Adaptive Yoga • Ananda • Deeper Svaroopa® Yoga
Embodyment® Yoga Therapy • Gentle/Chair
Kripalu • Kundalini • Kundalini Yoga Gong Meditation
Restorative • Sacred Mom and Baby (Postpartum)
Svaroopa® • Svaroopa® Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Viniyoga • Yoga Therapy

Adaptive Yoga
Enjoy the well-documented benefits of yoga and meditation in a gentle supportive class modified to your needs. Small class setting. Students with limitations due to previous injuries or current chronic conditions can consider this class, but it's always a good idea to check with your physician. Call Donna Rixmann at 712-9642 before starting class for phone consultation.
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Ananda
This gentle yoga combines breath awareness, affirmations, and yoga postures to move from body awareness through energy awareness to, finally, silent, inner awareness. The use of affirmations while in the asanas is a distinct feature of Ananda yoga. This yoga style was developed by an American named Donald J. Walters, known as Swami Kriyananda. He devoted 45 years of his life to studying the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.
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Candlelight Yin Yoga Class
Suitable for almost all levels of students, Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine. The poses are held with muscles relaxed. Due to the long duration of the poses, the release is deep and the relaxation is heavenly. Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize the lengthening and contracting of muscle.
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Deeper Svaroopa® Yoga
Take your Svaroopa® yoga to a new level with deeper poses, practices, and adjustments. A blissfully paced class in a room full of other experienced students intertwines practice whilst unfolding profound yoga philosophy. The effect is a more profound and direct experience of yoga. Deeper classes are usually taught in 4-week modules, allowing us to more deeply build toward a particular teaching, pose or theme. Though students are welcome to drop-in, they will benefit most from attending all four classes of a series.
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Embodyment® Yoga Therapy
Embodyment® is a hands-on healing modality utilizing the power of awareness as a catalyst to healing energy. This technique is based on the principles of Svaroopa® Yoga. Embodyment® works by releasing core tensions in the body, thus facilitating one's own natural ability to heal. A deep, yet gentle method, Embodyment® is a powerful tool for deep healing on all levels. Private sessions are $70.00/hr.
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Gentle Yoga
The Gentle Yoga class is geared to older individuals or anyone with chronic physical issues who may need modifications to enjoy a yoga pose fully. Every student begins with the use of a chair to assist in moving freely from pose to pose. Over time, students can elect to not use the chair and switch to yoga blocks. Instruction is given for many levels of beginner within the same class session. The goal is that each student have a positive yoga class experience. Check with Donna if you are uncertain whether this class is appropriate for you.
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Kripalu
Kripalu Yoga guides the student to move at their own pace. By honoring the body's needs, Kripalu yoga focuses on development of the body, mind and spirit in a compassionate and non-judgmental way. The class invites you to focus on your breath, and keep that awareness throughout movement and stillness. The class ends with a deep relaxation leaving you uplifted and centered. Kripalu yoga stretches and tones muscles, releases chronic tension, improves circulation and energizes/refreshes the body. Kripalu yoga focuses the mind by calming restless thoughts, cultivating concentration, supporting mental clarity and promoting self-awareness. Kripalu yoga heals the spirit by creating a deep connection to your self, honors your inner wisdom and invites deep stillness.
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Kundalini
Kundalini yoga was introduced to this country in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan. This ancient form of yoga combines active movement and stretching with many specific breathing techniques (pranayama). Facilitating circulation throughout the spinal column, exercise sets (kriyas) are combined with sound vibration (mantras), hand positions (mudras), and body locks (bhundas), in order to enhance their effectiveness. In so doing, they serve to dissolve energy blockages within the energy matrix of the body, creating a natural, meditative, blissful state of mind. One not need be particularly flexible or athletic to enjoy the profound benefits of Kundalini yoga; all that is required is the sincere willingness to try one's best while respecting your comfort levels and physical limitations.
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Kundalini Yoga Gong Meditation
The gong is a natural extension of the mantra and music, fundamental to Kundalini Yoga. Creating non-ordinary and transcendent states of consciousness by suspending the thought-producing activity of the mind, true healing on all levels is possible.

