What's In a (Yoga) Name?
January 2024
You can read about my yoga training elsewhere on this site. Based on my background, here are the types of yoga that I commonly teach.
Mindful Yoga - This is my own name for my yoga classes. I teach at a slower pace, encouraging individual autonomy. And based on my background as a licensed clinical psychologist, my yoga teaching is inclusive, trauma-sensitive, and supportive of mental health and wellbeing.
Hatha Yoga - Hatha refers to the practice of physical yoga postures, on asana. A hatha yoga class will generally be slow-paced, feature holds of poses, and include other elements of yoga such as breathwork. I teach my hatha yoga classes the exact same way I teach my mindful yoga classes.
Ball Yoga - The use of small balls in yoga classes has been advanced by several prominent yoga instructors, including Ellen Saltonstall, who I have studied with live, and Jill Miller, who I've followed extensively via her media. The balls provide a form of self-massage or acu-pressure. I sometimes incorporate ball work into my mindful or hatha classes.
Yin Yoga - Yin is another slower-paced style of yoga that includes longer-held postures, mostly on the floor and mainly involving the lower body (ribs to knees). It is designed to target the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine, and it is performed mostly only the floor. The poses in yin yoga are passive, but the long duration allows for significant stretch. I regularly incorporate yin poses into my yoga classes. I also love combining yin and ballwork. If you want to learn more, I recommend yinyoga.com and also my yin teacher, José de Groot.
Restorative Yoga - Restorative is also a gentle, passive practice. Unlike yin yoga, which encourages some stretch, in a restorative yoga class, the long holds are designed to allow for complete relaxation. Numerous props are used to support the body so that the poses can be entirely effortless. I love including restorative poses towards the end of my classes, and I recommend the work of Judith Hanson Lasater for more information.
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