Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of yoga?*
Stress relief: The practice of yoga is well-demonstrated to reduce the physical effects of stress on the body. The body responds to stress through a fight-or-flight response, which is a combination of the sympathetic nervous system and hormonal pathways activating, releasing cortisol – the stress hormone – from the adrenal glands. Cortisol is often used to measure the stress response. Yoga practice has been demonstrated to reduce the levels of cortisol.
Pain relief: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have shown that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions.
Better breathing: Yoga includes breathing practices known as pranayama, which can be effective for reducing our stress response, improving lung function and encouraging relaxation. Many pranayamas emphasize slowing down and deepening the breath, which activates the body’s parasympathetic system, or relaxation response. By changing our pattern of breathing, we can significantly affect our body’s experience of and response to stress. This may be one of the most profound lessons we can learn from our yoga practice.
Flexibility: Yoga can improve flexibility and mobility and increase range of motion. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity.
Increased strength: Yoga asanas use every muscle in the body, increasing strength literally from head to toe. A regular yoga practice can also relieve muscular tension throughout the whole body.
Weight management: While most of the evidence for the effects of yoga on weight loss is anecdotal or experiential, yoga teachers, students and practitioners across the world find that yoga helps to support weight loss. Many teachers specialize in yoga programs to promote weight management and find that even gentle yoga practices help support weight loss. People do not have to practice the most vigorous forms of yoga to lose weight. Yoga encourages development of a positive self-image, as more attention is paid to nutrition and the body as a whole. A study from the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that regular yoga practice was associated with less age-related weight gain. The lifestyle study of 15,500 adults in their 50’s covered 10 years of participants’ weight history, physical activity, medical history and diet.
Improved circulation: Yoga helps to improve circulation by efficiently moving oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.
Cardiovascular conditioning: Even a gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.
Presence: Yoga connects us with the present moment. The more we practice, the more aware we become of our surroundings and the world around us. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory.
Inner peace: The meditative effects of a consistent yoga practice help many cultivate inner peace and calm.
*source: Yoga Alliance
What is yoga therapeutics or yoga therapy?
“Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner. Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.”—TKV Desikachar & Kausthub Desikachar
Therapeutic Yoga is a particularly effective practice for those recovering from, or living with, injury or illness. Therapeutic Yoga can combine restorative yoga (supported postures), yin yoga, yoga, breathwork, hands-on healing, and guided meditation techniques in such a way that it is an excellent choice for those who need something gentle yet effective for bringing the body into balance and reducing stress. Therapeutic Yoga is a deeply meditative experience – it provides the opportunity to step away from the busy-ness of the outside world and access the deeper wisdom that resides within us.
What to Expect:
Practicing with other people of all shapes, sizes, abilities and fitness levels.
A fun, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
To become part of an amazing community of people committed to having fun, learning and growing.
How to Prepare:
Wear light workout clothing; stretchy fabric-not cotton. A tee shirt and shorts or yoga pants is appropriate. Shoes and socks are not worn on the mat.
Come to class well hydrated and on an empty stomach, but have something small and easy to digest 1-2 hours before class
Please register online beforehand and arrive 10-15 minutes before class (the door is locked once class begins).
We have mats if you do not have one of your own and can provide you with bolsters, blankets and blocks as tools for you to use and support your practice during class.
Try and come to class with an open attitude. You don’t have to be flexible or “in shape” to do yoga, you just have to take the first step of getting on the mat; you will thank yourself for coming!
Is the studio heated?
No, but our classes may be warm. For those classes, the room will be kept at a warm temperature of 75-80 degrees, well below the temperature of a hot yoga studio.
Are there showers at the studio?
Unfortunately no, but bathrooms and changing rooms are available. We have coat and shoe racks for anything else.
Can kids under 18 come to class?
All are welcome to practice! Tweens/Teens between the ages of 12-18 are welcome in our adult classes. They receive a 15% discount and must have a signed parent/guardian release waiver on file to take class unaccompanied. If you would like to bring your child age 12-18 to practice in the same class with you, you would pay for the regular class rate and your child will receive a 50% discount using the code TEENS.
What’s the difference between a class package, membership and a single class?
A single class is $18 and can be purchases directly on the Schedule. A class package allows you to attend a fixed number of classes without an expiration date. Memberships allow you to take unlimited classes and you are charged a discounted rate for unlimited classes on a monthly basis. For those planning to take 3 or more classes per week, memberships are recommended. Visit our Pricing page for more information and our Refund Policy.