Sanford Yoga & Community Center

Yoga for Mobility & Stress Reduction

Do you have movement restrictions and are trying to increase your flexibility? Or are you trying to find a little more mindfulness into your day to help decrease stress?

Then this is the class for you.

When stress becomes chronic or goes untreated, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, forgetful and exhausted. It can begin to manifest the body causing tight neck & shoulders, trouble sleeping, poor nutrition, headaches, back pain, etc. Chronic stress can create an overactive nervous system, lower your immune system and break down the body and mind, ultimately leading to Dis-EASE.

This style interweaves various yoga techniques including breathing (pranayama), yin/restorative poses (asana), symbolic hand gestures (mudra), and/or yoga nidra (guided meditation) allowing you to relax your body and unwind your mind while melting away stress.

Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma

Yoga for Mobility & Stress Reduction

As we process trauma through the mind, we also have to process it through the body. During this class, we will be using the breath as our vehicle.

After experiencing a traumatic event, the nervous system can enter a heightened state. Using the breath as our guide, we will be inviting rest into our body so that healing can occur.

Our mind is every flowing, and is constantly trying to keep us alert and alive even after a traumatic event has passed. Our body cannot heal in this heightened state. In this class, we will calm the mind using the breath and gentle movements. This in turn will allow healing to occur naturally throughout the body.

This gentle yoga practice is for all levels. It can be practiced on a mat on the floor, or modified while sitting in a chair.

If there is a movement that you cannot do (or do not have the limb to do so), you can still achieve the same benefit by visualizing yourself doing the movement. You do not actually have to move to benefit from this class. Movement is very nurturing for some, but for others, it is more supportive to visualize the movements.

Both methods will achieve the same results. You will be able to calm the mind and invite healing into the body by simply listening to this class.

Chair Yoga

Inversions & Arm Balancing

Hip Opening Workshop

Chair Yoga is a gentle class adapting yoga poses with a chair. This class cultivates awareness and deep relaxation through meditation, breath work, and gentle stretches all without the stress of getting up and down off the floor.

Hip Opening Workshop

Inversions & Arm Balancing

Hip Opening Workshop

Hips are often an area of tightness in our bodies, whether from spending a lot of time sitting or from doing a lot of sports like running or cycling.

Yoga is great for helping to relieve tension in this area. Working on hip flexibility and stability can also improve lower back pain, balance, posture and prevent injuries in later life.

While most yoga poses involve the muscles around the hips and pelvis in some way, hip openers are a specific group of asanas whose main anatomical function is to maintain and develop a healthy range of motion in the hips.

Inversions & Arm Balancing

Curious about headstands, handstands, or arm balancing and just don't know where to begin?

Then this is the class for you!

Inversions are a tremendously valuable part of a regular yoga practice, but getting into the posture safely is paramount.

Join us while we guide you safely into these postures, and discover your strength from within.

Advanced Postures

Are you looking to find a crow, crane, mermaid, flying lizard, or any other advanced posture?

Then this is the class for you!

Our practitioner will gently guide you and show you how to get deeper into your posture, with plenty of feedback on how to build and grow into it.

Whether you've already got a posture in mind, or you'd like our yogi to recommend one for you, come on in and see what you are capable of.

Prenatal Yoga

Advanced Postures

Pregnancy is a transitional time for women, when many physical & emotional changes take place. Prenatal Yoga is about honoring these changes in ourselves and our body as we connect to baby throughout these nine months. Postures to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, keep the body flexible, alleviate many common discomforts of pregnancy, while finding focus through balance & the breath to connect mother and baby and prepare for a healthy, mindful, more natural approach to the challenges of labor and birth. Sharing information and knowledge with meditation/relaxation for a peaceful, calm state of mind.

Prenatal Yoga is used to help mothers connect better with baby, stay healthy throughout pregnancy, remain flexible and strong helping her prepare for the challenges of labor & birth.

Prenatal Yoga includes poses, deep breathing, relaxation and meditation that may be practiced through all trimesters (clearing any medical issues with the care provider). Prenatal Yoga is a great way to connect with other mothers-to-be and establish friendships that go far beyond birth.

Couples Yoga

Advanced Postures

Couples Yoga

Bring your partner and enjoy a slow, restorative, and compassionate practice with your loved one.

Our therapeutic approach helps create more communication and ease between the couple, as each gently guide one another into supportive postures.

This is a truly a class that you do not want to miss.