YOGA, PILATES & MASSAGE
TEACHERS TRAINING COURSES
CLASSES & PERSONAL TRAINING
GLOBAL RETREATS
YACEP® COURSES & WORKSHOPS
About
Our Classes...
What is a Led Class?
In the astanga led class the teacher leads the class through a part or the whole of the primary or any other series of the astanga yoga system – attentively, slowly and with focus.
Aside from regular self-practice, following a led class a few times a month is encouraged to learn the correct vinyasa for the sequence.
This is a dynamic and physically demanding form of focused movement. Over time, you will build a familiarity with the sequence and poses, enabling you to explore the possibilities within each one and the practice as a whole.
We offer led classes at both beginners level for those who are new to practice, and all levels/experienced for those who are physically more advanced in their self-practice.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a traditional system of hatha yoga created by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century, often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga, based of the way he learnt the system from his teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. The style is hot and energetic, synchronising breath with movements and concentration techniques. The individual poses (asanas) are linked by flowing movements (vinyasas).
K. Pattabhi Jois established his Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in 1948.
What is Mysore?
Mysore refers to the town South of India where this style originated from. Mysore style is best described as a self practice in a group setting, Mysore style is the traditional way that the Ashtanga system of yoga is taught and learned. Students come to class and practice the Ashtanga series at their own pace, level and capacity with the individual support from their teacher and the energy of a group practice.
This self practice method allows the student to work at their own pace while still receiving individual one - on - one hands on adjustments and personal attention from the teacher. The instructor teaches the postures to each student, making unique recommendations based on individual needs. Postures are given one by one, time is taken to master each posture before progressing to the next. Mysore classes help students to develop a consistent self practice. This class is open to everyone and is appropriate for both beginner and advanced students. It is recommended but not necessary that you participate in a led Ashtanga class before joining the Mysore style class in order to familiarize yourself with the sequence.
Ashtanga Led & Mysore
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Sivananda
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Sivananda Yoga is a classical Hatha yoga system founded by Swami Vishnudevananda. He named this spiritual yoga system, as well as the international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre organization responsible for propagating its teachings, after his beloved guru, Swami Sivananda with the mission 'to spread the teachings of yoga and the message of world peace which has since been refined to 'practice and teach the ancient yogic knowledge for health, peace, unity in diversity and Self-realization.
Sivananda Yoga identifies a group of twelve asanas as basic ones. Emphasis is on mastering these twelve basic asanas first, from which many variations are then added to further deepen into the practice. The twelve asanas in the Sivananda Yoga system follow a precise order, allowing for a systematic balanced engagement of every major part of the body - with the primary intention being to allow the prana, or life force energy, to circulate more freely.
Yin
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Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of long - held yoga asanas deriving from the Taoist tradition incorporating principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. For beginners, asanas may be held from 45 seconds to two minutes while more advanced practitioners may stay in one asana for five minutes or more. The sequences of postures are meant to stimulate the channels of the subtle body known as meridians in Chinese medicine and as nadis in Hatha yoga.
Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues of the body—the tendons, fascia, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. A more meditative approach to yoga, its goals are awareness of inner silence, and bringing to light a universal, interconnecting quality.
It is a wonderful way to learn the basics of meditation and stilling the mind. As such, it is ideal for athletic types who need to release tension in overworked joints, and it is also good for those who need to relax.
Vinyasa
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Vinyasa is really an umbrella term for many other styles. is a style of yoga characterized by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath.
Vinyasa classes offer a variety of postures and no two classes are ever alike. The variable nature of Vinyasa Yoga helps to develop a more balanced body as well as prevent repetitive motion injuries that can happen if you are always doing the same thing every day.
As a philosophy, Vinyasa recognizes the temporary nature of things. We enter into a posture, we are there for a while and then leave.
While Vinyasa, or Vinyasa-Krama, dates back to the Vedic age—the earliest period of yoga thousands of years ago—it referred to a series, or sequence of steps, to make something sacred.
The movement practice of Vinyasa is said to begin with T. Krishnamacharya who has had the largest influence on how yoga, in general, is practiced today, and is influenced by Ashtanga. Put all this together and Vinyasa, is a breath initiated practice, that connects every action of our life with the intention of moving towards what is sacred, or most important to us.
Vinyasa Yoga is one of the most popular forms of the practice in the world today.
