Flow | Prenatal | Postnatal & Baby | Somatic-Centered | Acu & Therapeutic
In a yoga class, even if you think you are only toning your physical body, we are working on our whole multi-dimensional beings. (click for more…)
The ancient practice of yoga goes back over 2,000 years. In the US, it often is packaged as a physical practice to help the body. But in reality, there is no tidy way to separate the physical body from the more subtle aspects of the self: breath, energy, mental state, etc.
The simplest example is the impact of stress: when a stressor enters our life, it creates a cascade of hormonal and physiological changes. We often breathe more shallowly and rapidly, this in turns signals to our nervous system that there is a potential danger and we may need to “fight or flee”, in response the blood rushes away from our vital organs and out to our arms and legs so we can get away from danger fast. It’s a beautiful mechanism to help preserve our life if we get in peril, but is meant to only be a short-term state for our being. The impact though, is on every layer of our self: physical, mental, emotional, etc. Each action and interaction has an impact on our state of “multi-dimensional beingness”!
In yogic philosophy, there are considered 8 limbs of yoga, or areas of focus and tenets of the practice: yamas, niyamas, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Without going into too much detail, you can see that the practice of asana – the physical postures – is only one of the 8 limbs of yoga….it is just one aspect of our practice.
The word asana can be translated as “to sit in the seat of the self”. My goal for our practice together is that you find ease, clarity and a sense of connection in all layers of your self, not just your physical body.
Flow Yoga: Flow yoga helps us connect to that prana life force that’s always flowing and moving within us. By linking movement with breath, we dance between effort and surrender in a well-rounded practice that contains standing, seated, and supine poses. Class will also incorporate breathwork and relaxation.
Erica’s flow classes are mindful with a slow to moderate pace, with lots of options for all levels. You are welcome as you are!
Prenatal Yoga: Come support your whole being during the transformative and sacred journey to motherhood. In prenatal yoga, we walk that balance between effort and surrender – opening the body, finding stamina and strength, alleviating many pregnancy aches, and deeply releasing – reminding our bodies how to let go.
Erica’s prenatal yoga classes will not only help you prepare for birth, motherhood and beyond, but also help you find community through meeting other mamas. It’s a wonderful way to support yourself in this time of rapid change and transition. Even if you’ve never done yoga, it’s a perfect place to start!
Postnatal & Baby Yoga: This supportive practice is a time for you to fill up your cup, helping you find more ease and vibrancy in your postnatal self. This well-rounded practice will emphasize alleviating common postpartum discomforts while building integrity and tone in the abdominals, pelvic floor, and beyond. The babies also get a chance to do a yoga sequence designed for them!
This class is a wonderful way to build community and confidence during a stage that can sometimes feel isolating. Students are welcome with or without their babies, anytime from early postpartum (with approval to exercise) until babies are crawling.
Somatic-Centered Yoga: This class integrates gentle inquiry-based movement, breath awareness, and yoga nidra guided relaxation for a full body reawakening experience. Designed to bring us closer to the teacher within our own body, we direct our awareness to sensations in the body as we are moving, reawakening our capacity to learn directly from the body itself.
Much of the practice is done lying down on the floor, although sometimes we sit, stand or walk. We explore the impact of the breath and these playful, intuitive, therapeutic movements, movements that often produce a deeper release than any traditional stretching.
Class always begins and ends with a guided relaxation to help you receive the full effects of your practice.
Acu Yoga: This class combines traditional yoga poses with acupressure points for a full self balancing and release. Class often incorporates a theme or intention, and we will use our breath, myofascial therapy balls and props to assist us.
Therapeutic Yoga: This class weaves together a slower flow class with therapeutic conditioning movements designed to help repattern the body. This class contains elements of flow yoga, physical therapy, functional movement, myofascial release, and somatics.