Y&Y Classes

VINYASA

Basic: Provides the Foundation needed for the practice of Vinyasa. Poses (asanas) are broken down with clear instructions and particular attention to alignment.

Open: Have fun with your Vinyasa practice. We will be moving through focused sequencing of poses. Class works the whole body to build strength and stamina while emphasizing the connection between breath and movement. A “Basic” knowledge of Asanas is recommended for “Open” classes.

Advanced: Designed for the seasoned practitioner, the Advanced Practice offers exploration, nuanced instruction, and refinement of skills to practice familiar poses in a deeper way and venture toward Level 2/3 poses seldom practiced in public class. Class will include inversions, arm balances, deep backbends, deep forward bends and twists, as well as philosophy, pranayama, and meditation. Great for teachers and students who are interested in learning technique, are open to insight, and seeking a communal atmosphere for practice. Not recommended for beginners or people with current injuries. Come prepared to play! All teachers, trainees, grads, and seasoned students interested in TT are welcome, regardless of school, studio, method or style

Early yoga & Meditation: A class to start your day in a simple way with 60 minutes of simple poses followed by a period to sit for the remaining time. It is open to anyone.

Vinyasa & Ropes:
This is a vinyasa flow class that will rely on the use of ropes to further explore certain dynamic transitions. Both modalities will complement each other aiming to strengthen the body as well as to release it;
Ropes can be used to create a dynamic warm up, they help create strength, they can be used to explore variations of inversions and above all, ropes let you feel with great clarity the purpose behind each pose and keep your body safe in increasingly deeper shapes.
In a vinyasa flow context, we can also use the ropes and the wall to set up restorative poses and cooling down poses. You will be able to build strength and explore your relationship to gravity and fully release as much as practicing moving using the pull of gravity to find stability, fluidity and strength.

ASHTANGA

Half Primary series: Ashtanga is a set sequence of asanas. It is a very dynamic and athletic form of Hatha Yoga.
The class will be led following the Ashtanga Primary Series, up to Navasana (Boat Pose). The practice will conclude with back bends, inversions, pranayama (breath work) practice, and Savasana.
While this practice is quite vigorous, variations and modifications will be shown, so that the practice can be adapted to your physical needs.

Based Vinyasa: a dynamic form of classical hatha yoga which offers a powerful way to build both physical stamina and mental strength.
Each session is rooted in core elements of the primary series – sun salutations, standing and seated postures – and will focus on a specific pose or transition in the practice. This class will finish with a short pranayama practice that leaves you feeling grounded and calm.

Foundations: This class is open and suitable for students of all ages and skill levels, from those new to yoga or this method to long-time practitioners. In this class, you can expect a slower pace, the use of props, time to break down foundational poses from the Ashtanga Primary series, and a meditative breathing practice at the end.

IYENGAR

The Iyengar method was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar and is based in the ancient Indian tradition of classical Ashtanga Yoga, as defined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Iyengar Yoga teaches strength and stamina, flexibility and balance as well as concentration and meditation. Although Iyengar Yoga begins with the physical body, it goes beyond to support emotional and spiritual growth. As students learn to extend awareness to each part of their body, they begin to understand the connection of mind and body and how the physical, mental, and spiritual parts of oneself are not separate.

Fundamentals: In this class, we’ll cover foundational sequences and principles of Iyengar Yoga. The focus will be on dynamic actions and organizing principles, drawing from the Level 1 syllabus. Expect an emphasis on standing poses and the inclusion of basic inversions.

Level 1 and 2: This class is accessible for students new to Iyengar Yoga, continuing beginners and students who want to focus on the foundation of the practice. Focus on fundamental postures and actions within standing poses, seated poses, twists, and forward bending. Inversions such as Halasana (plow pose) and Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) are introduced and refined

Level 2: Once the basic foundation is learned, Level 1 standing poses are deeply familiar and Sarvangasana can be held for at least 5 minutes, students move onto Level 2. This includes, refines and expands upon what was taught in Level 1. Sirsasana (headstand), Full Arm Balance, and Backbends are all introduced. Deeper twistings and forward extensions and variations in the familiar Shoulderstand are explored.

Practicing Inversions / Level 2: Once students are getting familiar and confident with standing poses, sitting twists, forward and backbends, students in Iyengar Yoga are encouraged to develop a steady practice of asanas called inversions. These are handstand, headstand and shoulderstand (Adhomukta vrksasana, sirsasana, and sarvangasana). Each class will do a short sequence of asanas that will prepare the student to enter into the inversions correctly. Students will learn to maintain stability and strengthen their ability to bring improvement through proper adjustments. This class will develop keen awareness that these poses, in particular, give to the yogi and yogini.

Diving Deeper: A Mixed level Class: This class is designed to explore more complex poses from the intermediate and advanced syllabus and deepen your practice. We’ll examine subtle connections in the body and the role of breath and mind in refining actions and experiences within the asanas. Students will develop the mental capacity and sensitivity for absorption, learning to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy willpower, and extending their time in asana through increased awareness of breath and decreased effort. (Not suitable for beginners.)

Restorative: This is a slower-paced class that includes restorative postures and sequences to soothe and restore the nerves. Students should have asana experience before signing up for this class. Especially some knowledge of the foundational poses.

