yoga page

The Essence of Yoga

The word yoga means "to yoke" or to bring together. We live in a world of duality. People, places, things and events distract us — draw us away from our true selves and our experience with the Divine. The practice of yoga meditation (dhyana), breathing (pranayama) and postures (asanas) aims at the harmonization of the various human faculties, bringing the opposites into union. This allows experiencing the Divine to its fullest and how we all are One. Thousands of years of innate intelligence brings us to a practice of living, pulsing consciousness and therefore must be experienced to understand.

click on the symbol for class descriptions

Yoga Benefits

There are many different reasons for participating in a yoga program and there are as many benefits to gain from a steady yoga practice. A relaxing interlude to a busy life, to strengthen and invigorate the body, a therapeutic practice for specific ailments, a path to higher consciousness.Yoga offers profound benefits that affect all aspects of life: work, family life, eating habits, relationships with others and the Earth. By making your body stronger and more flexible, you can approach your life with more strength and you can free yourself from habitual defenses to allow yourself to face events with greater poise and equanimity. A consistent yoga practice can lead to the healing of physical ailments, mental blockages and emotional wounds.


After a deep meditation on my guru Ananda Moya Ma, I was inspired to paint this image in honor of her devotion and bliss.

Yoga Styles

There are many different styles of yoga that have evolved over the centuries: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Anasura and Integral are to name a few. Each style emphasizes a certain aspect of the yoga practice. One style may have a focus on movement, while another style may emphasize alignment gently coaxing the body along in the postures. Certain styles may emphasize building heat in the body, or have a more soothing approach.

Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, describes the eight aspects of Yoga as limbs of a tree. Wisdom and spirituality unfold in the same manner as a tree grows. Each limb branching out of the trunk, some limbs being stronger than others, some growing at a faster rate. Each tree being an individual but having the same ultimate goal: to reach the light.


breathe	experience	explore	heal	unite

Click on each ohm symbol above to explore the joy of yoga

Become certified in Yoga! Click here for more details

Allow 3-4 hours after a big meal, 1-1-/2 hours after a snack before your yoga practice.See the instructor before class and discuss any physical, mental or emotional issues that may interfere with your practice.Bring a yoga mat, towel and water. Blocks, straps, blankets and yoga mats are available but limited in number. Wear comfortable, loose (not baggy) clothing without zippers, buttons, pockets and snaps.

Earth Dance Yoga Center takes into account where each individual is in their life and what their needs are at the time. We then provide classes suitable for them to build their own practice and begin their personal journey toward healing and wellness. We have a diverse, compassionate and competent staff to meet the needs of almost anyone who walks through our doors. All styles of yoga are honored. We firmly believe that yoga is not a competition and we network with many of the yoga studios in the area.