karma yoga kelas types

here’s a guide to all our kelas at karma yoga.

for students looking for beginner classes – suitable for practitioners who are starting yoga, have less than 3 years in practice, recovering from injury, senior students, and advanced practitioners strengthening their foundations.

classes can be slow or fast-paced, according to the teacher’s plan for class. do inform the teachers if you are pregnant, have any injuries, or recovering from an injury, or are not feeling well. do not force and proceed any further if movement causes sharp pain in your body. 

hatha 1 

a non-vinyasa-based asana practice focused on connecting the body and mind with the purpose of increasing awareness and stability. some pranayama(breath work) and mindfulness(silence seating) may be included. suitable for students with some yoga experience looking to have an invigorating experience as well as new practitioners who are starting yoga. 

this class is designed with the beginner in mind. whether you are new to yoga or recently overcoming an injury/ pregnancy, this is the class for you. props such as blocks and straps are used to facilitate movement and detailed instructions will be given. sun salutations will be introduced as well as all basic poses.

yin yang

for balancing energy, flexibility, and strength. yin yang class blends two styles of yoga into one practice – bringing together the benefits of passively holding yoga poses with more dynamic sequences and standing postures. yin and yang is the concept that describes the two relative qualities present in everything. yin is more internal, passive, cooling, and downward. yang is more external, dynamic, warming, and upward.

when these terms are applied in yoga, yin yoga is a slower practice where poses are passively held for longer. it works on the deep, dense (yin) connective tissues and joints in the body. yang yoga, in contrast, refers to more active practice. this works on the (yang) muscles and blood flow, building strength, stamina, and flexibility. yang styles of yoga are those with rhythm and repetition like vinyasa flow. the first 30 mins of the class are paced in yang, and the rest of the 30 mins is restorative in yin. 

yin

yin – the opposing energy of yang – is a slow-moving, grounded practice where practitioners hold each posture for around 3-5 minutes (and sometimes as long as 20 minutes). yin yoga is a complementary practice to the muscle-and blood-focused approaches of most other styles of yoga and is intended to deepen the flexibility and elasticity of connective tissues like fascia. 

practiced consistently, yin classes may offer increased mobility to joints. yin practices may include props like blocks, blankets, bolsters, or straps. yin yoga tends to be physically less demanding than some other styles of yoga, but internally more demanding as we sit with our sensations and internal dialogue. 

these classes are multilevel, suitable for beginners trying out yoga, intermediate students as well as students looking for a more fluid practice. please inform teachers if you are pregnant, have any injury, recovering from injury, or illness such as recovery from surgery, heart conditions, vertigo, or low and high blood pressure before the practice.

hatha vinyasa

hatha vinyasa is a combination of vinyasas (a series of connected movements through breath), asanas (poses), pranayamas (conscious breathing), meditation, and relaxation.

vinyasa is an approach to yoga in which you move from one pose directly into the next. there’s a flow to a vinyasa yoga session, though the specific poses and the pace of the flow vary from one teacher to the next. in a hatha vinyasa style, you will be flowing from one pose with long holds to another. students are individually challenged in sun salutations, peak poses, and deep stretches – all with the intention of cultivating balance in mind and body. this class is suitable for all levels of practitioners 

karma vinyasa

our signature karma vinyasa classes are a strong moving flow that cultivates balance, stability, flexibility, and vigor. breath awareness and coordination are carried throughout the practice as the asana ebbs and flows between effort and ease. this class incorporates rhythmic movement and breath while incorporating an awareness of proper alignment. intensity levels & personal style varies by each unique teacher. karma vinyasa classes are organized in a moving sequence that builds strength, coordination, and measured ability across a balanced array of postures.

with attention to the breath and fluid movement, you’ll warm up and flow through a skillful sequence, working toward a peak pose or targeting a specific body part. moving at a vigorous pace with dynamic transitions incorporated, you will hit a sweet spot once you begin to settle down in savasana (corpse pose/final relaxation). this class requires students to have consistent practice for 6 months. new practitioners can still join this class, however do inform the teacher that you are new. 

krama vinyasa

krama vinyasa is a step-by-step progression to prepare the body within certain poses to move into a peak pose or to a certain goal. a goal in this case is a complex or an asana (posture).

to give a little more explanation of the words we have:
vinyasa – which is the principle of synchronizing movement with the breath and
krama – which literally means steps or stages

the crafted progression comes from sequencing which will lead classes by using creative sequence with drills and transitions. the sequence is based on a theme, or the peak poses in mind. this class is not suitable for new practitioners. the level of this class is intermediate onwards. 

 

ashtanga vinyasa

this is an ashtanga inspired vinyasa class. students follow a set sequence of postures each time, gradually progressing through the series. ashtanga vinyasa yoga emphasizes the linking of movement and breath (vinyasa), ujjayi breathing, and bandhas (energy locks).

the term vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement and breath but is also used to describe a series of movements used to link each asana in a series. the asana system is a moving meditation with the transition between each pose being as important as the postures themselves.

pranayama and silence

pranayama is a breathwork class, focusing on techniques and practice of the control of breath. it is multi-level. students are advised to join the class on an empty stomach.

silence is a mindful meditation class, focusing on breath, mindfulness, and awareness. a comfortable set of clothing is advised for this session.

these practice can be an individual session but it is also incorporated into most of karma yoga classes.

karma yoga

karma yoga is our komuniti offering – a komuniti class by karma yoga that is free for the public to join. class is multi-level and catered more for beginners who are trying out yoga for the first time or influencing friends and family to take yoga.

registration and booking are required via our website. please bring your own yoga mat and props for practice.