Asana & movement Lab
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Asana & movement Lab, is an experimenting class combining Pilates with Vinyasa yoga sequences, calisthenics and the ground based movement of animal flow.
A great dynamic and fun way to improve strength power, coordination, mobility, flexibility and stamina for all levels of practice.
Through an asana & movement Lab class all muscle groups are getting worked effectively, body's movement is enhanced through specific working on the support muscles (torso, hips, shoulders) while contributing to body's overall conditioning and balance.
A great way to get out of the standard forms to experiment with the body's natural way of movement and challenge our practice.
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Raja means "royal" or "king". Raja yoga thus refers to "chief, best of yoga". The first known use of the phrase "Raja yoga" occurs in a 16th-century commentary on a specific step in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.
The historical use of the term Raja yoga is found in other contexts, quite different than its modern usage. In ancient and medieval Sanskrit texts like Patanjali, it meant the highest state of yoga practice (one reaching samadhi).
Raja Yoga is a study of the human mind, becoming aware of its habitual tendencies, and ultimately transcending identification with the body-mind-intellect complex through meditation to rest in the vast ocean of consciousness, which comprises it all.
Within a Raja Yoga Class we will discuss about the 8 limb path, practice on various pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (turning the senses inwards) and dharana (concentration) techniques, talk about dyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption) alongside yamas (ethical rules), niyamas (observances) and asana (posture) purpose.
Raja
Pranayama, Concentration, Meditation
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Pilates
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Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, after whom it was named. Pilates called his method "Contrology" and nowdays It is practiced worldwide, especially in Western countries.
Pilates sessions can help muscle conditioning and If practiced with consistency, Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the entire body.
It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong core while improving coordination and balance. The core, consisting of the muscles of the abdomen, low back, and hips, is often called the "powerhouse" and is thought to be the key to a person's stability.
Pilates' system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginner to advanced or to any other level, and also in terms of the instructor and practitioner's specific goals and/or limitations. Intensity can be increased over time as the body adapts itself to the exercises.
Alignment is the term we use in yoga asana to describe the precise way to do any given pose in order to maximize its benefits and minimize the risk of injury.
Alignment is a flexible structure that offers options for practitioners of all levels, shapes and sizes, no matter what restrictions or imbalances one may have. It encourages the use of props, modifications, and good old common sense in the service of finding the safest and most beneficial way for each body to fully experience each pose. When you understand alignment, you have the tools to make almost any yoga pose work for your body.
props are intended to help yoga students practice with good alignment right from their very first day instead of compromising their form.
This Iyengar inspired class is suitable and recommended to anyone and every level of practice.
Technique & Alingment
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Aerial
Aerial yoga is a hybrid type of yoga combining traditional yoga poses, pilates, and dance with the use of a special hammock, a prop designed to support up to 300 kilograms on average.
The hammock acts like a swing supporting the hips for forward bends and backbends. Difficult mat-based yoga postures may prove easier to perform through aerial yoga, while the hammock's movement further contributes to adding variety to the aerial workout.
The history of this way of yoga is quite confusing and unclear. The late and great yoga master, B. K. S. Iyengar was the first who popularized the using of props in yoga. Although there were many more yogis over the thousands of years who have used devices and hanged upside down from trees but Iyengar created a complete practice that included accessories like blocks, straps or ropes and improvised inversion slings.
It got mostly developed and popular by Michelle Dortignac in 2006.
Our Live aerial classes take place every week at Factory Fitness Club while our Online classes are happening in real time in interaction with the teacher from Yoga Fusion Virtual Shala.
Ayurvedic Yoga
Thinking the year in ayurvedic terms we have three doshas so three seasons. Makes perfect sense if we remember that the doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—govern not only our own constitution, but everything else in the cosmos, as well. So instead of winter, spring, summer, and fall, the year breaks into vata season, which goes from late fall into early winter, kapha season, from the coldest part of winter into spring and pitta season, which includes the hottest, longest days of the year—from late spring into Summer and early Autumn.
AUTUMN / EARLY WINTER VATA PRACTICE
During this period we will be sequencing asanas which are most suitable for balancing vata, the ones that are calming and grounding by nature. They will counter the tendency for those with a vata imbalance to be “spacey,” agitated, or nervous. These asanas will help allay fear, worry, and anxiety and also improve vata physical imbalances. In addition, asanas that strengthen the lower back will help alleviate vata.
