Class Descriptions
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is not a style of Yoga, it is the term which describes all styles of physical yoga which include postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama) Although the postures which feature in Hatha Yoga classes are all pretty similar, the way in which they are practiced differs depending on the style of yoga and the teacher’s background. there are many styles of Hatha Yoga - some of the the most familiar are Ashtanga, Iyengar and Sivananda. Very often a Hatha Yoga class will include elements of the different styles the teacher has studied or practiced.
A typical class will include the following :
Beginning relaxation and breath awareness
Flowing movements to warm up the shoulders and spine
Sometimes we will practice Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) sequence – click here for a demonstration on Yoga Journal. Different teachers will practice different variations.
A series of standing postures which generally focus on strength, stability and balance, or we may focus more on flow to create heat and energy flow.
Seated postures – includiing forward bends and twists to promote the health and flexibility of the muscles and joints
Backbends and inverted postures
Breathing exercises (pranayama)
A deep relaxation to finish
A short seated meditation – often rounded off with a chant of OM
We also often include short discussions about various aspects of Yoga practice including philosophy, home practice advice, anatomy, yoga therapy, chakras (energy centres), seasonal practices etc.
Dynamic Hatha Yoga, Yoga Flow
A flowing style of Hatha yoga often know as a vinyasa-style class. It will include most of the elements outlined above. Other styles of vinyasa yoga you may have heard of include Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa-flow Yoga, Power Yoga and Jivamukti Yoga. Vinyasa is movement synchronised with the breath. So in a vinyasa style class, the postures will be linked together with flowing movements. These movements are co-ordinated with the breath. So, esssentially, we keep moving! For this reason it may be suitable for those who want a more energetic class. Having said that, there should be no sense of stress or strain in a yoga class. Yoga is not a sport, nor is it competitive, so even in a class with an aerobic edge, like this one, we encourage an easy and effortless connection with the flow of the breath. It is suitable for most people including beginners who’ve maybe done some sort of exercise before. It is also brillant for people who walk, run, cycle or participate in other sports, to aid stretching and flexibility.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga practice is designed to focus on the connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and lower spine. These tissues are considered to be Yin tissues as opposed the the Yang muscles. The postures are generally held three to five (and very occasionally up to twenty) minutes at a time., with most of the postures being practised on the floor.
In “Yinsights” Bernie Clark says “While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, yin practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration of the poses. We can remain in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes! Yin and yang tissues respond quite differently to being exercised. You need to experience this to really know what Yin Yoga is all about. After you have experienced it, even just once, you will realize that you have been doing only half of the asana practice.”
For that reason it is great for anyone with a regular dynamic yoga practice and for dancers, athletes and runners.
Yin Yoga as a style has evolved from Taoist Yoga. Hence the term Yin. I studied Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley, who made the style popular and who taught well known Yin Yoga teacher Sarah Powers. Paul Grilley studied with Yin Yoga orginator Master Paulie Zink, who is quite emphatic that Yin Yoga as it is taught is only one small element of a full Taoist Yoga practice which encompasses Yin and Yang practices.
A balanced Yoga practice will endeed embody elements of both. The reason we teach Yin Yoga and the reason it has become so popular is that many popular styles of Hatha Yoga are practiced in a dynamic (Yang) fashion by western practitioners. Yin Yoga is the perfect complement to a Yang practice or lifestyle. You wouldn’t want to only ever do a Yin Yoga practice but it is the perfect balancing practice for those who do a lot of running around in their lives.
If you want to read more about Yin Yoga then we highly recommend the Yin Yoga website www.yinyoga.com edited by Bernie Clark, author of Yinsights.
An excellent introduction to Yin Yoga is Paul Grilley’s article for Yoga Journal
We hold a regular monthly Yin Yoga class on the last Tuesday of every month 6:30 – 8 pm at In The Moment in Glasgow
We also hold regular Yin Yoga workshops where you can learn more about this profound practice.
Wake Up Right Yoga
Mornings can be a hectic time for the modern person. Wake Up Right Yoga can help you get the best possible start to your day! The class is based on the foundational postures of Hatha Yoga with the addition of Cardio flow, invigorating Breathing techniques, and mind-calming Meditation. As well-balanced as a hearty breakfast!
Offered at a time that suits the working person’s schedule, this class meets Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 8 a.m. and is suitable for all levels of Yoga Student.
Voyage Yoga
Discover what you are truly capable of, without fear or doubt. Voyage Yoga challenges you to try postures you never thought you could do or never dreamed of doing. During your time on the mat you will be gently guided into postures that will prepare you to experience some of the more challenging and advanced postures in the yoga practice. Watch yourself blossom under the gentle guidance of these postures and learn that you are never too weak, old or inflexible to try something new.
Relaxation and Meditation Yoga
Gain the tools you need to completely relax and let go of your stress (physically and emotionally) with Relaxation and Meditation Yoga. Gentle stretches allow your muscles to let go of the daily accumulation of tension while gentle breathing techniques and meditation give you the power to let go of mental stress and overactive thoughts.
Biodanza
Biodanza comes from Bios meaning ‘life’ and Danza meaning ‘movement full of meaning’. Biodanza is a system of human integration stimulated by music, movement, emotion and expression.
The Biodanza system was created and developed in the 1960’s by Rolando Toro Araneda, a lecturer in Psychology and Medical Anthropology at the University of Santiago in Chile. He continues to develop and teach Biocentric Education around the world, as well as researching the effects of Biodanza on different types of Psychosomatic Diseases.The first School of Biodanza in the Scotland was opened by Claire Lewis in 2005 to train new teachers of Biodanza through a programme of rigorous training in ‘vivencial’ and theoretical learning about the effects of the Biodanza System on health and life style. The cycle of the school includes weekend courses, seminars, apprenticeships under supervision and the writing of a monograph (dissertation).
The concept of “Vivencia” refers to the “…intense perception of being alive, here and now. It is the intuition of the living moment” – Rolando Toro.There are five essential elements of life experience that contain the seeds of our potential for love, health, and happiness. These are the five lines of Vivencia, on which the dances/exercises are based and through which we express our innate potentials:
Vitality – our vital impulse of life to face the world; our essential energy of movement
Sexuality – to feel desire and pleasure from our own sensuality and natural instinct
Creativity – to awaken our source of spontaneity and renovation; to live with courage and creativity everyday
Affectivity – the link with our instinct of respect, tenderness and solidarity; the communion of the heart between human beings and towards all life
Transcendance – to go beyond our own ego to reach higher levels of integration within humanity, Nature and the Universe.
Biodanza is a progressive experience to express all the lines of Vivencia and achieve greater levels of integration, within ourselves, our relationships and our community.
Biodanza at “In The Moment” is taught by Richard Golsworthy. Full details at www.biodanzascotland.com
Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan is a Chinese exercise system to integrate the body and mind. Originally created as a martial art, ai Chi, as it is practiced in the west today, is considered less as a martial art, and more as a form of moving meditation. There are a number of forms which consist of a sequence of movements, performed slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them.
it provides many benefits, these include:
- Improved Posture
- Greater Body Awareness
- Increased Relaxation
- Better Focus
- Deeper sense of Self
- Increased Immunity
- More Confidence
Tai Chi at “In The Moment” is taught by Ronnie Robinson. Full details at www.chirontaichi.co.uk
