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Yoga

Yoga is an ancient method of health and healing, a philosophy that originated in India 5000 years ago. The word literally means yoke, or to join, union. When we practice yoga we are uniting our breath, our body, our mind. There are several ways to practice yoga/uniting with our higher selves. Hatha yoga is the broad term that encompasses all the "physical" yoga that we are used to seeing. But there is also karma yoga where we serve others expecting nothing in return, raja yoga whose emphasis is on meditation, bhakti yoga which emphasizes love or devotion, and jnana yoga which involves study, inquiry, and insight. Of course these are all paths we can incorporate into our lives, but hatha yoga is what we will be focusing on.

Our classes will be taught in a loving and supportive environment, as well as by a seasoned, experienced professional. Lori has been teaching for 12 years and will help you get the most from the class. Each class will include quiet centering, pranayama or breathing practices, asanas or poses to keep you flexible in body and mind, and a deep relaxation at the end of class. Beautiful music is usually playing to help you move toward a more meditative, relaxing state.

Benefits include more energy during the day, sleeping better at night, strengthening of the back, relief from pain in the back and neck, better mental clarity and focus, a feeling of peace, growing older gracefully, and help with just about anything else you have going on.

Yoga Classes

Note: All classes listed are for beginners to intermediates. You don't have to be flexible to practice yoga. Yoga will help you become more flexible.

Prenatal Yoga

This class will help you: Strengthen your body and increase flexibility and endurance. Feel more prepared for the challenges of labor and birth. Experience clarity of mind and self-confidence. Improve circulation and aid digestion. Decrease back pain, sciatica, swelling of the feet and ankles, constipation, nausea, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles. Improve circulation and aid digestion. Reconnect with your innate wisdom in birthing, bond with your baby, and share thoughts with other pregnant women.

Mommy and Baby Yoga

This class is for any mom who has recently given birth and for babies from 1 month to 7 months. Modified yoga poses for the changing postpregnancy body, focusing on getting your center (stomach area) back, and fun yoga moves to practice with baby help development and bonding. Meditation, pranayama or breathing practices, and chanting or singing also help with creating a peaceful and calm mom and baby.

Yoga for Women

This class is specifically created for issues that women experience. Some benefits include relief from pms, pregnancy, reproductive problems, menopausal symptoms, anxiety, tension, confusion, high blood pressure, back pain, and fatigue. Props will be used such as bolsters which are provided by the studio. By the end of the class you will be relaxed, restored, rejuvenated, and have a sense of well being.

Beginner Power Yoga

This class is a great class for women to tone, sculpt, strengthen, lengthen, open, and actually get the heart rate up and lose weight, and increase endurance and stamina, as well as flexibility. Each class will include a version of the sun salutation as well as focusing on specific areas of our bodies that don't get much attention.

Couples Yoga

This class is held every 4th Friday of the month and has been added at the request of many of my ongoing yoga students as well as others who are interested. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to have fun and spend a little time with the one you love. O.K. you do have to actually move your bodies, but that's a good thing, right? Please sign up (by calling or e-mailing) at least 1 week in advance. The class is subject to cancel if not enough are registered.

Shakti Yoga

If you’ve been looking for a dynamic new way to enhance your range of motion, break through physical and energetic blockages, boost cardiovascular strength, and create a more positive relationship with your body, here’s the perfect program. Shakti Yoga combines traditional/modern Vinyasa Yoga (flowing from one pose to the next in conjuction with the breath) with creative movement and dance. Shakti is said to be the dynamic creative fire of the universe. Come enjoy the benefits of yoga and dance fused together! Contact moonhavenstudio.com or 706-965-6650.

Power Flow Yoga

The basis of power flow yoga is postures linked into a flow. Drawing from Iyengar and Astanga-inspired vinyasa (flow), this class includes focus on alignment and breath. It is a challenging class open to all levels. Be sure to drink plenty of water the day of practice and after. Please bring your own mat, towel, and water. This class is not "hot," but the room will be warm.

Ki Yoga

This unique approach combines classic Hatha warm-ups and asanas with Korean traditional chi exercises. Ki Yoga will facilitate the flow of prana while while helping to release the blockage of energy by toxins built up in the body. Included are proper breathing, relaxation, and meditation as well as yoga's history and philosophy. This class and instructor offer the student a highly attentive and warm experience.

Hatha Yoga

What most people refer to as simply "yoga" is actually traditional Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage in the 15th century in India. This particular system of yoga is the most popular one, and it is from which several other styles of Yoga originated including Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga. The word "hatha" comes from the Sanskrit terms "ha" meaning "sun" and "tha" meaning "moon". Thus, Hatha Yoga is known as the branch of Yoga that unites pairs of opposites referring to the positive (sun) and negative (moon) currents in the system. It concentrates on Asana or poses and Pranayama or breathing practices and is appropriate for beginning to continuing students.

Tantric Yoga

The need to cultivate and reconnect with our sensual selves -- the goddess at the core of every woman -- remains as strong as ever, but the rush of modern life make the opportunities all too rare. Through playful movements and heart-centered meditation, take a journey of discovery. Find the freedom and fullness of expression that come from embracing yourself and your body.

Tantric Yoga is a system of Hindu Yoga which emphasizes the shakti associated with the female principle and is usually characterized as kundalini. It is an exploration of the internal flow of natural movement through yoga. It lays special emphasis on the development of the powers latent in the six Chakras, from Muladhara to Ajna. Concentration focuses on raising the kundalini energy to encompass several areas of life, including the sexual and the heart. It follows the philosophy of tantra meaning to weave, to expand, to spread. Tantric yoga promotes a sacred style of internal yoga which promotes communication, breath, and energy and freedom in the physical and emotional bodies, resulting in warmth, healing, and awakening, so that all aspects of ourselves are more in alignment with their true inherent joyful nature. Hatha yoga (postures), raja yoga (meditation), pranayama (breathing techniques), and groovy rhythmic music are all included in your experience. For Women Only.

Pilates

Pilates exercise is a unique system of strengthening and stretching developed in the early 1900's by Joseph Pilates. It draws from a wide range of practices from Chinese acrobatics to yoga. It strengthens, stretches, and improves the posture. The deep core muscles are strengthened with every exercise. The key is learning to connect the mind with the movements becoming more and more fluid and balanced over time. This mindfulness becomes part of daily life and other activities become more fluid and balanced.

Pilates mat work is wonderful, challenging and fun. There will be a little yoga added in as well. This session will be basic with a bit of intermediate.

Important Notes

• Please bring your own personal sticky mat. Moon Haven does provide mats to use but for personal hygiene you will probably want to purchase your own and we do have mats for sale.
• Bolsters and some blocks and blankets are available but again, if you have your own blankets, blocks and straps please bring them.
• Remember to practice on an empty or very light stomach. Wait 3 hours after a big meal and 2 hours after a light meal to practice. Twisting and folding our bodies does not work with a full tummy.
• Please come to class early to get settled in. If you have to arrive late be very mindful of others and be as quiet as possible.
• Please turn off cell phones and pagers.
• Remember if you are on your moontime (bleeding), do not practice any inversions.
• Please let the instructor know of any injuries or conditions you have, such as pregnancy, high blood pressure, neck problems, etc., so she can better assist you.
• Bring water to class.
• Listen to your body and do not force yourself ever in class.

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