WINTER / EARLY SPRING KAPHA PRACTICE
Kapha season extends from frigid winter days, when the ground freezes solid, to mud-luscious early spring, when the snow melts, the sap rises, and the first tentative shoots break through the ground. These conditions disturb kapha dosha’s heavy, dense, wet, gooey, stable, cool qualities. To pacify kapha during the early and to balance the heavy, slow, cold, and sedated nature of kapha, our practice during this period will consist of asanas that are more stimulating and heating. Asanas best suited to individuals of kapha nature or imbalance are those that open up the chest. The stomach and chest are the areas where kapha accumulates.
LATE SPRING / SUMMER PITTA PRACTICE
Nature builds heat all through pitta season until, at the start of autumn, the leaves on the trees turn bright orange, yellow, and red, as if they were living flames on each branch.We can enjoy the passion of the season without burning up by following sequences for pitta that are calming and not overly heating. People of pitta nature or imbalance tend to be more assertive and intense. Calming poses help sedate their intensity and ease the emotions of anger and resentment that they are prone to.
Asanas that help balance pitta are those that place pressure on the naval and solar plexus region, in the small intestine where pitta resides. These asanas directly affect the liver and spleen and help regulate the strength of the digestive fire.
Autumn &
Early Winter
Dosha: Vata
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Winter &
Early Spring
Dosha: Kapha
Late Spring &
Summer
Dosha: Pitta
Special Chandra
New Moon / Full Moon
Sequence
HOW IS YOGA CONNECTED TO THE MOON?
Yoga is an ancient practice that can go far beyond a physical workout. One way to go deeper during your time on the mat is to sync up with the phases of the moon. The yoga tradition is full of practices, teachings, and lore related to the moon. Many yoga asanas, or postures, line up with the lunar phases.
According to the Ashtanga tradition, physical practice ideally changes throughout the lunar cycle to effectively sync the body and the mind with nature's rhythms.
Hatha yoga is one of the most common types of yoga practice. The word “hatha” translates to more “willful,” but it can also be translated from Sanskrit to “sun” (ha) and “moon” (tha).
This interpretation of Hatha yoga practice points to the idea that yoga can balance the polar energies inside of us. The fiery, active solar energy is referred to as “masculine” while the peaceful, reflective energy of the moon is viewed as “feminine.”It’s important to note that the terms “masculine” and “feminine” in this case refer to the complementary energies that exist in every person, regardless of sex and gender. This mirrors the concept of Shiva and Shakti in Tantra tradition.
Honoring the phases of the moon is an ancient part of yoga that many practitioners carry on today. There’s a natural cycle of life, moving through beginning, sustaining, and letting go. By attuning to the rhythms of natural cycles, such as the lunar cycle, we’re attempting to tap into the intelligence within, from which the cycle originates. Yoga is about self-realization, and when we connect to the lunar cycles we tune into our true nature.
The moon cycle can have significant impact on our energy levels, just as the moon’s gravitational pull affects the tides, so it affects the human body, which is 60 percent water.
NEW MOON
The new moon is a time of change and renewal. This makes it a good time to clear the space to plant seeds for the next creative cycle.
In Ashtanga practice, yogis abstain from practicing on the day of the new moon altogether. In other traditions a restorative or gentle yin Practice is preferred.
During our New Moon practices once a month we will:
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Focus on setting intentions for the next lunar cycle.
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Keep our practice slow and meditative.
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Focus on shifting our perspective and visualizing new beginnings.
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Consider incorporating Ajna chakra practices.
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Enjoy traditional mantras with the sound of the thibetan bowls while practicing enjoying the new moon ambience.
FULL MOON
The full moon represents peak, super-charged high energy. It’s also a time of balance because solar yang (Shiva) and lunar yin (Shakti) energies are in harmony.
This makes it an ideal period for reflection. This is a time to reflect on the lunar cycle so far and refocus and reset our goals.
In Ashtanga practice, yogis abstain from practicing on the day of the full moon.
During our Full Moon practices once a month we will:
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Focus on meditation and manifestation while the energy is high.
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Practice Chandra namaskar, restorative, or yin yoga during this time.
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Practice shedding, releasing and letting go.
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Shakti healing energy, awareness and realization.
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Enjoy traditional mantras with the sound of the thibetan bowls while practicing enjoying the Full Moon ambience.