Click here to read up on yoga class ‘levels’

And click here to read up on our yoga rope wall studio

Here are some things to know about yoga at JoyMoves:

• JoyMoves’ yoga classes are open to all members on a drop-in, first come, first served basis – i.e. no reservation is required. Classes are for men and women.

• For safety reasons students will not be allowed into a yoga class if it is more than 10 minutes into session.

• The temperature of our yoga classes will be determined by your instructor, but will generally be within the range of 72 to 80 degrees.

• We have ongoing True Beginner level classes for those new to yoga (see our Schedule). In addition, for both those new to yoga, as well as for those who have a need that requires special care, we offer Private and Semi-private yoga instruction. Read more…

Hatha Yoga
“Hatha” is what most people associate with the word “yoga”. Our Hatha Yoga classes integrate the use of physical postures, attention to the energy and patterns of the breath and internal mental focus to help the practitioner develop flexibility, balance, calmness and strength. Poses are held to emphasize alignment and optimize the benefits of each pose.

Hatha Yoga Flow
Our Hatha Yoga flow classes use regular transitioning between poses to connect asanas with the breath, allowing prana to open and flow more freely. This naturally results in the unlocking of trapped energy, and results in a dynamic, more challenging yoga experience.

Hatha/Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar yoga is an innovative approach to classical Hatha Yoga. Developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, this form of yoga emphasizes breathe & alignment, mental focus and precision. It can be a vigorous form of yoga. Poses are held longer in an Iyengar yoga class (than in a Hatha class) in order to build endurance, concentration, focus and skillful action. It is a form of meditation in motion. All of the major props that are now a part of yoga were developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, and this incudes the “props” of the yoga rope wall and the backbend chairs.

Private Yoga Instruction
Private yoga sessions are very useful if you are unfamiliar with yoga, have a need that requires special care, or just want to deepen your practice.

To schedule a private yoga session, please call or email the studio. Private sessions are 60-75 minutes or 90 minutes in length. See the Pricing page for more details.

Vinyasa Yoga
About Vinyasa Yoga. The word Vinyasa means “to put or place in a specific order or sequence.” In a Vinyasa class, the teacher will lead students through sequences of postures designed to create a specific effect in the body or mind. The movement from posture to posture is usually linked to your breath. In other words, the teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. This technique is sometimes also called Vinyasa Flow, or just Flow because of the smooth way that the poses run together and become like a dance. Vinyasa allows for a lot of variety, but almost certainly includes Sun Salutations.

Expect movement in a Vinyasa class – not just stretching. The class can be fast or slow, and might be more or less alignment-oriented. Some popular yoga styles, such as Ashtanga and Power Yoga, make use of the Vinyasa method, but studios that offer these styles will list them on a class schedule by their individual names. Vinyasa’s strength is in its diversity. There is no single philosophy, rulebook, or sequence that teachers must follow, so there is a lot of room for individual personalities and quirks to come through.

Here’s a little more on JoyMoves Vinyasa classes:

Prenatal Yoga
With the increasing popularity of yoga, many women are aware that there are numerous physical benefits of prenatal yoga. For example, yoga can often help alleviate many of the discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, swelling, back pain and sciatica. Further, yoga helps strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles, improve circulation, aid in digestion, exercise the spine and increase overall comfort. In addition to its many physical benefits, prenatal yoga helps women through the evolutionary process of pregnancy by connecting with other pregnant women, allowing the opportunity for inward reflection, providing a healthy physical and emotional outlet for one’s experiences, and ultimately preparing one for birth on a holistic level. This class has been specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy. It is conducted in a calm and peaceful environment. A safe, open community allows you to freely discuss any issues, from discomforts and concerns, to the wonderful new changes your body and baby are experiencing. Before deciding whether prenatal yoga is right for you, we recommend you discuss the idea of taking the class with your physician and also read the following articles:

• Great pregnancy exercise: Yoga, reviewed by Dr. Aaron Deutsch in August 2006 http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancyfitness/7862.html

• The 13 rules of safe pregnancy exercise, reviewed by Dr. Vicki Lee Edge in August 2006 http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancyfitness/622.html

Also, while we’re sorry for the bureaucracy of this, but we do require that you have a medical release from a physician to take this class. You can download it here.

Our prenatal class is open to pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters who are having a healthy pregnancy and who have an authorization from their physician. We recommend that women take it easy the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy and allow their body that time to become accustomed to the changes of pregnancy. However, if you practiced yoga before becoming pregnant this does not necessarily mean you have to stop your practice all together. Women who are in this situation are welcome to have a conversation with the class instructor to determine whether the class will be suitable for them ahead of the 2nd trimester (a waiver is still required of course). Beginners are welcome – no previous yoga experience is required.

Classes

Nia
Pilates
Yoga
Women’s Movement Meditation