What’s coming up at the studios?
Let us know if you have any questions about these upcoming workshops:
Bandhas from the Bottom Up ~ A Members Only Workshop
The Bandhas are internal muscular-physical ‘locks’ that, with practice, one can intentionally engage in yoga practice to offer alignment support during movement within and between poses. Accessing the Bandhas not only on the mat but throughout the day can assist with posture, breathing, and a sense of well-being.
Learn about each of the major Bandhas (pada, mula, uddiyana, jalandhara, and hasta), how to find, use and then release them, and how they can improve your physical yoga practice as well as your mind-body connection.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00PM
Yoga for Scoliosis
Living with scoliosis can be a daily exercise in frustration, chronic pain and the emotional ups and downs that can go along with always being the proverbial round peg trying to fit into the square hole.
Yoga can provide not only a decrease in daily pain levels, but also an increase in flexibility and personal empowerment. This workshop will cover the different kinds of curve patterns, how a yoga practice can be used to create length in those shortened, tight muscles and build strength in the most symmetrical manner appropriate for your body. You will learn how to adapt poses to your specific needs and come to understand some of the issues that are common in those living with scoliosis.
Basic yoga poses will be presented from a totally different perspective that, when practiced regularly, will help you find your own unique balance. Not only will you walk away feeling better, but you will also have become part of a network of individuals that will continue to support and empower you long after this workshop is over.
Bonnie attended her first yoga class after years of increasing pain from scoliosis and she felt as if she had finally come home. A graduate of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco, Advanced Studies Teacher Training Program, she is also a certified Yoga for Scoliosis Teacher, and Certified Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist. Practicing yoga with a strong emphasis on alignment and breath work, she has been able to successfully manage her own chronic back pain and now focuses her teaching on helping others do the same. Bonnie has a Master’s degree in public health and is an active a member of the Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practices Group of the American Public Health Association. She brings enthusiasm, a sense of exploration, and a healthy dose of humor to all her classes.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00PM
Yin Yoga ~ Once Monthly
Yin yoga is a practice of long held postures in stillness either seated or laying on the ground. Yin places gentle stress on the connective tissue to stimulate cells to repair, rebuild and to help move fluid and energy through the tissues. We utilize the breath to calm the nervous system and mindfulness to connect with sensations that arise in our bodies and mind. Yin yoga combines Hatha yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Mindfulness to form a beautiful quiet practice. All levels welcome.
Time: 5:30 – 6:45PM
Yoga Nidra ~ Once Monthly
Yoga Nidra is “yogic sleep”. Yoga Nidra is a paradigm shift that allows us to drop beneath the mental and emotional activity of the mind to a state of deep consciousness that promotes extreme relaxation by using guided words and imagery all while in a deeply relaxing posture. This offers a space to explore what you need in the moment, as well as an opportunity to release long-held emotions just by being guided. Nothing to do, nothing to think, just allowing yourself to rest while listening.
Time: 7:00 – 8:00PM
Time: 7:30 – 8:30PM
Mindfulness for Busy People
Time: 2:00 – 5:00PM
Heal Your Back with Viniyoga Fundamentals Series
Back pain isn’t as mysterious as you might think and knowing how to remedy it can be simple once you understand the basics.
Through Viniyoga, a therapeutic style of yoga that prioritizes the health of the spine and safe sequencing, this 6 week series will give you the tools and knowledge you need to take care of your back on a regular basis, whether in your home practice or in yoga class. In our focused 60 minute class, twice a week, your upper, mid, lower back and hips will be gently nourished and stabilized. You will notice a difference after just a couple of weeks – your back will feel better!
Please join Kelly Valenzuela to learn more about the Viniyoga basics of back care and how you can care for the health and well-being of your spine today and every day.
Beginners are welcome!
This series is appropriate for all levels.
Date: Wednesday, May 8th – June 12th
Queer Yoga
Folks across the LGBTQIA+, gender non-conforming/non-binary spectrum are invited to this donation-based yoga class in order to develop tools of resilience, embodiment, self-trust, self-healing and self-love. Through movement, breathing, meditation, reflection, and community, practitioners of any level can explore yoga is a practice to help move through and survive difficult times, and also to support thriving and self-expression.
Welcoming to all gender expressions and emotional states. Big bodies welcome too! Allies are welcome as accompanying friends/guests of queer attendees. No yoga or meditation experience necessary.
This is a donation based class. All funds go to the Tacoma Rainbow Center.
Time: 11:00 – 12:15PM
Roll and Relax ~ Once Monthly
In this class we will use therapy balls to soothe the nervous system and relieve achy muscles.
Using therapy balls to massage the body helps to relieve pain and mobilize “stuck” areas of your body, while also creating mental and physiological down-regulation and increasing your sense of your body and its positioning in space.
The goal of these once monthly classes will be to create a sense of calm and relaxation. This will be a more restorative rolling practice.
Time: 5:30 – 6:45PM
Special Mother’s Day Event ~ Yin and Sound Bath
Moms are especially invited to this nurturing restorative-like Yin Yoga practice with Crystal Tones Alchemy Singing Bowls. This restful time offers you the opportunity to drop in and deeply relax. Students can expect long holds practiced in seated or prone positions utilizing bolsters, blankets and blocks for ultimate support and relaxation. Loving touch will be offered, consent cards available. *Motherhood not required to come and be a part of this Yin and Sound Bath Event. Come as you are!
You will utilize the breath to calm the nervous system and mind. Yin can facilitate a healing cycle of receiving and releasing. The frequency of singing bowls creates a setting for self reflection, muscular tension release and experiential processing.
Date: Sunday, May 12th
Chant ~ Once Monthly
In this once monthly class, Kate will bring chants from the yoga tradition, other spiritual and secular traditions, and from her own invention.
No singing/chanting experience or skill necessary.
Time: 6:00 – 7:15PM
Troubleshooting Knee & Hip Stiffness and Discomfort
Join Pilates teacher and certified functional strength coach Nikki Naab-Levy in this 2 hour workshop will teach you foam rolling release techniques and corrective exercises to reduce knee pain and hip stiffness. It will also give you strategies to increase hip flexibility, build lower body strength, and improve whole body alignment.
If you are looking for simple techniques that you can do on your own to address lower body discomfort, improve joint health, and increase longevity, then this workshop is for you.
This workshop is geared to all fitness levels.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00PM
Living Simply with the Seasons: Yoga and Selfcare for Summer
Adjusting our routines and lifestyle choices with the changing seasons is the simplest way to maintain our well-being. Through the healing systems of Yoga and Ayurveda, we will explore various ways to help you rediscover your body’s innate wisdom.
The transition from Spring to Summer is marked by the peak of nature’s growth during the year. Summer, a time of play and creativity, where long, light sun-filled days and lazy afternoons are plenty, has its challenges too. The increase in activity during the Summer invites us to find more pause, to discover ways to stay cool and calm in moments when we can “overheat” (Pitta dosha) and to balance the intensity and expansion of the summer (Vata dosha) with grounding and mellowing.
The workshop will begin with about 60 minutes of guided, cooling yoga and breath practice, aligned to the Summer season. Gentle assists and aromatherapy will be incorporated so you feel nurtured and replenished. You’ll explore the importance of seasonal yoga, pranayama and meditation practice, plus key diet and lifestyle changes, appropriate herbs to use and recipes that can be used to bring about optimal health. All levels of practice are welcome!
What to bring: your questions + curiosities, a journal, layers, water and yoga mat.
3.5 hours of continuing education available for Yoga teachers.
Time: 1:00 – 4:30PM
