Class Descriptions

(G) Gentle: No previous experience is necessary.

This class is open to people who are into taking it easy. Seniors are welcome. Everyone else is too, but remember, this is a really simple class with lots of good movement to help your with your range of motion, strength and balance. Very calming and relaxing. Good place to pick up some basics. Great place to be if you are nursing an injury of some sort, or recovering from one.

(G) 50+Gentle: No previous experience is necessary.
This one's even easier. First half of the class is in chairs. Awesome place for seniors.

(B) Beginner: Recommended Intro To Yoga or a few classes here and there.

This class focuses on basics.

(SB) Strong Beginner: Recommended Intro To Yoga or 1 month experience

This class builds upon the Beginner Level. Expect sun salutations, more standing postures and some inversions. We still work on some basics but play a little more.

(I) Intermediate: Recommended Intro To Yoga and/or 6 months of experience

This type of class frequently features sun salutations and is more physically demanding than the SB classes. You can get a work out but the rules of paying attention to your body still apply. More variety of postures.

(AL) All Levels: Recommended Intro To Yoga and/or 1 year of practice.

This class is not appropriate for real beginners. People are expected to know the basics here. Even greater variety of postures. Lots of options offered for folks at different levels, even the very experienced variety. You can work hard in this class. Make sure you mind your own bees wax and take your body only to the level of pose that fits you best, don't take more advanced options if you are not there yet, and take your breaks as you need them. It's a fun class.

Private Sessions: No experience is necessary.

This is a great way to get introduced to the practice of yoga. Best way to get some hands on from the teacher. Also awesome for rehabing injuries, getting your specific questions answered, refine your practice, and finally have a custom made practice just for you and no one else in the room. Unless you want someone to join you. Max 3 people per private session. Must make an appointment. Call Val at 805-909-1401.

Hatha:
The generic form of yoga, out of which most modern day practices arise.

Vinyasa Flow:

A form of Hatha that flows. In other words, postures are linked together into sequences, hopefully, with a logic behind it. Sometimes it can move fast. It depends on the skill of the teacher, their training and mood of the day...but that's true for all the other yoga styles and classes....A feature of this type of practice are the "vinyasas" which are little transition sequences that take you up and down and are designed to build a little heat and keep your body warm. You can skip those if you don't want to do them and just do the main postures.

Organic Flow Yoga:

That's what Val decided to call her style of teaching Hatha Yoga. It's a vinyasa practice, because it does flow and moves through sequences. The difference is that Val teaches emphasising the natural ability and intelligence of the body to execute movement so that as little amount of force is needed to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness. She uses support and resistance principles, and employing opposing energy, which together with the breath give the practice a specific flavor of experience that's kind of Val's signature.

Nia
Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that leads to health, wellness and fitness. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Nia draws from disciplines of the martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities. Stiff beginners and highly fit athletes alike can adapt Nia to meet their needs by choosing from three intensity levels. For more on Nia, please go to: http://www.nianow.com/