CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:
Rest & Restore: These classes are wonderful for every one, as we all need time to recharge our battery by learning the precious art of relaxation. In the Relax and Restore class you will do primarily floor based gentle movement practices. These will be nourishing and supportive. So come along and recognise just how energising these classes can be. If you suffer from anxiety, chronic fatigue, stress, have health issues that limit your natural movement or just need to CHILL OUT these classes are for you.
Regulate & Relax: This class will be a mixture of tonifying and restoring postures. It will involve some gentle flow, joint mobilisations, restorative backbends and standing postures with a focus on hormonal balancing and mental quietening. So if you are looking for a class that spends half the time working with breath and movement and the other half exploring deep relaxation, then this might just be the class for you.
Meditation & Movement: These classes are to ground you in the basics of gentle movement and the practice of meditation. The first 20 minutes of the class are spent feeling into some loving stretches to enable the body to be a little more prepared for the sitting meditation practice. You will be surprised just how quickly your ability to sit and focus develops over time. Meditation is the perfect practice for anyone who can breath and anyone truly looking for connection and peace with the world. You can always sit on a chair, if sitting on the floor is not for you.
Beginners: These classes are open to everyone. They will introduce you to the basic yoga postures and breathing practices, and how to do them intelligently. This takes time and often students stay with the beginner classes for many years, as they give you an all round understanding without having to extend too much. The basic postures ensure healthy joint mobilisation, gentle muscle strengthening and stretching, hormonal balancing and peace of mind. Who could ask for more!
Beginners FLOW: After learning the beginners postures, you may like to extend yourself a little further. FLOW classes are traditionally called Vinyasa, which implies that the structure of the class moves from one posture to another in seamless short sequences, that is repeated with gentle increments in the strength of the postures practiced. You might also have heard of these types of classes being called “salutes to the sun or Surya Namascar”. This type of practice is generally more aerobic than the beginners classes and will bring a great flow of energy throughout the body, developing strength and stamina to body and mind. These types of classes are suitable to those who have some prior yoga experience, but could be possibly too strong for a raw beginner if you haven’t done physical practices for a while.
Beginners to General: These classes are a step up from the beginners classes. If you are a beginner, yet the only time slot you can fit in is the ‘beginners to general’, that’s fine….but please stay with the simple movement options. In these classes you will be given options to work a little more strongly so you can make these classes as challenging as you like by taking the stronger option if you feel ready. A good way in yoga to know if you are ready is to practice within the range where you can keep your breath calm without bringing tension to the eyes or the tongue.
General: These classes will expect from you some prior knowledge of Yoga asana, meaning that the basic qualities of each posture may not be as big a focus. You will explore all the fabulous variations and stronger postures and breath work within the class. These classes are not for the beginner or those with injuries (you are better to develop your beginners postures first before attempting these classes). You will learn more about inversions in these classes, like head, hand, forearm and shoulder stands. Often the general classes may have a flow/vinyasana aspect as a warm up. For all round good health and the development of your practice, come and enjoy.
General FLOW class: The general flow classes are designed for those with experience who wish to develop their aerobic capacity and increase strength, balance and flexibility. Each class will begin with warm-up exercises before diving into the flow. You will have the opportunity to develop arm, leg and core strength and get a little more hot and sweaty. These types of flow classes are generally detoxifying for the body and mind, but they are more challenging. Come and see for yourself and watch how deeply you relax towards the end of class.
Inversions and Pranayama: In this class Kate will lead you through some of the slow and vigorous yogic breath control practices, as well as preparation for the wonderful inversions of Handstand, Forearm balance, Headstand and Shoulder stand. Both Pranayama (breath control) and inversion practices relate to the ether (air) element. They are practices that go so well together, and help you to strengthen the immune system and calm the mind. This class is not for beginners nor those who are menstruating.
Advanced Led practice: Kate will be leading and joining in with you on these early morning advanced practices. A serious level of prior experience is required as you will join in with Kate rather than have her teach the basics. So if you are ready to try some of the more advanced postures and have a lot of fun, these classes are for you. Inversions will be practiced in all led practices, but options can be given for those with restrictions. These classes are just $15 as Kate will be practicing with you and therefore not teaching as much as normal. This is why prior experience is a necessity. Come and see for your self, or call Kate if you are curious about whether this class would be suitable for you.
Yin/Yang Flow Yoga: Yin/Yang Yoga combines yin yoga with a flow practice. As with general flow (also known as ‘vinyasa’), yin/yoga is a more aerobic practice and some previous yoga experience is recommended.
Yin Yoga is slow, steady with a sense of core softness and surrender. Through mindful stretching, yin yoga maintains the health of the connective tissue and encourages free flow of chi (energy) in the body. Poses are held for longer periods of time (generally 3-5 minutes for a single pose, but can be longer) and awareness is brought to sensations in the body.
Yang yoga is the active dynamic practice that keeps the body’s functionality and mobilizes energy to refresh the body’s vibrancy and maintain health. The combination of Yin/Yang yoga allows for inner alignment, creating the foundation for outer and postural alignment.
Yang yoga, such as flow, builds strength while yin yoga, with its long holds, allows your body to melt into deeply held stretches. These act as ‘rest’ moments in the flow. Moving mindfully from one pose to the next you will feel the natural progression of the practice from beginning to end.
Each class starts with a warm-up and breathing practice, moving with increased focus and intention to strength building poses and deeply held stretches. You will gain strength, flexibility and develop keen self-awareness as you learn to use your breath to flow.
Yin/Restorative Yoga: Yin/Restorative Yoga combines yin yoga with a restorative (rest and restore) practice. In Yin/Restorative yoga, the pace is slow, and suitable for every level with predominantly floor-based movement practices.
Restorative yoga is a gentle practice designed to restore the body by balancing the central nervous system and relieve effects of stress. Some of that stress and tension is held deep in the musculature and connective tissue, and Yin yoga works to release the fascia (connective tissue) of the body and that deeply held tension, lubricate joints, increase flexibility and positively affect your ease of mobility.
Working together, yin and restorative yoga calm the mind and the body, enabling you to turn inward, and focus on the breath. It is a practice that invites you to reconnect with your spirit within.
