Gentle Flow Yoga
This slower-paced yet dynamic class guides students through introductory standing, seated and floor postures. Extra time is spent on positions and using props to ensure a safe and peaceful approach to the asana practice. Poses are adapted to meet the needs of individual students, so everyone can practice in a safe and supportive environment. This class is for all levels of experience but especially good for beginners.
Blissful Flow
This class is a blend of Ananda & Vinyasa Yoga. Ananda is a more meditative style of yoga that includes dharma talks & affirmations specifically designed to help transcend the body and heighten self awareness. Vinyasa is a flow sequence that requires more physically, helping one sweat to expels toxins and re-energize the body. The movement, as with any form of yoga, requires deep breathing so movement can coordinate with the breath. The synchronized breathing relaxes and rejuvenates your mind and creates a moving meditation. Be prepared to have a “moving experience” since most classes are themed and have a spiritual focus. We encourage true beginners to start with Gentle first as some Blissful Flow classes can require more physically so knowledge of the basic poses are foundational.
Yoga for Strength and Flexibility
Yoga is a great way to generate overall health, vitality, and joy in your life. Yoga for Strength and Flexibility offers total body conditioning with asanas that tone all major muscle groups, build endurance, cultivate mental focus, and increase energy levels. The flexibility portion unravels tension patterns in both the body and the mind by linking the breath to simple movements that provide a total body stretch, increase range of motion, enhance agility and help reduce risk of injury. This class heats the body and allows for a deeper connection to your practice offering more advanced options. Class begins and ends with breath awareness and a few moments of quiet reflection. A thorough knowledge of yoga is required.
Vinyasa Flow for Vitality
This yoga class heats the body and the meditative movements allow for a deeper connection to your practice. It is also great to help you feel energized and motivated! Class begins with breath awareness and a few moments of quiet reflection. The routine practice of vinyasa yoga can increase muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, and reduce levels of stress. Vinyasa yoga offers much diversity & creativity. The pace can vary and there is no one particular sequence that instructors must follow but usually includes Sun Salutations so prior knowledge of Sun Salutations is needed. In fact, the name vinyasa is a Sanskrit word that translates as “variations within parameters.” This flexibility allows the teacher to tailor the sequences to the individual class. A thorough knowledge of yoga is required.
Ashtanga
Vinyasa derived from Ashtanga Yoga so people who usually like one, also enjoy the other. An intense, flowing style in which the same poses are always done in the same order with some variations toads the end due to time constraints. This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. We begin with 10 Sun Salutations and then move toward multiple standing poses, balancing poses, advanced seated postures, and inversions such as shoulder stand and headstand to name a few. The result is a light and strong body and a calm mind. A thorough knowledge of yoga is required.
Iyengar Yoga Alignment
This class is perfect for beginners or students who want to refine their knowledge and practice of foundational poses. In Iyengar classes, teachers present one pose at a time offering detailed instructions about alignment. This methodical, unhurried approach allows students to learn to do each pose properly and safely, and to use props to effectively modify for injuries or limitations.
Standing poses are emphasized at the beginning to build strength and ease of movement, increase general vitality, and improve circulation, coordination, and balance. Postures for deep relaxation are introduced from the beginning. Gradually, seated postures, forward bends, inversions, introductory backbends and twists are introduced.
B.K.S. Iyengar introduced props into the modern practice of yoga to allow all practitioners access to the benefits of the postures regardless of physical condition, age, or length of study. Props help all practitioners (including the most advanced) gain sensitivity to the use of effort and receive the deep benefits of postures held over significant time periods. To learn more about who BKS Iyengar was and the Iyengar method click here:
https://iynaus.org/iyengar-yoga/bks-iyengar
Restorative Yoga for Stress Relief
The use of props and bolsters help you to fully relax in physically supported positions while stretching and opening the body. The emphasis is on release of muscle and joint tension rather than on development of strength and aerobic capacity. This class helps to reduce the effects of chronic physical, mental and emotional stress on the body by inducing a deep relaxation, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to work properly. Positions can be varied according to the individual’s flexibility and modifications are readily made for individual differences. For All Levels.
