Community Yoga Initiative

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US AT COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER FOR ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA!

Ashtanga vinyasa yoga is postural practice that links breath and movement in a dynamic sequence of poses. The primary sequence of postures in ashtanga vinyasa yoga is comprised of about 75 poses that are repeated during every practice session. Each posture is held for a certain number of breaths (typically 5) and includes specific movements into and out of the poses. Practicing consistently and rhythmically in this way not only creates a regular frame of reference from which to observe the felt sense of the body-mind, but also helps build a self-guided yoga practice that can be practiced anytime and anywhere, without the assistance of a guide. This combination of heightened awareness and personal autonomy underlies the power of ashtanga vinyasa yoga.

We facilitate this practice communally, with multiple practitioners offering sequencing and alignment cues during the group practice. You're invited to practice along with us OR lead yourself in any kind of yoga practice you'd like. In this way, our group practice sessions can be a choose your own adventure kind of experience! Initially, this might seem odd - real freedom can feel weird at first - but if you lean into the spacious connectedness created by this kind of individual and collective experience, you might feel more at ease practicing like this than in any other way. So you pick! You decide how you'd like to practice. And together we'll all hold the space for both collectively led ashtanga vinyasa yoga and open yoga.

We practice indoors, in a large room. We recommend wearing comfortable layered clothing to help regulate preferred body temperature. If you have postural practice supports like mats, blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps, please bring them with you. We have community practice supports for you to use as well. Feel free to borrow any community practice support to facilitate and enhance your practice. We also suggest bringing water to maintain hydration after practice.

No experience is necessary and there is never a cost. We welcome everyBODY. We so hope to practice with YOU in commUNITY!

WE ARE BUILT ON GIVING
Our practice opportunities are provided solely through voluntary giving. The giving of many is what allows the practice opportunities to be offered so freely. Anyone who’s experienced benefit from our offerings is invited to give for the benefit of others.

There are many ways to give beyond financial contributions. Giving includes all types of altruistic service, inside or outside our yoga community. Giving also includes generously sharing yoga and consistently practicing yoga with honesty and love. This kind of perpetual giving makes living yoga possible.

In giving, we loosen the grip of our greatest source of suffering - self-absorption. We expand our hearts in a way that recognizes we are not actually separate from others. Giving is a letting go of a sense of separateness that’s based in ignorance. When we practice giving, we feel into how we all depend on one another - how we are all part of the whole. In this way, giving is the natural response of the awakened heart. Every act of giving is an opportunity to feel into the lack of separation between the one who gives and the one who receives.

You’re invited to give according to your volition and means - in whatever ways resonate with you. You might like to make monetary donations, contribute to our collective resources, or dedicate your time and skill to assist the community. Financial offerings subsidize the practice costs, including facility use, insurance, practice supports, and cleaning supplies.

A NOTE ON THE ORIGINS OF ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga originated from a sequence of poses created by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya based on what he learned from Rama Mohan Brahmachari in the early 1900s. Krishna Pattabhi Jois, a student of Krishnamacharya, began teaching the sequence in led classes that emphasized synchronized group movement. Jois coined the term “ashtanga yoga” to describe his teaching of postural practice in this way. The practice spread through the efforts of many of Jois’ early students, including David Swenson and Richard Freeman, and influenced many current styles of postural practice, including all types of vinyasa flow and power yoga practices. Over time, this style of yoga has evolved, leading to various interpretations of the practice.

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US AT COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER FOR MEDITATION!

Meditation can be beneficial at any time of day, but there’s something beautiful about beginning and ending the day mindfully with meditation.

We do not advocate any particular method of meditation and our regular meditators practice a variety of meditation methods, including: dharana (single-pointed concentration), dhyana-maha (meditating on every-thingness with loving-kindness practice), dhyana-abava (meditating on no-thingness with open awareness practice), and mantra (invoking sacred energies). Please see the notes below for more details about these practices.

If you're new to meditation, focusing on your breath can be a beautiful starting point for your practice. In breath-focused meditation, you're invited to breathe naturally, bringing awareness to your breath as it flows in and out of your body - noticing the flow of the breath through your nose, heart and belly. Thoughts and emotions will arise, and when they do, you're invited to acknowledge them with honesty and love, and then gently bring your awareness back to your breath, noticing again the flow of breath through your body.

Loose comfortable clothing is recommended so your body is not overly constricted and can more easily relax. You are welcome to sit on the floor, against a wall or in a chair. You may also stand or lay down - any position that is comfortable for you where you feel aware and at ease.

