The following styles are offered through the Sacramento Yoga Center.
To find out more about a particular style or class, please contact
the instructor offering the course. Each instructor brings their own
unique training and experience to the practice.
Adaptive Yoga •
Ananda •
Baby and Mom (Postpartum) •
Candlelight Yin Yoga
Dharma •
Embodyment® Yoga Therapy • Gentle/Chair
Kripalu •
Kundalini •
Meditation •
Prenatal •
Restorative
Tai Chi and Chi Kung •
The Magic Four Class •
Svaroopa®
Yin Yoga •
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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Baby and Mom (Postpartum)
Postnatal yoga, like Prenatal yoga, is oriented to the special needs
of new mothers. We involve the baby wherever possible into the poses
and end off with infant massage. Babies of pre-crawling age are welcome
to this class. All levels welcome.
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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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DharmaYoga
DharmaYoga is a restorative spiritual practice intended to join the
mind and body in present moment awareness. In a DharmaYoga class,
you will practice slow, gentle hatha yoga postures that stretch,
open and strengthen the body. The asanas are followed by deep relaxation
and meditation practices that open the heart.
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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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Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners
Bring balance into your life by practicing mindfulness. Learn how to
pay
attention on purpose in a particular way without judgement in
the present moment. Mindfulness consists of techniques that foster inner
calm, increased awareness and a sense of well-being. Over the past
three decades, the practice of mindfulness has been taught to adults
in hospitals and clinics to assist in pain management, stress reduction
and healing. In this 3-part class you will learn how to use mindfulness
techniques and discover your own potential for presence, stillness
and acceptance. Register here.
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Meditation
A 45-minute silent meditation. Best suited for individuals who have already
received meditation instruction. A practice period; not a class. Donation
basis.
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Prenatal
Women who are pregnant need special yoga poses to prepare their bodies
for pregnancy and birth. These yoga classes will improve strength and
flexibility and will allow moms to become more in tune with their bodies'
needs during this special time. Postures focus on opening the pelvic
parameters, strengthening the legs and learning breathing exercises
to relax and become more in tune with the body and the breath. Open
to all levels.
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Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga facilitates opening, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Blankets
are used for support during the yoga postures. The class begins with
gentle supported backbends and progresses to supported twists, ending
with supported forward bends and final relaxation. No prior yoga experience
is required.
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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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Tai Chi and Chi Kung
Tai Chi emphasizes grounding, stability, and flow so is excellent for balance, relieving stress, being centered through all of life’s twists and turns, and creating a sense of harmony and wellbeing. Chi Kung stimulates and energizes our essential vitality (CHI). In addition to improving our health, Chi Kung also strengthens our connection to life and spirit.
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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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Yin Yoga
Suitable for almost all levels of students, Yin Yoga is a perfect
complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that
emphasize the lengthening and contracting of our muscles. Yin Yoga
generally targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and
lower spine and can be challenging due to the long duration of the poses.
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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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