Beginner
We encourage beginners to join a Level 1 to get started. If you are a beginner with injuries or limitations that require more personalized instruction, we encourage you to consider a private or talk to us about our Focused Care class.
Level 1
This class is the perfect choice for students new to Iyengar yoga or students looking to build a stronger foundation in their practice. Beginner poses are challenging and rewarding! This class focuses on classical standing poses, seated poses, inversions, and relaxation poses. The poses that are learned in this course are a necessary foundation for all of our other courses! Students are recommended to stay at this level until they feel stable and confident in the foundational postures.
Level 2
This class is for students well practiced in foundational postures. At this level, students will expand on foundational postures and refine and develop their yoga asana practice at more subtle levels. Students at this level are strongly encouraged to practice regularly at home to fuel and support their understanding of the refinements taught in class. This class continues to focus on the basic alignment of the standing poses and introduces a broader range of sitting poses, twists, forward and back extensions and inversions. Moving forward with your practice is a way to chart new paths of awareness. There is great joy when these new paths lead you to places with beautiful new views and insights into your practice. Once you feel strong in your Level 1 postures, take the leap and try this next level.
Level 3
This class is for students well practiced in foundational postures learned in a level 1 class. A firm foundation in all the postures at the previous levels are recommended so that as you advance you are building from a strong and stable foundation. You do not need mastery or perfection to move forward, but you want to have a solid and stable base.
Level 4
This class is for seasoned students of yoga and with a regular practice in the Iyengar tradition. Students work in more depth with foundational postures as well as explore more advanced postures. A level 4 class assumes that you are knowledgeable and skillful in all of the foundational postures and inversions (or their alternatives). One of the great gifts of Iyengar yoga is that it allows you to penetrate and explore advanced postures so that there is the joy of adventure in your practice.
Gentle Yoga
Gentle Yoga is an ideal class for students needing to work at a slower pace in order to integrate props and modifications. We recommend this class for active seniors and students that may require more assistance or support for basic postures. Gentle Yoga is intended to introduce the basic postures while ensuring that students have the support and props needed to practice the pose to their capacity. Although this class is suited to students needing assistance, students with pronounced physical limitations are requested to seek private instruction first.
All Levels
If a class says “all levels” it means it is a special class designed for all level students, with the exception of beginners. To attend this class, please have at least 6 months experience practicing yoga.
Focused Care
This class is designated for students that are working with a specific issue or need. For example, if a student is dealing with sciatica or knee pain, they can submit a request to attend this class. We will in turn provide a form for each student to fill out so that we can assess a sequence/modifications to try. Students may not drop in to the class unannounced. Each student must submit a request to attend and be given a date to start attending prior to showing up. It is not a traditional asana class as students will be working with a specific sequence that will help them address their specific need. Aretha or a staff member will be present to help the student with their sequence. Please email Aretha or submit an email through our website if you are interested in attending.