Classes

Gentle Yoga

Ideal for anyone wanting to ease into yoga and those who may have physical limitations due to age, back or joint problems, or are recovering from injury or illness. Easier stretches and muscle toning combined with deep relaxation poses (restorative) to get you back in shape safely.

Level 1

For students with little or no yoga experience and for continuing students who wish to refine their understanding of the basics. This class teaches basic hatha yoga postures from various tradtions. Develops strength, flexibility, balance and an understanding of healthy body alignment and movement.

Level 1-2

For beginners and continuing students. Same focus as Level 1 with more challenging poses and sequences.

Level 2

For students with prior yoga experience, a faster paced class that includes a broader range of poses in more challenging sequences and longer holds. Introduces inversions and backbends.

Amrit Yoga

Founded by Yogi Amrit Desai of the Amrit Yoga Institute., this flowing sequence of poses provides an overall toning for the entire body and combines short meditative periods with the postures. A deeply relaxing and engaging practice, this class is appropriate for beginners or continuing students interested in deepening their practice and learning a sequence they can practice at home.

Alignment Practice

Continuing practice of natural alignmnet principles for greater ease of movement and comfortable being. This class reinforces natural ways of sitting, standing, bending, walking, lifting, carrying and sleeping and how to apply them to working at a computer, playing sports, practicing yoga, gardening and other daily activities. The practice cultivates mindfullness all day long.

Pre-requisite: Must have attended workshop, class or one private session with Kathleen Porter (503) 505-1996 / kathleen@naturalalignment.com

Practical Meditation

5-Week Session Sundays 7:00 – 8:30PM
June 21 to July 26
No class Sunday , July 5

Fee: sliding scale $40 -$60

Introduces basic meditation techniques and their rationale from a secular perspective. Students become aware of how the undisciplined mind often works against our well-being as they learn skills that train it to be a powerful ally. Meditation has been shown to be helpful in reducing the impacts of stress, improving chronic health conditions while building confidence and a sense of ease in one’s life.

Practices in Happiness

Research is telling us that individuals have the ability to increase their level of happiness and the secret lies in being focused and purposeful about integrating new practices into one’s life. This five-week course will explore some issues of happiness: what it is, how we often look for it in all the wrong places. The major focus will be on identifying and using new strategies that have strong potential for increasing one’s level of happiness. Part discussion, part lecture, part journaling and lots of focused work. This is not a therapy or counseling group.

Adult Partner Workshop

This class will be aimed at partners/friends that currently take class for those wishing to introduce someone to yoga in a supportive environment. We will do some assisted poses to better understand alignment and gently deepen stretches. Working with gravity and body mechanics we discover ways to release held tension. Plus we have fun!

For the Next 7 Generations

In 2004, thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, came together at a historic gathering, where they decided to form an alliance: The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. This is their story. Four years in-the-making and shot on location in the Amazon rain forest, the mountains of Mexico, North America, and at a private meeting with the Dalai Lama in India. For the Next 7 Generations follows what happens when these wise women unite. Facing a world in crisis, they share with us their visions of healing and a call for change now, before it’s too late. This film documents their unparalleled journey and timely perspectives based on ancient wisdom. filmaction.org to purchase advance tickets