Live Online Classes & Workshops
Gentle Yoga Immersion Classes
and Special Workshops
Selected Saturday afternoons
Live on Zoom* with Rudy or Guest Teachers
Next Up:
Scroll down to see past Immersions available in the video library.
The Organized Brain
The Brain Gym® Movement Menu
For who? For all evolving humans.
Learn targeted Brain Gym®️movements for the midbrain, the organizing, memory and emotional seat of your brain. These practices promote a clean, blank canvas to create your day, your boundless space of potential for manifestation.
Brain Gym®️movements can switch on the neuromuscular pathways that widen the net of creative thinking. When the mind attempts to bog you down with “story,” limiting beliefs, excuses, or procrastination, you have the option to move your body, to move your thinking. These targeted movements can reset your focus and your inner direction, combined with consciously upgrading your inner conversations (from Language of Mastery®).
This process, called The Balancing Process, can improve the coordination and functioning of the various regions of the brain to enhance your daily life in general, as well as improve performance of specific tasks. You may find that you breathe easier, are energized, and even feel “time wealthy”.
How to prepare for class: Fill two socks with 1 cup of beans in each and tie them shut, or, if you have a couple of bean bags the size of your palms, those will work perfectly. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Have drinking water, a notebook & pen handy.
OPTIONAL: If time allows, instead of filling socks with beans as described above, you can order the official sandbags Emily uses for Brain Gym classes here. Get one green and one yellow. They are $2.50 each plus shipping (to Massachusetts, shipping is around $9). Note: We (Gentle Yogis and Emily Eisen) do not make any commission off of your purchase and have no affiliation with the BAVX website or their products.
When
Feb 22 and March 22, 2025, Saturdays, 2:00-3:30pm Eastern plus optional Q&A til 4:00pm, live via Zoom (includes video for 21 days)
Cost
Sliding scale $10-30 (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
These classes will be held via Zoom and will be recorded. They can be rented anytime (after the live class) ends to use for 21 days each in the Video Library.
Stimulate and Integrate
Transform & Empower Your Yoga Practice
Beginners and experienced practitioners all welcome*
Savor the subtleties of Dynamic Gentle Yoga which is characterized by:
- Slow, breath-initiated movement
- Empowered exploration and innovative options
- Expanded awareness
- Increased energy flow
- Stimulation of the vital life force
- Development of a meditative focus
Learn the art of graceful, relaxed effort. Experience energized stillness. Enter a timeless zone where moments of peace arise effortlessly. Options will be provided to explore the stimulation of a well-supported sustaining phase of the posture where transformation happens.
Dive easefully into this masterfully guided exploration of the sustaining phase of yoga postures. In this practice, you will lighten your load, mentally and emotionally, flushing old emotions from the tissues, bringing them to the surface so they can evaporate into the ethers.
Experience this deeper aspect of yoga that builds energy and stimulates the flow of prana, the life force energy that some call the inner healer. Discover how the deeper practice of yoga in the compassionate style of Dynamic Gentle kindles wholeness, insight and a healthy glow.
**This class will include standing and floor movements and positions. Final relaxation and meditation can be done seated in a chair if you prefer.
When
Recorded Dec 28, 2024
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This workshop can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Embodied Anatomy & Movement
Find Presence, Poise & Power in Your Posture
Just like gardeners learn about plants to better tend to their gardens, you can learn about your anatomy to better care for your body. An Embodied Anatomy and Movement Immersion is for anyone who wants to support healthy functional movement through embodiment.
In this immersion, we will focus on balancing effort and ease to maintain a healthy posture. Join Louise to discover strategies to align your energy and keep a vibrant posture.
- Get introduced to the key anatomical landmarks of your spine and how it connects with your limbs
- Embody these landmarks with playful imagery and exercises
- Learn to align your posture to improve your breath, relieve your joints, and ease your mind
- Visualize the support of your torso’s “inner corset” with the help of a virtual anatomy model
- Use imagery to gently retrain postural habits towards an “upright but not uptight” posture
- Through a gentle yoga practice take your posture into movement and different orientations
This workshop will begin with a presentation that alternates between practical information and embodied experience, followed by a yoga class that includes deep relaxation. A handout will be emailed to you afterwards to reinforce your learning.
When
Recorded Nov 16, 2024
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This workshop can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Partnering with Your Brain
Moves and Methods to Benefit Daily Living
For who? For all evolving humans.
Why? We are born to survive. Reacting is instinctual and normal. We have different brain centers for different functions. Learning movements and methods allows one to take agency of their functions and choose responses for optimal living.
In this gentle workshop, you will learn:
- About your brain centers, their functions, midlines & midfields
- How to assess your current state: High gear or low gear
- How to create your menu of movements and methods
- How to assess your new state
- Integration of new learning
- Ease of application
- Celebration
Join us for this Gentle Immersion workshop including accessible fun movement activities followed by a relaxation, some pranayama (breathing) and a brief meditation. Note that you are always welcome to join with your camera off if that is most comfortable for you.
When
Recorded Sept 21, 2024
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Chair-Supported Sun Salutations
A Journey of Exploration and Empowerment
This workshop is for everyone.
- Uncover the origins and significance of the Sun Salutation, a revered yoga sequence.
- Explore three chair-supported Sun Salutation sequences tailored to varying levels of flexibility and strength.