KATONAH

Foundations: An introduction to the Katonah yoga material. The class will go over basic shapes and principles in order to understand patterns throughout the body, as well as engaging the imagination using metaphor and geometry to organize in time and space. The class will use props and hands-on adjustments.

Open Level: Class will focus on finding the fundamental patterns in the body that reiterate throughout the entire physical yoga practice, while engaging the imagination with theory to develop your relationship with your body in space and time. It teaches poses workshop-style with the use of props and plenty of hands-on adjustments.

Restorative: A Katonah yoga’s restorative class is active and therapeutic by nature. By using props, chairs and the postures as tools to get out of personal effort, we reform and formalize a practice. With time, repetition and techniques, we use our imagination to direct the breath into the subtle body; altering chemistry, shifting neurology and leading one to insight and new vision.

HATHA

This is a different kind of class, not the Hatha Yoga class you may be used to. Be prepared and have an open mind.
It is a vigorous regimen that combines calisthenics, abdominal exercises, stretching and isometrics to improve breathing, flexibility, alignment and endurance. Yoga practitioners will find their ability to execute asanas greatly improved while body builders and other athletes will develop increased stability, body awareness, more supple movement and a better control of the breath.
The class combines intense exercise followed by deep, conscious relaxation to allow the body to recover and assimilate the benefits of the workout.

ALIGNMENT

Level 1: Students apply anatomy, alignment and mindfulness concepts to sustained poses, modifying as needed. Props like blocks, blankets and the rope wall are used in this dynamic, non-flow practice.

Level 2: Students apply anatomy, alignment and mindfulness concepts to work towards challenging poses, modifying as needed. Props like blocks, blankets and the rope wall are used in this dynamic, non-flow practice.

w/ Ropes: Students apply anatomy, alignment and mindfulness concepts to work towards challenging poses, modifying as needed. Using the rope wall to help us explore poses in a more in depth way.

RESTORATIVE

Move & Restore: Beginning from a foundation of breath, this class will focus on movement and stretching with an emphasis on core stabilization and strengthening. Incorporating asana to build strength and opening, we’ll transition into restorative/yin poses for grounding and release, bringing the mind and body back to a sense of wholeness and ease.

Release & Restore: This class combines gentle movement and stretching with restorative poses to find the balance between opening and release. Drawing on asana, mobility stretches, myofascial release and breath, we’ll find expansion and spaciousness. We’ll move into a combination of restorative poses (passive restoration) and yin (active restoration) to find release and softness, dropping into our para-sympathetic nervous system for grounding and healing. This class helps alleviate stress, restores tired minds and bodies, and brings the body back to a sense of ease. No yoga experience required, open to all levels.

Yin Yoga: A contemplative practice of yoga, this class of longer held passive stretches allow for subtle, deep release and stimulation of the connective tissue that binds the body, calming the mind and quieting the nervous system.  Yin yoga builds self awareness, expands flexibility and circulation, while fostering deeper connection within. No previous experience necessary

Yoga Nidra: A meditative technique, practiced lying down, for moving through layers of energy and consciousness in the subtle body. This class will lead participants through a classical, eight-stage practice which includes setting an intention and a short, guided journey. Yoga Nidra is an excellent method to integrate the energetic benefits of an asana practice, prepare for advanced meditation, or experience as a standalone technique for deep relaxation and release.

THERAPEUTIC

Somatic Movement Practice: Recurring injuries and chronic pain are often a result of the way we stand, sit, and move our bodies. The more we repeat these postures and movements, the more deeply ingrained they become, leading to tension and discomfort. In this class, under the guidance of certified yoga therapist Lisa Sack, you’ll learn to undo patterns of muscular contraction using Thomas Hanna’s somatic exercises–small and focused movements done very slowly and mindfully with soft and easy breath. Release tension from the body, breath, and mind and discover a sense of balance, ease, and spaciousness. All levels welcome.

Yoga for back Care: Yoga can be a great tool to help recover from injury or heal pain. The Back Care class focuses on elongating the spine, strengthening muscles of the back and teaching individualized modifications to suit each person’s specific needs. All poses will be prop supported and the pace of the class is slow.

ROPE WALL

Using a rope wall in Yoga comes from the Iyengar tradition of Yoga, but this class is not an Iyengar Class. It will help us explore poses in a more in depth way. Rope walls provide support, traction, and the ability to invert more freely.

PRENATAL & GENTLE YOGA

This slow flow class, even though designed for all trimesters of pregnancy and all levels of practitioner, is open to anyone who wants a balanced practice that is intentionally sequenced to increase strength and flexibility. Class focuses on mindful movement, using breath work to create space and center the mind.

PILATES

Whether you’re an experienced Pilates practitioner, just Pilates curious or simply looking to add new strategies into your fitness routine, this class can be for you. You will be guided through a yogic warm-up before leading you through the Classical Pilates mat series. Strengthen your core while maximizing the combination of breath and movement, and leave this class feeling stronger and taller than when you came in.

TAI CHI FLOW

Traditional Tai Chi Chuan is an internal Chinese martial art that developed a unique practice method with incredible health benefits, including for arthritis, lower body strength, anxiety, range of movement, pain management, blood pressure, and balance. If you can walk you can practice Tai Chi! Tai Chi Flow is traditional Tai Chi movements presented in a familiar, easy to follow, exercise class format.