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Heart and Soul Method Classes (tm): A movement method combining 60 minutes of hatha vinyasa flow, 10 minutes of Dance Movement (Not Dance Cardio), 5 minutes of Fitness Fusion Technique. These are 75 minute classes. (60 - 90 minute classes are available upon request).
Hatha Vinyasa Flow: This methods foundation is in the style of yoga called Hatha Vinyasa Flow. Hatha translates to sun and moon. So there are sun postures that create more heat, radiance, strength, and power and there are moon postures that create more grounding, flexibility, going inward, and has a cooling surrender feel. Hatha is an early form of yoga that dates back thousands of years as sun and moon postures were developed by reishi yogis near the forests and rivers of India 5,000 years ago. Vinyasa, is more of a modern evolution of yoga : “Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a style of yoga as exercise popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century, often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. He claimed to have learnt the system from his teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. The style is energetic, synchronizing breath with movements." In Vinyasa, postures are linked with breath and movement in a flowing form.
In my method, we hold the postures for 5 to 10 breaths like in Hatha yoga with sun and moon postures as well as flow the movements with breath like in vinyasa flow. The postures mainly come from these two yoga foundational styles. We also sing Om in the beginning of class 3x to get ready for class and do breath work at the end of class while seated on the mat. Basics, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced classes are available.
DANCE MOVEMENT: Designed for each chakra, the music and style of dance reflect the aspects of that particular chakra. It is not considered “DANCE CARDIO” which is more of an aerobic form these days associated with gyms and fitness methods. DANCE MOVEMENT consists of movements you would find in a dance class that are practiced in a repetitive dance sequence to music mixed with functional movement therapy. It does get your heart rate up and burns more calories. It’s easy to pick-up and to do in the middle of a 75 minute yoga class as the peak posture or highlight of the class to bring about creative expression, develop the radiance body, develop rhythm, develop more confidence, better precision, range of motion, emotional catharsis, more openness, and well, fun! Most dance sequences are at a moderate pace with some being a little faster or slower depending on the song or level of class. We practice the dance sequence twice with the song, so about 10-15 minutes. By coming to class and practicing on the mat regularly, the student gets better with each class. After class (a student can ask questions about anything related to class) or in workshops, we break down dance movements even more. The fourth week of Heart and Soul Method basics series, you will learn the basics of dance movement for each chakra. There are also videos found in the media section of this website: Coming Soon. Stay tuned.
FITNESS FUSION TECHNIQUE: I honor Joseph Pilates and his divine work. I have practiced PILATES on and off for about a year as well as researched his work, this method of fitness, and have watched his documentary. The fusion comes from the inspiration of PILATES MAT CLASSES with finding your center, balance points, and muscles worked in movements along with yoga postures, dance technique movements, and faster repitition of that which is characterized by fitness in general. The FITNESS FUSION TECHNIQUE movements I do have yielded me a flatter more toned abdominal area, a more toned butt, stronger toned arms, and creating more of an elasticity in pulling the skin tighter to the muscles. It’s only 5-10 minutes of a class, but gets results along with the combination of yoga and dance movement. 600 -900 Calories are burned depending on what level the class.
HEART AND SOUL METHOD CORE CLASSES: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced:
Standing and Balancing (Root Chakra): Focusing on the root energy center located at the bottom pelvic region, legs, feet moving downward. Standing postures build strength for balance, while grounding postures develope safety and security within’ the body. A slower flow. Dance Movement: Hip hop, trance dance, and tribal influences.
Forward Folding and Hip Openers (Sacral Chakra): Focusing on the energy center located in the hips, sacrum, and psoas. Unravel into your water nature as to flow and your practice to deepen. This class encompasses hip openers as well as forward bends to tone and balance. Sensual, deep rhythmic beats, reggae vibrations, and themed music will send you into bliss. Dance Movement: Passionate, Sensual, Latin inspired.
Twisting Detoxifiers (Solar Plexus Chakra): Focusing on twisting and strengthening the core region, solar plexus, for optimal detoxification. Creating strong digestive heat stoking agni purification through pranayama along with rock music/pop music/vintage classics/today's best hits ignites the soul and stokes the fire. Dance Movement: Modern jazz, and 70’s, 80’s influences.
