Class Descriptions
“In this world of flight or fight, the most adaptable survive, not the fittest.” —Jenny Otto
Body Balance Yoga offers a wide range of yoga classes in the greater Annapolis, Maryland area to suit all abilities and students ranging from beginners to experienced practitioners and teachers. Our classes run from 60 to 75 to 90 minutes in length. All classes are ongoing and are offered by the session and also on a 'drop-in' basis, unless otherwise noted. Not all classes are offered every session — please check the current Class Schedule. If you are uncertain as to which class or level will best suit your needs, please contact us. Our teachers are highly skilled at helping you adjust the practice to your individual needs.
Special Conditions are our Specialty and we welcome students with physical challenges including amputees and those who may not be able to get down to the floor.
Please contact us beforehand to figure out which class will best suit your needs.
CLASS LEVELS:
All Levels (All levels are welcome)
This class is designed around the students attending that particular day. Yoga 'challenges,' asana selection and class focus will vary. Expect the class to include some, but not be limited to, dynamic breathwork, hip work, strength and balance work. Beginners welcome; no previous experience necessary.
Gentle/Beginner Yoga (Beginner)
Ease into your practice with this class — your introduction or re-introduction to yoga. Gentle/Beginner Yoga combines warm-ups, gentle and restorative postures, yogic breathing and guided deep relaxation to reduce stress and increase movement and vitality. Designed for students who prefer a class less vigorous than Level I, Gentle/Beginner Yoga is also ideal for pregnant women who are new to yoga and those who are experiencing illness, injury or chronic pain. We often use chairs in our gentle practice.
Yoga Level I (Beginner)
In this class, you will learn the basics and fundamentals of yoga postures while learning
correct alignment, breathwork,
relaxation techniques and use of props. Students who would prefer a slower pace will also enjoy this class. All levels are welcome.
Yoga Level I/II (Advanced Beginner)
This class is for continuing students having completed Level I. The emphasis of this course is on building endurance and introducing Level II standing poses and beginner
inverted poses. This class is suitable for students who have practiced other styles of yoga besides the Anusara method, but is not suitable for those who have never studied yoga before.
Yoga Level II (Continuing; Intermediate)
Our Level II class
is open to students who have completed a level I course or have previous Hatha yoga experience. Greater detail is given to the basic standing poses. Revolved standings and continuing level inversions are introduced, emphasizing their preparatory actions. Sun Salutations and other vinyasa sequences, forward bends, backbends, twists and arm balances are also introduced.
Yoga Level II Plus (Continuing; Intermediate)
This class is open to students who have completed at least a level I course or who have previous Hatha yoga experience. Greater detail is given to the basic standing poses. Revolved standings and continuing level inversions are introduced, emphasizing their preparatory actions. Sun Salutations and other creative vinyasa sequences, forward bends, backbends, twists and arm balances. Students will explore the more subtle aspects of the body in the poses. Chanting, meditation and moving with sound and breath are introduced.
Yoga Level II/III (Continuing; Advanced)
Our Level II/III Class assumes a more advanced knowledge of poses and breath work and is therefore not appropriate as a first-ever yoga class. This class is for intermediate students who have completed Yoga I and II and would like more instruction and practice in the revolved standing poses and inversions and their preparatory poses. It will begin with Yoga II poses and move gradually into Yoga III poses, particularly learning the more subtle aspects of the body in the poses. Students will practice more chanting, meditation and moving with sound and breath in the poses.
YOGA STYLES:
Anusara Yoga (Level I and above)
Translated as 'flowing with grace,' Anusara is a challenging Hatha yoga system founded by John Friend. Poses and sequences are taught incorporating the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment™ which bring the body toward its optimal blueprint to enable a deeper flow of energy — physically, emotionally and spiritually. The basic principles of movement, which Anusara Yoga advocates, are compatible with the current developments in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
The focus of Anusara Yoga is initially on developing strength, flexibility, endurance and correct body
alignment through various postures. Students can expect detailed alignment in each pose and classes may also be centered around a heart-opening theme.