- Discover the unique ways these sequences stretch and strengthen your body, promoting balanced energy and well-being.
- Experience simple powerful pranayama (breathing) techniques integrated seamlessly into each distinct movement of the sequence.
Join us for this Dynamic Gentle Yoga™ workshop where tradition meets innovation, and where the ancient wisdom of yoga intertwines with modern accessibility. This workshop includes an extended relaxation (seated or lying down).
When
Recorded June 8, 2024
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Spaces and Spirals for Healthy Knees
Embodied Anatomy and Movement
This workshop is for everyone.
Just like gardeners learn about plants to better tend to their gardens, you can learn about your
anatomy to better care for your body. An Embodied Anatomy and Movement Immersion is for
anyone who wants to support healthy movement through deeper understanding of the body.
In this immersion, we will focus on the complex, elegant, and dynamic knees. Join Louise to discover strategies to make your knees happier.
- Get introduced to the key anatomical landmarks of your knees.
- Embody these landmarks with playful imagery and exercises.
- Visualize the inner workings of the knees with the help of a virtual anatomy model.
- Explore gentle yoga to fine tune the synchronization of your hips and ankles through your knees.
This workshop will begin with a presentation that alternates between practical information and embodied experience, followed by a gentle yoga class that includes deep relaxation.
When
Recorded May 11, 2024
Cost
Video Rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
A Gentle Yogi’s Guide to Communicating in Today’s World
An Experiential Workshop and Dynamic Gentle Yoga Class
Beginners welcome.
This workshop will begin with an interactive presentation followed by a Dynamic Gentle Yoga™ class that includes accessible movement, deep relaxation, pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation.
Are you concerned about the intensity of these times? Do you relate to the following challenges?
- What to say and how to say it when polarizing situations are at the forefront of our awareness.
- How to engage with people that have varying worldviews.
- Maintaining hope without spiritual bypass (the use of spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation to avoid challenging emotions.)
What if we lead with curiosity? What if we apply yoga principles and ethics to these challenges? What if we use some of the Dynamic Gentle Yogis signature practices when we are unsure?
Together, in this workshop, we will cultivate a skill set that includes
- Leading with curiosity
- Somatic (body based) listening
- Sensing the skillful way to BE rather than the right thing to SAY
Join Rachel to explore yoga philosophy and body-based listening, embark on a journey of hope in these challenging times and integrate your learning in a wonderful gentle yoga class.
When
Recorded Feb 24, 2024
Cost
Video Rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This recorded workshop can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Life as a Flow
Traveling the Layers of Being (Koshas) from Body to Soul
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 19
Beginners welcome.
We are multidimensional beings, but what are those dimensions? In one system that explores this question, the layers of being, called koshas, are considered subtle energetic bodies embedded within each other; think nesting toys. Perhaps life can be more of a flow if we are aware of the layers in which our energy is dominant at any given moment; we can choose to travel to the more subtle layers where we can experience a sense of the self that is unchanging and connected to something eternal.
In this immersion, you will:
- Get acquainted with the layers of your own existence from body to soul and the qualities of these sheaths.
- Experience a gradual inward journey through these layers, unveiling greater subtlety and depth.
- Gain a glimpse of the purity at the eternal center of consciousness, while at the same time allowing that purity to animate your individuality.
- Learn techniques to maintain clear, open, and integrated channels between these layers, so that life feels like more of a flow.
This workshop will begin with an insightful presentation followed by a gently-paced Dynamic Gentle Yoga™ class that includes deep relaxation, pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation.
When
Recorded Jan 27, 2024
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This recorded class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Fully Human, Fully Alive
Exploring the Eight-Fold Path of Yoga
Beginners welcome.
Experience how the Dynamic Gentle Yoga practices draw from an ancient wisdom tradition in order to impart moments of freedom from “ordinary unhappiness”. Experience how these ancient yoga teachings are timeless and profoundly relevant for our time.
In this Immersion you will:
- Learn about the roots of yoga and how far back in history they go.
- Experience how the yamas and niyamas decongest the restless mind and provide a resting place and a peacefully energy flow.
- Learn the essential invitation of asana practice.
- Learn why Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is considered the most comprehensive exposition of the ancient wisdom tradition of yoga.
- Discover why this book has been thought of as one of the most sophisticated meditation manuals in the world.
- Learn what is considered the threshold to meditation.
- Experience moments of personal liberation and freedom in a smooth, meditative Dynamic Gentle Yoga™ practice.
When
Recorded Dec 30, 2023
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Posture Matters
Discover Your Sources of Support
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced student, to safely enjoy this experience.
This workshop, focused on posture, will enhance your current movement practice or provide a secure foundation for you if you are looking to safely incorporate more movement into your life. We will explore why posture matters and how to improve it, with special attention given to the issue of low bone density.
In this gentle yoga immersion you will
- Learn why improved posture is associated with decreased risk of spinal fractures for those of us with low bone density
- Explore the role that the pelvic floor, abdominal and breathing muscles play in supporting posture
- Discover the link between posture and stability
- Practice using a breathing-based “lengthen and strengthen” approach to enhance posture and ensure safety during physical activity
- Explore an approach for safely rotating your torso
- Enjoy a Gentle Strength class and a relaxing restorative pose to reduce upper back rounding and improve posture
When
Recorded on Nov 25, 2023
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Embodied Anatomy & Movement
Hip Hip Hooray- Get Hip to Your Hips!
