ACRO: EXPLORE TRUST, SHARE STRENGTH, TAKE FLIGHT

Acro is a playful practice that builds strength and flexibility while improving communication skills and building trust in oneself and others. Acro explores static poses and dynamic transitions that involve at least two people. The three traditional roles are "base," "flyer," and "spotter" (who is utilized for safety and support throughout the learning process). Common styles of Acro include: L-basing, Therapeutics, Counterbalancing, and Standing. Acro is as accessible as it is impressive, and can be suitable for all ages and experience levels.

Ananda: energization and affirmation

Ananda Yoga is a classical approach that integrates the physical, mental, and spiritual. It includes asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, and yoga philosophy. It was developed by Swami Kriyananda who studied and was influenced by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yoga. Ananda yoga is a gentle yoga practice with emphasis on safety and alignment, relaxation in the midst of effort, and awareness. Unique aspects of Ananda yoga are Energization Exercises and asana affirmations.

Anusara: flowing with grace

Anusara yoga is a school of hatha yoga which integrates the tantric philosphy of intrinsic goodness with its Universal Principles of Alignment. Anusara can be categorized into three parts, the Three A's: Attitude, Alignment, and Action. One of Anusara's intentions is to create kula, a community of people who have chosen to gather because of like-mindedness.

Ashtanga: eight limbed yoga

For those who want a serious workout, ashtanga yoga offers a fast-paced series of sequential poses beginning with sun salutations. Students move from one posture to another in a continual flow and link movements to breath. This physically demanding yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. Power yoga , made popular by Beryl Bender Birch, is based on ashtanga.

Bhakti Yoga: foster loving devotion

Bhakti Yoga is the path of love and devotion to a personal form of God. “Bhakti” means loving service, and “Yoga” means to “link up” with God. This practice includes the chanting of sacred mantra (meditation sound) and the study of scripture and yoga philosophy. Bhakti Yoga is seen by many yogis as the culmination and goal of all yoga practices. It is not a religion but rather the true essence of any religion whose aim is to love and serve God.

Bihar School of Yoga/Satyanada Yoga

Teaches you foundation yoga practices progressing to higher yoga appropriate to your level, needs and capabilities. A complete system of yoga for all ages, suitable for kids, teens, (& special needs), adults: pre & post natal, corporate & seniors. Group & private classes, workshops, seminars available at our or your location, wholistic, fitness, sports centers, hospitals, schools, temples, churches, shelters, housing developments; taught systematically, scientifically, gently, compassionately, knowledgeably as all aspects of yoga: poses (asana), shatkarmas (detox series), pranayama (breathing practices), relaxation practices (pratyahara), concentration practices (dharana), pre-meditation & meditation practices (dhyana); lifestyle & diet; from all branches of yoga: hatha, raj, gyana, karma, bhakti, nada, mantra, kundalini; from the major philosophies that contain yoga: Vedanta, Samkhya, Tantra, Upanishads; Systematized by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh, in the lineage of Shankaracharya & Dattatreya. Benefiting body, mind, energy, emotions, behavior, spirit. Harmony of head, heart & hands.

Bikram: 90 minutes, 26 postures

Bikram Choudhury developed this hot yoga practice. Be prepared to sweat as the room temperature is up to 100 degrees. The sequence is always performed in the same order, 26 postures that aredesigned to cleanse the body and the mind from the inside out. It's quite vigorous.

Classical Hatha Yoga

Classical Hatha Yoga is a gentle style of yoga exercise that is easily adapted to any age or ability. It is therefore particularly suitable for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those recovering from illness or injury. This style was introduced in the United States in the 1940s by Indra Devi, a student of Krishnmacarya and his first Caucasian and female student. She taught that Hatha Yoga prepares the body to be a perfect vehicle for the spirit within. This asana practice involves breathing, alignment, strengthening, toning, stretching, relaxation, and meditation. It emphasizes awareness of the body and respecting our own physical limitations to achieve the greatest benefit without harm or injury.

Dharma: enlightened movement and breath

Dharma Yoga is an inspiring and festive blend of Buddhism and traditional hatha yoga, a great workout for body and soul. Founded by Keith Kachtick in 2003, Dharma Yoga uses vinyasa flow, restorative yin poses, inversions, Thai yoga massage and guided meditation as way to nurture each student’s intuitive wisdom and potential for awakening.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a term that refers to a wide range of yoga styles, many of which have been given other names (such as Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Ananda, Kripalu, Sivananda, Viniyoga, and so on). Hatha Yoga is a branch of yoga that focuses on physical health and well-being and recognizes the body as the vehicle of the spirit. “Ha” means sun and “tha” means moon, representing the duality in this world (day/night, hot/cold, male/female, etc.) and the need to maintain balance and harmony for good health and well-being. Hatha Yoga includes not just the practice of asanas (postures) but also pranayam (breathing exercises) and guidance for good diet, hygiene, ethics, and other lifestyle habits. The ultimate goal of Hatha Yoga is to keep the body healthy and the mind clear in order to prepare one for the deeper yoga practices of meditation and spiritual inquiry so that we are not distracted by an unwell or distressed body or a restless or agitated mind.

