SESSION 1: Welcome!
Learn more about your course and your instructor!
SESSION 2: WHAT IS YOGA?
This short video was created to break down common misconceptions of Yoga and to honor the roots of the practice by offering you a brief introduction to Yoga history and philosophy.
SESSION 3: Fundamental Poses & Breathing Techniques
This Fundamentals class will demonstrate how our Yoga practice together will generally flow. This session focuses on proper alignment of the most basic Yoga poses (asana) and breathing techniques (pranayama).
* Listen to your body and modify the poses to best suit your needs and current abilities. If you have blocks feel free to use them in any pose, specifically beneath your hands in your lunges.
SESSION 4: Sun Salutations Part 1
In this session we will learn how to properly link and transition fundamental poses together through 2 traditional Yoga sequences: Half Sun Salutation and Sun Salutation A. Sun Salutations are sequences of fundamental poses that flow together using rhythmic breathing, primarily ocean (ujjyai) breathing. They are designed to honor and awaken our connection with the Sun’s light and energy. Sun Salutations are traditionally done in the morning facing east and are designed to warm, cleanse and awaken the body, increasing flexibility and strength.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses to best suit your needs and current abilities. If you have blocks feel free to use them in any pose, specifically beneath your hands in your lunges.
SESSION 5: Sun Salutations Part 2
This session will introduce Sun Salutation B, an extended and more advanced variation of Sun Salutation A that introduces more poses and transitions. We will also be incorporating Warrior poses. Warrior poses focus on strength and balance in the lower body. As the practice begins to progress please remember to be patient, kind and gentle with yourself.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses to best suit your needs and current abilities. If you have blocks feel free to use them in any pose, specifically beneath your hands in your lunges.
SESSION 6: Standing Poses
In this session we will continue practicing the poses we have already learned to gain more confidence and build upon the foundation we have already created. With our increased body awareness, knowledge of pose and proper alignment we will move into wide angle standing poses. We will also be introduced to my personal favorite posture, legs up the wall.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses to best suit your needs and current abilities. If you have blocks feel free to use them in any pose, specifically beneath your hands.
***NOTE***
The sound quality is not perfect on this video. I considered rerecording but then realized it is perfect. We are now getting deeper into the practice and this is a great opportunity for us to practice finding our peace and our practice even if the circumstances are not ideal Notice how you respond to the background noises and use it as a teacher, inviting you to go deeper into your own body and your own practice, to not let the external control the internal.
SESSION 7: Balancing Poses
In this session we will learn some new transitions into old poses to invite a sense of creativity into the flow of our practice. We will also be going deeper with our balancing poses which will call for increased mental focus and discipline.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses to best suit your needs and current abilities. If you have blocks feel free to use them in any pose.
** In the video I mention that we will be doing a Chakra balancing meditation at the end of the practice. But I have chosen to omit this from the Yoga Basics course.
SESSION 8: Intro to Restorative Yoga
In this session we will be introducing a different style of Yoga called Restorative Yoga. It is a slow meditative, passive practice very different from the active practices we have done so far. In this practice we will incorporate the use of props (pillows, blankets and blocks) to support the body in each pose. The support is what creates the release in the body. The less you try in this practice the more you will get out of it! Enjoy.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses, props and supports to best suit your body and your needs.
SESSION 9: Yoga Nidra Meditation
This session will not be a physical practice. But instead a practice of relaxation through guided meditation. Yoga Nidra also known as yogic sleep is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping to help relieve stress. Try you best not to overthink the practice but to instead let yourself slip into a open receiving state to recalibrate and restore all systems
* Listen to your body and get yourself nice and comfy and cozy with any props or supports you may want or need.
SESSION 10: Short Daily Practice
This session will give you an idea of how to create a short home practice aka a Yoga Mini as I call it. It incorporates a variety of poses that we have learned throughout the course into a condensed 10 minutes sequence that can be practiced any time you need it. I encourage you to start practicing at home daily using what you have learned to design a Yoga Mini that is ideal for your needs and your body.
* Listen to your body and modify the poses. Use any props you may want or need to support your practice.
