Classes offered at YOGA LOKA
"Asana"is a sanskrit word used to define a physical Yoga posture or position which is designed to enhance the body's functions. Practicing asanas create strength and endurance, improves circulation and energy flow, cleanses organs and other systems, and increases range of motion in the muscles and joints. Asana means "seat" in Sanskrit.
No-Flow Asana Classes
Great for beginners! There are many options to modify or rest. You will have thorough directions for everything we do.
Strengthen, Stretch and Release (SSR)
This is a perfect class for beginners and people who have not done yoga in a long time. If you want to increase your range of motion and relax your body and mind, this is the class for you.
This class combines flexibility with targeted strengthening yoga movements. Using props, kinesiology and precision, participants will practice bringing increased strength to weak, injured or compromised areas. The use of Structural Yoga techniques combined with the mindful and peaceful aspects inherent to yoga makes this workshop perfect for anyone looking to recover from an injury, regain balance, slow down the effects of aging and bone loss, and increase muscle tone. Usually this class will end with TRE to help the body release in final relaxation.
This is a perfect class for beginners and people who have not done yoga in a long time. If you want to increase your range of motion and relax your body and mind, this is the class for you.
This class combines flexibility with targeted strengthening yoga movements. Using props, kinesiology and precision, participants will practice bringing increased strength to weak, injured or compromised areas. The use of Structural Yoga techniques combined with the mindful and peaceful aspects inherent to yoga makes this workshop perfect for anyone looking to recover from an injury, regain balance, slow down the effects of aging and bone loss, and increase muscle tone. Usually this class will end with TRE to help the body release in final relaxation.
Stability, Strength and Stillness
In this class, we will explore and hold various poses. You will be guided to find sternum sukum asana (a steady, comfortable seat) as your body becomes more stable and strong. The asanas (yoga poses) are designed to bring your mind to stillness, and this is what you will experience as you engage in this practice. Questions are welcome throughout the session. This is not a vinyasa flow class. All levels are welcome.
In this class, we will explore and hold various poses. You will be guided to find sternum sukum asana (a steady, comfortable seat) as your body becomes more stable and strong. The asanas (yoga poses) are designed to bring your mind to stillness, and this is what you will experience as you engage in this practice. Questions are welcome throughout the session. This is not a vinyasa flow class. All levels are welcome.
Back care/Core class
This slow-paced class focuses on breath-work, body awareness and alignment. We emphasis gentle hip openers, core strength and back movements that strengthen, rather than asana flow. This class is perfect for beginners and people who have back issues. (Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
This slow-paced class focuses on breath-work, body awareness and alignment. We emphasis gentle hip openers, core strength and back movements that strengthen, rather than asana flow. This class is perfect for beginners and people who have back issues. (Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
JFS/TRE
The Joint Freeing Series (JFS) consists of about 21 movements that open all of the joints in the body. We start at the feet and then end up at the neck. The JFS is extremely therapeutic. It helps to alleviate stiffness, weakness, arthritis, creaky joints, and sluggishness. It also gives a boost to the immune system. It is perfect for people who are working with injuries, recovering from surgery or suffering from chronic illnesses. We end the class with TRE, or tremoring. You can read more about TRE here. (Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
The Joint Freeing Series (JFS) consists of about 21 movements that open all of the joints in the body. We start at the feet and then end up at the neck. The JFS is extremely therapeutic. It helps to alleviate stiffness, weakness, arthritis, creaky joints, and sluggishness. It also gives a boost to the immune system. It is perfect for people who are working with injuries, recovering from surgery or suffering from chronic illnesses. We end the class with TRE, or tremoring. You can read more about TRE here. (Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
Restorative
Restorative yoga is used to relieve stress in the physical body and quiet the nervous system. Physical poses (asanas) are performed on the floor with the body supported by props (blankets, blocks, bolsters) to
re-establish balance in the body and revitalize the mind. During restorative yoga sessions, students are guided in the use of special breathing techniques to achieve active relaxation. By helping to bring the body’s organs and systems back to balance, restorative yoga can also stimulate healing from illness or injury. Those who have a very vigorous practice often employ restorative yoga to reestablish balance. Quite simply, it makes you feel wonderful!
