live classes in the loft
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class descriptions
Back to Basics
Back to Basics is a gentle yoga class. By connecting our movements to our breathing, we can experience a sense of grounding, connection, and calm. Keep your body moving well by keeping the joints fluid, and the breath easy. Through movement we can have an experience of focus and concentration that is a state of moving meditation.
This class is accessible to everyone (who can climb the stairs to The Loft).
The class will be called The Embodied Hour beginning in July.
Rise & Shine
Starting the day with a yoga practice can help ready you for what's coming. Warming up the body, clearing the mind, bringing your awareness into your day can set you up for success.
The class will be called The Embodied Hour beginning in July.
Stretch & Strength
Based on the principles of an eight-limbed path, Stretch & Strength classes include working within an ethical code of behaviour, moving the body, learning to move and control the breath, awareness of attention, focus, concentration, and meditation.
Sometimes the movements we are doing with our bodies look and feel like yoga, and sometimes they are more like Pilates, exploratory or functional movements, or even play. Jules Mitchell says, "All movement is good movement if the tissues can withstand the load." Because of this, in my opinion, there are no "bad" yoga postures, only less appropriate postures for a particular class, practitionerm or day. In the same way, I think that all movements, if done from a place of mindfulness, can be considered yoga.
These classes will be called The Embodied Hour and The Embodied 75 (Saturday morning) beginning in July.
Yoga for Back Health
In a modern context, our backs can suffer. Sitting for long periods, chronic back pain, back injuries including herniated discs, can make being in your body challenging.
Using somatic explorations, yoga postures, and ELDOA™ movements and principles (for more on ELDOA™ see here), this class will help you understand your back, what's going on with it, and what you can do to help increase your intrinsic strength and mobility.
The class will be called The Embodied Hour beginning in July.
Pranayama
This weekly, 1-hour class, either online or in-person, offers a progressive practice of traditional pranayama.
Our emphasis is on steadiness, clarity, and respect for individual capacity. Breath is never forced; practices are built gradually so that the nervous system remains flexible and the mind attentive.
Pranayama occurs between asana (movement practices) and meditation. Both will be included in this class.
This class is series only — no drop ins.
The online class will be recorded, and the recording will be made available for the week.
Please do not eat for at least 2 hours before Pranayama.