Class Descriptions
Community Class (beginner level)
Just $5!Our new teachers will be sharing the teaching of this wonderful Beginner level class to work toward certification requirements. Please join us for a great opportunity to learn from these fabulous aspiring teachers at a very friendly rate.
Yoga for Stress
This class offers a smorgasbord of choices from the yoga menu artfully arranged to serve up a delicious blend of mind-quieting opportunities that include a combo of pranayama (breath work), a restorative pose or two, some relaxation exercises, guided visualization, meditation, and we'll end in savasana with live music accompaniment provided by Karen and her harmonium.
Gentle Yoga
This class includes gentle stretches, breathing, relaxation, and simple movements to increase range of motion of the major joints. Gentle Yoga is appropriate for seniors or for students who simply prefer to move at a slower pace. Individualized instruction and modifications are given to accommodate students with chronic symptoms such as muscle or joint pain, stiffness, weakness, or fatigue. Please note that if you are suffering from major medical issues, please contact us to discuss them so that we can help assess whether this class or a private session might be a better way to serve you. Call Karen or Jo at 513-533-9642. Thank you!
Beginner
This class focuses on standing poses, basic hip openers and backbends to strengthen and stretch the legs, back, and shoulders and may include box pose to build upper body strength and awareness. Beginner (with Meditation) incorporates 10 - 15 minutes of seated meditation at the end with sound, real-world guidance to make meditation a do-able practice.
Beginner (with Meditation)
Beginner level poses and detailed alignment instruction make the first hour of this class a great practice for body and mind. The last half hour of class feeds the heart and soul through music and meditation. Students may be seated in an upright posture in the middle of the floor, at the wall for support, or in viparita karani (legs up the wall) for a restorative inversion. Meditation sequence may be in silence, guided visualization or musical accompaniment with harmonium. Class culminates with students in savasana and Karen chanting sacred mantras with harmonium accompaniment.
Beginner Plus
Beginner Plus is a class that is designed for Beginner level students who have perhaps been coming for a little while and are ready to experience some slightly more challenging poses. If you had previously attended a Beginner level class at the same time, please note that the teaching of that class will stay the same and that we are just trying to more accurately describe the class. BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME to attend this class always.
Intermediate
In addition to refining the standing poses and basic seated poses, this class focuses on strengthening and opening the arms and shoulders for inversions (including handstand, headstand, forearm balance and shoulderstand), basic arm balances and backbends (including wheel pose). It is recommended that Intermediate students be familiar with the Anusara Yoga principles of alignment and be ready to move beyond the Beginner 2 level.
Intermediate Flow
This is a vigorous Vinyasa-style yoga class, in which breath and movement are connected as students flow through the poses. It incorporates Anusara alignment while keeping the tempo of the class challenging. Less time is devoted to demonstration and instruction of poses, so Intermediate Flow students should be comfortable practicing at the Intermediate level or above.
Advanced (intermediates welcome)
This class introduces more challenging standing poses, back bends and seated poses and includes the regular practice of arm balances and inversions. Advanced students should be able to kick up unassisted to handstand at the wall and push up unassisted into wheel pose. A regular yoga practice outside of class is strongly encouraged.
Slow Flow
This mindful practice is deliciously slow and thoughtfully melded together into original vinyasa constructions as only Kim does it. Join Kim Nietch, RYT-500, and feel the challenge and benefit of this kind of practice. Kim also puts together her own music mixes that set the tone seamlessly for her classes. Intermediate level.
Tai Chi and Qigong for Health
Qigong (pronounced “chee gung”) means 'energy skill'. It is an ancient Chinese system of exercises, breathing techniques, and meditations that cultivate health, energy, long life and a tranquil state of mind.
Qigong has three major areas of application:
- Disease prevention and self-healing
- Building strength, stamina, balance, flexibility, and resistance to injury
- Cultivating awareness, tranquility, and harmony with nature.
Fluid, graceful, circular movements make up this gorgeous practice to allow qi (chi) to flow unimpeded. This is a great practice for arthritis which strengthens and mobilizes the joints in a gentle way. No prior experience is necessary and you may join the class at any time.
Yoga for Pregnancy
In this class, mothers-to-be in any stage of pregnancy learn yoga postures and relaxation techniques to alleviate the common discomforts of pregnancy and prepare for childbirth. New mothers are also encouraged to return to this class as a great way to transition back into a regular yoga practice after childbirth. This is a very gentle yoga class, and no prior yoga experience is needed.
Baby and Me Yoga
For moms (or dads) and their little ones. Mom or dad actually gets a chance to do some yoga! Babies and young children are welcome to come as a small portion of the class will be interactive with dancing, singing and stretching for the babies and parents together.
Hooping
Wendy and Leslie are on a mission... and Hoola Hoops are the way there! Join Leslie & Wendy to learn hoop basics and to enjoy an amazing core and cardio workout.
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga is a practice that often gets overlooked in a world where “doing” is valued far more than “being”. In this lovely practice, you can leave the distractions and stresses of daily life and devote much needed time to restoring your own sense of well-being. Students are situated in simple, comfortable poses on the floor supported with blankets, straps or blocks. They stay in poses for longer periods of time and allow gravity to create the releases and openings for the body without the effort of “doing”. A wonderful way to wrap up a weekend, or to begin the week with a full well to draw from. Consider adding constructive “down time” to your practice, and amazing things may begin to happen.
YogaCore
Join Kate Noble for a yoga practice that focuses on cultivating harmony throughout the core by releasing tension from areas that tend to overwork, like hips and shoulders, and strengthening those core muscles that are often underutilized and developed. While yoga can very much tone this area, so much more can be available to blossom and grow a practice if this area of the body is truly strong.