Gentle Level I

Yoga Gentle Level I is a class for beginning students and those who want to move more slowly to focus on the fundamentals of posture. Ideal for the brand new student or someone healing from injury. Students will learn basic techniques to align well, and in the process receive all of the benefits of yoga practice including strength, flexibility, and peace of mind.  Class begins with a centering to focus on the breath and practice being present.  There will be warm-up postures then leading into a practice to increase strength and flexibility.  Class will conclude with cooling postures and sometimes breathing practices that lead into the final shavasana or deep relaxation pose.

Gentle Yoga With Weights

Gentle Yoga With Weights is a class for students who want to improve strength while focusing on fundamentals of posture. Ideal for students with some experience who prefer to move at a gentle pace. Students will practice basic techniques to align well and increase strength in particular, while also receiving other benefits of yoga practice, including flexibility and peace of mind.  Class begins with a centering to focus on the breath and practice being present.  There will be warm-up postures and a mix of yoga poses and poses with weights.  Class will conclude with cooling postures and sometimes breathing practices that lead into the final shavasana or deep relaxation pose.

Yoga Level I

Yoga Level I is a class for beginning students and those who want to focus on the fundamentals of posture.  Students will learn basic techniques to align well, and in the process receive all of the benefits of yoga practice including strength, flexibility, and peace of mind.  Class begins with a centering to focus on the breath and practice being present.  There will be warm-up postures then leading into a practice to increase strength and flexibility.  Class will conclude with cooling postures and sometimes breathing practices that lead into the final shavasana or deep relaxation pose.

Yoga Level I-II

Yoga Level I-II is for students who have completed at least one session and probably one year of Yoga Level I.  This class is designed to add to the alignment knowledge already achieved through practice and continue to build strength and flexibility in upper body, lower body, and core.  This class encourages students to build on what they have already learned while also being introduced to new poses and new variations of familiar poses.  Each class will begin with centering and warm-ups, leading to a period of sustained intense practice, and conclude with breath work, meditation, and relaxation.

Mixed Level Yoga

Mixed Level Yoga is for students who have completed at least one session and possibly one year of Yoga Level I.  This class is designed to add to the alignment knowledge already achieved through practice and continue to build strength and flexibility.  This is the most inclusive of the classes as it encourages students to build on what they have already learned while also challenging more seasoned practitioners to experience their fullest expression of each pose.  Each class will begin with centering and warm-ups, leading to a period of sustained intense practice, and conclude with breath work, meditation, and relaxation.

Yoga Level II

Yoga Level II is a playful way to go deeper in your practice.  Students will build on their knowledge of alignment and breathing to go further than they might have previously imagined in a wide variety of pose classes — hip openers, forward bends, backwards bends, inversions, and arm balances.  Alignment cues continue to be stressed so that all students remain safe in their practice.  This class is not appropriate for students with injuries or significant physical limitations.

Yoga For Stress Relief

Yoga For Stress Relief is designed for anyone who would like to nourish themselves through the practice of relaxation techniques.  Class begins with a centering and then some gentle stretches to release physical tension.  Then there will be a breathing practice which helps to relax not only the physical body but the mind as well.  Class concludes with a longer, usually 30-40 minute, Yoga Nidra practice.  Yoga Nidra is a guided relaxation where students are in a supported shavasana position and they are lead through a systematic release of tension on every level, physical, mental, and emotional. Students leave class refreshed with a greater sense of well-being.

Community Meditation

The Community Meditation class offers you delicious stillness. Meditation is known to relieve stress, reduce blood pressure, and allow the practitioner to connect to what is most meaningful in their own life. Sitting still is not difficult when the circumstances are right. Thus, students will learn a variety of techniques to cultivate and grow a meaningful meditation practice. Each week this donation based class is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Descriptions for classes at Yoga Center of Columbia