Class Descriptions
GENTLE Yoga Classes
Seriously gentle. We promise.
The ideal for:
- beginners
- re-starting your practice after a break
- working with an injury
- Seniors
- those who prefer a more relaxing-style Yoga practice.
Expect MINDFUL movement, functional stretching and mobility - gently lengthening muscles, loosening joints as you’re guided in some of the less-threatening Yoga poses.
We’ll coax you out of your brain to cultivate a connection with your body using guided breath work, and encourage modifications to keep things accessible and safe for YOU - in the body you’re in right now.
A great lead-up if you wish to progress toward the OPEN class - though that isn’t necessarily the ultimate goal.
OPEN Yoga Classes
This Hatha style class infuses traditional Yoga poses and styles with functional alignment principles.
This well-rounded practice offers more in terms of physical intensity, as well as delving deeper into the other rich aspects of the Yoga practice.
Modifications are encouraged, though this is not an ideal class for beginners: there is an assumed prior Yoga experience and knowledge of one's own limitations.
GYROTONIC®
The Gyrotonic method is an original and unique movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion and creating functional strength.
Gyrotonic exercise sequences are composed of spiralling, circular movements which flow together seamlessly in rhythmic repetitions with corresponding breath patterns. Each movement flows into the next allowing the joints to move through a natural range of motion without jarring or compression. These carefully crafted sequences create balance, efficiency, strength and flexibility.
The Gyrotonic Method utilizes specially designed equipment which supports the bodys' natural movement patterns in its ability to arch, spiral and curl. Sophisticated adjustments allow Gyrotonic Trainers to adapt the equipment to the ideal setting for each persons unique physique, adapting for things such as height, arm length and leg length, natural range of motion and physical ability.
Gyrotonic sessions are adapted to fit anyones ability from those recovering from injury or living with a disability to elite athletes.
For bookings Please email
PILATES STUDIO sessions
We focus on individually tailored Pilates using appropriate Pilates equipment and/or mat exercises to achieve desired outcomes. There is top quality Pilates equipment in the studio. Ingrid and her teachers are very happy to work with referring health professionals to help achieve the best outcomes.
We offer private sessions, duets with a friend or small groups of up to 3 people all being guided according to their needs. One starts off with a private initial consult where the teacher can assess your posture, strengths and ascertain any goals you have in mind to start working towards. After that most people book into a regular time-slot each week or simply book week by week as your diary, and ours, allows.
“A body free from nervous tension and fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well-balanced mind, fully capable of successfully meeting all the complex problems of modern living” Joseph Pilates
FOOT FITNESS
Foot Fitness is crucial to our health and wellbeing.... How many of us neglect or take our feet for granted?
Yamuna Foot Fitness helps to increase space and musculature within the feet, giving a multitude of benefits to your posture and alignment. Stimulation of muscles, organs and bones creates greater body awareness as well as relaxing the nervous system and increasing metabolism. Foot Fitness is a fabulous way to enhance any movement program and is also a fantastic place to start if painful feet are preventing you from moving.
This class uses a pair of Yamuna wakers, or Body Organics Hedgehogs or Makarlu
"So thankful to find Katrina and foot fitness class on the wakers. This weekly class has truly given me a new appreciation for my feet and how neglected they often are. The stimulation is intense and you can see and feel your feet strengthen and align. The effect is not only on your feet, your whole body feels invigorated after. This type of foot training will forever be a part of my fitness regime." Colleen
YIN Yoga Workshops
Often likened to a needleless acupuncture session, YIN Yoga is a powerful practice in physical and emotional release. Suitable for all levels of Yoga students, these popular workshops always shake things up ... and then let them settle beautifully in their proper place again.
Yin Yoga is designed to "juice up" your joints and connective tissues (fascia), and in turn energizes your major organs and unblocks the major meridians in the body.
As each posture is held for a few minutes, it encourages mindfulness in one's practice, while giving you the opportunity to feel, explore and meditate in each posture.
Each workshop targets different meridians in the body, which in turn have various physical and mental effects on us. .
Who will enjoy YIN Yoga?
You'll really enjoy Yin Yoga if you:
- Enjoy the FEELING at the end of a Restorative Practice (though it's definitely not the same as Restorative)
- Look for the rewarding feeling of a CHALLENGE
- Have areas of tension in your body that need UNWINDING
- Enjoy the FEELING of a really deep stretch, and the long-lasting effect of deep OPENERS
- Enjoy the MEDITATIVE aspect of Yoga
OUR PRACTICE TIPS for Yin Yoga:
There are three crucial things to remember as you practice Yin, regardless of your previous Yoga experience:
1. Come into a pose to your appropriate edge, in a respectful way.
2. Become still, just as you would during meditation.
3. Stay for a while, as you would for an acupuncture session. In the beginning aim for three to five minutes, but if one minute is enough, start there and grow into two minutes.