If you are interested in a space to just be - a space to relax your body, calm your mind and open your heart - some breathing space - consider meeting us for meditation.

A NOTE ABOUT VARIOUS CONCENTRATION & MEDITATION PRACTICES

DHARANA - SINGLE-POINTED CONCENTRATION
Dharana is the practice of concentrating on fundamental realities. The practice asks us to direct our attention toward subtle states of awareness by focusing our awareness on a current sensory experience with careful and deliberate observation. We can practice dharana through focused attention meditation. In focused attention meditation, we allow our awareness to rest on a particular sensory experience that becomes our anchor of awareness. Our attention is directed toward that sensory anchor, repeatedly returning to it when our attention naturally drifts to other objects of awareness. This practice is rooted in repetition. Every return to our chosen object of awareness creates favorable conditions for the grace of concentration to arise.

DHYANA-MAHA - MEDITATING ON EVERY-THINGNESS
One form of meditation practice is dhyana-maha – meditating on every-thingness. Dhyana-maha practice creates favorable conditions for love to arise. Dhyana-maha invites us to understand the interconnectedness of all and to surrender to love itself. Dhyana-maha can yield the insight of interconnectedness and the experience of unity consciousness – oneness – every-thingness. We practice feeling into the sacredness of every experience and opening toward all of experience with love. We begin to notice our limits – the edges of our openness and offer care to those limits. We notice the permeability of our heart - how open we are to embracing others – and whose hearts remain outside the boundary of our heart. Instead of pursuing the concept of love, we notice how love feels absent or difficult to access due to our self-imposed barriers.

DHYANA-ABHAVA - MEDITATING ON NO-THINGNESS
Another practice of dhyana is meditating on no-thingness – dhyana-abhava. This practice cultivates favorable conditions for equanimity to arise. We allow awareness to rest on open, expansive experience, and practice abiding in all – without preference. Dhyana-abhava develops the insight of impermanence and an experience of no-self – emptiness – no-thingness. Dhyana-abhava invites us to understand the changing nature of energetic sensations and develop equanimity toward them – so we can respond with honesty and love instead of intense reactivity. We begin to gain clarity about the nature of our body, mind, and heart as a microcosm of the nature of life itself. We begin to notice the ways we get caught in strong desire and fear. Instead of pursuing the idea of balance, we give careful attention to how balance is lost and reactivity to desire and fear is triggered.

MANTRA - INVOKING SACRED ENERGY
Dhyana is also the practice of mantra - invoking sacred energy. Mantra practice fosters favorable conditions for joy to arise. In this practice, awareness rests on the perpetual forces of nature – the creating, sustaining, and dissolving energies of life itself. We silently repeat, contemplate, and feel the energy of sacred syllables, words, names, and prayers to unite with the energy of the mantra. Mantra practice invites transcendence from the limited sense of self into a state of perpetual infinity.

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US AT ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOR CHAIR YOGA!

Chair yoga is a gentle postural yoga practice that uses the support of a chair. The practice typically begins with gentle movements of the head, neck, and shoulders with emphasis on linking the breath with the movements. Sun salutations and warrior sequences follow, all while seated. After a series of hip openers, forward folds, and inversions in the chair, the practice usually ends with mindfulness meditation and offerings of gratitude and thanksgiving.

A stable seat is essential for this practice. You may want to position a study chair on carpet or a yoga mat to keep it from slipping. You can also position the back of the chair against a wall for extra stability. Chairs with wheels or overstuffed armchairs are not best for chair yoga. To avoid stressing the back and hips, it's best to use a chair that positions the knees at about the same height as the hips. A bolster or folded blankets under the feet can raise and support the feet so the knees are in line with the hips.

We practice indoors, in a large room. We recommend wearing comfortable layered clothing to help regulate preferred body temperature. If you have postural practice supports like blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps, please bring them with you. We have community practice supports for you to use as well. Feel free to borrow any community practice support to facilitate and enhance your practice.

We also suggest bringing water to maintain hydration after practice.
No experience is necessary and there is never a cost. We welcome everyBODY. We so hope to practice with YOU in commUNITY!

WE ARE BUILT ON GIVING
Our practice opportunities are provided solely through voluntary giving. The giving of many is what allows the practice opportunities to be offered so freely. Anyone who’s experienced benefit from our offerings is invited to give for the benefit of others.