Restorative yoga sessions will sometimes conclude with Yoga Nidra or “yogic sleep.” Practitioners of Yoga Nidra seek to achieve deep relaxation while remaining completely alert. During Yoga Nidra you lie on your back, relax and follow instructions that take you on a guided journey into complete relaxation – physically, mentally and emotionally.
(Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
Restorative yoga is used to relieve stress in the physical body and quiet the nervous system. Physical poses (asanas) are performed on the floor with the body supported by props (blankets, blocks, bolsters) to
re-establish balance in the body and revitalize the mind. During restorative yoga sessions, students are guided in the use of special breathing techniques to achieve active relaxation. By helping to bring the body’s organs and systems back to balance, restorative yoga can also stimulate healing from illness or injury. Those who have a very vigorous practice often employ restorative yoga to reestablish balance. Quite simply, it makes you feel wonderful!
Restorative yoga sessions will sometimes conclude with Yoga Nidra or “yogic sleep.” Practitioners of Yoga Nidra seek to achieve deep relaxation while remaining completely alert. During Yoga Nidra you lie on your back, relax and follow instructions that take you on a guided journey into complete relaxation – physically, mentally and emotionally.
(Offered as a workshop a few times during the year).
Yoga Therapy/Gentle
These classes employ Structural Yoga Therapy techniques to strengthen and release, and enables the practitioners to heal and revitalize the body. Instruction focuses on discovering and reversing imbalances to allow students to concentrate energy more efficiently. Students explore new ways to move and breathe to restore strength to the body and joy to life. Students acquire tools to assess and address their own needs. These classes are designed for individuals living with a chronic condition or illness; those with persistent back, knee or shoulder pain, and those who simply want to get to know their body again.
Therapeutic yoga is a gentle approach, but that doesn't mean you are not going to work. We will look to build strength and suppleness. The instructor will encourage you to check in with how you are feeling, making sure you are not over working, and that you are feeling the effort in the right place. Everyone works at a different pace.
Most of the Therapeutic classes spend some time doing TRE, or tremoring, which is an integral part of this practice. The TRE will begin to unwind tight places in your body, which is important to do before too much change can happen in the muscle tissue. TRE works mainly with the Fascia system. Fascia is the tissue that covers the muscles and organs, but it also winds its way through the muscle and bone tissue, and when it is tight, it is going to affect everything. So we will use the neurogenic tremors of TRE to unwind deep tightness and constriction. Once you begin to do that, you will find the asanas, or yoga poses, will work better faster, and you will be able to relax more deeply than you have before.
These classes employ Structural Yoga Therapy techniques to strengthen and release, and enables the practitioners to heal and revitalize the body. Instruction focuses on discovering and reversing imbalances to allow students to concentrate energy more efficiently. Students explore new ways to move and breathe to restore strength to the body and joy to life. Students acquire tools to assess and address their own needs. These classes are designed for individuals living with a chronic condition or illness; those with persistent back, knee or shoulder pain, and those who simply want to get to know their body again.
Therapeutic yoga is a gentle approach, but that doesn't mean you are not going to work. We will look to build strength and suppleness. The instructor will encourage you to check in with how you are feeling, making sure you are not over working, and that you are feeling the effort in the right place. Everyone works at a different pace.
Most of the Therapeutic classes spend some time doing TRE, or tremoring, which is an integral part of this practice. The TRE will begin to unwind tight places in your body, which is important to do before too much change can happen in the muscle tissue. TRE works mainly with the Fascia system. Fascia is the tissue that covers the muscles and organs, but it also winds its way through the muscle and bone tissue, and when it is tight, it is going to affect everything. So we will use the neurogenic tremors of TRE to unwind deep tightness and constriction. Once you begin to do that, you will find the asanas, or yoga poses, will work better faster, and you will be able to relax more deeply than you have before.
Asana Flow Classes
These classes flow from one pose to the other with options for modifications or to rest and watch.
Mini Flow
This is the perfect way to end the work day- a flowing vinyasa series that targets every part of your body in 30 minutes! Enjoy a short savasana at the end of the class, or choose to stay as long as you can. Yoga experience is suggested. This class is not meant for beginners to yoga asana practice.
This is the perfect way to end the work day- a flowing vinyasa series that targets every part of your body in 30 minutes! Enjoy a short savasana at the end of the class, or choose to stay as long as you can. Yoga experience is suggested. This class is not meant for beginners to yoga asana practice.
