Yoga to Strengthen, Yoga to Heal...
The practice of yoga can serve multiple purposes. Tailor your practice to your needs. See the list to the right for the different yoga types and other classes available to you.

· Beginning Hatha Yoga
If you have never taken yoga or only have a few classes under your belt, this is the class for you. Our skilled instructor will gently guide you through postures that are modified for beginners while allowing you to find the comfort zone within your practice. No previous experience is necessary to enjoy a great start to your yoga practice. What do I need for my first class?

· Gentle Yoga
This class is designed for those who have conditions that may limit their flexibility or for those who want a less rigorous initiation into their yoga practice. You are gently guided through poses with the use of props, blankets and stretch ropes to aid in the ease of practice. This class is also appropriate for expecting mothers desiring prenatal yoga.

· Hatha Flow
Flowing from posture to posture to strengthen and stretch, this class is based in the Hatha tradition. Using breath and movement to create a continuous flow of poses throughout the class, this form of yoga is peaceful yet invigorating. Previous experience in Hatha yoga is recommended.

· Hatha Yoga
The most widely recognized form of yoga, Hatha yoga seeks to promote health and well-being by taking the body through postures, breathing exercises, stretching, meditation and guided relaxation. A regular practice of Hatha yoga works towards developing flexibility, tone, increased circulation, balance and strength. Practitioners of Hatha also utilize its meditative and relaxing properties as a source of de-stressing from their every day rigors.

Austin Yogaworks welcomes all levels of students to its Hatha Yoga classes. Beginners are encouraged to try our various classes (Hatha, Hatha flow, Vinyasa flow) and ask questions regarding which class might best fit their needs.

· Kundalini Yoga
Uses breath, movement and sound to energize the body and focus the mind while strengthening and balancing the immune and glandular systems. This dynamic practice is useful for achieving mental clarity, stress relief and personal transformation.

· Nia®
Nia is an expressive body-mind-spirit fitness program developed by Debbie and Carlos Rosas. It combines the expressiveness of the dance arts, the power and explosiveness of the martial arts and the wisdom of the healing arts.

Movements transcend from the slow dance of tai-chi, into the precision of tae-kwon-do, utilizing the excitement and fun, and showmanship of jazz, incorporating the free spirit of Duncan dance and the creative play between shapes, space and balance of modern dance. Nia integrates the conscious alignment and posturing of yoga along with the harmonious, spherical dance of aikido. Nia's choreography is novel and fascinating.

Based on joyous movement to become healthy, Nia's barefoot grounded approach maximizes body efficiency and teaches you to consciously move in a gentler way. The movements of Nia provide comfort and protection to the joints and bones, while providing cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, muscle conditioning and definition, increased overall agility, balance and strength. Nia will also calm and enliven your emotions and motivate your spirit.

In a Nia class you will find music, relaxation, imagery, pleasure, joy, ease, comfort, freedom, harmony and balance. A Nia class is formatted like a traditional aerobics class, including a warm up, cardiovascular component and floorplay. Within each class you'll find a different intention and focus, with various styles of music such as reggae, jazz, classical, world beat, and Celtic creating a fun and moveable environment.

Nia can be adapted to fit your personal needs and can be experienced by anyone, from stiff beginners to highly fit athletes. No prior experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome!!

· Pilates
Pilates is a gentle form of exercise designed for general fitness, strengthening the core muscle groups, creating dynamic stability, improving coordination and releasing stress. Pilates classes at Austin Bodyworks focus on low impact exercises to create a balance between flexibility and strength with emphasis on general fitness and body awareness.

· Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal yoga consists of gentle postures designed for the special concerns of the expecting mother. Awareness of prenatal physiology and comfort are essential tenants of this class and exercises are appropriate for every trimester. Prenatal Yoga is incorporated into all of the Gentle Yoga classes.

· Ashtanga Yoga
A “hot” system of hatha yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga (translated to “The Eight Limbs of Yoga”) emphasizes the harmonization of the breath (ujjayi breath), the locks (bandhas) and movement (vinyasas) to flow between an established sequence of postures (asanas). This demanding and empowering practice of yoga works to detoxify, heal, strengthen, and build flexibility in the body.

Classes are one and a half hours in length. Class begins with an opening chant, then starts with two variations of the Sun Salutation for warm up before flowing into the Primary Series (the 1st of 6 series) consisting of the standing, sitting and laying sequence.

Beginners are welcome to all Ashtanga classes. Because of the “hot” nature of the practice, students are encouraged to bring their own towels and mats to class and to drink plenty of water both before and after class.

· Myofascial Stretching
In this hands-on class, you will learn individualized stretches based on myofascial release concepts to reduce pain, increase range of motion and reduce overall stress levels. One of the main goals of this class is to teach good technique in stretching in order to avoid injury, increase flexibility, and decrease the aches and pains that come with age, injury, and improper posture. For all ages, these techniques are simple and are combined with breathing techniques to increase the effectiveness of each stretch. Using simple therapeutic tools everything participants learn in class can be taken home for daily use. This class is highly recommended as an adjunct to those currently on a Myofascial Release program. There are no prerequisites for this class and everyone is welcome to attend.