Bender Ball Yoga

Bender Ball Yoga is a format I’ve created based on my experience, practice and training with Bender Balls and with Yoga and it’s a whole lot of fun!

These are Hatha Yoga classes with the addition of a Bender Ball. Working with a Bender Ball helps to increase mindfulness as we now have something else to think about. A Bender Ball can enhance certain poses, help deepen stretches, challenge the core and help with stability.

A Bender Ball is not required, these classes can be done without a Bender Ball. If you would like to purchase your own Bender Ball, you can do so in my shop.

Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga is fantastic for anyone! Refer to the Chair Yoga article in my blog for more information about this format. Members can find some Chair Yoga and Chair-Friendly Hatha Yoga videos on my Offering Tree site.

Chair Yoga classes include poses and movements seated in a chair as well as standing. There is the option to do the whole class seated in a chair if desired. I offer private Chair Yoga classes as well as public Chair-Friendly Hatha Yoga classes (see description below).

Chair-Friendly Hatha Yoga

Chair-friendly Hatha Yoga is a traditional Hatha Yoga practice that can be done with a mat, a chair or both. Yoga is for everyone, and in this class, I will offer options and modifications so everyone can participate. Those on mats will have supine, prone, seated, kneeling and standing poses while those in chairs will have seated and standing poses. There is the option to stay seated in the chair for the entire class if desired.

Flow Yoga

You may see classes listed as Hatha-Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Flow or Slow Flow. Flow-based classes are a little more energetic in nature and are typically faster-paced than Hatha classes. Vinyasa Flow will generally be the most dynamic. Classes include more creative, modern sun salutations and breath-linked movement.

While some experience with Yoga is recommended, everyone is welcome. Modifications will be given, and you will always have the option to simply stand and breathe or come into child’s pose to breathe. It’s more important to stay connected to the breath and move in a way that suits your body rather than try to keep pace. Remember that Yoga is not exercise, it’s a mind-body-breath practice for your entire being.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is really the root of all forms of Yoga. Ha means sun, tha means moon, so it’s a balance of the solar and lunar energies, the Yang and the Yin. This concept can be found in one of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sthiram Sukham Asanam, which means the pose should be steady and comfortable. Practicing sthiram and sukham means finding the balance between effort and ease or strength and surrender, being in our postures without strain and finding a sense of calm.

Hatha classes include pranayama (breathing practices) and asana (physical poses) and are more traditional in nature. We work on strength, stability, balance, mobility and flexibility and move the spine in all directions. If sun salutations are included, they will generally be classical sun salutations rather than modern flows.

Intermediate Hatha Yoga

Intermediate Hatha Yoga classes are intermediate in tthe sense that we explore other aspects of Yoga, not so much that the classes are more challenging physically.

Intermediate Hatha yoga classes include mantras, mudras, more advanced pranayama, meditation and the option to explore deeper expressions of some poses. Anyone with an interest in deepening their practice is welcome to attend. Options and modifications will be given.

Outdoor Yoga

Outdoor classes begin in the Spring as soon as the weather is warm enough and wrap up in the Fall. There’s nothing like practicing Yoga outside under the bright blue Edmonton sky! Classes are held on the east side of Primrose Park (corner of 188 Street and 84 Avenue in Edmonton). There’s sun for the sun-worshippers and shade for those who prefer to stay a bit cooler. Please bring your own mat.

Classes are generally all-level Hatha Yoga, everyone welcome! Payment is by donation (suggested donation $15-$20, but you are welcome to pay what you can). You can bring cash or cheque to the class, send an e-transfer to kpoweryoga@shaw.ca or pay by credit card through the donation box on my home page.

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is all about relaxing and letting go. In our busy lifestyles, we can all benefit from just slowing down. Restorative helps to balance the nervous system and allow us to reach a place where self-healing can be supported.

Props are required for Restorative Yoga. Recommended props include a bolster, several blankets, blocks (thin and thick) and an eye pillow if you like. The more blankets you have, the better, they are very versatile in a Restorative practice. The body is fully supported with props and we hold poses in comfort and stillness for several minutes.

Restorative Yoga is sometimes confused with Yin Yoga, but they are very different. Yin Yoga is about stressing our connective tissue and sitting with discomfort, Restorative Yoga is about comfort and relaxation, mainly for the benefit of the nervous system.

If you have a particularly active mind, settling into stillness for an extended period of time may be challenging, but Restorative Yoga is probably just what you need! We have become a culture of doing and have forgotten how to be. Restorative allows us to just BE, and the benefits are amazing.

Yin Yoga

Yin is a quiet, meditative practice that targets connective tissue, not muscles. There are no standing poses in this class and very little movement. Muscles are relaxed and we hold poses for an extended period of time (generally 3-5 minutes) to safely stress our joint structures. Yin allows us to balance our busy lives by slowing down and practicing stillness and patience.

While anyone can practice Yin, it’s not considered a beginner’s practice. Some experience with Yoga is recommended as keen body awareness and the ability to stay still are required. Yin is very different from other forms of Yoga. It can challenge your physical body and your patience, but the benefits are worth it!

Note that Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are sometimes confused, but they are very different. Scroll down to learn more about Restorative Yoga.

Yin/Yang Yoga

Yin/Yang is a blend of Yin Yoga for connective tissues and Yang Yoga (Hatha Yoga) to move joints and stretch muscles. The class begins with a few Yin poses then we get things moving again. It’s a great way to mobilize and nourish the joints and balance the Yin (lunar) and Yang (solar) energies.

In this format, it is best to practice Yin first while the muscles are cool then get things moving again with the Yang portion. On occasion, I may flip it and teach Yang/Yin, in this case the Yin portion would not be truly “Yin” as the muscles would be warmed. It would be Hatha (Yang), followed by some longer held Yin-like stretches that would be more about releiving tension from the muscles and less about safely stressing joints.