Beginner Flow
This is a great place to start if you are interested in doing a "flow" class. Poses are broken down with specific instructions on how to find the alignment that is best for your body.
This is a great place to start if you are interested in doing a "flow" class. Poses are broken down with specific instructions on how to find the alignment that is best for your body.
Basic Flow
This class moves through a series of asanas (yoga positions) in a flowing sequence at a slow and steady pace. The typical students are beginners who want to dive right into things and practitioners who have had basic instruction and some asana experience who seek a more active and engaging session.
This class moves through a series of asanas (yoga positions) in a flowing sequence at a slow and steady pace. The typical students are beginners who want to dive right into things and practitioners who have had basic instruction and some asana experience who seek a more active and engaging session.
Slow Flow
Designed for experienced, regular practitioners who wish to challenge themselves, slow flow asana classes are intended for students who are comfortable with the basics and want an expanded practice. Classes are typically comprised of students from across the spectrum of experience. The teacher individualizes instruction, providing appropriate modifications for beginners and options for those seeking to challenge themselves.
Spicy Flow
This class is designed for yoga practitioners who have a solid understanding of alignment. It is an active class in which students are challenged to achieve a harmonious flow as they move through the poses. Instruction includes more advanced asana variations, including arm balances, standing balances and inversions. Because the class attracts practitioners at various stages of accomplishment, students attempting more challenging poses will receive individual attention as needed.
Designed for experienced, regular practitioners who wish to challenge themselves, slow flow asana classes are intended for students who are comfortable with the basics and want an expanded practice. Classes are typically comprised of students from across the spectrum of experience. The teacher individualizes instruction, providing appropriate modifications for beginners and options for those seeking to challenge themselves.
Spicy Flow
This class is designed for yoga practitioners who have a solid understanding of alignment. It is an active class in which students are challenged to achieve a harmonious flow as they move through the poses. Instruction includes more advanced asana variations, including arm balances, standing balances and inversions. Because the class attracts practitioners at various stages of accomplishment, students attempting more challenging poses will receive individual attention as needed.
Pre-Registered Asana Sessions
Introduction to Yoga
These classes offer newcomers to yoga an intimate, comfortable setting in which to learn about this ancient practice. Students are taught basic yoga poses and philosophy in a workshop format that encourages questions. Enrollment each session is intentionally kept to a minimum and classes are comprised exclusively of novices, enabling elemental instruction tailored to each student’s body type, strengths and weaknesses. The class is intended to prepare students to comfortably enter any gentle (no-flow) or basic asana flow class. Class sessions run from 5 to 8 weeks and are scheduled throughout the year. Pre-registration is required.
Alignment Series
Best suited for people with previous yoga experience, alignment classes aim to enhance practitioners’ experience of specific asana poses – those chosen by the students themselves. As such, the class is structured as a workshop rather than a flow class and questions are encouraged. Students warm up with a series of sun salutes before moving to concentrate on individual poses. The aim of the class is for students to become sufficiently intimate and comfortable with their bodies to recognize the best expression of each asana pose for themselves as individuals. Pre-registration is required.
Anatomy Series
These classes focus on specific places in the body such as hips, shoulders, neck, hamstrings, etc. These are usually 5 or 6 week sessions that give you anatomical information and the tools to assess your own strengths and weaknesses.
These classes offer newcomers to yoga an intimate, comfortable setting in which to learn about this ancient practice. Students are taught basic yoga poses and philosophy in a workshop format that encourages questions. Enrollment each session is intentionally kept to a minimum and classes are comprised exclusively of novices, enabling elemental instruction tailored to each student’s body type, strengths and weaknesses. The class is intended to prepare students to comfortably enter any gentle (no-flow) or basic asana flow class. Class sessions run from 5 to 8 weeks and are scheduled throughout the year. Pre-registration is required.
Alignment Series
Best suited for people with previous yoga experience, alignment classes aim to enhance practitioners’ experience of specific asana poses – those chosen by the students themselves. As such, the class is structured as a workshop rather than a flow class and questions are encouraged. Students warm up with a series of sun salutes before moving to concentrate on individual poses. The aim of the class is for students to become sufficiently intimate and comfortable with their bodies to recognize the best expression of each asana pose for themselves as individuals. Pre-registration is required.
