We Love Summber & Yoga!

The Sanskrit word Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” Vinyasa Yoga flows through each series of poses in a fluid motion lead by the breath. By applying a more internal, energetic approach to the practice, students will learn how to move through a series of poses with more intelligence, awareness and ease. The purpose of Vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body.  This is a level one class, appropriate for beginners to advanced.

 Whether you are new to yoga or experienced, Vinyasa – All Levels is for everyone. This class links body movement with breath and emphasizes warming the body and restoring balance. Pose modifications and challenges are offered to fit the participant’s experience level. Starting slowly with warm up poses, the music takes you to a progressively higher energy level about midway into the class and concludes with a cooling & final relaxation period. Some benefits for you are improved posture, flexibility, balance, overall strength and of course - the calming of your mind and relief from stress! 

Gentle yoga focuses on basic yoga poses (asanas) and emphasizes stretching, strengthening and coordination of breath with movement. This class is designed to enhance breath awareness, balance, and flexibility. Each class includes an introduction to a different meditation technique or type of meditation. The ultimate goal of this class is to unite the body and mind leaving the practitioner feeling fully aligned and uplifted at the end of each session. 

Based on the yoga principle of using the breath to calm the mind and relax the muscles, this class will focus on poses that stretch, strengthen, and tone while releasing stress and tension from joints and muscles.  Students will explore basic flow poses to increase balance and energy, while opening hips, shoulders, back and legs.  Each class will include deep relaxation and visualization techniques to enhance the mind/body connection to focus and discipline the mind.   The slower, gentler pace is easy enough for beginners, and great for everyone who wants/needs to slow down a bit.  This class is for all levels wanting to enjoy the basics of yoga to find their centering energy and self.

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This Gentle Vinyasa class spends extra time on stress-relief, releasing tension in the body, and improving flexibility. Expect to enjoy restorative poses mixed in with the flow and find yourself refreshed as you move into the weekend. This class aims to shake off the work week in a gentle, relaxing way that is enjoyable
for beginner and seasoned
yogis alike!

Destress Deep Stretch Yoga, a blend of Yin and Restorative Yoga, primarily involves floor poses, typically held for 3 to five minutes, and are designed to allow you to stretch muscles and joints while accessing the deeper layers offascia – the body’s connective tissue that allows our body to function as a unit.  The class is designed to reduce stress and anxiety while increasing circulation, flexibility and joint mobility.  Finding yourself in poses as you meet your own, “edge”, using props and support as needed, brings a stillness and calm to the mind and body that encourages a deeper awareness of the body and the breath as you practice - and ensures an excellent night sleep after the practice.  The class is appropriate for beginners new to yoga, as well as to advanced practitioners of all levels and abilities. 
 

The quiet meditative practice of Yin Yoga is the perfect way to end the week.  Yin works deeply inward to activate the body’s meridians and target joints, ligaments, muscles, and fascia, the connective tissue that holds us all together. These deep, long-held passive poses improve the energy flow in the body (Chi) and allow for release of tension, calm and balance the mind and body, and increase circulation while improving flexibility.  Practicing Yin is like a slow waltz using the breath, mind and body.  As Bernie Clark says, “Yoga is a dance, not a wrestling match” and Yin shows us the benefits of that dance through release.  It will provide a great ending to the week!

Working from the concept that the body holds all of our experiences and trauma, in this empowering slow mindful practice we will explore new ways of movement that are therapeutic and corrective where you will: 

 • Unwind long held stress based patterns and/or injuries 

• Erase chronic muscle pain by addressing the root cause of the brain to muscle and nervous system disconnect 

• Repattern and unlearn habitual patterns of stress held deep within the body (soma) 

• Correct postural imbalances 

• Dramatically increase flexibility through brain to muscle re-education 

• Transform stiffness, soreness and crankiness to comfort and ease by unlearning the adaptive response of sensory motor amnesia

 • Experience an innovative blend of Hatha Yoga, Hanna Somatic Education, pranayama, and meditation 

The results are cumulative with practice and you are left with a profound sense of peace and well-being.  All ages and abilities will benefit. We all experience stress and trauma in life.   

