Bliss Gentle Yoga is a deeply relaxing class whose emphasis is on improving general health and wellbeing, and on bringing a greater sense of calm and inner peace to its participants. It focuses on the gradual opening of the joints and gentle stretching of the muscles through the performance of asanas (yogic postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), deep relaxation and meditation. This class is open to anyone and does not require any prior experience with yoga.

Beginner 1: This class is for people who are interested in pursuing a progressive and comprehensive yoga practice and is a pre-requisite for gaining entry into any of the higher level classes. In this class, the fundamentals of yoga are taught including yogic philosophy and history, basic asanas, pranayama, deep relaxation, and basic meditation techniques. This class is open to anyone who is in good health and with a reasonable level of fitness, and who is interested in learning about yoga as a way of life.

Beginner 2: This class follows Beg 1 and its aim is to continue to lead the practitioner towards greater physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing through the performance of asanas, pranayama, deep relaxation and basic meditation techniques. Inversions are included as well as the preparations for more advanced asanas and arm balances. The emphasis however, is not only on physical development. Classes are designed to help the student become aware of and focus on the mental and emotional/spiritual aspects of him/herself through the integration of different types of yoga so that the practice becomes a tool for personal development. This class is open to those who have at least 1 year of yoga experience, or who have graduated from the Beg 1 program.

This class is for people who have had at least 2 years of experience with yoga, with one being at the Beg 2 level. It includes all of the basic asanas as well as more inversions, arm balances, intermediate level postures, and the preparations for some of the advanced asanas. The emphasis is not only on physical progression however, as classes also combine practices of meditation in order to guide the student to higher levels of awareness, focus and concentration, and to deeper states of relaxation and meditation. All practices continue to focus on both the inner and outer development of the student resulting in ever-increasing levels of awareness and consciousness, along with improved health, strength and flexibility.

Yoga for Healing and Relaxation:
This is a very gentle and deeply relaxing class for persons whose movements may be restricted, are in chronic pain, are recovering from an illness, or who simply want to learn how to relax. Emphasis is placed on establishing and maintaining joint and spine mobility and on correct breathing. Each class also includes deep guided relaxation and other healing therapies to ensure that each participant leaves feeling stress and worry-free.

Prenatal yoga is Hatha yoga that has been modified so that it is appropriate for pregnant women. Prenatal yoga prepares the body physically for labor and childbirth by increasing energy, helping to control excess weight gain, toning and strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility, relieving backache, opening up the pelvis and improving posture and balance, with little or no impact on the joints. It also encourages deep, conscious breathing which promotes circulation so that the baby receives a rich blood supply. Prenatal yoga also helps to reduce indigestion, heartburn, nausea, cravings and constipation. The mother is also prepared mentally and emotionally by learning how to use her breathing to stay calm, relaxed and aware. She is then able to tune into herself and her baby, and thus eliminate fear by staying relaxed. Practicing prenatal yoga in a group connects pregnant women and provides a support system which encourages interaction and the sharing of feelings and knowledge. This leads to increased confidence and reduced anxiety and helps to bring more joy into the mother’s birth experience. The baby too, will feel the effects of its mother’s practice, and will be soothed and reassured by the peaceful, loving energy of her mother.

This class is offered on site to companies who would like to offer yoga as a means of stress-relief to their employees. The great health benefits of yoga mean that employees will be less likely to become ill which in turn leads to overall greater productivity in the workplace. Classes focus on asanas for helping relieve back pain and headaches which are common complaints among employees, as well as on deep relaxation and breathing techniques that help to relieve stress and tension, improve mood, and increase general feelings of wellbeing. This leads to greater cooperation among employees, and a more peaceful and harmonious workplace.

In this class the practitioner is able to explore in greater depth the mental, emotional and spiritual practices of yoga with the aim of achieving greater self knowledge and awareness, becoming more creative, activating self-healing, improving general health, and being more productive. The class also emhasizes deep, guided relaxation as a tool to greater self-awareness and for healing on a deep level.

Private yoga therapy sessions are for anyone (children included) who:

1. Wants to develop a deep spiritual practice with personalized instruction and guidance.

2. Need healing and balancing physically, mentally, or emotionally eg. chronic pain conditions, debilitating or life-threatening illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief counseling, panic/anxiety attacks, back pain, digestive problems, going through divorce or separation, loss of loved one, insomnia and other stress-related problems.

3. Needs stress management and relaxation.

These sessions involve personal life counseling combined with a personalized combination of the following energy balancing treatments: Yoga Nidra (deep guided relaxation), Korean Hand Acupuncture (KHT), pranic and psychic healing, sound and vibration healing, crystal healing, chakra balancing and energy clearing. The client is also usually given a home practice of asanas, breathing and relaxation to follow for continued improvement.
Experience the deeply relaxed state that comes with the Tibetan singing bowls; clear away energy blockages from the past; relax and balance your mind; reduce or eliminate pain; promote deep physical, mental and emotional healing; connect deeply to your own inner peace.
Sessions are $400 and are available by appointment.

Bliss yoga holds twice yearly retreats with Swami Brahmavidyananda as an honored guest. The retreats focus on giving the participant a chance to spend some quiet time away from the stressors of everyday life, so that he/she is able to do the deep inner reflection that is necessary if one is to continue growing and developing on all levels. The stunning beauty of Trinidad’s mountains and beaches provide many beautiful locations for the retreats, and usually leave the participants with a deep, lasting impression of the peace, happiness and love that are the focus of Bliss Yoga retreats.