Anatomy Series
These classes focus on specific places in the body such as hips, shoulders, neck, hamstrings, etc. These are usually 5 or 6 week sessions that give you anatomical information and the tools to assess your own strengths and weaknesses.
Other Classes and workshops
TRE® (Tension, Stress & Trauma Release Exercise)
TRE® utilizes an innovative set of exercises to relieve stress, tension and trauma trapped in the body’s deeply embedded muscle memory. Trained and certified by Dr. David Berceli, Bonnie safely guides students through specific shaking/tremoring movements that discharge tension, calm the nervous system and rebalance the body. Many people report enhanced feelings of peace and well-being after a single TRE® session.
TRE® is based on the well-documented finding that stress and tension are physiological as well as psychological. Persistent, targeted tremoring has been shown to naturally reduce stress, increase the resiliency of the body, and enable us to better handle new stressors. From mild upset to severe anxiety, TRE® reduces distress that stems from work stress, excessive worry, relationship conflicts, physical stresses or accident trauma.
TRE® is a self-regulating process: individuals who suddenly find the tremoring uncomfortable can simply straighten their legs or roll to the side to stop it. A singular benefit of this approach is that it often works without requiring the person to remember, relive, or even recognize the source event. TRE® is also a great way to enter meditation. People who struggle with sitting still and keeping the mind quiet, if you try TRE first, you will find it easier to sit for meditation.
Meditation
Meditation enables us to become more balanced and grounded, helps us to control our emotions rather than be controlled by them, and gives us access to our true essence. No experience is required to begin. Various strategies and tactics to achieve success will be introduced but kept to a minimum, because the practice itself is the teacher. As such, this class is for all levels of meditators, from absolute beginners to long-time practitioners. Check here to see when workshops are offered.
Satsang and Sadhana
Satsang is the principle of keeping the company of like-minded people. Satsang is the coming together of the likeminded to share thoughts, questions and experiences in a supportive environment. Sessions are scheduled during the year, typically focusing on a single topic or a single cluster of related topics, including introduction to specific areas of yoga practice other than asana. Satsang is beautiful opportunity to participate in the yoga community, to learn aspects of yoga philosophy, and acquire tools for relaxation and stress reduction. Sadhana refers to any spiritual practice. Check here to see when workshops are offered.
TRE® utilizes an innovative set of exercises to relieve stress, tension and trauma trapped in the body’s deeply embedded muscle memory. Trained and certified by Dr. David Berceli, Bonnie safely guides students through specific shaking/tremoring movements that discharge tension, calm the nervous system and rebalance the body. Many people report enhanced feelings of peace and well-being after a single TRE® session.
TRE® is based on the well-documented finding that stress and tension are physiological as well as psychological. Persistent, targeted tremoring has been shown to naturally reduce stress, increase the resiliency of the body, and enable us to better handle new stressors. From mild upset to severe anxiety, TRE® reduces distress that stems from work stress, excessive worry, relationship conflicts, physical stresses or accident trauma.
TRE® is a self-regulating process: individuals who suddenly find the tremoring uncomfortable can simply straighten their legs or roll to the side to stop it. A singular benefit of this approach is that it often works without requiring the person to remember, relive, or even recognize the source event. TRE® is also a great way to enter meditation. People who struggle with sitting still and keeping the mind quiet, if you try TRE first, you will find it easier to sit for meditation.
Meditation
Meditation enables us to become more balanced and grounded, helps us to control our emotions rather than be controlled by them, and gives us access to our true essence. No experience is required to begin. Various strategies and tactics to achieve success will be introduced but kept to a minimum, because the practice itself is the teacher. As such, this class is for all levels of meditators, from absolute beginners to long-time practitioners. Check here to see when workshops are offered.
Satsang and Sadhana
Satsang is the principle of keeping the company of like-minded people. Satsang is the coming together of the likeminded to share thoughts, questions and experiences in a supportive environment. Sessions are scheduled during the year, typically focusing on a single topic or a single cluster of related topics, including introduction to specific areas of yoga practice other than asana. Satsang is beautiful opportunity to participate in the yoga community, to learn aspects of yoga philosophy, and acquire tools for relaxation and stress reduction. Sadhana refers to any spiritual practice. Check here to see when workshops are offered.