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced student, to safely enjoy this experience.
Just like gardeners learn about plants to better tend to their gardens, you can learn about your anatomy to better care for your body. An Embodied Anatomy and Movement Immersion is for anyone who wants to support healthy movement through deeper understanding of the body.
In this immersion, we will focus on the hips and pelvis Join Louise to free your hips and center your pelvis.
- Get introduced to the key anatomical landmarks of your hips and pelvis
- Embody these landmarks with playful imagery and exercises
- Visualize the inner workings of the hips with the help of a virtual anatomy model
- Explore gentle yoga to find mobility in your hips and map your neutral pelvis
This workshop will begin with a presentation that alternates between practical information and embodied experience, followed by a yoga class that includes deep relaxation. A handout will be emailed to you afterwards to reinforce your learning.
When
Recorded on Oct 21, 2023
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime to use for 21 days in the Video Library.
Brain Gym® and Gentle Yoga Immersion
Movement as a Door to Learning
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced student, to safely enjoy this experience.
Brain Gym® is a program of 26 different movement activities that help awaken and balance the brain’s three regions, relieve stress, develop noticing skills and enhance conscious learning. Dr. Paul Dennison, is the creator of Brain Gym®. He and his wife Gail Dennison call this work Educational Kinesiology, meaning to stimulate learning using movement.
In this Gentle Immersion you will
- Discover your own Dominance Profile (Dr. Carla Hannaford) and its application to your learning style
- Learn about the three regions of the brain (Dr. Paul MacLean’s Triune Brain model)
- Find out about and notice midline imbalance and create midfield space of choice
- Learn to get in P-A-C-E, the four learning readiness exercises of Brain Gym®
- Experience a Brain Gym® Balance
- Explore the value of movement in daily life
We will begin with arrival centering actions, then a combination of Breath Practices, Brain Gym® and Yoga to switch on the brain and senses for noticing and learning: focusing, listening, comprehending, communicating, organizing, integrating and remembering. Relaxation time will be included.
Please have handy: a chair, mat, blanket, water, snack, tissues, notebook/journal, pen
When
Recorded on Sept 23, 2023
Cost
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class can be rented anytime for 21 days in the Video Library.
Exploring Truth, Integrity and Non-Violence
An Embodied Inquiry through the Lens of Yoga Ethics
Times are challenging with violence erupting in our communities, in our country and in the world. How do we live in truth, in integrity? Let’s explore this together.
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced student, to safely enjoy this experience.
An invitation from Rachel Allen:
Join me in an embodied inquiry into truth & compassion through the lens of Yoga Ethics with asana (accessible gentle standing and chair yoga), reflective writing & discussion. You are not required to get down onto the floor to participate fully.
- In this day and age when people say whatever they want, does truth matter?
- Is truth a matter of perspective?
- Is there such a thing as broader, universal truths?
- What is the relationship between truth and integrity, truth and courage?
- How do we speak truth to injustice without screaming into the void or creating more chaos?
- How can I speak truth in a way that opens hearts and minds, (including my own) rather than from the edge of a cliff of self-righteousness?
- Given that silence can speak volumes, is my silence harmful? When is it helpful?
These are all questions to ponder; let’s do this together.
To me, becoming established in truth is a process. It is often intertwined with ahimsa, the first yama, often translated as non-violence. My growing understanding of ahimsa is that it is more than non-injury, but rather, actively looking to remove the causes of harm.
After registering and before the event, you will receive via email, a worksheet with the above and other inquiries. Come with your own as well!
Please be prepared with:
- Journal/pens/pencils
- Yoga mat. cushion, yoga blocks, yoga strap
- An open mind and heart
- Water/Tea
When
Recorded on August 26, 2023.
Cost
Access
Video rental $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Rent now in our Video Library for 21 days of access.
Satya. Truth. In the Yogic tradition, it is one of the five yamas or ethical practices that make up the first limb of the eight limbed practice of yoga in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
सत्य Satya means truth or truthfulness.
Satya Sutra
2.36 सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम् ॥ २.३६ ॥
satya-pratiṣthāyāṁ kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam
“When one is established in truthfulness, actions begin to bear fruit.”
~ Sw. Satchidananda
Embodied Anatomy & Movement
Root Your Neck & Support Your Head
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced student, to safely enjoy this experience.
Just like gardeners learn about plants to better tend to their gardens, you can learn about your anatomy to better care for your body. An Embodied Anatomy and Movement Immersion is for anyone who wants to support healthy movement through deeper understanding of the body.
In this immersion, we will focus on the neck and head or our “upper limb”. Join Louise to find lasting ease in your neck and head.
- Get introduced to key anatomical landmarks of the neck and head
- Embody these landmarks with playful imagery and exercises
- Visualize the inner workings of the neck and head with a virtual anatomy model
- Explore gentle yoga to address common limitations in neck and head mobility
This workshop will begin with a presentation that alternates between practical information and embodied experience, followed by a yoga class that includes deep relaxation. A handout will be emailed to you afterwards to reinforce your learning.
When
Recorded on June 3, 2023
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Minding the Mind
Gentle Breathing Options to Transform Your State of Mind
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced Gentle Strength student, to safely practice.
