focus on while doing the yoga poses for scoliosis. These areas are very important in creating proper alignment, decreasing pain, and minimizing further curvature of the spine. Mindfulness Meditation... the Essentials a 6 week course... date TBD call for inquiry... “Most of us think compulsively all the time that is to say we talk to ourselves” ALAN WATTS. If we are in consistent conversation with ourselves, how can we connect with the subtle messages our inner being is constantly sending us. Contemplation is a specific technique for resting the mind and paying attention to and understanding the various levels of our being. In Meditation, you are fully awake and alert, but your mind in not focused on the external world or the events taking place around you. Neither is your mind asleep, dreaming, or fantasizing. Instead, it is clear, relaxed, and inwardly focused. There is nothing difficult or strenuous about creating this inner attention. This 6 week workshop will provide you with clear, step-by-step instructions on how to still the mind and clam the body. You will learn how to personalize your practice and be given easy was to incorporate meditation into your everyday life. Studies have confirmed these simple techniques lead to the "relaxation response," which promotes reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen consumption and muscle tension, as well as an improvement in immunity. The relaxation response works much like pushing a "reset" button, enabling your body to return to a state of equanimity. . Mixed Level Hatha Vinyasa...offered weekly... Wednesday's 6:45pm & Saturday's 8:45am Intermediate Yoga Poses, Pilates Mat Work and Breathing Techniques. All synchronized into a unique version of Surya Namaskar (Salute to the Sun). Class ends with a Guided Deep Relaxation, an Inspirational Reading, Breathing Exercises & Meditation. Postures vary each week to gain full knowledge of Yoga Asana... Open Level Hatha Vinyasa... At lease 6 months of continuous prior yoga experience is necessary to participate in this class. An intermediate paced Vinyasa class that offers a full spectrum of postures. Creative sequencing allows students to work at their own pace while practicing basic and challenging asana, including balancing poses, inversions and back bends. Breath and alignment remain a focus in all classes. Pilates Mat, Ring & Ball class - developing strong abdominals...offered weekly... Monday's @ 4pm and Saturday's @ 10:15am Weak abdominals can increase pressure on the spine, ligaments and inter vertebral discs. Pilates is a complete body conditioning programme based on the method developed over seventy years ago by German-born Joseph Pilates. These exercises demonstrate how the body works in functional movement through isolating specific muscle groups, in particular the postural muscles. These poses can strengthen the abdominals and promote core muscular energy. Pilates is a rhythmic practice of precise movements repeated five to 10 times for each exercise, with a simultaneous emphasis on flow of movement. By focusing on targeted areas that develop core strength, using ring resistance trainer and a ball for greater range of motion and core isolation... Pilates can help build a stable center, lengthen the side body and create low back strength. The emphasis is on using the breath to channel core energy into the center of the body and out to the limbs to increase awareness of alignment. Both Pilates and Yoga share similar postures, Pilates however, emphasizes the importance of utilizing the stabilizing muscles of the body while in movement to create a very safe and strong foundation to exert movement. Preparing for Baby... A yoga Practice... Safe Yoga for Pregnancy - All Levels "Yoga for the Expectant Mother" Strengthen and relax your body, ease your mind and connect with your baby in a safe and supportive environment. Feel inspired and nourished in a community of women sharing motherhood. Our prenatal class is designed to meet the needs of pregnancy and motherhood. Yoga during pregnancy helps build strength & develop balance and coordination. Increases circulation, while promoting relaxation bringing you a renewed vitality. Practicing this ancient healing art improves peace of mind and an overall sense of harmony. Appropriate for those 13 wks and beyond. Postnatal Vinyasa - All Levels This postnatal yoga is a multi-level, Vinyasa flow, postpartum yoga class for Mothers Only. This relaxing class consists of asanas targeted to exercise key muscle groups after pregnancy and child-birth. Take an hour for yourself and come practice in a safe and loving environment where you can connect with other new moms. Restore, Renew, Rejuvenate...a gentle meditative yoga practice...All Levels Apply the yogic principle of Ahimsa (compassion) to yourself by taking Lakshmi Devi's gentle, restorative yoga class. Give yourself the opportunity to slow down and breathe, stretch, and tune into your body. The class includes therapeutic postures for problems caused by stress – such as neck and shoulder tension and lower back pain – and guided visualization to help calm and refresh you. In general, restorative poses are for those times when you feel weak, fatigued, or stressed from your daily activities. They are especially beneficial for the times before, during, and after major life events: