Class Descriptions & Levels
Class Levels
Foundations
The focus of our Yoga Foundations class is to encourage centering and receptiveness that lays the groundwork for openness both physically and mentally. Yoga Foundations provides a safe, supportive environment to explore the basics of practicing yoga while building strength and skill. You will learn the basics of sun salutations, foundation yoga postures and shapes, and the importance of connecting with the breath. Although this class is geared towards beginners with little or no prior yoga experience, those with some experience can benefit from revisiting essential alignment, flow, and breath-work principles. This class is not affiliated with any one style of yoga (Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa, etc.); it provides students with the building blocks to comfortably access any of these styles of practice. It is recommended (though not required) that students new to yoga attend Foundations classes before progressing to Level 1 classes. Over the course of any given month, the basics of practice will be covered and practiced even though the format and content will vary from month to month. This is a great way to practice and learn whether your goal is to move on to more challenging classes or staying in the foundations classes.
Level 1—Building
Our Level 1 classes are designed to build on the fundamentals of yoga: strength, breathing, proper alignment, skill and focus. These classes are taught at a slower pace to allow you to experience postures fully and to learn to incorporate modifications appropriate for your abilities and limitations. Level 1 is appropriate for students with some experience who want to develop a regular practice.
Level 2—Awareness
As your strength, skill and awareness increase and you feel more comfortable with basic postures, you may be ready for Level 2, which explores more challenging postures and sequencing. The key in Level 2 is building confidence and expanding your practice. Level 2 is appropriate for students who have been in Level 1 courses for some time or for students who have had sufficient prior experience and feel comfortable with more challenging classes.
Level 3—Deepening
Level 3 classes focus on deepening the inner stillness and attention to detail that will allow you to progress to an advanced level of practice. All postures are open to exploration, often from a different perspective, such as holding postures for longer periods of time in order to develop strength, fluidity and flexibility. Level 3 builds on the foundation carefully laid in Level 1 and 2 classes, emphasizing grace, poise and ease in the face of greater challenges. Yoga experience is expected before attending these classes.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa: Vinyasa (also called Flow) classes maintain awareness and focus on the breath while moving through a series of postures. The sequence of postures may be different from class to class, but always follow an intelligent progression that moves from basic to complex. This style of yoga builds heat, flexibility and strength, while maintaining focus on good alignment and sound structure. Postures may be held for longer periods of time, and will flow together to unite the body to the breath and mind. Classes range from beginner to advanced.
Vinyasa Level 1: This is a moderately paced class and students continue to build awareness, strength, skill, and focus. It is helpful to have completed a series of Yoga Foundation classes or Ashtanga 101, but this is not required to attend the class. Students of all levels will find this class accessible. Modifications are given to make the practice accessible to all students.
Vinyasa Level 2: Yoga experience encouraged. Students should have a basic awareness of yoga postures and their own bodies and limitations and be willing to modify accordingly. Various hand balances, arm balances and postures that require more strength are explored. Postures often are held for longer periods of time to increase strength and concentration.
Vinyasa Level 3: In this class all types of postures are explored in greater depth – there is an attitude of anything goes. Postures are explored from various vantage points – holding for longer periods of time, from the requirement of greater flexibility and strength, and from the standpoint of developing more poise and ease in the face of greater difficulty, the heart of yoga practice. Must have previous yoga experience.
Forrest Yoga: Forrest Yoga is the ever evolving creation of yoga pioneer Anna Forrest who draws upon her personal history of abuse, epilepsy, alcoholism, and bulimia to create an intense vinyasa style practice that aims to heal. Forrest incorporates elements of healing and spirituality encouraging students to go deep within and use their yoga practice as therapy. Forrest yoga spends extra time and attention on abdominal work and breathing. The sequencing of poses is vigorous and intended to build heat in order to sweat out toxins and release emotions stored in the body. This is an intensely fun practice where students find themselves stretching beyond the usual and the ordinary. In this class you will find you are capable of more than you imagined and so much stronger than you realized.
Lunch Time Yoga: Need a yoga break in the middle of your day? Come and join us for this fun and relaxing lunch time class. Open to students of all levels.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga: Ashtanga Yoga is a challenging, vigorous and flowing style of Hatha Yoga. The system was developed by Sri Pattabhi Jois and consists of a fixed set of postures divided into several series. The foundation of Ashtanga is the Primary Series, focusing on unwinding the back body, aligning the entire body and providing support in healing from illness and injury. Ashtanga also incorporates breath control, isometrics and focused gazing into the sequence of postures. Classes range from beginner to advanced. Level 1 introduces students to the Primary Series; Level 2 is the Primary Series; Level 3 classes take students from the Primary Series into Second and beyond.
Introduction to Ashtanga: This foundations class will provide students with basic fundamentals of Ashtanga yoga such as Ujjayi breathing, use of the bandhas (core locks), and drishti (gazing point). History of the practice and potential benefits will be briefly introduced. Beginning postures will be taught a little slower than in Level 1, so that students can learn proper alignment. Intro to Ashtanga is suitable for students who have never had an Ashtanga class, or for those wanting to deepen their understanding of how the system works. This is a drop-in class where students can come one time or many, and will involve much movement.