Back-bending (Heart Chakra): Back-bending opens the chest, energizes the spine, and energetically expands the cardiovascular system. Postures such as wheel, tip-toe fish, natarajasana (dancer), and rockstar to name a few. This class threads a devotional musical line-up of kirtan music, violin, classic as well as modern love songs. Dance Movement: Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Ballet Influences.
Inversions and Arm Balances (Throat Chakra, 3rd Eye Chakra, and Crown Chakra): This class focuses on inversions and arm balances as well as movements to prepare for the inversions and arm balances. You learn how to do them safely along with a vinyasa flow class. Postures to open and relax the neck while moving more into alignment will assist in the overall sculpting structure of the body. All this paralleled with instrumental beats, world music, and Indian ragas to capture eclectic sounds ending in a longer shavasana and seated meditation. Dance Movement: Prayer Arm Flow.
BASICS: New to Yoga Asana? New to movement exercise In general? Have no fear! Heart and Soul Method Basics classes will help you build a strong structural foundational heart mind wisdom so that you learn how your body flows and functions in it’s mechanics of movement. There are 6 classes in the basics series that break down each posture/movement in detail. The first class you will learn standing and balancing postures. The second class is standing and balancing postures Part 2 along with how to link breath with movement in traditional yoga asana sun salutations. Third class is all about basic forward folds, hip-openers, and breath- work. The fourth class we move into twisting detoxifiers with more breath work. The fifth class we explore back-bending, harmony salutions, breathwork, and the meaning of basic yoga/movement terminology. The last basics class is all about DANCE MOVEMENT: yoga and dance warm-up, across the floor work, basic dance postions, a bit of history as well as how it ties in with the Heart and Soul Method, and ending in foundational beginner movements for each chakra that we do in the beginner classes. Taking all 6 classes will set you up for beginner and intermediate core chakra classes.
Heart and Soul Fitness: A 60 minute smaller version of the 75 minute Heart and Soul Method Core Classes above with more emphasis on Fitness Fusion Technique using yoga props. There is no chanting in sanskrit except for a few Om’s, Shantih (peace), and Namaste. Yoga, Dance Movement, and Fitness Fusion Technique at a faster LET”S BURN THOSE CALORIES pace. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s energetically exciting, The music is pumpin’ loud and it’s only an hour!
Poetry-In-Motion: A 75 minute theater/movement class: The first 15 minutes is a brief yoga warm-up followed by 15 minutes exploring postures, rhythms, and emotions that reflect 3 different types of music...freedom to indulge in the movement each song ignites. The last 45 minutes are dedicated to learning a 3-5 minute fully choreographed musical theater dance piece as a group. A lovely mixture of musical theater inspiration and movement that directly correlates with revolving themes.
Movement for Children (60 minutes) : It is imperative that we create spaces and classes for our children to explore their creativity safely, learn and grow in friendly connection with each other. Many children have ADD, ADHD or a form of Autism. This s being ungrounded and magnetically deficient. Movement in this class will help with that as well as help maintane balance. In this class children from 4-12 years old will explore voice/movement of many different animals, elements, and so much more. There will be a brief yoga warm-up followed by across the floor work, and ending in grounding moon postures with svanasana. All movements are safe for the little ones.
Hatha Vinyasa Flow: 60-90 minute class: where breath and movement are linked so postures flow together. Some postures are held longer than others. Props such as blocks, straps, and blankets help move the body deeper into alignment for optimal release.
Restorative: Restorative asanas that will sink you deeper using the props of yoga. Gravity as well as blocks, bolsters, blankets, and straps are used to nurture the body into relaxation as grounding postures are held from 5-10 minutes. Etheral, kirtan, and kundalini's therapeutic sounds ensue as you move more into wholeness. It’s a time to ease stress, heal, and feel the safety of a loving environment in the vulnerability of letting go in each posture. Crystal sound bath, essential oils, and a long shavasana ends your sweet session. This is a wonderful class for any age of experience to find a sense of peace, calm, balance as well as flexibility.