Ayur-Yoga
This is a level 2-4 class designed for intermediate to advanced students whose dedication to practice may be greater than their ability to do scorpion pose! The asana is based in Hatha yoga and influenced by Vipassana meditation, with Ayurvedic principles woven into the practice and underlying philosophy. My intent is to have you leave feeling clearer, encouraged, and worked to your edge, both physically and mentally.

Back Care
For those wishing to prevent and alleviate back and neck problems. A gentle practice suitable for new students and students of all levels regardless of back issues. NOT appropriate for those in acute back or neck pain.

Basics
This class will focus on the foundations of yoga practice in preparation for moving on to ongoing beginner classes. Appropriate for people with some physical limitations, seniors, and those brand new to yoga.

Community
Offered at a reduced rate in service to the community.

Community Hatha
Start your weekend right with Friday evening Yoga! Many of the great traditional Yogic texts begin by announcing that Yoga is for transforming our awareness. There’s nothing wrong with Yoga for more flexible hamstrings or for learning to do a headstand in the middle of the room. But how often do you really get do a headstand in daily life? On the other hand, how often would it help to have a quality of awareness that is more focused, steady, and sensitive to our inner and outer environment? The class will still be plenty physically rigorous and provide all the musculoskeletal benefits associated with Yoga.

Disabilities
This asana class is for anyone with a physical disability. Students who have some yoga experience as well as those new to the practice are welcome. We will practice meditation, breathing, and yoga with the use of props. If you are severely limited in your movements, you may want to bring a friend or attendant to assist you and enhance your experience. Go to Disability Programs for more information.

Gentle
An unhurried approach to yoga postures, with emphasis on body awareness and alignment to create healthy change. Appropriate for those recovering from injury or students seeking a more gradual approach with emphasis on stress reduction.

Gentle Healing Yoga
Includes gentle Hatha poses that adapt to individual needs in a supportive environment for people with physical challenges and able-bodied students. The focus of the class involves quieting the mind throughout practice as well as during guided relaxation to encourage healing.

Hatha
(pronounced Hot-TAH, literally the "Forceful Union-Method") The origin of Hatha Yoga dates back approximately to 900 CE, though its oldest surviving text, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika ("Light on Hatha Yoga") was written sometime around 1350 CE. Most modern schools of Yoga are variations of traditional Hatha, though none of them strictly follow the traditional teaching. These classes are based in the Iyengar tradition, emphasizing alignment, the use of props, and an in-depth understanding of the body, breath, and mind. The individual instructor may include learning and/or practices from other traditions as well, based on her or his unique background and interest

Hatha Yoga Flow
An alignment-based Hatha Flow, with a focus on injury prevention and awareness. Incorporates the depth and strength building of longer held poses (using props, etc.) with brief intervals of Vinyasa flow.

Integral Yoga Hatha Community
Integral Yoga is a flexible combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of yoga in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of the individual. Integral Yoga was created by Sri Swami Satchidanda, whose life was an example of the teachings. The class is Hatha-based and guides students in asana, deep relaxation, pranayama & inner tranquility.

Intro to Yoga
The Four-Week Introduction to Yoga courses are for students new to yoga or to the Iyengar method. The class meets once a week and introduces the basic principles of yoga poses, yoga philosophy, relaxation, and breathing techniques. Class size is limited to 20 students. The Four-Week Continuing Introductory Series is designed for beginning students who like the introductory format. This Series presents sequences for further opening body and breath, as each student is coached to the next level of awareness in their practice. Class size is limited in order to provide personalized attention.

Inner Fire Vinyasa
A class about creating clarity and stability through the inner fire of transformation. This is a class about accessible yet powerful physical postures, including fluid asanas, as well as long-holds, bandhas, and breathwork for increasing our inner strength, courage, creativity and capacity to burn bright. Most importantly, this is a class about BURNING, but not burning out. We will learn how to get the spicy glow and glistening gold of asana, without exhausting our precious ojas, or "primal vigor/fluid of life." This is an Intermediate-Advanced level class.

Iyengar
Iyengar Yoga was founded BKS Iyengar (b. 1918). His teaching is characterized by close attention to physical alignment in the postures and the use of props – such as belts, chairs, and blocks – as an aid to students in their practice. For beginners, the classes emphasize the two-dozen standing postures, which are considered the foundation of the entire practice.

Teacher training might take up to 5 years to reach the Introductory level, a decade or more to qualify for the Senior level. Many of the teachers at PYS have some Iyengar training. We have three Iyengar-certified teachers on our staff. Jaki Nett holds a Senior level certificate, her husband Allan Nett is a Junior certified instructor. Yolanda Vazquez, who leads the noon-time Yoga for a Cause class every Wednesday, has an Introductory level certificate.

Living with Cancer
This class is appropriate for anyone who is living with any type of cancer, whether you have just been diagnosed, are receiving treatments, or are in remission. No prior experience with yoga is required and the class will include gentle active and restorative asana (yoga poses), mudras (hand gestures) for healing and relaxation, stress‐relieving pranayama (breathing). There will also be a monthly yoga nidra session which guides your body and mind into deep relaxation.