death of a loved one, change of job or residence, marriage, divorce, major holidays, and vacations. In addition, you can practice the poses when ill, or recovering from illness or injury. Senior Yoga/Chair Yoga...Safe Yoga for Osteoporosis/and back pain... Chair Yoga is a gentle form of Yoga that stretches muscles, tendons and ligaments creating greater range of motion and can reduce pain when moving thereby increasing mobility. When a muscle is not regularly put through its full range of motion, its tendons shorten. This makes using the muscle even more difficult, setting up a cycle of even more shortening and decreased stretch. The muscle may develop fibrous scar tissue, further preventing full range of motion. Stretching is critical to keeping and regaining your range of motion. We will be taking your body through a series of postures to explore the boundaries of your range of motion and flexibility. We will also be working to build more strength and stamina. You may find some of the poses very energizing. With practice, if done correctly and consistently this yoga program can relieve pain, improve body alignment, and restore some body height. Also recommended for people who suffer from back and neck pain from other causes such as; Slipped Disks, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spondylolistheses, etc. Be given ways to correctly perform daily activities safely and without added strain on the body. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) The fundamentals... The Sanskrit word surya means sun. Namaskar is the Hindi word for Namaste, from the root nam, to bow. Namaskar means salutation, salute, greeting or praise. The physical base of the SUPATHA sun salutation practice links together thirteen asanas (postures) in a dynamically performed series. These asanas are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine backwards and forwards. When performed in the usual way, each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation and exhalation (except for the eleventh asana where the breath is both inhaled and exhaled). A full round of Surya namaskara is considered to be two sets of the thirteen poses with a change in the second set to moving the opposite leg first through the series... The benefits of this series serves as a general tonic for the entire system... Warms and limbers the body... Teen Empowerment Yoga ages 11 thru 15... Pre-registration required begins Tuesday September 9th @ 4:30pm In our increasingly stressful and noisy lives, yoga teaches teens how to develop strong & subtle bodies, Razor sharp minds and happy and contented lives. These classes are taught in a creative, fun & safe atmosphere. Giving your child the tools needed to learn how to focus, concentrate and become less distracted. It teaches them how to become alert & aware of themselves and things around them, while staying relaxed at the same time. Practicing Yoga has been known to help teens cope with the pressures of school and the emotional problems of adolescence; giving them a sense of mental and emotional well-being, while building strength stamina and stability and enhancing their self-esteem. Yoga helps our teens learn about their bodies, develop social skills and acquire respect for others in a cooperative learning environment. Therapeutic Yoga...for Every Body... (Incorporation Chair Yoga postures for Stability and Strength) If you have always wanted to try yoga but felt the postures were too challenging for you or , if you have been doing yoga for years and want to deepen your practice; whether you are suffering from an ailment or recovering from an injury this class is for you. Lakshmi provides in-depth instruction for each pose while placing emphasis on structural alignment and proper breathing; a chair is incorporated into the sequences creating a safe, fun and comfortable environment. The poses can be modified to accommodate all students’ current abilities and offering attainable challenges. (PREGNANT WOMEN WELCOME) Vinyasa Flow Yoga... Some yoga experience Necessary... Slower paced elementary Vinyasa class that explores core postures, principles and functions of yoga for anyone, regardless of age, shape or size, who wants to experience the many benefits of Flow Yoga...with finer details of basic postures . Special attention and modifications are offered to each student while emphasizing alignment, awareness of breath, and building preliminary tone and flexibility while safely opening the body. Vinyasa Flow Mixed Level...Offered weekly Wednesday 6:45pm & Saturday 8:45am Moderately paced class designed for students seeking clarity of the key alignment principles Skills and modifications for more advanced asana, including inversions and back bends, are introduced. Ideal for students who are have a regular yoga practice or more advanced students who are looking for a class with more attention to alignment. Vinyasa Flow...Means the movement from one posture to another flowing with the waves of breath. Vinyasa movement is fluid with great attention to proper alignment and breathing techniques, while honoring the wisdom of the body to lead the way. Each class is different allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the limits of body and mind. The benefits of Vinyasa Yoga are endless and include increased flexibility, strength, coordination, concentration, endurance, a