Class Descriptions

Jivamukti Yoga

Jivamukti Yoga challenges you to embrace your limitless potential in this life, by embracing both the physical and the educational/spiritual aspects of the practice, and by giving you access to where these ideas have come from.

Each class focuses on a theme and includes a challenging and constantly changing physical practice with music (from the Beatles to Lady Gaga to MC Yogi), chanting, and devotion. Co-created by David Life and Sharon Gannon, Jivamukti Yoga emphasizes the original meaning of asana as “seat”: our relationship to the earth and all beings.  As we perfect this relationship, we embrace yoga as a path to enlightenment through compassion to all beings.

SPIRITUAL WARRIOR 1-HOUR CLASS (Levels 1-2) •  This is a brisk guided vinyasa class in which the teacher calls out the asanas and provides the breath count but gives minimal instruction as to how to do the various asanas. The hour long class is based on the Principles of Jivamukti Yoga and offers a well-rounded practice as a set sequence that includes a warm-up, the setting of an elevated intention, chanting, surya namaskar, standing asanas, twists, balances, forward bending, backward bending and inversions, as well as relaxation and meditation.   Spiritual Warrior transforms, invigorates and energizes, while at the same time grounds and leads the student inward on an exploration of the deeper spiritual aspects of the self.

OPEN (Levels 1-3) • Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced yogi, the Open class encompasses all levels at Jivamukti. You work at your own pace, following the teacher’s constant guidance. A typical Open class consists of flowing vinyasa sequences partnered with Sanskrit chanting, traditional Vedic and contemporary teachings and commentary, breath awareness, meditation, hands-on alignment, and relaxation. We do sitting, standing, and inverted postures, and suggest challenging variations for more advanced students. Exuberant, eclectic music plays an integral role; in a typical Open class you might practice to a shifting soundtrack of ragas, global trance, Bob Dylan, the chanting of Krishna Das, Miles Davis, Gregorian chants, and Michael Franti.

Tibetan Heart Yoga

Tibetan Heart Yoga is a practice where we work from the inside, and the outside. We work from the inside with our thoughts and intentions. We work from the outside with our pranayama (breathing), asana (posture), and ethical practices. We learn how to practice our yoga on the mat, and perfect our yoga off the mat.

Developed by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally, Tibetan Heart Yoga is unique in its reuniting of strong wisdom from the lineage started by Master Naropa (ca 1100 AD), with modern asana lineages.

The Tibetan Heart Yoga system contains nine distinct series. Each series is a combination of a particular vinyasa sequence and a meditation that works with the asana to cultivate virtuous states of mind and heart.

Slow Flow

This fun, yet challenging yoga class is a flowing vinyasa practice at a slower pace.  Perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to move slowly.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga targets the deep, dense, rarely touched connective tissues- the tendons, ligaments and cartilage. This type of practice complements the more muscular styles of yoga. Yin postures are held with little to no muscular effort for 2 to 5 minutes each. Since Yin Yoga postures gently stretch and rehabilitate the connective tissues that form our joints, it is the perfect compliment to Yang activity (vigorous yoga, running, weight training, etc.)