 Wake up body, mind, and spirit with Morning Vinyasa! This class will combine breath work, flowing postures, guided imagery, and visualizations. This combination will allow participants to practice presence, compassionate self-care, and body awareness.
Come prepared to gently awaken and invigorate your body, energize your mind, and uplift your spirit in preparation for the day ahead! 

Chair Yoga makes yoga accessible to people who lack the mobility to move easily from standing to seated to supine positions.  While seated on chairs, students can do versions of twists, hip stretches, forward bends, and mild backbends.
Many of the basic body mechanics of the individual postures are retained, no matter the stance of the practitioner.  The chair replaces the yoga mat and becomes an extension of your body allowing you to work the joints and muscles to increase flexibility, strength, balance, and circulation.  It goes beyond typical exercises in that it encourages quiet reflection, proper breathing, reduction of stress and a sense of well-being.
The benefits of this practice are remarkable. Students report reduced blood pressure, faster recovery from injury or surgery, better sleep, increased mobility and improved posture.

Senior stretch is a class that provides flexibility and increase range of motion for the entire body. The instructor will focus on all major muscle groups with a variety of different types of stretch techniques.
The goal is for your body to feel better, prevent injury, and increase range of motion. For more information and to check your availability go to SilverSneakers website  www.silversneakers.com

SilverSneakers FLEX classes are available at Garden of Zen Yoga Studio at no additional cost for SilverSneakers members. For non-SilverSneakers members: Regular class passes, Chair Class passes  and Memberships can be used. 

Yoga and Breath Work combines yoga and Chi breath work for better health by improving the efficiency of the breath. When we breath more deeper we improve our health, especially the lung capacity and immune system, This brings more energy to our body and mind. In this class yoga can be done in the chair or on mat, standing for enerchi breath work. Silver Sneaker members are invited to attend.
The goal is for your body to feel better, prevent injury, and increase range of motion. For more information and to check your availability go to SilverSneakers website  

www.silversneakers.com

SilverSneakers FLEX classes are available at Garden of Zen Yoga Studio at no additional cost for SilverSneakers members. For non-SilverSneakers members: Regular class passes, Chair Class passes  and Memberships can be used. 

Whether working at the office or from home, over time - work demands and our seemingly never-ending deadlines exacts a toll on our wellbeing.  Regardless of being good stress or bad stress = Too much stress negatively impacts our bodies, our minds and our overall productivity.  Taking even a brief break(s) throughout the working day for being mindful of the body allows for both body and mind to relax. A positive distraction is key, - and so allowing for these short, intentional pauses amidst our daily stressors and the inevitable urgency to feel productive actually reenergizes us, re-amplifies our focus, and rejuvenates mind and body.   “Lunch Break Desk Stretch” is a short class given over your lunch break to give you just that opportunity for the positive distraction you deserve & so that when you resume your workday - you can, and will, work at your best.  These lunch break classes will employ the practical applications of yoga to nourish your body and your mind; incorporating breathing techniques, reflection and gentle stretching movements. These movements include moments of mindful relaxation as well as modified yoga poses easily performed at your desk.  Take care of yourself so you can be your best at what you do - both on and off the clock!   

Stress is inescapable, and is a part of everyone’s life; however, chronic stress can threaten your well-being. 
Yoga can help you learn to respond to stressors with the right blend of inner fire and inner calm.

"Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind" _Patañjali

You will work one on one with your yoga instructor to improve posture and flexibility, correct muscular imbalances and alignment, build strength and balance, and even decrease tension through developing body awareness and relaxation techniques. Benefits of a private yoga lesson include the specific asanas or poses  tailored to your individual needs, on-going instruction and encouragement during your session and regular communication with your instructor, as well as elimination of feelings of intimidation during your practice. 
Who Would Benefit from Private Yoga Lessons? 
Generally speaking, anyone and everyone would benefit from a private yoga lesson! Individuals that might be taking care of old or new injuries that might require one on one attention due to limitations, and those recovering from illness or serious health conditions might also consider this option. Additionally, even physically-active individuals that want to cross train for their specific sport or hobby would benefit from private lessons, allowing the session to target sport-specific muscles and goals.