TYPES OF CLASSES

VINYASA FLOW:
A dynamic & more powerful style of practicing asana (postures), linking breath to movement in a meditative flow to build heat, endurance, flexibility, strength and concentration, and whilst bringing about a sense of mental calmness & quiet. Authentic and contemporary, it has its roots in traditional Hatha Yoga & the Ashtanga ‘Vinyasa’ Yoga system, using different themed sequences designed to incorporate a variety of asana built around sun salutations, transitions from pose to pose & sustaining poses for a certain amount of breaths. Paying equal attention to correct breathing & refining alignment in both held poses and the transitions.

YIN YOGA
Yin Yoga is a healing practice of long-held poses where muscles completely relax & surrender to allow us to access the deeper layers of the body. It works on releasing constrictions in the connective tissue, ligaments, and tendons that support the joints.. It also stimulates & opens the energy meridians of the subtle body, this stimulation creates a balanced flow of chi that supports the body’s vibrancy and physiology as well as promotes mental and emotional balance & well-being. Often described as a “needleless acupuncture session” for the body!

YOGA FOR RUNNERS & CYCLISTS
A perfect pre or post race/ training yoga session for runners and cyclists of all abilities to help add spring & extra miles in your stride/ride. Designed to supplement and complement anyone from casual runner/ cyclist to a fulltime competitor. Discover how yoga can assist & support in fine tuning your body so you can get the best out of your running/ cycling and help you become the best athlete you can be.
Yoga can promote a speedier recovery, prevent injuries and enhance performance time by increasing your body’s stability, strength, mobility and flexibility, improving efficiency of breathing, building greater body awareness & mental focus & calm, and bringing about balance to your whole self.
Open to all – no previous yoga experience required. Tight hips & legs very welcome!

RESTORATIVE YOGA:
Restorative yoga is a gentle practice in which the body is supported with props and held for extended periods of time to gently stretch, relax and open the body. It helps to adjust the over stimulated nervous system, rest fatigued adrenal glands, and release physical & mental stress. Promotes a deep sense of rest & relaxation in the mind and body. A soothing and regenerating practice, this can help you slow down from the demanding fast pace of life and is the perfect antidote to stress & tension.

ROCKET YOGA
Prepare to fly & float through a Rocket practice!
Rocket, created by Larry Schultz was built based upon the primary & intermediate Ashtanga system – it is designed to get you there faster, making ashtanga a little more accessible! In Rocket classes with Ella at Heather Yoga we will move through creative Rocket sequences –  expect arm balances, transitions, handstands & core! The Rocket practice is an opportunity for you to test your edges and discover new ways of moving through your practice.

Strength And Conditioning

This class aims to improve your quality of movement and prevent injury. You’ll gain an increased awareness of what’s going on in your body so you can start to work with it, rather than against it. During this practice we move through a yoga-based warm up, strength and conditioning exercises, and play with balancing poses, combining fluidity of movement with strength and control. We wind it all down with a yoga-based stretch out.   With plenty of options to suit different abilities, this class will be accessible and beneficial to you. Whether you’re athletic and looking to enhance your training, returning from injury, or you’re simply looking to add some movement into your week.

SEASONAL YIN

Yin Yoga practice aligning you with the changing energies of nature.

Seasonal Yin is a quiet, simple (not necessarily easy!) slow-paced, passive style of yoga where time is spent in postures in a supported way, to allow you to relax your muscles and move deeper into your structure. The practice
encourages living in the present moment, with longer held relaxed postures enabling us to explore what is happening right now.

In this class we integrate the yin style of stillness, including meditation and breathing techniques, with seasonal ideas around meridians (energy channels), seasonal energy, emotions and mind-set to help re balance our energy and mind. Class content changes with the season (Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn & Winter) and each season focuses on particular energy channels (meridians) and corresponding organs. This holistic, interconnected philosophy can guide us in tending to our health seasonally and help keep our bodies in better harmony.

Postures are held for longer periods of time involving variations of seated and supine (lying down) poses typically held for 3 to 5 minutes, accessing connective tissue including the deeper layers of fascia (bones, ligaments, tendons, organs) – helping us to regain movement, stimulate and improve flow of energy in the body and remove blockages.

This style of practice is suitable for beginner to the more experienced practitioners. Please ensure you advise of any medical conditions, injuries, pregnancies or births within the last 12 months.

COMMUNITY YOGA
It is central to our vision at Heather Yoga to make the yoga practice accessible to everyone whilst building connection and community in our local area. Community Yoga is a general yoga class accessible & suitable for all ages and levels of physicality, and any yoga experience you may or may not have.
This class is a Studio only practice and is pay as you feel.

