YOGA

The definition yoga is “yoke” or “union.” Through the ancient practice of yoga, one may come into deeper touch with their spirituality by uniting the mind, body and spirit. A traditional yoga practice involves physical postures or asanas and breathing techniques or pranayama. Through asana and pranayama, the practice of meditation can exist. A practitioner of yoga is known as a “yogi.”

Legendary yogi B.K.S. Iyengar is credited as one of the first to bring yoga to western society. Iyengar is known for his awareness of alignment in asana practice. Through proper alignment, there exists a balance between muscular strength and surrendering; we learn to work muscles needing work and relax those that overwork. Up Dog Yoga and Wellness honors Mr. Iyengar’s work in most classes through his teaching techniques and prop utilization.

Yoga Class Levels and Descriptions
Our classes are appropriate for all levels of practitioners, from beginning to intermediate. For the beginner, a firm yogic foundation will be established. The more seasoned practitioner will develop increased mindfulness in form and alignment while exploring postures; advanced postures are introduced to challenge regular students.

Yoga, Energy, Spirit touches the spiritual aspects of yoga through postures and study. This class connects yoga to our spiritual and religious practices.

Beginning Yoga, Yoga Basics, Morning Yoga and Lunchtime Yoga focus on balancing strength, flexibility and relaxation.

Our Restorative Yoga is for those needing extra stillness or nurturing from a hectic busy lifestyle. It is especially beneficial for seniors, plus sizes, injuries or medical conditions and during pregnancy.

Yoga with the Rope Wall is a summer class series demonstrating how the yoga rope wall can be used for core strengthening, vinyasa, alignment adjustments and restorative poses. At least one year of basic yoga classes is required for registration in this class.

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Recommendation to New Yoga Practitioners
New to yoga? We have some tips that may be helpful for you:

• Turn your cell phone and pagers off or on vibrate – this helps keep a peaceful environment.
  
  
• Refrain from using lotion before practice – it makes it a whole lot harder to hold poses.
  
  
• Practice on an empty stomach – with all the bending, twisting and moving… trust us, you want an empty stomach!
  
  
• Drink water before and after practice – leave water behind during practice; we want you to stay warm to assist in flexibility and body cleansing.
  
  
• Breathe – It’s easy to unintentionally hold your breath when you are working a posture.
  
  
• Start with a Level 1 or a Level 1/2 class – yoga is a life long journey… no need to rush to get more advanced quickly… you get more breaks when you’re in a beginner class!
  
  
• Be patient and accepting of your physical body – sometimes it seems that teachers are telling you to do the impossible! But your body will come around with regular practice.
  
  
• Be patient and accepting of your physical mind – sometimes you will want to work faster or slower than the teacher desires. This is the mind telling us we want to work more when in reality, the body may need to work more or less. Also, thoughts of other things, work, home, may enter the mind even though we are trying to relax and forget them! When this happens, note your thought but then put your efforts into breathing.
  
  
• If you are attempting to have yoga replace your traditional exercise practice, it may take some time to build adequate strength and endurance – In yoga, muscles and lungs are used differently than in traditional exercise; you may be challenged in a yoga class even if you have been exercising regularly. You may need to keep some traditional exercise in your life and use yoga postures to warm-up and cool-down initially. When your knowledge, strength and endurance build, you will eventually be able to replace traditional exercise, even rigorous exercise like running, with yoga.
  

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See our Yoga Class Schedule.