Mysore: Mysore is a self-directed style of practice rooted in the Ashtanga Yoga system and named for Mysore, India, where this practice is typical. Each student practices at his or her own pace under the instructor's guidance. Rather than leading a formal Ashtanga class, the instructor is available to assist and give personal attention as needed. Mysore provides a chance to improvise and explore Ashtanga in a way not typically possible in more traditional class structures. Mysore sessions are appropriate for all levels of students, including beginners.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Blend: Hatha yoga is the physical form of yoga and contains the foundation postures for all styles of yoga. The Balanced Yoga Hatha Blend classes focus less on flowing movement and more on alignment, and will tend to be less vigorous since they do not concentrate on continuous movement. Our teachers are trained in many different styles of yoga. This class blends those backgrounds. Classes range from beginner to advanced.
Hathalini™ Yoga: In Yoga literature, Kundalini is depicted as a serpent coiled at the base of the spine, representing our untapped potential and energy. Kriya means energy enhancement, and the Kundalini kriyas incorporated into this class magnetize the spine, build stamina, and direct the life force that calms and refines the nervous system. This non-traditional yoga class integrates the Kundalini kriyas and meditation into a creative Hatha practice that includes traditional postures to build strength and bring grounding to the practice. HathaliniTM is appropriate for all levels of students.
Easy Like Sunday Morning Yoga: Ease into Sunday mornings with a Slow Flow Hatha yoga class. We'll complement the fundamentals learned in Foundations classes, taking time to revisit the importance of breath, proper alignment and safe movement. We'll move through basic yoga poses and sun salutation sequences in their modified versions to support your individual expression of a posture and to prepare you to move into Vinyasa 1 classes if you so choose. Appropriate for all levels of student. Yoga Foundations recommended but not required.
Pranayama/Yin Yoga, Restorative, and Yoga for Healing
Pranayama/Yin™: Pranayama works with breathing patterns to generate energy, calm anxiety and clarify the mind. Yin Yoga refers to a meditative and focused approach to seated and reclined postures. In Yin Yoga, postures are held for longer periods of time to facilitate the deep stretching of the body’s connective tissues. Students remain on the floor and props are often used to help the body relax into the postures. This is a gentle, restful class that often includes readings and teachings on the philosophical aspects of yoga. This class is suitable for all level of students and those recovering from illness or injury.
Restorative: Restorative yoga allows the body to gently stretch and open within a pose by using props such as bolsters and blankets for support allowing for deep and therapeutic relaxation. Restorative poses refresh, renew, and nurture the body and mind. This peaceful, recuperative class is appropriate for students of all skill levels and those recovering from illness or injury.
Yoga for Healing: A recuperative yoga practice designed for survivors of cancer and other illnesses or injury, such as MS, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease, as well as for caregivers. Ultimately, this class is for anyone affected by injury or illness. Gently stretch and open the body through restorative yoga poses using props such as bolsters and blankets for support allowing for deep and therapeutic relaxation. This class will provide a supportive environment for you to relax and open your body and mind to help with the physical and emotional challenges that are associated with recovering from all types of illness or injury.
Prenatal Yoga, Baby & Me, and Family Yoga
Prenatal Yoga: This class will help to ease the possible discomforts of pregnancy and to prepare you physically, mentally, and spiritually for childbirth and motherhood. On the physical level, yoga will strengthen and stretch your body, helping you adapt to the constant bodily changes of pregnancy, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, and readying you for the physical challenges of childbirth and motherhood. On the mental level, yoga teaches concentration, objectivity, and self awareness which will all help you to stay calm, focused, present, and positive. On the spiritual level, yoga brings you into intimate connection with your own beauty and power and gives you confidence in yourself and in the reproductive process. Pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood are facilitated by a balance of strength and softness on every level, and yoga practice will allow you to discover that balance within yourself.
Baby & Me Yoga: This postpartum class enables new parents (and other caregivers) to share their yoga practice with Baby (ages six weeks through crawling.) We include poses to help build strength and increase energy and Itsy Bitsy Yoga TM poses to help Baby relax, digest more easily, and grow strong. You will enjoy connecting with yourself, your baby, and other caregivers. Please bring a blanket for your baby and a few small toys.
Family Yoga: The first Saturday of every month, 3 - 4:00 pm. Move, play and share the joy of yoga as a family. Family Yoga uses postures to connect parents and children in a fun a playful way. This class is geared towards children walking through age 4, but older and younger siblings are welcome to attend.
Hot Yoga
Classic Hot Yoga: Balanced Yoga Classic Hot Yoga captures the essence of the 26 pose sequence of traditional hot yoga with a few modern twists. This 75 minute class, practiced in a studio heated to approximately 90 degrees, incorporates variations on breath and core work each class while also following the 26 posture sequence. In a shorter time frame, most of the postures will be practiced once while the essential postures will be practiced twice. In this sequenced series, each posture stretches and strengthens the specific muscles needed for the next posture. This sequencing stimulates the organs, glands, and nerves, moving fresh oxygenated blood to 100% of the body, restoring all systems to healthy working order. BY Classic Hot Yoga is an ideal cross trainer to an active Vinyasa practice, as well as other sports including running, cycling, and crossfit. Regular practice of heated yoga promotes mental clarity and stress reduction, and increases physical energy and weight loss. You will look and feel GREAT! This sequence is accessible to all levels and is beginner friendly.
Baptiste Yoga: Designed to unite the breath with movement of the body, Baptiste Yoga is an awakening practice. You will be guided through postures, one breath at a time, in a heated room. This series is created to reveal not just physical strength and flexibility, but also mental clarity and empowerment. It will call upon basic alignment and physical challenges to to take you to that mental edge and will demand presence as you flow through your vinyasa. Come experience the union of mind, body, and soul.