We are multi-dimensional beings. We think. We do. We feel. We are in an animal body, with a human mind and spirit. Yoga practice supports moving toward the experience of being a connected body, mind and spirit.
In this gentle immersion you will learn and experience:
- the many ways the breath can create a bridge from the body to the mind and the spirit
- the variety of mind states that are part of our human experience
- to recognize “the five afflictions” (kleshas) that likely arise in your own experience
- the unique effects of gentle breath practice, so that you have options when you need a change of mind
This class will begin with a short presentation, but will be a full gentle yoga practice including accessible movement, breathing, relaxation and meditation all at a gentle pace.
When
Recorded on April 29, 2023
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Evolving Your Practice
Gentle Strength and Dynamic Gentle Yoga
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first-time explorer to the experienced Gentle Strength student, to safely practice.
The intention of this immersion is to introduce you to the Gentle Strength approach, created by Terry Tresco, and to give you an experience of safely integrating Gentle Strength principles into a gentle yoga practice. We will explore how to develop strength in several traditional yoga postures through mindful muscle engagement, postural alignment and harnessing the power of the exhalation.
During this immersion, you will:
- experience diaphragmatic breathing with attention to detail
- explore postural alignment and accessible options in a variety of gentle yoga postures
- harness your breath and engage muscles to create strength and stability
- rest and rejuvenate in a relaxation (on the floor or in a chair) and a guided meditation
You will be guided through a Dynamic Gentle Yoga practice enhanced by an exploration of the subtle details of Gentle Strength. Through conscious awareness and engagement, you will feel the work your muscles are doing to support you. You can take this knowledge with you into your future practice, if you so choose.
When
Recorded on April 1, 2023
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Embodied Anatomy & Movement
Finding Joy in Your Shoulders
Just like gardeners learn about plants to better tend to their gardens, you can learn about your anatomy to better care for your body. An Embodied Anatomy and Movement Immersion is for anyone who wants to support healthy movement through a deeper understanding of the body.
In this immersion, we will focus on shoulders and the shoulder blades known as the wings of the heart. Join Louise to find joy in freeing your shoulders.
- Get introduced to key anatomical landmarks of the shoulders and shoulder girdle
- Embody these landmarks with playful and engaging exercises
- See a virtual anatomy model to easily visualize the inner workings of the shoulders
- Explore gentle exercises to address common postural imbalances
This workshop will begin with a presentation that alternates between practical information and embodied experience, followed by a yoga class that includes deep relaxation. A handout will be emailed to you afterwards to reinforce your learning.
When
Recorded on March 4, 2023
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Build Resilience
Mindful Movement, Music and Meditation
How are you these days? With so much going on in the world around us, plus our own personal close-to-home challenges ranging from daily life to illness or loss, we could all use some support to downshift the nervous system and nurture our capacity for resilience.
Give yourself the opportunity to be in a safe, meaningful, virtual community space with Rachel Allen, a musician and seasoned yoga teacher with a unique set of skills and talents and a lived compassion for humanness and the healing of both everyday and event trauma. Partake in evidence-based practices that build resilience in the physical, mental, emotional and social domains.
The experiences offered in this immersion are inclusive and accessible and can be integrated into your daily life if you so choose. Practices will include: gentle movement, music making (no singing talent required), reflective journaling, meditation and breathing.
A resources handout will be emailed to you after the live class or attached to the video in the Video Library if you choose to access this workshop by video. The handout includes the slide presentation on resilience.
When
Recorded on January 28, 2023
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Opening the Main Channels
A Gentle Yoga Chakra Immersion
with Terry Tresco
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first time explorer to the experienced yogi, to safely practice.
Even if you’ve never heard of the chakras or don’t know much about them, you’ve probably experienced different states of the energies associated with them. Do you feel secure or insecure? comfortable or uncomfortable? empowered or disempowered? open or closed-hearted? self-expressed or stifled? insightful or confused? connected or isolated? We have options to influence the energy centers of the body that are associated with these experiences when we know a bit more about them.
In this immersion you will learn about the Chakra system and experience
- Gentle yoga practices that stimulate the energy flow in the area of each chakra
- The mantra vibrations associated with each chakra
- The qualities associated with each chakra
- Clear connection with your experience throughout your entire being
- A balanced flow of energy from head to toes
- A sense of what you need and what you want
This will be a wonderful practice to create a sense of wholeness and integration and prepare you to move into the new year.
When
Recorded on Dec 31, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Clear Seeing and Pure Consciousness
Yoga for the Sixth & Seventh Chakras
with Rudy Peirce
Beginners welcome. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first time explorer to the experienced yogi, to safely practice.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to the chakras is to help the energy flow freely. Balanced chakras allow the qualities of those energy centers to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The fruit of yoga practice is said to be meditation, wherein the mind is peaceful and steady. Other qualities of meditation include a sense of objectivity, a healthy detachment, neutral noticing, a sense of being equal with all that may arise in awareness without thinking. Sometimes this is referred to as witness consciousness.
The sixth chakra, Ajna chakra, meaning to see or to witness, is the center of witness consciousness. In this state you can see clearly beyond all dualities, good and bad, higher and lower, right and wrong. As the poet Rumi wrote, “Out beyond ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” It is by the stillness that is characteristic of the sixth chakra or witness consciousness, that the seventh chakra opens to the flow of energy.
