Yoga Classes

Our psychologist is also a registered yoga teacher who creates mind-body sequences adapted to the specific needs of individuals with stress, chronic pain, breathing problems, scoliosis, balance issues, etc.  Typically, this practice involves postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques, basic tools drawn from this ancient holistic healing system. Yoga is designed to empower the individual to progress toward greater health and well-being.

• Stress relief
• Strengthening weak muscles, stretching tight ones
• Improving posture and balance
• Enhancing energy flow to stimulate the body’s own natural healing processes
• Relief for a wide range of chronic conditions including back pain, hypertension, asthma, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia

Yoga and Ayurveda (Tuesdays 11:30-12:45am)
Ever wonder about the ancient medicine of India? Ayurveda (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge) offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential. We will explore foods, spices, yoga poses, breathing techniques and more, based on your mindbody constitution, or Dosha.

Wise Women’s Sacred Circle (Tuesdays 1:00-2:15pm)
This is geared towards courageous women who want to discover their innate potential through discussion, meditation, breathing, yoga asanas, journaling and essential oils. In the spirit of svadhyaya (Sanskrit for self-study), this will be a safe, sacred group where women can find and express their authentic voice. The instructor is an experienced psychologist, yoga teacher, group facilitator and Reiki Master.  The intention for this group is to create a space for women to discover and learn to love their authentic selves.

Yoga Bliss (Tuesdays 2:30-4:00pm)
This class is a delicious blend of slow, mindful movements, longer-held Yin poses, and the complete relaxation of restorative yoga.

Yummy Yin Yoga (Thursdays 1:30-2:45pm)
We will hold floor poses for an extended period of time to compress the meridians and stress the connective tissues of the body. This meditative sequence fosters greater range of motion and flexibility.

Restorative Yoga (Thursdays 3:00-4:15pm)
A series of poses designed to turn off the flight or flight response by fostering complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation.

All classes are held at Breezeway Yoga Studio, 4830 Kingston Pike, Knoxville Tennessee, 37919. Each class is $15 and includes a few minutes of Reiki during Savasana, the final resting pose. Pre-registration is required. Call 865-971-3539.

We provide the mats and props. You bring an open heart, sense of adventure, and a desire to grow!

Restorative yoga works holistically, just as the other forms of yoga do, but its aim is healing. Other yogas are more focused on generating fitness, flexibility, and stamina.  The way we practice any form of yoga has a beneficial effect on our bodies, and it influences our minds and spirits, through breathing and meditation exercises. As we change our breath, we change our body chemistry, oxygenating muscles, detoxifying tissues, and bringing control and calmness to our minds that inspires clarity of thought.  Our spirits begin to live in a healthier, happier home as the body responds at all levels to the new practice.  All of this is magnified in restorative yoga.

We have time to breathe and meditate. We can find a mantra that helps concentrate, so we don’t have to devote energy and attention to the technicalities of any posture. A posture can open heart centers and affect the heart and lungs as well as the emotions. Our energy body has no chance to do these things as we move around in our busy lives.

Dedicating energy to our health and wellness, helps our psychologic state.  There’s no inner fight about other priorities and that frees up yet more energy to heal what needs to be healed.

Benefits

Lymphatic system – The lymphatic system drains our bodies of toxins from tissues and brings biochemical aid to tissues in need of healing. Unlike the cardiac system, it does not have a pump but relies on the movement of muscles and breath to press and drain the tissues and move critical biochemicals to the right places. This is why the breath work, or pranayama, is so important.

Cardiac system – Our hearts pull blood from our toes to our heads and circulate it back again all day, every day. No wonder the heart gets tired and struggles if we have thickening in the arteries that slows the pumping of blood around our bodies.  Restorative yoga lets us go into postures that allow the heart to be helped by gravity, such as Legs Up the Wall pose, where any congestion and swelling can be drained from the feet and legs, and the heart can rest a little and regain its strength.

Nervous System – Our nervous system is vital for our well-being. This system runs everywhere in our body, from receptor cells in our little finger to the frontal cortex of the brain.  The brain is susceptible to stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and works inefficiently if we overload the body with these biochemicals. If our nervous system does not work well, our memories are impaired, our immune system is compromised, and we get more illnesses. Our hearts work overtime when we are in fight or flight mode all the time, and our ability to think and create is curtailed.

These are just a few of the ways restorative yoga benefits our bodies. Whether you make it part of your regular practice, recommended if you are under any specific or chronic stress, or as a small part if you’re in a good space in your life, it could just be what you are looking for to bring your health and wellness back into balance and harmony.

More than 100 clinical trials are underway in the United States examining yoga’s benefits for a variety of conditions, including insomnia, heart failure, pediatric headaches, epilepsy, diabetes, obesity, hot flashes, arthritis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cigarette addiction. An emerging body of literature suggests yoga can relieve an array of ailments, ranging from chronic low-back pain to hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal and peri-menopausal symptoms, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.