greater sense of well-being and peacefulness. Lakshmi encourages her students to work in accordance with the limits of our individual flexibility and strength. Walking Meditation... When we do walking meditation, we are using the physical, mental, and emotional experiences of walking as the basis of developing greater awareness. We are not withdrawing our attention from the outside world to the same extent that we do when we are doing the Mindfulness of Breathing or sitting Meditation. We have to be aware of things outside of ourselves (objects we might trip over, other people that we might walk into) these include the wind, the sun, and the rain; and the sounds of nature and of humans and machines, experiencing awareness on a different level. But one of the biggest differences is that when your body is in motion, it is generally easier to be aware of it compared to when you are sitting still. Walking meditation is an excellent way of developing our ability to take awareness into our ordinary lives. Any able-bodied person under normal circumstances does at least some walking everyday - even if it’s just walking from the house to the car, and the car to the office. Walking meditation is an excellent way to squeeze more meditation into the day. Once you have learned the fundamentals, each spell of walking - however short - can be used as a meditation practice. Yoga Postures & Breathing practices for Depression... If you are suffering from depression, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects approximately 121 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability in ages 15 to 44. As a society we have lost our connection to who we truly are and often feel separated and alone. While (feelings of nervousness, fear and tension) is a normal reaction to stress, a constant state of worry or excessive levels of anxiety is a primary symptom of depression and is quite common. Depression and anxiety are complex in nature, most likely occurring as a result from a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. While the traditional treatment with medication and Psychotherapy is effective, yoga and meditation can greatly enhance traditional treatment. Learn how specific postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques release traumas and suffering. Practicing Yoga regularly will strip away the obstacles that separate you from your source, and protect you from depressions debilitating effects. Yoga will help you stay bright-minded. Becoming more aware and able to recognize the signals and alleviate the symptoms before they become incapacitating. You will begin to recognize your wholeness. Practice Yoga every day and it will change your life. It has changed my life and the lives of many of my students. Yoga Boot Camp... begins in the Fall... This is a multi-level yoga class that incorporates breath and movement aimed to encourage mind-body connection, balance, flexibility, strength and relaxation. Participants should be free from recent major injury and have some fitness experience. This is not a passive class in which you will sit and meditate the entire time. You will be working through a series of postures, working your entire body! You will definitely be sweating! Yoga Boot Camp will help you develop a strong morning practice, invigorating and awakening you for the day ahead. Yoga for Cyclist.. The posture a cyclist conforms to astride a bike also contributes to muscle tension and imbalance... The spine is in a constant state of flexion, hunched over the handlebars. In order to achieve overall flexibility and balanced muscle groups, a biker needs to incorporate counteracting movements—for example, backbends, which stretch and elongate over-used hip flexors and quadriceps. A yoga practice can help restore balance, first by taking the alignment principles of yoga and transferring them to how you sit on your bike... A consistent yoga program can build a cyclist's strength and endurance and introduce flexibility to chronically tight muscles. Yoga at your desk... Tips & Techniques... It's great when we can escape to a full hour of yoga, be it in a class or at home in front of a video, but let's face it, that's not always possible. Enter Yoga in the Office, a series of simple but effective suggested positions to help stretch the wrists, neck, shoulders, back and legs... Yoga/Core infusion...Yoga/Core infusion is a highly effective form of Mind – Body Connection Exercises that blend the Flexibility, Meditative, and Endurance aspects of Yoga and the Muscle Strengthening, lengthening and Abdominal Toning of Pilates Techniques of short contracted movements developing strength for supporting & balancing your Body and Mind, creating a Spirit that brings you Happiness and contentment. Yoga/Core Infusion is a method of a Mindful Fitness that benefits the whole body physically, psychologically and Aesthetically. Creating a pleasing body shape, a strong core and a peaceful mind... |
| You alone are the creator, you alone are the sustainer, you alone are the destroyer, you alone are unmistakably the Principle-of-All... |
| Ganesha is the diety meditated upon to take away all obstacles whatever they may be. |
| Description of our Classes...A - Z |
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Alignment Workshop parts I and II...