The seventh chakra, Sahasrara, meaning “to know”, is the center of pure consciousness. With regular practice, all the chakras may open and offer an experience of transcendent peace as energy flows through the seventh chakra. This may bring a sense of freedom in which all of your chakras become integrated naturally, in which you have a clear vision of your life’s deepest meaning. As a result, your vision is transformed into a living reality.
This immersion will be a yoga practice of movement, asana, deep relaxation, pranayama and meditation, intended to impart the stillness of mind that opens the flow in these two highest chakras.
When
Recorded on Nov 26, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Expression and Connection
Yoga for the Fifth Chakra
with Rudy Peirce
Beginners welcome.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to a chakra is to help the energy flow freely through that area. A balanced chakra allows the qualities of that energy center to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The fifth chakra is called Visuddha Chakra, meaning “purification.” It is an energy center located in your throat, mouth, ears, and hands, affecting your thyroid and parathymus glands. The fifth chakra’s element is ether, the element associated with sound, which travels through the ethers, also known as space. Focusing on the Visuddha Chakra is an opportunity to explore self-expression, your ability to communicate, to connect, to extend consciousness from one place to another, within the body and within society and culture.
The fifth chakra’s properties include communication through sound, rhythm, vibration, and words. It is the realm of consciousness that controls, creates, transmits, and receives communication, both within ourselves and with each other.
When we are balanced in the fifth chakra, we can live lives filled with a voice that is full, communicates clearly with truthfulness and creativity as well as with good listening. We can then experience connection, harmony and unity.
When the energy flow is deficient, one may experience fear of speaking, poor rhythm, a weak voice, excessive shyness, denial of creative expression When fifth chakra energy is excessive, there can be excessive talking, poor listening, over extension, gossiping, being too loud, unable to keep confidences, forced creative expression.
During the immersion Rudy will guide you in mindfulness practices including breath, meditation and asana to stimulate and regulate the flow of energy in the throat, this personal energy center which is a crucial place in the gateway between mind and body. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the first time explorer to the experienced yogi, to safely practice.
The physical practice for the fifth chakra will focus on gentle movements to loosen the neck muscles and lubricate the cervical spine with an awareness of precautions for osteoporosis, arthritis, and disc or spine injuries. We will also explore expression through mantras, seed sounds of the chakras, the vowel sounds of the chakras, rhythm, creative movement and creative expression with pen and paper.
At all times you will be offered safe options for practice while stimulating the fifth chakra. The intention of this practice is to enhance your awareness of expression, transmission, listening, connection with you and with others, inner and outer harmony.
Learn to access self-expression, to generate sustainable self practices that create a strong, mind-body connection, and deepen your awareness of the vitality gained from expressing yourself.
When
Recorded on Nov 5, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Heart Centered Practice
Yoga for the Fourth Chakra
with Terry Tresco
Beginners welcome.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to a chakra is to help the energy flow freely through that area. A balanced chakra allows the qualities of that energy center to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The fourth chakra is called Anahata Chakra, meaning “unstruck.” It is an energy center located at the center of your chest, your heart. The fourth chakra’s element is air. Focusing on the Anahata Chakra is an opportunity to explore our ability to expand, to offer unconditional love, to accept love and kindness from others, to trust ourselves as a way of learning to trust others. This chakra’s properties include open-heartedness, gratitude, compassion, and connectedness.
When we are balanced in our fourth chakra we can live authentic lives filled with unconditional love, of ourselves and others. We have the capacity to appreciate beauty, be generous and cheerful. When the energy flow is deficient, one may experience loneliness, distrust, and separation. When fourth chakra energy is excessive, there can be a sense of self-righteousness, self-centeredness, and hard-heartedness.
During the immersion Terry will guide you in mindfulness practices including breath, meditation and asana to stimulate and regulate the flow of energy in our heart, this personal energy center into which we are born. Options will be offered to allow everyone, from the experienced yogi to the first time explorer, to safely practice.
The physical practice for the fourth chakra will focus on gentle lengthening of the chest muscles and strengthening the back of the body with an awareness of precautions for osteoporosis, arthritis, and disc or spine injuries. At all times you will be offered safe options for practice while stimulating the fourth chakra. The intention of this practice is to enhance your awareness of love, trust, and connectedness with others, but also your connection within, between body, mind, and heart.
Learn to access your open-hearted, compassionate self to create sustainable self practices that create a strong, mind-body connection, and deepen your awareness of your own open heart.
When
Recorded on Oct 15, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Ignite Your Inner Fire
Yoga for the Third Chakra
with Terry Tresco
Beginners welcome.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to a chakra is to help the energy flow freely through that area. A balanced chakra allows the qualities of that energy center to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The physical practice for the third chakra will focus on gentle rotation of the spine with an awareness of precautions for osteoporosis, arthritis, and disc or spine injuries. At all times you will be offered options for a practice that can be safe yet still stimulate the third chakra. The intention of this practice is to enhance your awareness of self care, interoception, and compassion.
The third chakra is called the Manipura Chakra, an energy center located at the solar plexus, just beneath your sternum. The third chakra’s element is Fire. Focusing on the Manipura Chakra is an opportunity to explore your own personal energy, your place in the world. This chakra’s properties. Its properties are strength, strength of character, strength of commitment.
