Intro series

Learn more about yoga with other beginning students. This series is designed to safely and comfortably introduce you to the benefits of yoga. We begin with explanations and discussion then take time to introduce postures (asana), breathing (pranayama), and meditation techniques to help quiet and focus the mind. Once you finish a series, you may choose to attend another Intro series or move into an ongoing class.

Schedule: Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 PM
3 week series Nov. 5th - Nov. 19th
3 week series Dec. 3rd - Dec. 17th
4 week series Jan. 7th - Jan. 28th
4 week series Feb. 4th - Feb. 25th
4 week series Mar. 4th - Mar. 25th

Cost: $60 for 4 weeks series. You can buy a pass for a 4 weeks series on-line.
$45 for 3 week series. You can buy a pass for a 3 week series online.

Classes can be made up at an ongoing class during the week or another class in the next Intro Series. No drop-in students please.

Yoga for Parents: Infant & Me

Learn soothing, energizing, bond-building moves you can do alone or with your baby. Includes strengthening the core and abdominal muscles, increasing energy, reducing stress, and relaxing neck and shoulders. Gain increased physical strength while enjoying the support of other new parents and their babies, newborn through "crawling". Pre-register. Minimum of 4 and maximum 10 of students per series.

Schedule:
Thursdays, November 6, 13, 20 and December 4th, 10:30-11:30 AM
Next class begins in January.

Cost: $50 for 4 weeks series. You can buy a pass online. No drop-in students please.

Instructor: Melissa Valentine
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Level 1 series

The essence of yoga comes from the integrated practice of the physical layer with the nonphysical mind. As yogis say 'A mind can be a loyal servant but a terrible master'; hence it is important to work towards the clarity of mind for better perception. The yoga practice combines postures, meditation, mudras and breathing techniques. This Level 1 yoga class series is open to new and continuing students.

Schedule:Wednesdays, 4:15-5:15 PM
6 week series Oct. 15th - Nov. 19th
6 week series Mondays, 4:15-5:15pm, Jan. 12th - Feb. 23rd (no class Feb. 16th)

Cost: $60 for 6 weeks series. You can buy a pass online. No drop-ins.

Instructor: Sunita Sethi
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Strong bones yoga

Improve posture, build strong bones, and strengthen muscles by incorporating small weights into your Yoga practice. A video version of this course is available in both VHS and DVD.

Schedule: to be determined.

Cost: $90 for 6 weeks series. No drop-ins. Call or email to pre-register.

Instructor: Brenda McGee
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healthy back series

Learn to strengthen your inner core to help alleviate common low back pain. Simple yet effective! This 4 week series works progressively on back awareness postures and strengthening. All levels of students welcome. Bring a awareness into your every day life of work and play. Simple postures will help you move in ways to support your back effectively.

Schedule:Tuesdays, 9:30-10:45 AM
Please notify us of your interest. We'll begin a series when 5 students have expressed interest.

Cost: $60 for 4 weeks series. No drop-ins.

Instructor: Brenda McGee
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Yoga 4 Kids!

Yoga 4 Kids! offers ages 6-12 years old an introduction to yoga ideas and benefits through traditional postures, fun and creative play. The postures mimic plants, animals and objects that the children have seen before.

The children experience short meditations and visualizations. Each class is different and builds on the children's abilities and interests. Through yoga, the children gain a better awareness of their body, mind, breath and spirit. Pre-register by calling 425-861-1318 or email.

Schedule: Thursdays, 4 - 5 PM
5 week series Jan. 15th - Feb. 12th, 2009
Cost: $45 for series. You can buy a pass online.
Instructor: Alison Eliason
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meditation series

"Meditation is the most valuable activity that you can do to change your health and well-being" - as documented research from the NIH affirms. It has been proven that meditation relieves pain and stress, lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, improves memory and brings a sense of inner peace and tranquility to the ups and downs of everyday life.

Meditation is one of the eight limbs of yoga. Whether you are new to yoga, or practicing for many years; join us in this ongoing 4 week experiential series. We will start with yoga poses and pranayama to warm up the body for a longer sitting meditation. Through discussion and practice of various techniques, you will gain understanding of the depth of this ancient practice. Join us and give yourself the gift of serenity!

Schedule: TBD

Cost: $60 for series of 4 week series of classes. Register with your payment. Minumum 6 students. Click here to buy the series pass on-line.

Instructor: Phyllis Moses
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Refresh your mind - meditation article

Yes, you know that meditation can reduce stress, which research shows can damage brain cells and your ability to retain information over time. But the ancient practice can do more than just soothe your soul: It may also sharpen your memory. According to a University of Kentucky study, subjects who took a late-afternoon test after meditating for 40 minutes had significantly better scores than those who napped for the same period.

Even more surprising, when the subjects were retested after being deprived of a full night's sleep, those who meditated still scored better than their study counterparts. How could that be? Meditation, like sleep, reduces sensory input, and this quiet state may provide a time for neurons to process and solidify new information and memories.

Brain scans have revealed that meditation produces a state somewhat similar to non-REM sleep (which many specialists believe is the more mentally restorative sleep phase), in that many neurons of the cortex fire in sync, says Bruce O'Hara, PhD, a coauthor of the study. "However, unlike when you sleep, consciousness is fully maintained in meditation, so there is no grogginess upon 'awakening.'"

For regular, highly experienced meditators, the benefits to memory can be substantial. A 2004 University of Wisconsin-Madison study discovered that the brains of long-term Buddhist practitioners who have meditated every day for many years generated the highest levels of gamma waves a pattern of brain activity that's associated with attention, working memory, and learning ever reported in other studies.