What kind of yoga is offered at BYS?
While in this country, we tend to practice yoga in a group, each practitioner of yoga is at their own level, with their own pace, with their own goals and abilities. At Bristol Yoga Studio, all classes are open to all levels of students, however, some classes are more appropriate for particular students at particular times.
Remember: If there is one rule at Bristol Yoga Studio, it's that Yoga Doesn't Hurt. If you're hurting physically while you're on the mat, you're no longer practicing yoga, it's something else. By listening to and honoring the messages our bodies send us, we can tap into the knowing that is present in all of us. With that in mind, choose the classes on our schedule that best suit your schedule and build your yoga practice with awareness and care and honor where you are.
We offer the descriptions below as a guideline for what to expect in each of our yoga classes. Talk to our teachers and other students if you have any questions. Of course, you can always email or call us as well and we'll be happy to help you choose a class as well.
All Levels Yoga is just as it sounds. During this class, classic yoga poses are practiced with an emphasis on alignment and options for modifications. The class is tailored to the students' needs wherever they need to be met. This class is appropriate for people brand new to yoga as well as folks who have been practicing for some time.
Gentle Yoga focuses on building strength and flexibility through stretching, breathing, relaxing, and practicing asana in a meditative way. This class encourages deep release to encourage balance both on the mat and off. This class is appropriate for people brand new to yoga as well as folks who have been practicing for some time.
Vinyasa Yoga combines movement and poses (asana) with breath work (pranayama). This class follows a traditional yoga flow with sun salutations, balancing poses, back bending and twists. It is recommended that practitioners brand new to yoga start at a Gentle or All Levels Class before coming to a Vinyasa Yoga class, however, all are welcome to bring an open mind, a willingness to laugh, learn and work hard physically and mentally.
Heated Yoga is a Vinyasa yoga class practiced in a heated room. The instructor will move through series of pose sequences in a relatively upbeat manner. Classes will include sun salutations, balancing poses, twists and back bending in a heated room. This class is appropriate for those who have been practicing for some time and are familiar with alignment and general series flows of yoga poses. However, like Vinyasa yoga, all are welcome so long as you bring an open mind, willingness to learn, and a commitment to care for yourself during your yoga practice. **Note: If you're not ready to commit to heated, but want to try it, see below for our regulary scheduled "intro" courses, which will share tips for successful heated yoga practice.
Morning Blend Yoga is an all levels class offered weekday mornings and is tailored specifically to the changing needs of students in the class each week. Sometimes a flow class, sometimes gentle, sometimes a 'workshop' style breaking down poses, this class is a mix of styles and offering designed to meet the needs of the students who come that day. Got something you want to work out or work on? Drop in to Morning Blend and let your instructor know!
Yoga and Meditation - In classic times, yoga practice prepared the body for meditation. With this in mind, this class focuses on strength, flexibility, hip opening, with an emphasis on pranayama (breathwork) and dhyana (meditation). This class is appropriate for people brand new to yoga as well as folks who have been practicing for some time.
Early Morning Yoga is practiced at 6:30am, a beautiful time of day. Re-energize and reconnect with your mind, body and spirit with this contemplative class. The asanas (poses) practiced in this class are typically done in a slow, meditative fashion, with a focus on the awareness and meditative aspects of the practice of yoga. As such, this class is appropriate for people brand new to yoga as well as folks who have been practicing for some time.
Yogalates is a combined practice utilizing methods of pilates and yoga. Various yoga poses are used in combination with pilates to strengthen the core and increase flexibility and balance. Poses are held for longer periods of time with an emphasis on strength building while utilizing body awareness with the mind to muscle connection. Balance training is achieved while also building muscle and working on focus and stamina. This is a class for all levels allowing students to work toward personal goals.
Yoga for Healthy Backs is tailored specifically to students looking to focus on strengthening and supporting the back and spine. Through specific yoga pose sequencing, our instructor leads the class with a focus on caring for the various aspects of back health. This is an all levels class and is open to everyone. So whether you've suffered with back issues all your life or have a healthy back already, you're welcome to this class.
Intro to Heated Yoga
September 11, October 2, November 6, 2010
11AM - 1PM
$15 drop in, class cards may be used for these workshops! Attend one or all!
This workshop class is a basics class for those who want to try out practicing in the heat! The instructor will work with you to break the poses down for a deeper understanding of alignment and physical cues to support the practice. The class incorporates Ujayii Breath (Ocean-Sounding Breath), a slower flow, a focus on Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation), pranayama (breathwork), and floor work. Gain strength and flexibility to release, rejuvenate and detoxify, and prepare for regular attendance in the regularly scheduled heated yoga classes.