Class Descriptions

THE LANGUAGE OF YIN | Y I N Y O G A
Gianna has practiced Yin Yoga for many years. Because of her love for this particular practice, she has completed two extensive Yin Yoga Continuing Education Teacher Trainings, to further her study and teaching of this practice. She is a Yin Yoga Certified Practitioner.

Yin Yoga is traditionally and mindfully practiced in an unheated (but comfortable) room and when the muscles are not warmed. This is to ensure that one receives the most accurate feedback and understanding regarding their body’s natural range of motion, without influence imposed by heat sources external to the body or through a previously vigorous Yang practice. In both instances, however, this warmth and unnatural state will give inaccurate feedback and perception of one’s natural range of motion and, therefore, potentially cause a strain to the muscles or tendons, while a more severe injury may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues. Mindfulness along with and a Yin Yoga practitioner with extensive training and certifications are key to supporting a practice that is appropriate for the student.
🌙 Yin is synonymous with cool, dark, stillness and is representative of the Moon.
☀️ Yang is synonymous with warm, bright, vibrant and is representative of the Sun.

What is Yin Yoga?
A most eloquent, concise, yet thorough description of this contemplative practice is given by Gianna's teacher, which describes the practice of Yin Yoga beautifully.

"Yin Yoga is a slow-paced yoga practice that enhances the ability to discover a still point within. Cultivating a yin practice encourages ease in the physical body, mindfulness and calms the nervous system.
Yin Yoga, or Daoist Yoga (often spelled Tao), consists of long-held, mostly seated or supine poses held passively to gently pull or place pressure on the body's connective tissues. In an active form of yoga, targeted muscle groups become heated through rhythmic, repetitive movements. Muscles being moister and more elastic, respond well to actions that heat and exercise the muscle fibers.
However, the ligaments and tendons of the body are composed of denser, rigid, or more plastic-like material than the muscles. They require a different approach to unlock tension and move internal energy called Qi. Since the Yin practice requires little to no muscular engagement or effort, the muscles remain relatively passive. Each posture shape is held for a set amount of time while consciously relaxing the targeted area settling into the body's bones. Since the qualities of Yin by nature are considered more hidden and less superficial, these affected areas are not as accessible as, let's say, the muscles which are closer to the surface." -- EM

"In order to observe ourselves, we need an attention that is different from our ordinary attention...We seek to have a watchman in us who is stable. The one who watches is present…The rest of me is passive."

-- Jeanne De Salzmann, The Reality of Being

R E S T O R A T I V E Y O G A to Support the Nervous System
The intention of Restorative Yoga is to offer support to the nervous system and its regulation.
To fully support the body while in Restorative Yoga postures, we use two blocks, a blanket or two, and a bolster, in this class. When the body is and feels fully supported and comfortable, the nervous system begins to let its guard down...and begins to regulate. We recognize this regulation as feeling calm.
Each class has been thoughtfully prepared in advance with a series of 5 to 7 restorative postures that students will settle into for a time, transition from, and mindfully prepare to settle into for the next posture. The transition in between postures is slow, mindful, and just as important as the time spent once settled back in to the restorative spaces.
To mindfully prepare for class and implement the Four Causes and Conditions of Relaxation into the students' practice, Gianna creates a space that is quiet, dimly lit, warm, and safe.
She recommends students bring a sweater or hoodie to their space, along with a pair of socks, to stay warm during their time in Restorative Yoga.

G E N T L E Y O G A
Gentle Yoga offers nurturing, kindness, and compassion for the body and mind, by creating a pleasant balance between movement and stillness.
Mindfulness of alignment in our physical postures (asana) is supportive to joint stability, as well as to our individual range of motion and mobility. Students move through each asana at a more gentle pace, perhaps holding each asana for a time, before transitioning to the next. Since "gentle" is not synonymous with "easy", students will benefit from increased strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance. While Gentle Yoga is the perfect place for one to begin their Yoga journey, Gianna is careful, however, to not define it as "beginner's yoga". Gentle Yoga is a good, strong practice, and it is one of great benefit to students both new to yoga and seasoned, alike, and can be a wonderful life-long practice.
Pranayama is key to and mindfully guided in all of Gianna's classes and, as appropriate only, in trauma-conscious practices. We explore with a gentle curiosity how an easeful breath begins to guide one's physical movement. The breath can be explored as though it were bookends to a posture, gently supporting the beginning and end of each asana and our individual range of motion. A supportive breathing practice also assists in nurturing the body, mind, and spirit, as well as providing support to the nervous system, as it enables it to move toward regulation and relaxation. Restorative Yoga is also offered in Gentle Yoga classes.

G E N T L E Y O G A
F O R B A C K W E L L N E S S
Gentle Yoga for Back Wellness incorporates all of the elements of Gentle Yoga, with a specific emphasis placed upon the care of the back and spine. This class will help students to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and range of motion, ease back pain, and serves as an adjunct to their Chiropractic care.