When we are balanced in the third chakra we can live authentic lives filled with non-judgmental awareness of ourselves and others. We have the capacity to digest our experiences, find peace in the now, stay committed to what is meaningful in our lives. In short, we have the opportunity to thrive. When the energy flow is deficient, one may experience low self esteem, a lack of purpose, a sense of giving up. When third chakra energy is excessive, there can be a sense of competition with others, conflict, a focus on fame or status.
During the immersion, Terry will guide you in mindfulness practices including breath, meditation, and asana to stimulate and regulate this fire in our belly, this personal energy center. You will be offered options along the way to allow everyone, from the experienced yogi to the first time explorer, to safely practice.
Experience strength of commitment to creating sustainable self care practices that create a strong, mind-body connection, and deepen your awareness of your own place in the world.
When
Recorded on Sept 24, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Get Your Flow On
Yoga for the Second Chakra
Beginners welcome.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to a chakra is to help the energy flow freely through that area of the body. A balanced chakra allows the qualities of that energy center to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The second chakra’s element is water; this energy center is about sensory experiences, feelings, emotions and pleasure. When there is a lack of flow in this chakra, joy, passion and creativity are elusive or dampened. When flow is supported, our capacity to enjoy life and all its sense pleasures increases. In this immersion, Rudy will guide you in gentle yoga movements and breath to help you reclaim more flow and comfort in your body.
Additional upcoming Immersions will also focus on a chakra or two. Gift yourself with these wonderfully therapeutic educational experiences; through the tools you learn in these practices, you can become even more of who you are meant to be.
When
Recorded on Sept 3, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Strengthen Your Foundation
Yoga for the First Chakra
Beginners welcome.
The intention of a yoga practice oriented to a chakra is to help the energy flow freely through that area of the body. A balanced chakra allows the qualities of that energy center to thrive in a balanced way, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The first chakra is the root, the foundation, an energy center located at the base of the tailbone, the coccyx.
The first chakra’s element is earth. As a root, it creates stability and supports basic survival, similar to how roots feed water and nutrition to plants and trees. Its properties are grounded, solid, steady. When the energy flow is deficient, one may experience being scattered, ungrounded, flighty, drifty, maybe anxious or fearful. When first chakra energy is excessive, there can be a sense of lethargy, weightedness, a feeling of being stuck.
Yoga practices for the first chakra can produce a sense of centeredness, stability, clarity, strength and confidence. We focus on bringing energy and awareness down….down to the feet, legs and base of the spine. As you get the energy flowing freely throughout this system of energy centers, the seven chakras, you receive a powerful integration of your many parts into a sense of wholeness. The first chakra integrates mind and body.
The next four Immersions will also focus on a chakra. Gift yourself with this wonderfully therapeutic educational experience; through the tools you learn in these practices, you can be more of who you are meant to be, free and fully expressed, starting with a strong foundation.
When
Recorded on Aug 13, 2022
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Self-Care for Caregivers
Mindful Moments to Restore Energy
If you are a caregiver, you are probably all too familiar with the challenge of finding time for yourself. Even if you are not currently caring for another, we can all use effective ways to reset that don’t take a lot of time or require a yoga mat!
Join Rachel to learn short portable practices that anyone can use to create moments of peace. You will have an opportunity to dialogue about how to reach out for support and be sustainable in your caregiving as well as applying yogic principles to uncertainty and challenges.
After a short presentation, practices will include:
- Breath work with mudras (hand gestures)
- Practice to recharge energy level and promote vitality
- Practice to discharge anxiety and promote calm
- Sound work (humming, toning, singing)
- Meditation on balanced giving and receiving
Rachel Allen ERYT 200, CMP, has 18 years of working in hospice with patients, including serving the needs of caregivers. Her daughter, Riley, now a young adult, was born with spina bifida, so Rachel has experienced long hospital stays, lengthy recoveries at home and the associated challenges of uncertainty as a caregiver for a loved one with a chronic condition.
When
Recorded on July 16, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Dynamic Gentle Slow Flow
energizing..liberating…slow…steady
Beginners welcome.
Experience the freedom and liberating energy of the Dynamic Gentle Yoga approach to moving on the currents of breath.
If you have never tried a vinyasa (guided flow) approach or you have shied away from yoga that’s referred to as vinyasa, thinking it is too difficult, too fast, or requires a high level of flexibility and strength, come experience this Immersion class and discover new freedom.
The Dynamic Gentle Yoga approach to guided flow is accessible, inclusive and empowering. Join Rudy to enjoy movement linked with breath that can change your relationship with your body and mind.
This gently-paced class will include some gentle but subtly powerful breathing techniques and a nice long resting time to ensure that your nervous system gets a reset into restore and repair mode.
When
Recorded on May 28, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Gentle Strength: Pre-hab for Healthy Aging
A workshop for every body. No yoga or strength-training experience required.
Begin from where you are; improvement in strength, balance and mobility is possible at any age and any stage. Experience gentle movements that build muscle mass and stimulate an increase in bone density from supported standing positions or seated in a chair. No weights or bands are required for this workshop; all you need is your body, a sturdy chair, a pair of thick socks, a couple of upside-down sturdy plastic bins (or yoga blocks) and a dish towel/hand towel. A blanket and pillow for relaxation will also be useful.