GENTLE YOGA
‘Gentle Yoga’ helps anyone of any age and ability to begin to rediscover gentle and natural movement in the body. In this class you will be encouraged to find your own individual pathway to improving your functional mobility and strength necessary for every day living. Over the years we all have physical challenges often caused by stress, illness, surgery, habitual movement or simply being a little too sedentary – all of which can compromise our enjoyment of life. The friendly class will invite you to believe you can find and enjoy improved movement and relaxation (wherever you start from) in a very gradual, interesting and fun way.

HATHA
A less dynamic class than the Vinyasa based style. Practicing traditional asana with some sun salutations, deep breathing, mindfulness, and listening to the body. This is a good class for beginners as well as the more seasoned yogi to revisit the basics and enjoy working on skilful & optimal alignment in foundational asana(i.e sun salutations, standing poses plus seated, twists, backbends & reclined poses), This class will stretch & strengthen the entire body – helping with flexibility, strength, balance, concentration, and breath control.

MORNING MEDITATION & PRANAYAMA
A morning meditation practice with Pranayama (breath-work) open to everyone to help you begin your day well. This class takes place online as a livestream only.
Meditation is an innate part of yoga that is available to everyone. You don’t have to be an experienced yoga practitioner to reap the benefits of this profound and time-tested practice. If you are curious to start a meditation practice in 2020 this will provide a brilliant starting point under our guidance. The session will include various breathwork (Pranayama) to help strengthen our connection of body and mind whilst stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system to experience a state of deep rest and relaxation. Regulating the breath with Pranayama is an excellent technique to complement the start or close of our seated meditation practice, enhancing our awareness whilst creating a spacious mind.

PILATES
This mixed-ability Pilates class is suitable for complete beginners with alternative levels offered for those who are more advanced. It is a light hearted, low impact, full body session, combining a thoughtful mix of stretching, strengthening and mobility, so you leave feeling unknotted and relaxed! Particular attention is paid to core strengthening, improving balance and posture and helping you feel more in control of your body.
Whether you are an elite sportsperson or a couch potato, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and this supportive class can help you to achieve the best movement from your body. We explore the key principles each week, looking at how you stand, breathe, hold your posture and activate your muscles in different movement patterns to help achieve better balance in your body.
Open to all levels, please have your own mat and a little cushion or towel for head support.
*Please note that this class is not suitable if pregnant
To attend this class you must fill in our Pilates Specific health form found here.

PREGNANCY
A space to rest, relax and release.
All classes include breathing, stretching, gentle strengthening and deep rest. There’s always the chance to talk and sometimes there’s biscuits.
The benefits of this class include:
*Yoga asana or physical postures help create space and comfort in the body
*Pranayama or breathing practice to maximise lung capacity and help prepare for birthing
*Deep relaxation calms the mind and may improve sleep
Suitable for women in their 2nd & 3rd trimester of Pregnancy. Taught by an experienced prenatal & advanced postnatal yoga teacher.

SUNRISE YOGA
The morning is the perfect time to cultivate balance and detoxify your body through movement in our Sunrise Yoga class. Increase your energy levels, stimulate your digestion, develop strong self-discipline and improve your focus.
This is the perfect class for early morning commuters and for anyone that anyone that wants to reap the benefits of having a more productive and centred day. If you begin your morning with inner peace, presence and awareness you are more likely to take on this feeling of blissful tranquility and appreciation for the rest of the day.
Expect mindful movement, easeful pranayama, sun salutations and energising vinyasa flows between nourishing asanas. Carve out this time for you and create space and efficiency within your busy lifestyle.

ASHTANGA:
Ashtanga Yoga – A 60/ 75 minute Ashtanga class which flows through a modified shortened version of the 90+ minute primary series. This is a great progressive practice and sequence to learn, gaining familiarity with the sequence to build greater strength & flexibility & deepen your experience of the meditative aspects. Ashtanga is a powerful form of yoga involves a series of set postures practised in sequence (vinyasa). This is the classical form of ‘Vinyasa’ – breath & body synchronised movement helping to strengthen, detoxify & calm body & mind.The system originates from Mysore in India, where it was taught in the 1930`s by the grandfather of modern yoga, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, eventually being codified into the 6 sequences that we know today.The first is known as the Primary Series which is offered in these classes. Practiced at a steady pace – it can take 90 + minutes to complete – therefore the sequence will be modified to fit in to the time slots. Students will be offered options to modify or work towards deeper variations depending on their body & practice.
Download Ashtanga Primary Series Chart