TYPES OF YOGA

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.

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 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.

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.
There are 2 classes per week..
Download Ashtanga Primary Series Chart

ASHTANGA OPEN LEVEL:
This Ashtanga class is a 75minute led session at a steady count, working through sun salutations and standing postures. From there, we practice seated postures of the Primary Series, spending time as is necessary to work safely up to as far as navasana, as time permits. This class also introduces back bending and the shoulderstand sequence. We complete with the final seated postures in the finishing sequence, along with a final relaxation. Modifications and adjustments are given to meet individual needs.

ASHTANGA LEVEL 2:
This dynamic Level 2 Ashtanga class at Heather Yoga is led at a steady count of breath and breath with movement as you work through a shortened version of the full 90+ minute Ashtanga Primary series. Always starting with Ashtanga Sun Salutations A & B, before moving into the Standing & Seated postures of the sequence, and spending time as is necessary to explore other postures including those in the ‘post peak’ section. The class will also include Backbending and Inversions, and we complete with the final seated postures in the Finishing Sequence, with a relaxation to finish. Modifications and adjustments are given to meet individual needs. This is a great class to continue your learning in this progressive practice, building strength, flexibility and precision, and to deepen your experience of the meditative aspects of the method as we join together breath, gaze, and posture.

COMMUNITY YOGA
Tuesday morning community class is an open class where you can pay as you feel, We are committed to ‘holding space’ for everyone in our community to explore & develop their yoga practice. This is a general yoga class accessible & suitable for all ages levels of physicality and yoga experience you may or may not have. Taught by our newly qualified teacher to help them gain experience & grow – they’ll guide you through a a session of yoga poses & breathing to get you moving, stretching, breathing, balancing, and feeling strong & open, and relaxed with a greater ability to cope with stress. Suggested donation: £4

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

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!

ADVANCE YOUR PRACTICE CLASS:
A 75-minute yoga class once a month for more experienced yoga students – Heather will hold the space for you to move your practice forwards by exploring a wider range of yoga postures and techniques. A steady mindful paced Vinyasa class with more chance to look at other poses, deeper variations of poses & transitions. Expect to sweat, laugh, be inspired and challenged as you move, breathe, focus throughout the whole practice.
This class is followed by the monthly Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra (Bathing In Stillness) session giving you the opportunity to combine Dynamic & Passive styles of yoga and a deep-guided relaxation for a super restful & rejuvenating Sunday night sleep!

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!

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.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
In these classes we will explore mindfulness and meditative practises that can be incorporated into daily life to help promote well-being. You don’t have to be an experienced yoga practitioner to reap the benefits of this rich and time-tested practice. Open to all including those completely new to meditation & yoga.

SEASONAL FLOW
The concept of Seasonal Yoga Flow was created as an antidote to the stress and anxiety of modern life to restore our feeling of wellbeing, help us to find physical and emotional balance and rejuvenate our energy, whilst working in harmony with nature.
The classes focus on particular energy channels and corresponding organs in line with each season; class content changes with the seasons. Seasonal yoga combines Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and a modern understanding about body movement, with Traditional Chinese Medicine ideas about the changing nature of the seasons around us, and within.
Within traditional Chinese medicine, a holistic, integrated system of thinking, each season corresponds to an element, a life stage, a color, a shape and a time of day, as well as to aspects of the individual, such as emotions, activities, internal organs and the senses.
This holistic, interconnected philosophy can guide us in tending to our health seasonally and help keep our bodies in better harmony.

WOMEN ONLY YOGA
This women only yoga class is an accessible steady flow style open to all levels, connecting breath to movement with different variations of pranayama and meditation, and finishing with a long, restful savasana at the end. Each session will incorporate ‘intentions’ which will touch on the eight limbs of yoga or focusing on different parts of the body. Expect to feel strengthened, stretched, empowered, calm and re-energised.

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.

SLOW FLOW
A slow-moving flow focusing on breath, mindful movement and relaxation – a combination of Vinyasa Flow and Hatha yoga, with fewer transitions and slightly longer held poses than Vinyasa yoga but more flow than Hatha yoga, for those who want to keep their bodies moving at a gentler pace.
The slower pace allows time to explore individual postures and is a great class for beginners & new students to build confidence and familiarity, while more experienced students can refine fundamentals of alignment and explore deeper sensations. Experience the more meditative and calming effects of a slow flow class, whilst continuing to reap the benefits of improved strength and flexibility.

YIN & YANG YOGA
Yin & Yang Yoga blends two styles of yoga into one practice – bringing together the benefits of dynamic style Yoga with passively holding yoga poses. Its a lovely balance of strength & stability, and mobility and range of motion – moving through active warming Yang styles poses including standing, balancing, twists, backbends, and then into some passive, cooling longer held poses practised low to the ground.
The class will start with some breath work (pranayama) before the sequence which explores effort & stillness to have a powerful effect on the nervous system & energy levels.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY FLOW
An uplifting & feel good start to your Friday night & weekend with this dynamic & accessible class.
Vinyasa style Yoga 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.
Expect a variety of asana (yoga poses) built around sun salutations – mindfully moving from pose to pose, paying equal attention to correct breathing and alignment of the body in both the poses and transitions between, to set your mindset, nervous system & energy for the weekend ahead. We’ll finish with a deeply restful Savasana. Suitable for all levels including those who are new to yoga.

TEENS YOGA: 12 – 16 YEARS
Yoga class for young people from 12 -16 years. Come along and learn about why yoga is the cool thing to do – helping to reduce stress, boost confidence & self esteem and gain strength & flexibility. We’ll move through a fun, flowing sequences to warm up the body, followed by longer-held yoga postures with breath work, relaxation techniques and short meditations. This yoga class is for teenage girls and is the perfect pause in the busyness of school, friends, exams & studying.

RUN & YOGA
A new weekly Run & Yoga session to give you the opportunity to experience the balance of the strength & power of getting out on a run in the summer evenings paired with getting on the mat for your yoga post run stretch. The sessions will vary week by week consisting of Joe/ & Heather taking you through a short yoga warm up then on to an estimated 3km run, followed by a change of pace as Heather guides you through a longer yoga sequence post run. The timings of each part of the session may vary depending on the focus of the day with the possibility of the group being split into 2 giving participants the option to go for a slightly longer run (depending on the number of attendees per session). . Open to all including those new to running/ yoga to more seasoned yogi’s and weathered runners(!) who want a rest day run and/ or wish to combine the delights of running & yoga.

WARM ASHTANGA:
As above, but in a more heated environment to help stoke the body’s inner fire to create a purifying heat from the inside out, producing more sweat, eliminating toxins in the system and enhancing the detoxifying benefits of this practice.