Yoga Classes at Eclipse
IYENGAR INSPIRED YOGA
Iyengar Yoga is a comparatively modern style of Yoga, named after B.K.S. Iyengar, a student of Krishnamarya. This practice involves the performance of a sequence of asanas (different theme each time), where the major focus falls on precision, attention to detail & correct body alignment. An in-depth practice, Iyengar is slow or static in pace and leverages the use of props like ropes, blocks, belts, blankets, chairs etc as aids to align the body properly. The poses are held for a long period of time giving the opportunity to practitioners to create affinity with the posture & challenge the comfort zone of any perceived limitation. During the holding of the posture the muscles are relaxed & lengthened, creating an expansive effect as well as a sense of increased awareness & concentration at a mental level. During the class practitioners are also exposed to information regarding the purpose of the posture they are performing, what is correct & what is not, why are they doing it etc - make in it thus very enlightening in terms of understanding what are the benefits of the exercise. Iyengar yoga is indispensable to correcting one's structural alignment of the body beyond the yoga practice & into every day life. Iyengar is a must do for practitioners of every age & level who are keen to attain healthy body posture, alignment, stability & flexibility.
HATHA YOGA
Hatha Yoga is one of the foundational yogic paths that draws on practices from the Tantric Tradition. The Tantrics believed in the “divinization” of the physical body and its transformation through purification & development of its subtle energies. Hence in Hatha Yoga the physical body is embraced as a means to achieve enlightenment by fostering the physical-spiritual connections, the body-centered practices & the esoteric ones with the aim to direct the “prana” (life force energy) to the “ajna” (crown) chakra. Expect to practice diverse asanas & build resilience by staying in the posture for longer timing, allowing for strength building. Hatha Yoga as a foundational practice is ideal for practitioners of all levels, from those seeking to embark their journey in the world of yoga asanas, to advanced students. With its gentle sequence, this practice helps internalize insight & experiences, through mental assimilation of the bodily movement. Classes are customised accordingly.
AERIAL YOGA
Aerial yoga is a contemporary fitness based yoga system that is based on the principle of counteracting gravity by practicing traditional yoga poses suspended mid air with the help of hammocks. A feel good & fun practice, Aerial Yoga is free of age or level boundaries or capability level. The classes vary from aerial flows to stretches & inversions. Aerial yoga triggers an unparalleled sensation while it enhances body core strength, stretching, mobility & balance in an unconventional manner. Gentle on the joints & ideal for practitioners with bodily sensitivities aerial yoga classes at Eclipse invite practitioners to loosen up & delve into a one of a kind experience.
VINYASA FLOW
Vinyasa Flow is a relatively contemporary style of yoga practice, where the emphasis is placed in aligning the movement with the breath. That said, each transition from one posture to the other is performed through conscious inhalation to enter into the asana & conscious exhalation to exit it. Synchronisation of transitioning through the sequence with breath becomes core element in the Vinyasa practice which is fluid & seamless in nature. The tempo can vary, and the variations of the asanas can be numerous, each one offering a different learning experience for the practitioners. The variable nature of Vinyasa Yoga helps to develop a more balanced body as well as prevent repetitive motion comfort zone build up, which can occur if one always does the same movements every day. As a philosophy, Vinyasa recognizes the temporary nature of things. We enter into a posture, stay there for a while and then leave. Put all this together and Vinyasa, is a breath initiated practice, that connects every action of our life with the intention of moving towards what is sacred, or most important to us. Vinyasa flow is an ideal “rate of passage” for systematic students who wish to advance their practice, as well as intermediate & advanced practitioners who aim to perfect their craft.
Yoga Flow Mixed Style
Yoga Flow Mixed Style is the perfect blend of a proper warm up across all body parts, which progressively gives place to a mixed style yoga practice inspired by the traditional hatha & ashtanga asana practice. Drawing on variations of Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutations) & focusing on flexibility, strength & the flow of breathing, this is a feel good class open to all levels. The breath plays a key role here, through the careful synchronization of fast breathing with fast movements & slow breathing with slow movements. The class experiments with various postures (asanas) & their variations, opening the realm of discovery & bringing everyone’s focus to the present moment.
