I recently got the wonderful opportunity to start teaching at my local studio in Invercargill, the Your Studio Yoga and Massage Center. As Gentle Yoga is not a ‘traditional’ teaching style of yoga, I thought I should clarify what Gently Yoga is …
Gentle Yoga can be interpreted in various ways, and depending on which studio or teacher you go to, the class might look somewhat different. The idea is to create a class that allows people of varying abilities to enjoy the benefits of yoga without breaking a sweat and being forced into advanced positions. Some classes will only use a few poses and be more like a Yin or Restorative Yoga class; other Gentle Yoga classes will include a slow flow of asanas, with a limited amount of vinyasas and transitions (ie moving between being on the floor to standing up) and probably no particularly advanced or complex asanas.
My Gentle Yoga classes start off with some centering and pranayama exercises, giving you time to arrive on your mat mentally and to connect with your mind, body and breath. This is usually done in a relaxed seated or even supine position. From there, I guide you through some warming stretches that get the body moving, teach you to connect your breath with your movement and allow you to explore how your body is feeling today. The warm-up will involve some stretches on the floor and some easy modifications of sun salutations. The main part of the practice is usually performed on your feet, to explore slow flows through standing asanas and some balancing exercises, while emphasizing the coupling of your movement and your breath in order to flow with ease and stability and to remain present in your practice. Eventually, I will guide you back to the floor for some gentle twists, bends and inversions (think: supported shoulder stand) to integrate your practice and calm down your nervous system, eventually coming to a peaceful rest in shavasana. The class comes to an end with a few minutes of guided mediation and sweet rest, so you can absorb the benefits of your practice.
The asanas and pranayama practices chosen for Gentle Yoga classes are selected for their accessibility for a variety of students, and they can be modified in various ways to suit your needs. If you haven’t been to a yoga class before, don’t be scared to give it a try. The class moves slowly and every practice is guided in a step-by-step fashion, with visual demonstrations, giving you enough time to explore the new movements. If you are a more experienced yogi, don’t think of Gentle Yoga as being too easy for you – as we progress in our practice we often think faster and more difficult asanas are better, while forgetting to move with ease and stability. Gentle Yoga classes will challenge you to move more slowly and consciously, exploring individual asanas for longer, which can teach you a lot about your body and help you refine your practice. If you want more of a challenge, I teach a range of variations for each asana, so you will still find the practice challenging and rewarding.
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