Those of us in our 50s, 60s and beyond are all too familiar with the dreaded diagnosis of osteoporosis or arthritis, and some of us have both. The precautions and recommendations coming from all directions can be conflicting and it’s difficult to know what movements are effective and safe. Staying committed to a routine is also a challenge for many of us. Give yourself part of an afternoon to discover manageable and effective solutions. In this gently-paced workshop, you will learn:
- that gentle accessible yoga postures actually strengthen your bones as well as your muscles
- the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis and between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and how the precautions vary for each condition
- the power of protein in our diet (animal or plant-based) to increase muscle mass
The workshop is comprised of four 20-30 minute segments of gentle physical activity to address different aspects of movement:
Balance. Strength. Mobility. Restoration.
After this workshop you will be empowered to practice on your own and keep track of your progress using the provided simple handouts AND/OR continue to learn and practice in live online Gentle Strength classes.
When
Recorded on May 7, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Soundplay
with Bhavani Lorraine Nelson
Are you shy about expressing yourself in sound? Are you a singer wanting greater vocal freedom? Are you interested in sounding for healing? For any or all of these reasons and more, join Bhavani for her Soundplay workshop!
During this workshop, you will:
- Learn how the vibrational nature of our being makes sounding a most powerful healing technique
- Free your voice from the ground up with simple exercises to open the body
- Empower yourself to express more fully in every area of your life
- Luxuriate in the feeling that comes from knowing you are sounding with like-hearted others
- Discover how to use sound to relax and heal yourself and others
- Experience a personal sound healing session
This workshop is fun, informative, and transformative, and you can leave it there if you like—but if you take the exercises on as a practice, they can change your life—the way you stand, the way you breathe, the way you show up in your world.
The Soundplay experience is enriching for “non-singers” and “pros” alike. No singing experience is necessary, simply be in a space you’ll be comfortable making sound in and have a chair handy. Dress for movement and get ready to fall in love—with your own sound!
When
Recorded on April 16, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Stimulate and Integrate
Transform & Empower Your Yoga Practice
Explore the stimulation of a well-supported sustaining phase of the posture where transformation happens.
Dive easefully into this masterfully guided exploration of the sustaining phase of yoga postures. In this practice, you will lighten your load, mentally and emotionally, flushing old emotions from the tissues, bringing them to the surface so they can evaporate into the ethers.
Experience this deeper aspect of yoga that builds energy and stimulates the flow of prana, the life force energy that some call the inner healer. Discover how the deeper practice of yoga in the compassionate style of Dynamic Gentle kindles wholeness, insight and a healthy glow.
When
Recorded on March 26, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Expand and Extend
Open the Chest, Open the Heart
Innovative sequences to open the chest, shoulders, neck and back, restoring well-supported posture and healthy energy flow.
In this immersion you will experience:
- Innovative progressive sequences to open the chest, shoulders and back
- Back bends that do not require bending
- Spinal extensions that are safe and satisfying, even joyful
- An opening of the heart and a release from the restrictions of poor posture
- Resolution of some chronic tensions and increased relaxation
- A renewed boost in energy-level, focus and a perk-up for your mood
When
Recorded on March 5, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Opening the Main Channels
A Gentle Chakra Yoga Practice
Even if you’ve never heard of the chakras or don’t know much about them, you’ve probably experienced different states of the energies associated with them. Do you feel secure or insecure? comfortable or uncomfortable? empowered or disempowered? open or closed- hearted? self-expressed or stifled? insightful or confused? connected or isolated?
We have options to influence the energy centers of the body that are associated with these experiences when we know a bit more about them.
In this immersion you will learn about the Chakra energy system and experience:
- Gentle yoga practices that stimulate the energy flow in the area of each chakra
- The mantra vibrations associated with each chakra
- The qualities associated with each chakra
- Clear connection with your experience throughout your entire being
- A balanced flow of energy from head to toes
- A sense of what you need and what you want
This will be a wonderful practice to create a sense of wholeness and integration.
When
Recorded on January 22, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Inside the Gentle Breath Practice Chair Yoga Phenomenon
the What, the How, and the Why
Whether you are brand new to yoga, practice yoga regularly or you are somewhere in between…join us for this special opportunity to learn how the sequence of movements and breathing techniques Rudy guides in the daily morning class can bring benefits into your life. Find out why so many people have dedicated themselves to this practice.
Observe, experience and explore each of the movements, postures and techniques in depth with Rudy as your guide and ask any questions. Hear what people who have been practicing daily have to say about the benefits they experience. Gain confidence, get re-inspired, or prepare to begin.
Rudy has been leading this practice almost daily for 21 months. Though the practice has evolved over time, the main elements remain; three key yoga postures incorporating the six movements of the spine plus four pranayama/breathing techniques form the recipe for the success of this practice.
Rudy will address topics and questions including:
- Will this practice improve my health? What are the benefits?
- I have _______ (insert your own body issue)…can I do this practice safely?
- Is this practice strengthening?
- Will this practice help me with meditation
- What is the intention behind each of the seven elements of this sequence of breathing and movements?
- What do you mean by six movements of the spine and why is that so important?
- What are the unique benefits of each pranayama/breathing technique?
