Class Descriptions

AM Yoga-Would you like to start your day out feeling centered and calm, yet energized and ready for whatever comes your way? Join Ellen for this energetic, strength building, gentle flow class from 5:45 to 6:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. We will greet the day with a Centering, Pranayama, and Asanas to awaken the body, mind and spirit. Looking forward to watching the sunrise with you.

Ashtanga Primary Series – open to everyone but most beneficial for students with a developed foundation. Exploration occurs through immersion in the series and the pursuit of the improbable.

Awareness Through Yoga-Suitable for all levels, beginners to more experienced yoga students are welcome. This class will allow a  beginner to progress surely and safely from basic postures to the more advanced as they gain flexibility, strength and sensitivity in mind, body and spirit. We will focus on breath, ease, strength, softness and flow between the asanas as well as movement in each posture. The goal: increased awareness with a state of mindfulness throughout the practice.

Beginning Yoga- This gentle yoga class begins with a meditation and spinal warm up.  Students then flow through sun and moon salutations incorporating Hatha yoga standing poses.  Class ends with floor poses and returning to meditation.  The goal?  Leave class in tranquility by connecting body, mind, and spirit.

Energizing Yoga-This vinyasa class  integrates movement and breath, brought together to create a 50 minute midday energizing class. The class contains mostly basic postures presented in a challenging way all the while maintaining a focus on the breath. Expect some flow to energize as well as holding poses for focus. The goal: to leave the class feeling physically challenged, mentally focused, and energized for the rest of the day.

Flow Yoga- This is an all levels class that begins with centering meditation and pranayama (breath work) to help prepare the mind and body for the flowing asana practice that follows.  This class will integrate the Eastern tradition of yoga according to Patanjali sutra’s and the eight limbed path with the Western biomechanical alignment principles.  The class will begin slowly with attention given to developing mindful awareness of breath and body and then take this awareness to a flow practice including salutation series and standing balance work.  The class will end with a core focus and finally a deep relaxation/savasana…with the possibility of a gentle foot or neck rub!

Kundalini Inspired Yoga- This is a class for everyone. Kundalini Yoga classes are a dynamic blend of posture, pranayama, mantra, music and meditation. A class will include a specific kriya of postures with breathwork, as well as meditation, relaxation, and sometimes even some dancing fun. Through Kundalini Yoga and meditation we balance body and mind, stimulate the glandular and nervous system, and gain inner vitality and creativity.

Pilates- Hope’s Pilates classes focus on learning about the core and being mindful about breathing and engaging the core while moving the body and improving flexibility and improving posture. Each person will hopefully learn about their own individual bodies and explore its potential for movement. Every person can go at their own pace and stay within their own body’s abilities to get the most out of the Pilates work and enhance their daily life.

Relax & Renew Flow-This is a class that will help ease you into nighttime rest, wind down from the day, breathe, stretch, work out the “kinks” of body and mind to help you find your best slumber…aaagghhh.

Slow Flow Yoga- This class is aimed at taking time in each pose to explore each asana deeply. Expect around 10 poses holding each for up to 10 breaths. The intensity is what you make it.

Vinyasa Yoga- These classes can be as difficult or as nurturing as you make them. The classes deal with challenging material and advanced concepts, yet are accessible to all who wish to develop their practice. What is refreshingly true is that you will get from it what you give to it.

Yin/Yang Yoga- Yin Yang Yoga offers the best of both worlds. Yin Yoga stretches connective tissue by holding postures 3 to 5 minutes. The asanas are mainly concerned with the area from the hips to the knees which helps us sit more comfortably during meditation.  Yang asanas more actively direct the pranic flow into the muscles and superficial connective tissues while developing strength. In this class you get the opportunity to experience the meditative aspect of Yin with the energizing poses of Yang. Expect some graceful flow between poses and a 10 minute meditation at the end.

Yin Yoga – A class that will include longer, more passive holding of specific yoga poses. All the poses are done on the ground with use of props to help you relax into the poses. Poses are held for 3-5 minutes with focus on the breath to assist in deepening the stretches with time. Yin targets the connective tissue around joints, while a more traditional yoga practice, yang, addresses the muscle system. This class can be deeply opening if you choose, or simply a more restorative practice.