There are many ways to give beyond financial contributions. Giving includes all types of altruistic service, inside or outside our yoga community. Giving also includes generously sharing yoga and consistently practicing yoga with honesty and love. This kind of perpetual giving makes living yoga possible.

In giving, we loosen the grip of our greatest source of suffering - self-absorption. We expand our hearts in a way that recognizes we are not actually separate from others. Giving is a letting go of a sense of separateness that’s based in ignorance. When we practice giving, we feel into how we all depend on one another - how we are all part of the whole. In this way, giving is the natural response of the awakened heart. Every act of giving is an opportunity to feel into the lack of separation between the one who gives and the one who receives.

You’re invited to give according to your volition and means - in whatever ways resonate with you. You might like to make monetary donations, contribute to our collective resources, or dedicate your time and skill to assist the community. Financial offerings subsidize the practice costs, including facility use, insurance, practice supports, and cleaning supplies.

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US AT ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOR YIN YOGA!

Yin yoga is a gentle, slow-paced postural yoga practice where poses are held for extended periods of time. Three-minute holds are not uncommon. Most yin yoga poses are seated or supine, and engage the lower half of the body, opening and releasing tension the lumber spine, pelvis, hips, hamstrings, and thighs. Postures engaging the upper body are less common, however shoulder openers can be adapted for yin asana practice.

The sustained traction of yin yoga reaches deep connective tissue, stretching and stimulating fascia, tendons, and ligaments – especially when muscles are not engaged. With muscles relaxed, the connective tissues around joints can be accessed without interference at a deeper level, allowing them to be remodeled and revitalized.

Because muscles are relaxed in yin yoga, it’s important to use supports like blocks, bolsters, blankets, and straps to protect joints, ligaments, and tendons from overstretching. The supports allow the body to surrender to gravity without causing any injury or pain.

We practice indoors, in a large room. We recommend wearing comfortable layered clothing to help regulate preferred body temperature. If you have postural practice supports like mats, blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps, please bring them with you. We have community practice supports for you to use as well. Feel free to borrow any community practice support to facilitate and enhance your practice.

We also suggest bringing water to maintain hydration after practice.
No experience is necessary and there is never a cost. We welcome everyBODY. We so hope to practice with YOU in commUNITY!

WE ARE BUILT ON GIVING
Our practice opportunities are provided solely through voluntary giving. The giving of many is what allows the practice opportunities to be offered so freely. Anyone who’s experienced benefit from our offerings is invited to give for the benefit of others.

There are many ways to give beyond financial contributions. Giving includes all types of altruistic service, inside or outside our yoga community. Giving also includes generously sharing yoga and consistently practicing yoga with honesty and love. This kind of perpetual giving makes living yoga possible.

In giving, we loosen the grip of our greatest source of suffering - self-absorption. We expand our hearts in a way that recognizes we are not actually separate from others. Giving is a letting go of a sense of separateness that’s based in ignorance. When we practice giving, we feel into how we all depend on one another - how we are all part of the whole. In this way, giving is the natural response of the awakened heart. Every act of giving is an opportunity to feel into the lack of separation between the one who gives and the one who receives.

You’re invited to give according to your volition and means - in whatever ways resonate with you. You might like to make monetary donations, contribute to our collective resources, or dedicate your time and skill to assist the community. Financial offerings subsidize the practice costs, including facility use, insurance, practice supports, and cleaning supplies.

A NOTE ON THE GIFTS OF YIN YOGA
Injury, inactivity, and aging tends to bind connective tissue together, creating adhesions that restrict movement between the surfaces of muscles and bones. These adhesions block the flow of nutrients and energy through the body, causing pain and limiting mobility. Tenderly holding poses applies mild stress that breaks up adhesions. This can result in measurable increases in physical flexibility without compromising stability.

Long holds also increase circulation and lubrication at the joints. Deep connective tissue is softly squeezed, twisted, and compressed, becoming hydrated and more pliable. With age, the body becomes drier and less elastic. Stressing the connective tissues at the joints increases the production of hyaluronic acid and synovial fluid that nourishes the body.

Tenderly softening the body in yin yoga soothes the nervous system, especially when combined with slow, deep belly breathing.

Practicing presence and being with “what is” develops patience, clarity, and the capacity to be with a wide range of experience. All types of asana practice can heighten our moment-to-moment awareness. However, resolving to remain still in yin yoga practice provides an opportunity to stay with experience and surrender any need to manipulate and control. This can create conditions for clear perception, about ourselves and the nature of reality – yinsight!