Frequently Asked Questions

• The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. Yoga is the "union" of body, mind and soul/spirit and helps to foster the harmony of all three. It is a science of the self.
• Patanjali defines yoga as having eight components or "limbs." One of these components is asana, which is the yoga postures. The yoga postures are what the western culture commonly refers to as "yoga." 
• Yoga is a form of mindful movement that enhances our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
• The benefits of the physical practice of yoga are both short and long-term and may include:
  • Increased flexibility in the joints and muscles
  • Strengthened muscles, leading to enhanced balance
  • Increased endurance
  • Enhanced ability for our brain and body to communicate with each other
    • This is sometimes referred to as the "mind-body" connection. It helps to maintain homeostasis (balance), as well as our ability to sense the internal state of our body.
  • Increased focus, patience, and resilience
  • Improved mood via the regulation of neurotransmitters
  • Alleviation of chronic pain
  • Decreased feelings of depression and anxiety
  • Strengthened digestion
  • Improved sleep 
  • Greater overall well-being and happiness

• Meditation is the seventh limb of yoga (dhyana). It is the journey from activity into inner silence.

• It is a purification process that helps us release tension, stress and toxicity from our body and mind.
• Meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating physical and mental health. It helps us connect with our true self, which leads us to discover and become who we really are.
• A daily meditation practice helps to cultivate a more present, peaceful and balanced lifestyle, which ripples out to every other aspect of your life.
• The benefits of meditation include stress relief; improved health, including improved immune function; greater clarity of thinking and focus; increased happiness, contentment and joy; expanded creativity; more harmonious and improved relationships; and the enrichment of all aspects of your life. 

• Mindfulness is present-moment awareness without interpretation or judgment. This means being aware of what you are sensing and feeling in the moment without assigning meaning to, or judging, any sensations, emotions or feelings. It can be practiced through several different techniques including mindful meditations; mindful eating; and taking pauses in the day to observe what we are doing and how it makes us feel.
•  Mindfulness allows us to approach our experiences with warmth and kindness, to ourselves and others. 
• The benefits of mindfulness align with the benefits of meditation. When we practice mindfulness and become aware of our experiences, sensations, thoughts, emotions and feelings, we are able to make more conscious choices. Conscious choices translate to making decisions that are most supportive of our intentions and desires. 
• When we are experience heightened levels of awareness, we are better able to pay attention to the choices we make in our every day lives, and are able to recognize when something isn't working so that we can change it in order to best serve ourselves and those around us.

• Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old healing system that originated in ancient India. It is referred to as the "original lifestyle medicine." 
• Ayurveda = Science of Life (Ayus/Ayur = "Life" and Veda = "Wisdom," "Knowledge," or "Science")
• Ayurveda offers a rich perspective and practical tools for leading a long, healthy, and happy life. It is essentially a "manual" for conscious living that shows us how to make conscious, healing everyday choices about our diet, exercise, sleep and all other aspects of our lives that restore our natural state of health, balance and wholeness.
• In Ayurveda, health is not simply viewed as the absence of disease; rather, it a conscious and holistic approach to health and healing that addresses the individual as a whole person. It is a true mind-body-spirit medicine that promotes greater awareness, leading to greater vitality, well-being and joy. 
• Ayurveda is experiential and individualized, meaning as you shift your daily experiences, your biology shifts. Through our daily lifestyles, we can reduce the stress and inflammation that leads to disease, and instead cultivate a state of dynamic balance that leads to self-repair, self-regulation and health. 
• Deepak Chopra's Six Pillars of Health are the most important elements of an Ayurvedic lifestyle that fosters radiant health: Deep, Restful Sleep; Daily Meditation; Mindful Movement/Physical Activity; Mind-Body Integration/Grounding (i.e. yoga); Healthy Emotions; and Optimal Nutrition.

Shifting the focus of our attention leads to new possibilities for health, happiness and inner peace, all of which exist within your own consciousness and are enlivened through your attention and intention.

• A quiet space to practice in
• A yoga mat, or a surface where it is comfortable to sit and lie down
• An open-mind
• Optional props: Yoga blocks, bolster, pillows, blanket

• No! Yoga, meditation and mindfulness are all practices that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of experience.
• While the benefits of these practices grow over time, all of these practices have immediate and long-term benefits.
• The two most important things you need are the willingness to try, and making the time for yourself. 

• Virtual classes and workshops require an internet connection and device (smartphone, tablet or computer) in order to connect to classes via Zoom.
• Upon registration to classes and/or workshops, Zoom links will be e-mailed to you.