Zen Yin Stretch
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures or asanas that are held for comparatively long periods of time–three to five minutes or longer per pose is typical.
Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues—the tendons, fascia, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. Yin Yoga poses are also designed to improve the flow of qi, the subtle energy said in Chinese medicine to run through the meridian pathways of the body. Improved flow of qi is hypothesized to improve organ health, immunity, and emotional well-being. Yin Yoga is not intended as a complete practice in itself, but rather as a complementary practice to balance the effects of more active forms of yoga and exercise. Not recommended for anyone who has lots of restrictions to their knees or who suffer with extreme arthritis or history of herniating discs.
Prenatal Yoga can be used by the expecting couple or for anyone wanting a gentle practice that focuses on both active and passive poses. For the expecting mom, this allows time for getting in tune with their ever changing bodies through pregnancy and embracing the journey of motherhood. The practice emphasizes trusting their own intuition which is not just a great skill to have as you prepare for your own birthing experience but for life. Yoga and meditation is a great way to develop a deeper relationship with yourself but it can also create sacred bonding between you & your breath and this precious new life. Mothers also seem to really thrive and enjoy the connection with other soon to be moms in this class. This was once a popular class at Half Moon but went on hiatus for a year so we decided to bring it back in 2018 to serve our community. help us spread the word that this class is back.
Kundalini Morning Sadhana is for the serious yogi who wants to meet during the ambrosia hours of the day being offered between 4-7am daily. Remember, all of our classes have an open door policy meaning you can come & go at your leisure depending on your schedule. We understand not everyone has 3 hours to devote daily so you are welcome to come for 45 minutes, 1 hour or more. Jonathan is an inspiration as he volunteers his time and energy to offer this for us! A sadhana is a spiritual practice so expect to chant to God, meditate, practice pranayama (breath work), and perform some kriyas (repetitive and intentional body movements) with the intention of tapping into your higher “Self”, your light within, and devote this practice to God or the universal energy that is the consciousness and what flows within everyone and everything of creation. Attending the Kundalini Morning sadhana is bound to be the most meaningful way to start your day!
Jonathan, Mahanbir Singh, will be leading this Kundalini yoga practice from 4-7am Daily. Remember we have an open door policy and anyone can come & go as their schedule allows so do not feel like you can only attend and stay the 3 hours. We realize you may only be able to fit in a 45 minute, hour, or 2 hour session. Just know, you are welcome!
4am will be the initial start time warming up with leg lifts and 15 minutes of breath of fire.. he will guide the Chant Mul Mantra 11 times along with Ek Ongkaur, Sat Naam, Karta-purakh, Nirbaou Nirvair, Akaal-moorat, Ajoonee, Sai-Bhang, Gurprassad, Jap, Aad Such, Jugaad Such, Hai Bhee Such, Nanak hosee bhee such.
(Creator, creation, and creatures are all one. This is the supreme truth, the doer of all things, beyond fear, beyond anger. Undying, unborn, and self creating. Given by the guru’s grace, was true through all the ages, is true even now, and shall ever be true.)
A full breath chanting each word/line, taking about 30 minutes. These are the first words uttered by Nanak after self-realization, and have transformative effect on one’s internal environment. When chanted this way in yogic scriptures it is said to prevent aging, and strengthen your radiant body.
Kriya for awakening the ten bodies. This is a great yoga set that gets the energy flowing through all the meridians, the blood and brain oxygenated, and the full body feeling great. This Kriya ends with a 10 minute deep relaxation and 31 minute meditation.
In this 31 minute meditation we chant mantra, Ek Ongkaur Sat Naam Siri Wahe guru
Creator is One, the supreme truth..Such greatness, Wow Divine Consciousness
This Kriya takes around 1.5 hours. This will be followed by silent meditation, loving contemplation upon creation further cultivating a sense of equal unconditional acceptance for everything that arises in life’s experiences. 30 minutes or so…