Vinyasa
Vinyasa can be translated directly from Sanskrit as: "to place in a special way." In modern yoga practices, it refers to the sequential ordering of poses with careful attention paid to smooth transitions between them. The result is a vigorous flowing practice where intention and awareness are present in each movement and every breath. The goal is to challenge the body, steady the breath, and sharply focus the mind.
My vinyasa teaching style emphasizes intention, awareness, and curiosity. I aim to create sequences that are both challenging and accessible, so students can explore how their experience in each pose evolves from the beginning of practice to the end. By maintaining awareness, they can test the limits of their physical capabilities and explore the body's natural intelligence. Students might even accomplish something they didn't know they were capable of.
I received my RYT-200 certification from Yoga Vida (NYC) and regularly participate in additional training programs to maintain and expand my knowledge.
Restorative
In a restorative yoga practice, we are not looking to sweat, to strengthen, or even really to stretch. Restorative yoga is all about relaxation. With the help of props like bolsters and blankets, we set the body up in fully supported postures that encourage each muscle to release any tension. The body softens, the breathing slows, and the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for the body's relaxation response) kicks in. With consistent practice, the mind relaxes too, resulting in complete physical and mental rejuvenation that can be even more restorative than sleep.
Restorative yoga has tremendous healing power. It is great for everybody, but especially those who are overworked, overstressed, under the weather, or dealing with an injury. Our culture glorifies busy-ness while stigmatizing relaxation, and the resulting chronic stress has countless negative effects on the body (inflammation, muscle tension, high blood pressure, poor immunity and digestion, etc.) and mind (fatigue, anxiety, depression, etc.). Restorative yoga is the art of conscious relaxation, and it helps counteract the negative effects of stress.
I received my restorative yoga certification from Yoga Vida (NYC) and continue to learn from my mentor, Laura Brandel.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga nidra, or "yogic sleep" is a relaxation technique where students enter a state of consciousness in between wakefulness and sleep. Students find a comfortable position so they can remain completely still for the entire practice. I guide them through a series of mental, breathing, and visualization exercises that put the body and mind to sleep while the student remains consciously aware. As the body and mind recharge, students witness how their subconscious and unconscious minds respond to each visualization I offer. In this receptive state, the seed of a student's intention can be sowed deep in the psyche, which helps them actualize goals they have for themselves and their lives.
Meditation
Asana is the Sanskrit word used to refer to yoga postures, but its actual English translation is "seat". For some, the entire physical asana practice is simply a preparation to sit comfortably in stillness for meditation. For others, the asana practice is a meditation in itself. Meditation is a practice through which individuals can witness, explore, and experience states of consciousness directly, without interference from the constant stream of sensory input we're subjected to in our daily lives. To put it simply, meditation is the practice of stilling the mind. It is a deceptively simple (yet often challenging) practice that can profoundly impact one's life by promoting clarity, focus, resilience, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence (among many other scientifically proven benefits).
There are many different types of meditation, just as there are many different types of people. There are guided meditations, visualizations, breathing meditations, and mantra repetition (to name just a few). There are styles that require effort to maintain single-pointed focus on an object of meditation, and there are styles that relinquish effort entirely to witness the fluctuating thoughts without judgment or control. The most effective style of meditation is whichever style works best for the individual who is practicing it. I have experience practicing and teaching many different styles, so we can discover what works best for you. A meditation practice that is performed consistently over a long period of time (with dedication and respect) can lead to radical personal transformation.