Every well balanced yoga practice combines elements of movement, breath and relaxation.
Discovering what you need the most is the key to finding the perfect practice. All the elements come together to balance each other and compliement the rest of your life. Check below what is possible! And if you have any doubts or questions contact me and let's find out your yoga path together.
Perfect combination of movement, breath and relaxation.
What is Hatha Yoga?
Hatha Yoga is a traditional, slow paced but still very powerful practice that will calm your mind and increase flexibility, strength and vitality of your body. Every class includes elements of pranayama (breathing exercises), warm-ups with Sun Salutations, asanas (postures) and deep relaxation with autosuggestion technique. Historically the practice of Hatha was used to prepare the body for hours-long sessions of seated meditation. It was developed to release tension and stress and bring a person to a state of balanced relaxation.
What are the effects?
Hatha Yoga releases tension and stress from the body and brings a person into a state of aware relaxation. Practice of Hatha balances between the states of tension and relaxation, teaching nervous system how to deal with stressful situations. Ability to keep calm and maintain proper breathing no matter the circumstances helps to control the emotions and create space in the busy, chaotic mind. Physically the practice focuses on increasing flexibility and strength of the spine, creating healthy and strong back with beautiful straight posture while eliminating back pains.
For whom?
Hatha Yoga practice is for everyone who wants to take care of their back, spine, posture and general well-being. Pace of the practice is steady and calm allowing to dive deep into the nature of every posture, developing body awareness and healthy postural habits. Any physical pose can be modified to fit the needs and goals of the student.
Strong and powerful movement correlated with the breath.
What is Vinyasa Yoga?
Vinyasa Yoga is a powerful practice where breath and movement are coordinated - smooth transitions from one pose to another turn static asanas (steady, comfortable positions) into dynamic flow. To follow rapidly changing circumstances the mind has to stay focused throughout the entire class, until the practice itself becomes a moving meditation. A typical Vinyasa class contains repeated cycles of Sun Salutations - a sequence of poses done in a succession - while incorporating static asanas and breathing exercises. Every practice finishes with a deep relaxation.
What are the effects?
Vinyasa is a very dynamic practice; it increases the hart rate and requires a lot of breath control. Steady cycles of inhales and exhales will calm you and increase levels of concentration. Students fairly quickly may notice the increase in their strength and muscular flexibility. Regular practice will improve your flexibility, blood circulation and joint mobility, while calming the mind, releasing stress and bringing balance. During the practice body and mind let go of tension, so we can rest, relax and sleep better. The intensitiy and tempo of the class will vary from person to person, depending on needs and general physical health and abilities.
For whom?
Practice of Vinyasa Yoga is for everyone who likes to get properly tired, has a seated lifestyle and wants to move stagnated body. Vinyasa promotes deep, dynamic movements that can wake up every joint and make you heart work hard.
Mindful breathing and stillness combined with a deep stretch of the connective tissue.
What is Yin Yoga?
Yin Yoga is a quiet, simple but not necessarily easy practice as it targets the deepest tissues of our bodies: ligaments, joints, bones and deep fascia (connective tissue) rather than muscles. To keep it safe and comfortable we stay all the time close to the floor and use many cushions and props for support. We hold yin poses for few minutes, trying to gently stretch and stress fascia. A typical class contains a series of long-held, passive floor poses mostly targeting lower body - hips, pelvis, thighs and lower back - especially rich in connective tissue.
What are the effects?
Stretching connective tissue helps to increase and maintain natural range of motion in the joints. We loose it throughout the life due to aging and seated lifestyle. Regular practice of Yin will help you to stay mobile, flexible and supple even when you get older. On the mental level practice of Yin increases concentration and body awareness, releases stress and helps to calm down.
For whom?
Yin Yoga is a great practice for everyone who spends many hours every day in the same position. Lack of movement causes joints and bones to loose their flexibility and than we start to feel stiff and heavy. It might be a great prevention or even remedy for chronic back pains, sciatica and other aches coused by seated lifestyle. On the mental level Yin Yoga is especially beneficial to those who lead a very busy, stressful life and could use some silence and quiet environment.
Learn to control your breath and become a master of your nervous system.
What is Pranayama?
Pranayama is one of the most popular yogic practices, entirely focused on the breath. It is a set of exercises that increase the capacity of the lungs and teaches proper diaphragmatic breathing (commonly called "belly breathing"). Yogic philosophy has a deep explanation of pranayama: it is a method of retaining and increasing levels of prana ("the energy of life") which enters our bodies with every breath. Most of the time pranayama practice is an integral part of every Hatha Yoga class, but it can be practiced separately too, completely on its own.
What are the effects?
Through aware, observant breathing youcan connect to yourself and begin to learn about the nature of your own breath. With time you start to understand it and gain more control over it. With the breath control comes the ability to influence the nervous system and change the emotional responses as the breath is the natural connection between body and mind. Depending on your needs you can activate the resting mode (parasymphatetic nervous system) when you heal, rest and digest or you can stimulate the action mode (the sympathetic nervous system) when you are ready to act and need to use some resources. Pranayama teaches how to improve the breathing patterns and helps to reduce stress, improve sleep and general well-being.
For whom?
Pranayama is a practice for everyone who wants to improve their breathing patterns. You will learn how to breathe through the nose and induce the states of relaxation whenever you want. It is a great practice for everyone who wants to concentrate better and stay calm even when the world is falling apart. Accroding to the philosophy of yoga to achieve the perfect harmony in life we need to balance two aspects: tension and relaxation - and breath control gives us that opportunity.
Learn the art of a deep relaxation and create a positive change in your life.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a powerful relaxation and meditation technique that is commonly known as a yogic sleep. It is usually practiced while lying down, still and comfortable, with a teacher giving the instructions. Practice brings your physical body into a restorative sleep, natural state of rest, while you remain awake and aware of the situation the entire time. Eventually your mind will get quiet too, allowing you to simply be with yourself - without distracting thoughts, judgments and believes. It is a very precious time, where you can truly rest, heal, gain distance and perspective and create space inside the busy mind. Practice of Nidra takes only 30-40 minutes and this restful state equals 3 hours of a regular night sleep. Additionally Yoga Nidra practice offers a space to work with the affirmations/intentions - positive sentences starting with "I am...". Deep state of aware relaxation gives you a direct access to your subconsciousness, beyond the judgemental mind. Those intentions can be planted like seeds straight to your subconsciousness and flower later, creating positive changes in your life.
What are the effects?
Practice of Yoga Nidra has enormous benefits to our nervous systems as its main goal is to teach the body and mind how to induce a deep relaxation state. This training improves the sleeping patterns, helps you to fall asleep easier and sleep deeper and longer. Because of that proper rest, stress levels are decreasing, awareness turns inward and you become present in your own life. When you can recognize your states of being you can change them and influence your behavioral patterns.
For whom?
Anyone can practice Yoga Nidra but the practice is especially beneficial to those who have troubles to let go and feel overwhelmed with the busy mind that never rests. It has a huge value to those suffering from insomnia, depression, anxiety and even trauma (after doctor's approval). It helps to prepare the mind for the meditative practices.
I have recorded a number of Yoga Nidra practices that are free to use for everyone. Upon request I create recordings that are targeting specific needs and goals that you might have. Contact me and let's see what is possible.
