in our Vinyasa yoga classes, the teacher will guide you by linking a series of yoga postures (asanas) together in alignment with your breath. the fluid, dynamic movements of our vinyasa yoga classes will feel like you are immersed in a moving meditation that is set to the rhythm of your own breath.
each vinyasa teacher at ritual house will guide you through a unique expression of ‘vinyasa’ based on their individual training, practice, and experience.
our vinyasa classes adopt a more accelerated pace than our hatha classes. our classes are warmed to 75-78 degrees for safety and comfort of movement, but are not “hot” yoga classes.
all levels welcome
if you are brand new to yoga, we recommend registering for a one-on-one or small group lesson with one of our experienced teachers.
if you are experiencing injury recovery, are brand new to yoga, or are unsure if this level is a good fit for you, our classes labeled “hatha” or “restorative” adopt a slower pace, also, you are welcome to join a vinyasa class, mention your hesitations/needs to the teacher before class, and see how it goes! we will work with you and want you to find the right fit for you.
in this style of class, each yoga posture (asana) is held longer than in our vinyasa style classes, offering you a different perspective from which to explore breath, energy, and alignment. our hatha classes are a good style to try if you are working on building strength in deep stabilizing muscles and stability in your joints.
note: moving slower doesn’t always mean easier! if you are a seasoned vinyasa practitioner, mixing your practice up with a hatha class is a great way to challenge your body and mind.
hatha is a great style of yoga for any level of practitioner. new students have more time in each posture to learn and refine alignment, while seasoned practitioners enjoy having more time to explore subtlties of each asana.
if you have no yoga experience, this is a good style of class to start with. please tell your teacher that you are brand new to yoga when you arrive to class, so they can better support you in learning!
Meditation offers numerous benefits for both mental and physical health, including stress reduction, improved focus, and enhanced mood. It can also improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and even boost cognitive functions like memory and attention.
meditation listed as the name, or part of the name of a class style at ritual house indicates that 15-20 minutes of the class time will focus on seated meditation. Some of that will be guided, some of it will be silent. the style of meditation will vary depending on the teacher guiding it and their particular training. if you are interested in a particular style of mediation, always ask your teacher for more information!
on the ritual house schedule you will see the letters “MFR” indicating there is part of the class focused on myofascial release.
myofasacial release (MFR) is a manual therapy technique that focuses on releasing tension in the body’s fascial tissues, which are the connective tissues that wrap around muscles, bones, and organs. mfr involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to restricted or tight areas of fascia to help restore movement, improve flexibility, and reduce pain.
the direct effect of tension release on the nervous system is evident in this practice, and is a helpful tool to inform all other movement modalities you do.
all levels welcome
Kundalini is a term in Hinduism and Tantra referring to a dormant spiritual energy, often visualized as a coiled serpent, located at the base of the spine. This energy is believed to be awakened through various practices like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises, and when awakened, it can flow up the central channel of the spine, through the chakras, to the head, offering spiritual and energetic clarity.
kundalini class (Monday evenings!) is a practice that focuses on awakening and channeling the kundalini energy, which is believed to be a dormant power at the base of the spine.
it combines yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), mantras, and meditation, to balance energy, enhance consciousness, and explore spiritual growth.
if you experienced a recent traumatic experience, or have a history of ptsd, consider mentioning this within your comfort level to the teacher before class begins. they can more fully support your practice with this information. this practice involves focused breath work, which directly affects the nervous system, which is directly tied to memory.
Yin Yoga is a profound but subtle slow moving style of yoga that focuses on actively holding seated or supine poses for extended periods (usually 3-10 minutes) to target the deeper layers of the body, like connective tissue, ligaments, joints & nervous system. It emphasizes restoring balance in these areas that are harder to access in a vinyassa or hatha class.
yin yoga and restorative yoga are often used interchangeably, though they are distinctly different. in yin yoga, the goal is to actively feel and breathe in to the “stuck” spots. to coax them open with breath and a deep internal focus. for that reason it should feel different/require more focus than a restorative class.
if you are working with or recovering from injury, specifically of a joint, please notify your teacher at the beginning of class.
restorative yoga and yin yoga are often used interchangeably, though they are distinctly different. restorative yoga is similar in that it is a slow moving class. restorative classes are unique in that they ask you to get passively comfortable in a long held supine/seated pose with the goal to be nervous system regulation and complete relaxation.
in traditional Restorative yoga your body will supported by props to encourage passive relaxation and a down-shift in your nervous system.
practicing these passive postures is a nice compliment to the more active (yang) poses found in a vinyasa class. challenge your mind to be at peace within physical stillness...
suitable for all levels
