Therapeutic Yoga may incorporate the use of props such as cushions, blankets, blocks, straps, a chair, and stability balls. Particular attention will be paid to keeping the joints safe during yoga practice and applying these principles to daily life. Instructors will give therapeutic verbal and “hands on” adjustments. Classes generally include the following points of practice:
- Breath awareness and breathing practices (pranayama)
- Joints and glands exercises (warm ups)
- Vinyasa or moving through postures as a flow (e.g. sun salutations)
- Forward bending poses (calming / stretch back body)
- Backward bending poses (stimulating / stretch front body)
- Spinal twists (calming / rejuvenating)
- Standing poses (strengthen lower body / grounding)
- Supported & unsupported balance poses (strength and concentration)
- Upper body strengthening (using your own body weight)
- Core work (strengthen muscles of the trunk)
- Hip openers (increase flexibility)
- Supported inversions (calming / rest heart / oxygenate brain)
- Restorative poses (e.g. knees to chest, supported twists)
- Relaxation (calm & integrate focus / attention inward)
Gentle
Designed for students recovering from injury, illness, inactivity, surgery or other health considerations. Gentle stretches increase range of motion of the musculoskeletal system. Postures develop strength and improve balance. Breath awareness facilitates release of tension and calms the mind. Students will develop the knowledge and body awareness to practice yoga safely.
Yoga for Bone Strengthening
In this in studio yoga class learn how to work on increasing bone density using weight bearing and static poses to help with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia. Research done by Dr. Loren Fishman inspires the different poses practiced in this class which were found to increase and maintain bone density over time.
Yogability
This in studio therapeutic yoga class is designed to educate, assess and progress you in everyday life skills including functional abilities of work, rest and play! Rodney C. Bradley MS, PT, E-RYT-500 will bring experiences from the fields of yoga, wellness and physical therapy to highlight and facilitate basic abilities of aligned posture, dynamic balance and various mobility skills. This will be accomplished via therapeutic yoga postures using modifications, graduated progressions, props, and hands on adjustments. Overall body strength, mobility and balance will be addressed to improve these functional abilities and therefore enhance your quality of life.
