New To Yoga
Four Seasons Yoga offers many different classes for beginners. Whether you are taking yoga for the first time ever or you have just started your practice, there are a variety of classes that can help you build a solid foundation to yoga.
Things to Know on Your First Day
-Arrive 8-10 minutes before your first class.
-Sign in for your class with the front desk.
-Let our front desk member know that it is your first time and they will help you get started and give you a registration card to fill out.
-For your convenience, we have yoga mats to borrow as well as mats for sale.
-In the back of the yoga room there is a bathroom/changing room.
Recommended Classes for Beginners:
True Beginner: Enjoy this beginner class in a safe and comfortable setting. Benefit from more individual attention as you learn the basic postures and how to utilize them to create optimum health, strength, flexibility, balance, connection to the breath, & calm. Prerequisite: be ready and willing with an open mind to the practice.
Gentle Hatha: A gentle approach for those who wish to practice at a slower pace. Learn restorative techniques and alternative postures ideal for individuals with specific needs.
Hatha Yoga: A gentle yet challenging class with both strength building and restorative postures including breathing exercises and meditation.
Yin Yoga::Yin Yoga is the relaxed practice of floor postures. Using slow deep stretches, we open and stimulate core connective tissue, increasing fluidity, calming the mind and encouraging a sense of joy and well being.
Rest & Restore Yoga::Using blocks, bolsters, straps and blankets for extra support, asanas will be held for an extended period of time in order to experience all of their wonderful benefits. This class incorporates both standing and seated asanas focusing on alignment, breathwork, philosophy and intention. Expect to leave with a newly quieted, balanced and relaxed body and mind.
Lunchtime Restorative Yoga::This class offers a variety of yoga postures, and time to restore and renew for the rest of the day.
Preparing for Class What to Bring - What to wear: All yoga classes require the use of a yoga mat. Students are encouraged to bring their own but mats are available to borrow or purchase if needed. Our Yoga room is equipped with straps, blocks, and blankets that you are welcome to use.
Wear clothing that is comfortable and that you can move and breath in easily. Clothing with zippers and buttons is not recommended. If you have long hair wearing a hair tie is strongly recommended. Yoga is best done on an empty stomach. If you find it necessary to eat before class, choose a light, easily digested snack or a piece of fruit.
“Practice all is coming”- Practice Makes Perfect:
Ultimately, a yoga practice is best done daily. (Even a few minutes every day can make a big difference!) Two to three times a week will provide noticeable results. Some students find that having a “yoga buddy” helps them maintain their commitment to practice. Invite a friend to come to class with you or meet a friend that likes to keep a similar schedule.
Getting started with Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga, is the most widely practiced yoga in the world. Through proper alignment of postures (asanas), Hatha Yoga develops strength and flexibility and cultivates mindfulness, balance, and a sense of relaxation. Four Seasons Yoga teachers are trained in many different styles of hatha yoga, to find the right match for you, have fun exploring!
What to Expect in a Hatha Yoga Class
Hatha classes are rejuvenating and relaxing and vary to each teachers teaching style. Classes typically start with a centering practice and then afterwards, the instructor will guide the class through a series of poses, called asanas, and sequences of breath work, called pranayama. Pranayama practice calms the mind and encourages focus and health.
Namaste ~ Om
Many Hatha Yoga classes use the word Namaste at the beginning or ending of class. Namaste is composed of two Sanskrit words, nama meaning "to bend or bow", and te meaning "you". To offer this greeting to another is to surrender your self and acknowledge that you and the receiver are one. Namaste invokes recognition of the divine nature of all beings.
Traditionally Namaste is spoken while bringing the palms of your hands together at your heart and gently bowing your head. In it’s simplest form it is a humble act honoring the equality and sacred nature of all.
Getting Started with Ashtanga Yoga Class
Ashtanga Yoga, is a powerful sequence of Hatha postures combined with ujjayi (victorious) breath (vinyasa) to create an internal heat that opens the muscles and purifies the body and mind. Ashtanga Yoga is one of the most challenging forms of hatha yoga yet it starts out gradually from a beginning level, and progresses at the pace of each individual. Regular practice can result in physical strength, flexibility and balance, improved cardiovascular health, and an increased ability to focus, and a steadier mind and spirit. The best way to learn about Ashtanga Yoga is to practice it for yourself and experience all of it’s many benefits!
What to Expect in an Ashtanga Yoga Class:
In keeping with ancient tradition, most teachers will chant the Sanskrit names of postures in an Ashtanga class. As you learn the postures, you will begin to learn the Sanskrit names and very soon the practice will become familiar to you. The class begins with sun salutations followed by the sequencing of around 15-35 postures depending on the teacher and level of the class. The first sequence of postures is done standing, the middle sequence is done seated and the final sequence includes inversions and relaxation to finish.
Ashtanga Yoga Invovation: Chanted in Sanskrit in a call and response manner the Ashtanga invocation is used to begin each class. It is a formal proclamation of gratitude for the yoga teachers who have brought us this knowledge and passed it down over thousands of years. Feel free to join in or listen.
Ashtanga Vinyasa:
Ashtanga Vinyasa is a flowing practice that connects each posture with breath and movement called vinyasa. Vinyasa, in Sanskrit, means putting together or connecting. Students are welcome to or welcome not to join in on every vinyasa between the postures. It does take lots of practice and time to be able to practice each of the 72 vinyasas in a full Ashtanga First Series class. With practice and keeping up, the result of practicing vinyasas is a light, strong body.
Questions about Your Practice?? We can help!
Email us at: jcbarrett7@gmail.com
Resources: Here are a few recommended resources for the beginning student:
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice T.K.V Desikachar
Ashtanga Yoga: The practice manual by David Swenson
Yoga Mind, Body, & Spirit (book) by Donna Farhi
Yoga Journal’s Yoga Basics (book) by Mara Carrico
Yoga for Wellness (book) by Gary Kraftsow |
