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September 19th- Pranayama: Find Your Breath
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Pranayama, one of the eight limbs of yoga, can be split up into its two root words to find its meaning: "prana", which means life force or vital energy and "ayama", which means to lengthen or extend. So, when we do pranayama exercises, we're literally drawing out the breath in a controlled manner to influence a physical or energetic shift.
Focusing on the quality of the breath has a variety of benefits depending on what effect you are trying to achieve. If you are looking to calm your nervous system, doing deep belly breathing, concentrating on full and steady inhales and exhales can be especially soothing. Maybe you're looking to find some physical and energetic balance, in which case alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodana, channel-cleansing breath) is a helpful technique. To stoke your inner fire and invigorate your mind and body, bellows breath (bhastrika) might be your go-to.
Ready to learn more about pranayama and take your yoga practice as a whole to a deeper level? Please join us on Sunday, October 7th 1:30-3pm for a free info session where you'll learn more about the HeartSong Immersion and Teacher Training programs.
For more information on the curriculum, you can browse all of the different pranayama topics covered during this past year's immersion workshops for a sense of what students take away from the program.
In addition, if you are interested in this topic and looking for a great book about the breath, we highly recommend "The Breathing Book" by Donna Farhi. Through her teachings, she encourages students to discover their own breath and really get to know how it moves on its own before trying to control it right away through specific exercises. It's really an excellent reference!
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Restorative Yoga
Friday, September 21st
6-8pm
Join us on the third Friday of each month for this deeply relaxing 2 hour class. With plenty of props and long holds, it's a practice that truly allows you to give your body the rest and rejuvenation it needs.
Happy Hour: Crystal Bowl Chakra Meditation
Friday, September 28th
6:30-8pm
Look for our Happy Hour classes on the 4th Friday of each month. This month, join Nicole Vanderhoff, certified hypnotherapist, who will guide you through a chakra clearing and balancing meditation with the assistance of the 9 singing quartz crystal bowls.
6-7pm
Laughter has been shown to strengthen the immune system, increase endorphin and serotonin levels and--even counts as exercise! Let your heart sing with laughter yoga, which combines yogic breathing techniques with the lightness of laughter.
Saturday, October 6th
1-3pm
Based on the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra, iRest guides you on a journey through the 5 layers of being that will leave you feeling deeply relaxed and renewed.
FREE Class: Monday, October 8th
10 Week Series begins Monday, October 15th
7:15-8:15pm
Offering similar benefits to yoga, Tai Chi allows students to cultivate harmony between the mind and body through a series of mindfully-performed, flow-like movements.
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