Vinyasa Flow, Yin and Mat Pilates Classes

Vinyasa Flow

Vinyasa translates as “flowing with breath”. It is a dynamic style of Hatha yoga that joins physical postures, or asanas, with inhales and exhales, creating steady internal rhythms for the practice.

Our Flow classes are designed to build heat in the body with creative sequences. These involve sun salutations, standing and seated postures, back bending, arm balancing and a strong focus on the power of breath awareness. Flow classes tend to be more vigorous and aerobic than other sessions.

A Yin yoga student seated cross-legged with hands at heart centre

Yin

Yin yoga comes from the Taoist tradition and focuses on passive, mainly seated or lying postures, with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints, improving flexibility and encouraging a feeling of release and letting go.

One of the principles of Yin yoga is that we relax the muscles in the pose so that we can effectively stress our deeper connective tissues: the fascia, ligaments and tendons. If the muscles are engaged, they take up the stress, which reduces the stress in the target areas.

The magic of Yin yoga is time: long-held poses where we linger in the juiciness of the pose, 2 to 3 minutes for beginners and up to 10 minutes for more experienced yinsters. When going into a pose you arrive at the appropriate edge, relax, and stay there.

While the approach may seem simple, holding floor-based postures for several minutes, don’t be fooled into thinking Yin is a restorative type of yoga. It may be slow, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It can be quite confronting and can feel much more challenging than a faster-paced yoga.

I teach Yin yoga with many props: bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps. Props are our friends. Yinsters know the intention of their practice is not to look any particular way, and they don’t mind a little help to get the sensation into the target area. Props can increase or decrease stress in a target area, make certain positions accessible and provide support. When bones feel supported, the muscles can release, and more comfort means you can stay longer and marinate in the postures.

My goal after a Yin session is for you to feel as if you have opened up your body, as if you have space inside, and maybe leave feeling a bit taller, as though you have been through traction.

Mat Pilates

Pilates takes its name from its founder, Joseph Pilates. A German-born émigré to Britain and then America, he devised a new approach to exercise and body conditioning in the early decades of the last century. He conceived it as a mental as well as a physical practice, in which people could work their bodies to their full potential.

Pilates is based on six principles: breathing, centring, flow, concentration, control and precision.

Mat Pilates focuses on strength, flexibility and balance, while improving your posture, raising your body awareness and reducing your risk of injury. It is perfect for developing core strength and body alignment, and asks for proper inhaling and exhaling with every movement.

Pilates is gentle yet challenging at the same time, so it is safe and effective for nearly everyone, whatever their age or fitness.

Flow and Glow

Flow and Glow is The Studio’s signature two-in-one class: a 45 minute Vinyasa Flow session followed by a 30 minute Face Yoga session.

The Vinyasa Flow is taught in the Yoga Synergy style developed by Australian physiotherapists. Energising but gentle on the spine, this style emphasises movement from the core, tapping into the body’s natural strength and a safe range of movement rather than relying on gravity and momentum to throw the body into poses.

Having released tension and activated blood flow and the lymphatic system, we are then perfectly prepared to treat our faces in a seated Face Yoga session. No two classes are the same, but this part is largely a mix of face sculpting techniques (from Danielle Collins’ Face Yoga Method) combined with a relaxing face massage.

We will be hands-on in this session, so you will need a clean face and your favourite face oil (though we’ve got you covered if you forget the oil). It is the perfect combination to nourish face, body and mind, and to get you glowing inside and out.

A student stretching her hamstring on a yoga mat

Dynamic Vinyasa (stretch, strengthen and balance)

This class includes back release and strengthening, and shoulder and hip opening: so important, especially if you have a desk job.

You will improve the flexibility of your hamstrings and quadriceps, particularly relevant for runners and cyclists. The classes will also help to improve your balance by increasing focus and calming the mind with breath, as well as strengthening your core and foundation.

You will find an overall balance of body and mind, achieved by combining movement, breathwork and relaxation techniques, to help you feel recharged, transformed and restored.

Ready to try a class?

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