Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga, developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, blends breath, movement, and attention to elevate the practitioner to a heightened state of consciousness and physical strength. Through the traditional primary series, you stretch, strengthen, and harmonize your body while calming your mind and regulating your internal organs.

The intermediate series places a focus on nervous system regulation, utilizing postures such as the backbend to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This practice creates inner heat in the body, which detoxifies the organs, flushes the lymphatic system, and improves circulation. Ashtanga is a transformative practice for anyone who wants to create a light, flexible, strong body and calm mind.

Vinyasa

Vinyasa is an invigorating, challenging, flow-based practice. It’s centered around sun salutations and chaturanga, the latter done between almost every posture. Like ashtanga, the breath is synchronized with the movement in Vinyasa, creating a dynamic, engaging practice that’s supports deep emotional release and physical strength.

Iyengar

Iyengar yoga, the master teacher, is perhaps the most precise form of yoga, with great emphasis on postural alignment, often utilizing props. Iyengar yoga is a strong foundational practice that teaches the technical components that other yoga styles often skip. With a knowledge of Iyengar, the possibilities for your practice are endless.

Yin Yoga

The body has a story to tell, and Yin Yoga gives you the opportunity to listen to it through gravity-assisted poses and guided visualizations. It’s a deep, introspective practice that stimulates the connective tissues of the body, including the fascia, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It especially supports deep release of the hips, hamstrings, and lower back.

Postures are held much longer than in more active practices like Ashtanga and Vinyasa, facilitating a deep release of tension. Through holding the postures, we move through the superficial layers of the body and are able to access the subtle body.

Yin Yoga releases tension beneath the muscles to open up the connective tissues and encourage a freer flow of energy throughout the body. It balances yang practices like Ashtanga and Vinyasa, and is suitable for all levels. This practice quiets the mind so you can hear the body. The deep stretch and deep internal space it provides will leave you feeling more alive and present.

Want to learn more about restorative styles of yoga, like Chair and Therapeutic? Check out my Healing Arts here.

For private yoga sessions, in-person or virtual over Zoom (similar to Skype), contact me here.

To get notified about classes and workshops, sign up here.

KIND WORDS

“I have been taking yoga classes with Michele Sapanaro for about 8 years, including her Vinyasa Level II classes, Yin workshops, and meditation/yoga retreats.

I hesitate to call what Michele does simply ‘a yoga class’ because it is so much more. She touches me and all of her students in such a deep way, providing the teachings of a master, the wisdom of a sage, and the humor, support, and love of a person who is ever-present and real.

Michele is obviously always learning and exploring within her own yoga/mediation/therapeutic practices and brings those insights to us.

She sees where there is a need and gently guides her students in that direction.

She is funny and encouraging, genuine and inspired.

Every time I leave her class, I feel I’ve been changed in some deep way and have taken a beautiful journey.” – Suzanne