Integral: complete system for personal transformation

This school of yoga is associated with two prominent figures: developer Swami Satchidananda, the man who taught the crowds at Woodstock to chant “om” for peace, and his student, Dr. Dean Ornish, who uses integral yoga as part of his treatment of heart patients. Integral yoga places almost as much emphasis on pranayama (control of breath) and meditation as it does on postures.

Iyengar: precision and alignment

B.K.S. Iyengar developed this yoga style, which stresses understanding the body and how it works. Students focus on symmetry and alignment, using props — such as straps, blankets, wooden blocks, and chairs — to achieve postures. Each pose is held for a longer amount of time than in most other yoga styles. Teachers of this discipline must go through an intense, long, and rigorous training program.

Kripalu: being compassionate

Kripalu emphasizes proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and “honoring the wisdom of the body.” Developed by Yogi Amrit Desai, kripalu takes the student through three stages beginning with the steady practice of postures (stage one), then holding the postures longer and developing concentration and inner awareness (stage two), and finally surrendering to the body’s own wisdom (stage three). Ultimately kripalu leads to the experience of meditation-in-motion — actually doing postures spontaneously and unconsciously.

Kundalini: yoga of awareness

Developing strength, awareness, character, and consciousness, kundalini yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice. Passive and active approaches help to awaken the kundalini, through meditation, pranayama and yoga asana.

Sivananda: encouraging a healthy lifestyle

Developed by students of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, India, Sivananda Yoga emphasizes a five pointed approach. Proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking and meditation. The asana (postures) practice is based on 12 basic poses, and Sivananda classes usually also include chanting, breathwork, and meditation.

Satyananda Yoga (TM):

Is 360 degrees of yoga for those interested in the higher and deeper aspects of yoga who have a foundation of Bihar School of Yoga practices and have attended BSY classes for over a year or more. All aspects of yoga are taught: poses (asana), pranayama (breathing practices), relaxation, concentration, meditation practices (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana), mudras (gestures for retaining energy), bandhas (redirecting energy); yoga physiology; from all the branches of yoga: hatha, raj, gyana, karma, bhakti, mantra, nada, kriya (kundalini); from major philosophies that contain yoga: Vedanta, Samkhya, Tantra, Upanishads. In deference to Swami Satyananda Saraswati who systematized all the yogic sciences * Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati named it Satyananda Yoga (tm). * Swami Swatmarama systematized Hatha yoga only; Patanjali systematized Raj yoga (yoga sutras) only. Satyananda Yoga (when practiced appropriately) brings about the balance of body, mind, energy, higher mind, spirit; Allows us to live a life in equanimity and harmony with the environment and ourselves; Improves the quality of our lives; A life that imbibes not the negative around us, but the positive; the "Harmony of Head, Heart & Hands".

Tantra: expanding consciousness

The word tantra is a combination of two processes, ‘tanoti’ and ‘trayati’, meaning expansion and liberation. The root ‘tan’ stands for the word tanoti and the root ‘tra’ stands for the word trayati. The word tanoti means to stretch, to extend, to elaborate, to expand. The word trayati means to liberate, to free, to separate. Tantra is a process of expansion and finally absolute freedom in the highest existence. This is possible for everyone - all personality types - from sinner to saint, through disciplined yoga practices which use mantra, yantra & mandala, under the strict guidance of a realized, living guru for safety, & yoga teachers under guru's instructions. Yoga sadhana from Tantra philosophy is the easiest & quickest method to experience, transform & to transcend.

Viniyoga: breath with movement

This gentle form of flow yoga places great emphasis on the breath and coordinating breath with movement. Viniyoga’s flowing movement or vinyasa is similar to ashtanga’s dynamic series of poses, but is performed at a greatly reduced pace and stress level. Poses and flows are chosen to suit the student’s abilities. It teaches the yoga student how to apply the tools of yoga — asana, chanting, pranayama (control of breath), and meditation — in individual practice. Developed by T.K.V. Desikachar, the son of Krishnamacharya (teacher to some of the great yoga instructors including Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois), viniyoga places less stress on joints and knees since postures are done with slightly bent knees. Viniyoga is considered excellent for beginners, and is increasingly being used in therapeutic environments.