The unpredictable, non-linear, complex vibration of the gong allows deep-seated physical tension in the muscles to relax, the nervous system to be repaired, and the glandular system to become balanced. The mind relaxes and clears, relieved temporarily of the constant pressure of the mind's content. Subconscious habit patterns (including addictive behaviors) can be broken up, the chakras become open, balanced, and awakened. A link to the transcendent self can be realized.

After 25-30 of basic Kundalini Yoga and breathing exercises, relax and surrender to the sound of the gong, which varies anywhere between soft, pulsating tones and "build and release" cycles, in which the sound volume builds to a high level and releases with one or more "thunderbolt strikes". Be prepared for a truly wonderful and transporting experience!

"The gong is the first and last instrument for the human mind...It is the first sound of the universe..."  -Yogi Bhajan
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Sacred Mom and Baby (Postpartum)
Discover and embrace the sacredness of the mother and child bond. Sacred Mom and Baby Yoga is designed to help new Moms recover from pregnancy and the birthing process by strengthening the body, restoring the mind, heightening the spirit, and increasing the bond between mother and baby. By communicating through yoga, mothers can better understand baby”s needs and respond in ways which are soothing for both. Mothers gain strength, energy, and centeredness during the most profound transition of a woman’s life.
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Svaroopa®
Svaroopa® yoga's techniques work with the asanas (poses) in a way that is both precise and compassionate. Every class emphasizes the opening of the core tensions in the body by beginning at the tailbone and progressing through each area of the spine. Each class integrates the foundational principles of asana, anatomy, and yoga philosophy, and emphasizes the development of transcendent inner experience, which is called "Svaroopa®" by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Students of Svaroopa® yoga learn different ways of doing familiar asanas, and also learn additional asanas that they may have never seen before. This yoga practice is based on relaxation and comfort. The asanas are deeply effective and create powerful experiences of healing and transformation.
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Svaroopa® Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Experience profound changes with a few easy poses that elongate your whole spine and prepare you to sit for deep meditation. Svaroopa® yoga is specifically designed to create ease and openness in your body, as well as your mind and your heart. The most profound effect is the way it prepares you for a deep and sweet meditation. Each session includes pranayama (breathing) asana (including seated poses for meditation), instruction in meditation. Experienced Svaroopis will be delighted and new Svaroopis will be amazed at how quick and easy it is to dive deeper into your own divine essence. You will experience who you really are from the inside out.
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Viniyoga
Viniyoga is an approach that adapts the practices of Yoga to the unique condition, needs, and interests of each student. Classes include some or all of the following: yoga postures (asanas) that integrate breath with movement, breath awareness and breath practices (pranayama), meditation, and sound to promote self awareness, flexibility, strength, and well being.
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The Magic Four Class
This powerfully transformative practice can be experienced with just four asanas (poses), called the Magic Four. They are simple and amazingly effective. They begin by releasing the muscles connected to your tailbone – the pivot point of your body.  With enough release in your tailbone, your whole body will realign from the inside outward. The changes will automatically extend down your legs through your hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Simultaneously, a domino effect of release will climb your spine through your sacrum, waist area, (lumbar vertebrae), rib cage, shoulders, neck, and skull. This spinal release opens more space for the intervertebral discs and delicate nerve roots that coordinate every muscle, bone, artery, organ, and gland in your body. This opening also lifts mechanical compression off the internal organs, improving their functioning immediately. With less tension throughout the body, your vital systems find their natural balance. Your breathing also opens up easily and immediately with the first pose. The Magic Four will enhance your vitality and physical stamina while improving your state of mind and helping your emotions to rest in joy and compassion.
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Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy provides the client a deeper release than she would get in a class. Specific therapeutic Svaroopa techniques are chosen according to the needs, tendencies, and experience level of the client. The poses are all fully supported. This is a deeply nurturing, restful, blissful, healing, and therapeutic modality and is great for beginners or experienced students who want to explore more opening.
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