Pilates
This class consists of floor exercises using Pilates principles. This method of physical conditioning is designed to isolate and work muscle groups without stressing the joints. Focusing on core strengthening, flexibility, and posture; enhancing over-all well being, ease of movement, strength, and appropriate body and postural alignment.

Prenatal
Pregnant women, all levels.

Restorative
Quiet, supported yoga poses to restore energy, provide healing, reduce stress, and soothe the mind.

Seniors
Especially for Seniors.

Shadow Yoga
Shadow Yoga is a modern school of Hatha Yoga developed by Master Teacher, Zhander Remete. The practices of Shadow Yoga begin with one of three fixed preludes that consist of spiraling, coiling, folding, pumping and other movements. The movements are worked rhythmically with the breath to free up the body and mind for the internal practices of Yoga. The focus of this class will be on learning the forms and working them individually along with basic asana and sitting. Because of the nature of Shadow Yoga, it is best to take the class in a series but fine to drop in.

Sound Sadhana
The Sound Sadhana allows the space, time and means for spiritual practice through the yogic use of sound and chant. The yoga of sound is a vast and deep subject, encompassing many different traditions-kirtan, vedic chanting, mantric meditation, nada yoga, Indian classical music, tantric bija mantras and more-each with the potential to bring powerful results. Together we will explore these practices and get a taste for ourselves of their transformative effects. Each session offers a different experience-we may learn a raga, meditate on silence, or surrender to the ecstasy of kirtan. Guest musicians may drop in, anything can happen. No experience required.

Special Needs
This class will focus on the foundations of yoga practice in preparation for moving on to ongoing beginner classes. Appropriate for people with some physical limitations, seniors, and those brand new to yoga.

Teen Hatha
This hour-long class will mix energetic flow sequences with soothing, contemplative poses to give you everything you need to cope with the stresses of school work, and social life.

Tai Chi Chuan
Yang-style Long Form Tai Chi Chuan is a Series of slow, graceful, rhythmic exercises designed to increase circulation throughout the body, improve balance, and calm the mind.

Wake Up Yoga
Start your day with a conscious, enlivening practice that includes guided meditation, active and passive poses and pranayama. Sometimes we explore a particular theme or experience path; at all times we search for the vitality and poetry of life.

Yin/Yang Yoga
Begin your day by connecting into the deeper current of your being through a series of “yin” poses that calm and clarify the mind and enliven the physical and energetic body. Yin Yoga is an inwardly drawn practice of seated and reclining asanas that are held for 3 - 5 minutes. The longheld poses stimulate connective tissues (ligaments, fascia and soft tissue)
which creates more flexibility in the joints. The practice also focuses on mindfulness training - staying with our experience just as it is without running away, trying to change it, or shutting down. After a series of yin poses, we will move into a “yang” style practice of Vinyasa Flow. Class will conclude with a brief meditation.

Yoga for a Cause
A one-hour class where all profits actively support conservation and world peace. Suitable for all levels.

Yoga for Core Strength
Yoga for Core Strength is Hatha yoga, with special attention to the “core:” the abdomen, back, buttocks, upper hamstrings, and hip flexors. Students regularly practice a series of asanas specifically designed to increase mobility (strength plus flexibility) in the core, while addressing common muscular imbalances (tight back/weak abdominals; stressed hip flexors/sleepy buttocks) that often lead to injury. Increased awareness of core alignment and stability is emphasized in a variety of beginning and intermediate level poses.

Yoga for Self Accetpance
This class honors the traditions of T. Krishnamacharya, TKV Desikachar, and Woody Allen. While careful attention is paid to alignment in the traditional asanas, the class emphasizes the function of the postures as much as their form. Through application of the 5 Not So Noble Truths: Slow Down, Pay Attention, Breathe, Relax and Lighten up, students learn to use their intuition to find the correct interpretation for their bodies. Thus the class is great for newer and long-practicing students alike.

Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep is an ancient practice to specifically unwind the nervous system by moving through four of your brain’s natural states where true relaxation and rejuvenation can occur. Allow yourself to be lead through a profound relaxation experience while you lie back and listen to the soothing voice of the instructor as you move beyond your reactions and into your ability to witness. In less than an hour you will be guided to breathe, relax your body, rotate your consciousness to deep levels of relaxation, meditation and rest. Experience the peaceful stillness of a quiet mind and discover your unique ability to change everything by doing nothing at all.

Yoga Teaching Exchange
Attention yoga teachers! The Yoga Teaching Exchange is a free group that provides yoga instructors the opportunity to develop and refine their teaching skills through regularly held classes. In rotation, the instructor for that day’s class leads the remainder of the group in a 1 ½ hour class in any yoga style of his/her choosing.  After class, the attending students provide both positive and constructive feed back to the instructor. We welcome current yoga teachers, of all levels of experience, looking to receive and/or are willing to provide feedback in a supportive peer environment of peers.  Ideally, teachers have completed or are soon to complete a 200 hour teacher's training. Focus group sessions happen every 3rd Sunday at PYS, from 6:15 - 8:15pm, in Studio1.  Please email Chad Gholson at with any questions or simply show up!