Yoga Balance
Yoga Balance is a must-do foundational practice focusing on building the foreground to mastering balancing yoga asanas & movements. Following the warm up stage, the session effortlessly progresses to asanas focusing on enhancing core strength, flexibility & body balance. Controlled breathing targets to increasing concentration while stretching works on re-establishing the mind/body awareness. With the heightened focus in place, the practice harmoniously takes the practitioners to the balancing asanas part, which may involve arm, leg or head balancing groups of exercises. This practice is tailored to the level of the students each time & it is ideal for the ones seeking to improve their existing practice, build confidence with body/mind balance overall & enhance their skills in groups of asanas that are traditionally considered challenging.
Deep Muscle Stretching
Deep Muscle Stretching is an active stretching practice which encompasses the muscles of the hip, waist, back, thighs, hamstrings and the overall body. The class begins with warm up movements to build heat and prepare the body for asanas which are held for a longer duration to keep the muscles flexible, strong and healthy and increase the blood flow inside the body. When practiced with consistency Deep Muscle Stretching is a stepping stone to building flexibility, mobility & releasing discomfort built by long sitting hours & non-active lifestyle.
Morning Stretch
A feel good practice to start the day, the Morning Stretch class awakens our body through a series of stretch based asanas that include hip openers, side stretches, forward bends, back bends, splits & twistings. The session includes both active & passive stretching, and the holding of the postures is relatively long, ideal to activate the body during the morning hours & set the tone for the rest of the day. The pace of the practice is rather slow, make in it ideal for all levels of practitioners and instrumental in cultivating mindfulness & focus as students internalise the effects of the practice.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a slow paced practice, which works on stretching the deep connective tissues (ligaments, fascia) by remaining into a posture for length of time, which on occasions can be up to 15 minutes. The practice encourages creating comfort in the posture through concentration on the breath and as such has a deep meditative effect. Expect to have a gentle music background in the class & surrender into the posture and the thoughts that it invokes. Yin Yoga is inspired by the Chinese tradition and apart from the physical effect it is beneficial in allowing the Qi Energy to flow through the body uninterruptedly by dissolving blockages. This practice is instrumental to hone the capability of "slowing down" & integral to counterbalancing intense physical practices or simply to enhance mental & bodily relaxation. The sessions are ideal for all level practitioners & a great means to enhance mental clarity while restoring physical vitality.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a slow paced practice, which works on stretching the deep connective tissues (ligaments, fascia) by remaining into a posture for length of time, which on occasions can be up to 15 minutes. The practice encourages creating comfort in the posture through concentration on the breath and as such has a deep meditative effect. Expect to have a gentle music background in the class & surrender into the posture and the thoughts that it invokes. Yin Yoga is inspired by the Chinese tradition and apart from the physical effect it is beneficial in allowing the Qi Energy to flow through the body uninterruptedly by dissolving blockages. This practice is instrumental to hone the capability of "slowing down" & integral to counterbalancing intense physical practices or simply to enhance mental & bodily relaxation. The sessions are ideal for all level practitioners & a great means to enhance mental clarity while restoring physical vitality.
Prenatal Yoga
Pregnancy (pre-natal) yoga classes bring the ancient science of yoga to support the mother though her pregnancy using birth breathing tools along with yoga postures and laboring coping techniques. These sessions are designed to maintain and build strength in pregnancy, preparing for labor and birth, and relieving pregnancy-associated discomfort. Mental and emotional preparation is key through yogic practices and community support. Recommended for women from second trimester onwards with the doctors’ clearance. Suitable for all levels of students including the ones with no prior exposure to yoga. Benefits of yoga during pregnancy: -Breathing well promoting hormonal balances. -Alleviate minor discomforts such as heartburn, pain in hip joints, ribs, crams in legs and headaches. -Improve blood circulation in the muscles and adequate supply for the baby to grow healthy. -Helps in combat fatigue during pregnancy. If muscles are stiff and move is restricted, the flow of energy is blocked. Breathing will will make you feel fresh and invigorated. -The yogic positions will naturally extend into labor, promoting ease and freedom of movement. -Regular yoga practice will prepare for speedy recovery and return to normal after birth. -Improve quality of sleep and deep relaxation.
RESTORATIVE YOGA
Based on passive stretching, Restorative Yoga is a slow based, deeply relaxing practice, which encourages stillness & holding of the posture for long time intervals. The practice uses props to enable creating comfort in the posture like yoga blocks, blankets & bolsters avoiding thus any stress on the muscles due to effort. Meditative & healing in its nature, the practice brings about therapeutic benefits of releasing tension, anxiety & pain or stiffness caused by contemporary lifestyle.