- What are the important nuances of the practices?
Handout of resources for further study will be provided.
When
Recorded on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2022
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Vata-Soothing Dynamic Gentle Yoga
Calm and Steady
Ayurveda is the Vedic science of living a life of optimal health and healing, in tune with Mother Nature. Ayurveda ascribes three constitutional types, vata, pitta and kapha. Vata governs movement in the body, the nervous system and elimination. We all have some degree of each of the three constitutions, therefore, we all need to “mind vata.” When vata is out of balance, symptoms such as digestive distress, dry skin, achy joints, anxiety, low energy, and irregular, insufficient sleep patterns begin to set in.
Now, here we are deep into November. Winter aggravates Vata constitution. Winter is dry, cold, and windy. So now is a great time to do some extra self-care to attend to vata. When your mind is overly active with thoughts, your body fatigued from moving too quickly, or stiff from the shift to dry, colder weather, a vata soothing practice brings warmth, stability and suppleness.
A vata-soothing sequence gives our bodies and minds the opportunity to manifest the relaxation response, a key to optimal health, lowering the risk of heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related diseases.
Unique features of this yoga immersion:
- Experience a practice that nourishes the vata aspect of your constitution
- Learn Ayurvedic tips to boost your resilience
When
Recorded on Nov 20, 2021
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Yoga Nidra and Restorative Gentle Yoga
Accessible Movement, Accessible Meditation
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra are practices to help us get back to homeostasis. Every system in the body is geared to help us maintain stability of many diverse internal variables, including temperature, acidity, and water level, amidst continual external influences. Yoga Nidra is a deeply relaxing practice of bringing attention to all areas of the body and then subtler and subtler realms of your being. The attention helps to release blocks to the flow of energy, the healing fluids and neural signals.
Where the attention goes, the energy flows. Where the energy flows, healing grows. Enjoy deliciously soothing, gentle yoga. Experience an important, rarely guided, restorative pose. Feel the release of stiffness and held energy. Enter the profound meditative journey of Yoga Nidra, a guided experience you enjoy while sinking into deep rest and doing nothing. Melt, restore and integrate with this deep relaxation and meditation.
In this Gentle Yoga Immersion:
- Enjoy deliciously deep, healing, gentle yoga
- Experience an important, innovative restorative pose
- Feel the release of stiffness and held energy
- Stimulate the nourishing flow of circulation and energy
- Enter into the profound meditative experience of Yoga Nidra, a guided experience you enjoy while fully resting and doing nothing
- Restore and integrate with this deep relaxation and meditation
When
Recorded on Oct 30, 2021
Cost
Video access $20 for 21 days (or included with the All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom was recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
Dynamic Gentle Chair Yoga
Receiving Support, Finding Ease
If you haven’t already discovered the joys of chair yoga, you will in this ease-fully paced, Dynamic Gentle Yoga class with Rudy – enjoy accessible stretching and discover the added benefits of doing yoga with the support of a chair.
In this class, you will experience new possibilities in your yoga practice, discover surprising comfort and ease offered by the chair’s elevated support and enjoy yoga that is kind to the hips and a relief to the back. In addition to sitting on the chair, we will use the chair as a prop for strengthening standing and balancing poses.
We will also explore using the chair while lying on the back. If coming down to the floor is a challenge for you we will offer seated options throughout the “supine” section of the practice.
Other special elements of this class include a nourishing experience of legs-up deep relaxation and the opportunity to drop into deeply peaceful meditation.
With Rudy’s seasoned gentle approach and expert guidance for the use of a chair, you will:
- Explore new stretches with increased access
- Meet the body where it is, where the stretch begins
- Gently bend, flex, arch and rotate the spine
- Loosen the shoulders & hips
- Open the upper and lower back
- Stretch quads, psoas, hamstrings and calves
- Lubricate the joints, rehydrating tissues through movement
- Open all the energy channels and stimulate flow
Useful props:
- A chair without armrests and with some cushioning on the seat which can even be an added cushion or blanket
- Strap, 7 feet long or thereabouts – this can be a tie, belt, scarf or soft rope
- Blocks, or a stack of books 9x6x4, bound together with string or ribbon
- Two cushions
- Two mats if you have two; one mat is fine
- Cozy blanket and eye bag or cloth to cover eyes for relaxation
Read Rudy’s blog post The Unexpected Revelation of Chair Yoga for more inspiration.
When
Recorded on Oct 9, 2021
Cost
Video access for 21 days for $20 (or included with All Yoga Monthly Membership)
Access
This class was held via Zoom and recorded. Access now in our Video Library.
On-Going Classes
Daily 8:00-8:40 am Eastern
Breath Practice Chair Yoga
Change Your Life
Thurs 5:00-6:00pm Eastern
Yoga Nidra
Deeply Rest
Rudy is one of the kindest and most sensitive Yoga teachers you will ever find. His love for Yoga and the body-mind connection is so obvious. You will begin to feel some of that for yourself when you have him as a teacher and guide.
The guidance and practice was just what I needed...gentle, sweet and deep. It brought my scattered energies into the core of my being...into my body. I focused on Rudy’s words and instructions, and felt my body gradually replenish itself. At the start of the class I was feeling overwhelmed, depleted, nearly sick. By the end, I felt dramatically different. Thank you.