RESTORATIVE Yoga workshops
Restorative Yoga is a clever manipulation of the nervous system - leading to deep relaxation, when all the organ systems of the body are benefited. A few of the measurable physical results of deep relaxation are the reduction of blood pressure, insomnia and general fatigue; improved immune function, digestion, fertility, elimination, and an increase of the "good cholesterol" levels. The emotional benefits are way beyond measure.
Restorative Yoga is a chance to deepen the connection with your body, minimising our habitual tendency to go stronger, harder, faster, more… and to in fact actively and intentionally do nothing.
When given the chance to emerge, our inborn relaxation response provides a soothing, healing effect on the body, mind and spirit.
People heal because we take the metaphoric weight from the body, allowing it to find balance/homeostasis and reducing blood pressure.
Savouring in Restorative Yoga poses for longer allows you to cultivate a compassionate self enquiry: to listen to your body AND your spirit with your intuitive ear and connect with your inner wisdom – what needs healing or restoring?
Restorative Yoga involves extensive use of Yoga props (bolsters, blankets, blocks etc) - so we literally support, cushion and cradle the body, we cover you up and leave you there for around 20 minutes. We’re looking to reach the point where the physical body can completely relax, which initiates and facilitates healing on deeper levels including stress and emotions.
Restorative Yoga is highly recommended for any and everyone, regardless of previous yoga experience.
Sound Bath
Each Sound Bath is a unique experience which provides the opportunity for you to gently relax and for the body to initiate healing.
Using a variety of therapeutic sound instruments (Himalayan and Japanese Singing Bowls, chimes, gongs, drums, rain stick, Ocean drum, etc), you will be immersed in waves of vibration, a cocoon of gentle healing sounds which will penetrate every cell in your body.
As our cells are essentially composed of water, the sound waves readily pass through and affect them, via sympathetic resonance. Joined with a combined and focused positive intention, this helps to ‘re-set’ the vibrational frequency of our cells, initiating and promoting holistic healing.
The sound waves also interact with our brainwaves, putting us quickly and effectively into a relaxed state. It is similar to meditation in it’s effects.
Studies with an EEG (elctroencephalography, which records brain activity), have shown that these healing sounds alter our brainwave patterns almost immediately, allowing us to reap the benefits of deep states of relaxation.
Lastly, the sound instruments also affect our personal energetic field (bio-field or ‘aura’): refreshing, revitalising and even rebuilding our energetic patterns.
Combined, this presents a wonderful opportunity to clear, balance and harmonise the entire body, whilst helping to invigorate our natural healing processes.
KEY BENEFITS:
Deep relaxation
Lowers stress levels
Balances brain hemispheres (through entrainment)
Cleanses bio-energetic field
Realigns chakras (energy centres)
Re-sets normal cellular frequency
Empowers intention
Boosts immune system
Stimulates endocrine system
Promotes better sleep
Initiates healing
My body loved your class, and your style was very encompassing of the entire body. I loved the rhythmic moving, like massaging muscular tension away. Such an impressive class, your students are blessed.
Roslyn
Thank you so much for a wonderful term! I''ve found the Corporate Yoga sessions so relaxing and look forward to the next term.
Prashanti
Thanks for great GENTLE classes on Saturday mornings. I appreciate the sensitivity and lightness to your class style.
Elise
Thank you for running an excellent Yoga school.
Carolyn
I have found the Restorative Workshops life transforming. Thank you so much.
Gillian
I''m writing to say how much I loved the Restorative Workshop yesterday. It was beyond fabulous.
Thank you (and Jo) for your generosity and talents – it was divine to be on the receiving end of such love and skill.
Chris
Restorative Yoga is nothing short of totally transformational!
The gentle, nurturing nature of this event, enriched by, the care you and Mary provided, made for a very welcome and utterly relaxing couple of hours ... with on going benefits of calmness and relaxation.
The barbed wire in my brain has been transformed into the softest velvet. I haven''t felt so relaxed and peaceful in a very long time.
Diane
I have greatly enjoyed two Beginner/Gentle courses this winter, first with Deb then with Tory. A big step for me as a gym and running enthusiast who once thought Yoga wouldn’t mix with “real” exercise. But it’s opened up an entirely new way of perceiving my body and my life.
All the sessions have been intense and really quite moving: if I’m quiet during and after the sessions it’s because it’s very affecting and not because I’m bored!
(name withheld)
Thank you so much for the restorative class yesterday - I really did enjoy being nurtured (spoilt??) so much. You do a wonderful job & make Yogabowl a place of such variety not only of learning, but general well-being and inner peace.
Judy
You have given me so much support and spiritual guidance in my yoga journey. I am truly going to miss you and I really hope our paths cross again.
Stephanie