Yoga is a 5000-year old Indian body of knowledge which seeks to balance the mind and body. Many of us live our lives being in our heads. But through the practice of different physical poses, we can become more present in the body and calmer in the mind. Yoga is practiced physically, giving us stronger bodies and greater flexibility. But its benefits extend beyond a greater awareness of our bodies to an experience of inner peace.
With its emphasis on mindful movement and presence, yoga can help alleviate stress and anxiety in our lives. It can also help prevent and resolve common physical afflictions, such as lower back, knee and shoulder pain, as well as difficulties with sleep and digestion.
Yoga at The Yoga Flat
All classes at The Yoga Flat are in the traditions of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. However, we don’t differentiate between Hatha and Vinyasa classes in the timetable. This is because we want the individual teacher to determine how they wish to blend the dynamic and static poses and how much they want to guide the breath – but no matter the class, we work on the whole body.
At The Yoga Flat our teachers have the freedom to bring their personal styles and creativity to their classes. This means the classes and teaching styles at The Yoga Flat will be different depending on the teacher. Our teachers may even introduce techniques from dance, martial arts or movement therapy, sharing a playful, creative and honest practice with their students. This flexible approach allows the teacher to explore yoga techniques in greater depth and give students a solid foundation on which to develop their own practice.
You can read more about our teachers here.
To better support your personal process and the growth in your practice we offer classes in four different levels of practice as well as different types of yoga.
Livestreams
After the national lockdowns we have picked up live-streaming and some classes in the schedule is listed as being livestreamed. This means you can both join as a student in the studio, but you are also able to join it from home. Both options are done in the schedule and the classes are only streamed and not recorded so you can not view the class later. The livestreams can be viewed from our app or from the homepage on any of your personal devices.
Types of classes at the studio
Basic Practice (1)
This class is meant as an introduction to the natural art of yoga. It is perfect for beginners, but also more advanced yogis can join this class if they feel like going back to basics and fine tune the practice with some basic yoga technique. The class is build up around basic poses and the understanding of movement and breath synchronised. Overall this should prepare students for the mixed level class.
Mixed Level Practice (1&2)
This class is an overall class for most yogis with a lot of basic poses. A class that everyone can join. On this class you can expect a greater flow and slightly more advanced poses. The teachers will provide you with modifications or options in the poses making this class adaptable to where you are in your practice or your energy level on the specific day.
Intermediate Practice (2)
On this class we take the practice a step further. Here we invite you to play with and explore your strength and physical potential a bit more. On this class we expect you to know the basic yoga poses. There will be a greater focus on smoothing out transitions in flow and advancing in the poses. On this class there will be plenty of time to work on inversions, arm balances and other more advanced poses.
Advanced Practice (3)
This class is the perfect place for you who wish to explore the poses and the flows even further. It is the highest level of class on the schedule at The Yoga Flat, meaning we expect students to have a strong practice. On this class there will be plenty of time for workshopping more advanced poses.
Ashtanga
Our Ashtanga classes are build up around the classic primary series but with slight modifications. The class is more or less the same every time and also serves as a great foundational practice for someone who also wants to evtsre into our rocket classes.
Rocket Vinyasa
Rocket® yoga is based on classic sequences from Astanga Primary Series and Intermediate series - but here we play with handstand and arm balances in the flow.
A playfull flow where you are free to add on or slow down creating your own practice if not following the guidance of the flow. This intense flow will make you will feel energised after a Rocket Vinyasa Yoga class.
The Rocket Vinyasa system is made for a modern yogi. It is based on Astanga Yoga - but in Rocket Vinyasa the sequence is more free - so some postures can be taken out and others will be offered instead.
Yin
The Yin practice is suited for all levels of practice. It is focused around the connective tissue such as ligaments, bones and joints in deeper and longer stretches. Being the opposite to the more dynamic and muscular Yang practice the Yin practice is calm, passive and soft. It can be quite challenging though due to the long duration of the poses. We can remain in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes.
Yin Yang Yoga
These sessions are a combination of all the amazing benefits of a passive slow practice and a gentle and slow alignment based class. A great way to both restore, regenerate and activate in a meditative way.
Gentle Practice
In a Gentle Practice we slow things down. It is a physically less demanding class, and it will typically be a mix of more supported traditional asanas, some deeper stretches and potentially some restorative poses mixed with pranayama and meditation exercises.
Yoga & Meditation
This class is a total treat as it combines the physical asana practice with seated meditation. Expect that half of the time in the class will be spend in asanas and half seated meditation. In the seated practice you will be guided through various meditations and potentially basic pranayama. There is time for questions and feedback during the class. These classes are for anyone who wishes to add seated meditation to their practice and experience meditation in a group.
Prenatal Yoga / Pregnancy Yoga
To be pregnant does not in any way mean you should stop practicing yoga, and it is generally a great idea to practice, with modifications, to support the body through the process of a pregnancy. To carry and create a child is one of the most amazing and wonderful things, yet a demanding process for the body. To there for practice a type of yoga, specifically designed around this process can be a great support for women who are expecting.
The classes will mainly cover physical yoga and focus on poses you can use during your pregnancy. We will see the role breath can play and try different breathing exercises. We will also spend time on meditation, deep relaxation and the mental aspect of pregnancy and birth.
Postnatal Yoga / Yoga For New Moms
Post-natal yoga is about being a mother, a woman and a yogi.
At each class we move in and out of yoga-poses with respect for your body as it is slowly transforming from being pregnant to being a mother.
We connect with the breath and our bodies and do stretches that are good for sore shoulders, neck and back. We practice moving with flow and pause when the babies needs the attention.
And most importantly we have fun.
Post-natal yoga is for you 6 weeks after you have given birth and until your baby is 8 months.
Fotos: Kim Wendt