Anusara-Inspired (Level I and above)
Anusara means 'flowing with grace.' Founded by John Friend in 1997, Anusara Yoga is a school of Hatha yoga which unifies a life-affirming philosophy with the Universal Principles of Alignment™. Students can expect a class that focuses on the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment™ along with personalized variations to support their practice.
Body Balance Yoga
Body Balance Yoga expresses the healing aspects of eternal wisdom. In a Body Balance Yoga class, not only will you explore the timeless teachings, but you will also leap into present day wellness and medical research. Each class is taught with awareness, acceptance and adaptation. Sound, mudra, pranayama, visualization and meditation are used at the discretion of each teacher to help every student express the essence of the human spirit. Poses are creatively adapted to serve every student’s potential and journey into their own embodiment. The healing aspects of Yoga are emphasized in every class.
Chair Yoga
Chair Yoga is truly beneficial for anyone with an injury or who has difficulty getting down to the floor and back up again. This unique class offers students the great support of a chair along with the creative use of other props. Nearly every pose that can be done standing, sitting or lying down on a mat can be adapted for use with a chair.
Fundamental Flow
This class introduces fundamental principles of alignment and breath work in a flow of postures linked together by the breath, emphasizing Sun Salutations and other creative flows. If you have hesitated to try yoga due to stiffness or other reasons, this is the class for you! The classes are appropriately paced for both beginning and continuing students. The emphasis is on learning the postures and linking them together in the body, mind and spirit.
Prenatal Yoga
Learn safe yoga poses and techniques modified for pregnancy. This class will prepare you for childbirth and motherhood with gentle, safe yoga for moms to-be. These classes are tailored to your individual needs as well as your stage of pregnancy and is designed to help you with concentration and endurance in labor and delivery. Classes taught by Melinda Frisch, Certified Pranakriya™ Prenatal Teacher.
Restorative Yoga (All Levels)
Restorative Yoga consists of therapeutic and supportive poses done at the wall or on the floor in supine positions and with many props - allowing the body to open and relax easily and naturally. Designed to recharge our energy reserves, reduce stress and bring our nervous systems into a more balanced state, Restorative Yoga is an important part of any yoga practice. Classes can also be Active Restorative Classes involving moving meditations.
Yoga For Core Stability (Experienced Level I and above)
This specialized class focuses on developing awareness, flexibility and strength in the core body through asana, various abdominal exercises and breath work. This is a sophisticated class that requires discipline and awareness. Attention to subtle aspects of the core stability muscles are explored.
Yoga for Special Conditions and Injuries
Since 1994, Jenny Otto has taught the area’s first Yoga Therapy Class for Special Conditions and Injuries. This highly specialized class is designed for those who have physical conditions (i.e. serious spinal problems, arthritis, heart problems, chronic and acute injuries, prosthetic limbs, etc.) and also for those who may need more individualized attention. This class will move at a slower pace to optimize the potential for healing and improvement. All poses will be carefully modified for each student's needs and abilities. (Due to the specialized nature of this course, drop-ins are not accepted and this class may not be used as a make-up.)
Yoga Nidra (All Levels)
Yoga Nidra, or 'Yogic Sleep', involves releasing tension and reducing stress through pranayama or breath work and guided meditation to induce deep relaxation and rest while students are reclined in a supportive and restorative posture.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy heals and restores balance — physically, emotionally, spiritually — by restoring our natural capacity for self-healing. Yoga Therapy addresses our health on all levels with asana, breathing practices, relaxation and meditation techniques. Yoga Therapy classes are helpful with a wide variety of physical conditions and the healing aspects of Yoga are emphasized in every class.
Body Balance Yoga®, Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher and Body Balance Yoga®
for Functional & Structural Therapy are trademarks of Body Balance Yoga, Inc. and Jenny Otto.
Anusara®, Anusara® yoga, Anusara-Inspired™ yoga, Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher
and Universal Principles of Alignment are trademarks of Anusara® yoga.
Tadasana
(Mountain Pose) |
Urdhva Hastasana
(Upward Salute) |
Uttanasana
(Forward Bend) |
Anjaneyasana
(Lunge) |
Parsvottanasana
(Intense
Side Stretch) |
Virabhadrasana I
(Warrior I) |
Adho Mukha Svanasana
(Downward-Facing Dog) |
|
