YOGA at Santosha Center
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Courses currently being offered at Santosha:

Baby & Mom Yoga
Beginners Hatha Yoga
Belly Dancing
Chair Yoga
Hot Yoga Fusion
Kids & Youth Yoga
Kirtan
Kundalini Yoga
Pilates Strength Training on the Ball
Santosha Yoga Flow
Yoga Dance
Yoga on the Ball/Pilates
Yoga Sculpt/ Shakti Flow

Anusara  
A system of Hatha Yoga founded by John Friend.  Anusara yoga is considered "heart oriented," and is expressed from the "inside out".  The poses originate from a deep feeling inside.  There is an emphasis on alignment with specific energy loops and spirals within the body.  For more information read, "Yoga From The Inside Out," by Christina Sell.

Ashtanga Yoga [ Back to Top ]
A system of Hatha Yoga first taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois of India. It is an ancient discipline which purifies the body, mind & spirit of the practitioner. Ashtanga yoga involves ujayi breathing (controlling the breathing), along with the practice of bandhas (root locks) & dristi (gazing point), to create an internal heat . This heat purifies the body, releasing unwanted toxins & promotes the efficient function of the body's systems. The Ashtanga Primary series in its traditional form is introduced. For more information read "Yoga Mala," by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. New students or experienced students may join this class.

Baby & Mom Yoga and Post Natal Yoga [ Back to Top ]
A Post Natal Yoga class. Moms and their Babies can enjoy yoga together. This class is both for the Baby & the Mom.

Beginners Hatha Yoga
A great class if you are just starting out with the practices of yoga or if you have done yoga before & you would like to refresh your memory.

Beginners Pilates & PreNatal Pilates
An introduction to core strengthening and strengthening the arms, hamstrings, and legs. The small ball is sometimes used along with straps, blocks, and props, chairs, & the wall. This class is great for beginners and it is also a great class for mom's in their 1st and possibly 2nd trimester.

Belly Dancing [ Back to Top ]
It is the latest way to maintain a fit body by toning up, tightening the tummy & loosen tight spinal joints. Pregnant moms become more flexible in the hips. Moms & daughters bond. It holds sway to women's groups. Come enjoy this oriental dance!

Bikram Style Hot Yoga
Bikram Style Hot Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga.  It has roots in the tradition of Bishnu Gosh, Bikram Choudhury and James Barkan, innovators in hot yoga.  Hot yoga is practiced in a heated room which helps the muscles relax.  The added heat helps the body detoxify at a faster rate, keeping you youthful and keeping your body purified.  The class consists of 26 different yoga poses & 2 breathing exercises. Each pose is held for a long time.  For more information read "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class Book". This class is good for people of all levels, ages, & body types.  Bikram style hot yoga, is offered along with a humidifier/heater from 90 degrees or higher temperatures.  It is mostly holding poses for a long period of time, no vinyasa flow.  

Budokon
A combination of Vinyasa Yoga, and Martial arts founded by Master Cameron Shayne, a great class for building strength and stamina.  You become ready for anything that comes your way, for intermediate Level II students. 

Chair Yoga [ Back to Top ]
A gentle yoga class for those who want to practice yoga sitting in a chair. A class for all ages, and all levels.  Also a good class for those who are recovering from surgery or who have been physically challenged.  

Circus Yoga, Mom/Dad & Me, Family Yoga
Family pyramids, fire circle, juggling, pushsticks, clowning, partner acrobatics, tightwire, mandala yoga, thai massage, flying partner yoga, community dance, the yes game!, and story vinyasa. Family yoga is an imaginative, fun-filled experience for the whole family designed to strengthen self-confidence, focus, trust, and teamwork.  Circus Yoga combines the consciousness of yoga with the communal ceremony of circus.  Together we create a tribe that embraces balance, joy, courage, agelessness, appropriate risk, and transformation.

Fluid Lunar Yoga Flow 1 & 2 [ Back to Top ]
The lunar complement to the sun salutations (moon salutations). Breath-initiated movement to unlock rigid patterning for greater flexibility. Hip & shoulder openers, lunges, forward bends, inversions, & twists. Certain Hatha yoga poses are used to stimulate the thyroid gland to balance thyroid hormones in the body. Certain poses improve cardiovascular circulation, and stimulate the pineal gland & pituitary gland. The Class ends with some Restorative poses, Massage, & Savasana.

Hot Yoga Fusion
Holding and flowing through poses in a heated room.

Kirtan
Is sound vibrations that are expressed to the divine through the playing of instruments, and singing. Kirtan sometimes involves dancing.  It is an activity that is performed to help establish a loving connection with the supreme.  This can be experienced by anyone personally engaging in the Kirtan process.  Santosha Center For Yoga & Health provides talented instrumentalist and vocalist for the Kirtan.  Anyone can attend, sit for meditation, and absorb the beautiful melody.  Everyone is encouraged to sing along.  No experience necessary.  Donation is required.

Korean Gung Fu & Yoga Mixture [ Back to Top ]
A Vinyasa yoga class that incorporates some korean Gung Fu into the sun salutations.

