Yoga/Pilates
Benefits of Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi
- Promotes health and well-being of the mind, body and spirit
- Improves strength, flexibility, balance and coordination
- Enhances focus, stamina and concentration
- Relieves stress and restores vitality
About The Courses Offered
Yoga is an ancient practice developed in India that enables self improvement in many areas of life. The Sanskrit term "yoga" literally translated means "yoke" but may be translated as "union". This latter interpretation implies developing more connection and harmony between different aspects of mind and body. Yoga philosophy believes that a self-fulfilled person is a healthy person, free from disease caused by stress and improper living habits. The practice of Yoga is designed to lead the student to an ever-increasing knowledge of the self, including body, mind and emotions to achieve and maintain good physical and mental health and spiritual harmony. At Yang's, we offer Hatha and Vinyasa flowing Yoga (see below for more about Vinyasa Yoga). Classes are conducted in a warm, comfortable environment. Postures will differ from class to class to promote variety and offer new challenges. Yoga offers benefits for everyone. Alignment is an integral part of yoga and our instructors continually give verbal and physical adjustments and level appropriate modifications to ensure the safety and effectiveness of each posture. To achieve best results, honor your body's limitations by working in your present state of health and flexibility rather than resisting. A quiet mind and a healthy spine are a powerful healing source.
Pilates is a system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed by Joseph H. Pilates. Pilates began developing his exercise system in Germany in the early 1900's. He called his exercise method "The Art of Contrology", or muscle control, to highlight his unique approach of using the mind to master the muscles. As a prisoner of war (during WWI), Pilates developed exercises which can be performed in a small amount of space, without the use of any equipment, resulting in today's mat-based exercises. Pilates exercises focus on treating the body as an integrated "whole" unit rather than isolating muscles and working each area of the body individually. It strengthens and tones muscles, improves posture, provides flexibility and balance, unites the body and mind and creates a more streamlined shape.
Yoga and Pilates A one-hour class combining the two disciplines of Vinyasa Yoga and mat-based Pilates. The term "vinyasa" means flowing and consists of a series of postures.
Tai Chi (Taiji or Tàijíquán 太極拳) Taijiquan is a series of slow moving martial arts exercises performed with relaxed muscles and a concentrated mind. Millions of people practice Taijiquan, and most consider it an integral part of their everyday lives. Taijiquan gently stimulates the internal organs of the body, exercises the muscles, calms the nervous system, and mobilizes the joints. It is not designed to promote muscle size or enhance physical endurance. With consistent, correct practice,Taijiquan leaves practitioners warm, relaxed, and stress free. In time, the mind gains a stillness and clarity rarely experienced through any other forms of exercise. Calmness eventually pervades the whole body, leaving participants less stressed and more refreshed at the end of each day.
Taijiquan fosters a calm and tranquil mind, one that is focused on the precise execution of these exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement, the genesis of movement from the body’s vital center, and so on. Thus the practice of Taijiquan can in some measure contributes to being able to better stand, walk, move, run, and perform better in other spheres of life.
Qigong (Chi Kung or Qìgōng 氣功) [pronounced "chee-goong"] Qigong is a traditional form of Chinese energy exercise for the body, mind and spirit. At least five thousand years old, it is a system for improving and maintaining health, balance, and self-regulation. Qigong literally means "breath work," and is a distillation of several ancient healing systems. The practice of Qigong is based on the cultivation and balance of "Qi," which roughly translates to "bioenergy." Anyone can learn Qigong. Many people practice it simply because it makes them feel good, perform better, experience higher levels of energy and stamina, and reach their level of optimal health. Qigong can improve sports performance, prevent jet lag, and supercharge the immune system.