Touchstone Climbing: Yoga

Touchstone Climbing is pleased to offer a variety of yoga classes designed to enhance your physical body and mental acuity. Whether you are seeking more strength or wanting to balance your strength with flexibility, there is a class designed to meet your needs and bring balance into your daily life.

Classes differ in technique and below are descriptions of the various styles offered. For more specific information, please contact your local gym. For a list of what is offered and a current schedule, check out your local gym's calendar.

The Yoga practice is a collection of physical and mental techniques for building awareness to observe what is in the present moment. The refinement of these techniques is what allows one’s attention to be focused and present, creating connections between patterns of thought, breath, posture, and emotions all linked in the physiology of the body.

Every day as living breathing human beings, we are met with challenges; whether we are hanging from a rock or seeking balance in our work, yoga can support and enhance our experiences.

Ashtanga
The basis of this practice was created by Pattabhi Jois and consists of six sets of a series of postures which are used to train the body, breath and intelligence to merge together harmoniously. They are physically challenging and beginners will often practice only portions of them to span the gap between their present ability and their potential.

Flow/Vinyasa
Designed to reveal the full depth of yoga, a series of postures are linked together to create strength, flexibility and clarity of mind. Vinyasa flow uses the movements of sun salutations to link the different postures together, creating a dynamic practice linked with the breath. Modifications are made to accommodate different ability levels.

Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar masterminded the techniques that are the foundation for this alignment-based practice. Movement in the body is linked to the consciousness, energy and emotions of the mind. The use of props is encouraged to accommodate all body types and abilities. Pranayama, the practice of meditation, is an integral part of the practice, creating balance and clarity through mental focus.

Purna
This practice developed by Aadil Palkhivala is based on Sri Aurobindo’s Integral yogic philosophies and the principles of alignment from B.K.S. Ivengar. Purna yoga is based on the belief that to live in true health we must care for all aspects of ourselves: the physical, the mental and the spiritual. Classes focus on deep alignment of the postures and meditation.

Hatha
“Ha” meaning sun and “tha” meaning moon, hatha yoga is a general term describing the opposite forces at work in the yoga practice. Hatha incorporates the various techniques and traditions of different yoga practices and is primarily focused on asana (postures) and pranayama (breath work). Styles of teaching and influences vary, drawing from the diverse tree of yoga. The focus is to bring balance into one’s life using the mind-body connection. Styles vary; check with the individual instructor for a more detailed description.