Kripalu Yoga
Is a system of Hatha Yoga that leads to self love, connection with source, and deep personal transformation.  It is a catalyst for physical healing, psychological & emotional development, & spiritual awakening.  For more information read "Pilgrimage of Love," by Swami Kripalu.

Kundalini Yoga [ Back to Top ]
A system of Hatha Yoga that awakens the unlimited potential that already exists with in every human being.  It stimulates higher energy centers in the body, giving enhanced intuition & mental clarity.  It includes kriyas and pranayama.  For more information read Kundalini Yoga by Yogi Bhajan.

Mat Pilates - Yoga Fusion
& Reformer Pilates On The Mat, Level 1 & 2
Combines the core strength of Pilates with Yoga, using Pilates props/strap/big ball/mini ball.  Students comment on how this class helps build their core body strength and then they feel ready for sun salutations/vinyasa yoga. Gliding exercises are sometimes used, you can sculpt shapely legs, tone your inner and outer thighs, trim your hips, and firm and lift your buns. Students comment on how this class helps build their core body strength and then they feel ready for sun salutations/vinyasa yoga.

Naam Yoga [ Back to Top ]
Is the merging of kundalini yoga and divine spiritual wisdom.  Through breathwork, movement, chanting, and meditation, the practice of Naam Yoga will cleanse your mental, physical, and spiritual bodies.  Naam yoga is for people of all levels who wish to restore their health, and vitality, and open their hearts with joy.

Pilates Strength Training On The Ball [ Back to Top ]
Strengthening the muscles of the body on the big ball. Start with 2 pound free weights and then you can go up to 30 pound free weights depending on the students strength while on the big ball. Bosu is sometimes used in this class. Students comment on how this class helps build their entire body strength and then they feel ready for sun salutations/vinyasa yoga.

PiYo
1/2 Mat Pilates Class and 1/2 Yoga Class. A great combination!

PreNatal Yoga
Prenatal Hatha Yoga poses that are especially good for women who are pregnant at any stage of pregnancy. Props/Chair are sometimes used.

Relaxing, Rejuvenating, Restorative Yoga/Hatha Yoga [ Back to Top ]
Yoga poses are held for a long period of time making it more of a relaxing, restorative class, to help you feel calm and relaxed.  A great class for recharging yourself after the work day.  Includes relaxing, rejuvenating Hatha Yoga poses, and restorative yoga poses using props/pillows/and sometimes a chair on the yoga mat.


Santosha Yoga Flow [ Back to Top ]
Includes an integrated system of Hatha yoga poses from different philosophies. Includes sun salutations and flowing from one pose to the next pose using the following yoga styles/vinyasa styles: Ashtanga/Kripalu/Anusara/Kundalini & Sivananda/Sampoorna Yoga. The vinyasa is followed by sitting floor yoga poses/exercises and deep relaxation. Currently being offered!

Santosha Yoga
Includes an integrated system of Hatha yoga poses from different philosophies as mentioned above but doesn't include sun salutations. Mostly sitting and standing poses, flowing from one pose to the next followed by deep relaxation. Currently being offered!

Sivananda/Sampoorna
A system of Hatha Yoga, includes pranayama, sun salutations, poses, and deep relaxation. Sampoorna Yoga is the yoga of fullness. For more information read the book, "Sampoorna Yoga," by Yogi Hari.

Sunrise Santosha Yoga [ Back to Top ]
Offered in the early morning and incorporates yoga poses that are great for golfers, tennis players, and runners, rock climbers and many other sports!

Vigorous Vinyasa
For those who have experienced the Vinyasa class and want a more moderate to fast paced Vinyasa Yoga Flow workout.

Vinyasa Yoga
Based on principles from a variety of yoga traditions. Explore different combinations of Hatha yoga poses, creating a slow to moderately paced flow from one pose into the next pose. Each class is different depending on the chosen focus of the instructor/students. New students & experienced students may join this class.  Lots of standing yoga poses and flowing from one pose into the next pose, less sitting down floor exercises, followed by relaxation.

Yoga Dance
Mostly standing and some sitting as you dance. Enjoy this meditative Yoga dance using yoga breathwork and yoga stretches.

Yoga For the Emotional Body [ Back to Top ]
Instruction in yoga philosophy, meditation, hatha yoga postures, breathing techniques, and yoga therapy to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Achieve a balanced state of mind and body.

Yoga on the Ball/Pilates
Yoga poses are performed either on or with the big ball. 

Yoga Sculpt/Shakti Flow 1 & 2 [ Back to Top ]
Prana-initiating yogasanas, flowing into an exploration of free-form, breathe-driven movement to free your creative life force and cultivate embodied freedom. Includes many styles of sun salutations & rejuvenating lunar flows. It includes a flowing yoga dance. Strengthening poses include core abdominal's, & shoulder openers. Handstand & elbowstand are shown but are optional

Youth Yoga
A story vinyasa is offered in which youth groups become the characters in the story, while doing yoga poses. This class is for youth groups of different ages which is playful and also relaxing.

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