Forrest Yoga in the Blue Zone
What is Forrest Yoga and how is it like/different from vinyasa yoga?
Forrest Yoga is vinyasa yoga – movement linked by breath in a mindful way – with a little something extra. All Forrest Yoga classes are guided by an intent, which is a spiritual, emotional, or physical focus sustained throughout the entire class. It’s a layer of psycho-spiritual work being done while also doing yoga!
All Forrest Yoga classes rely on breath to help unearth stuck patterns, energy, and information in the body. Most yoga classes do, but with Forrest Yoga, attention to breath is brought to the forefront and sustained there. Forrest Yoga classes are generally slower than typical vinyasa classes and the poses are held for longer. This builds intensity and helps break through blockages.
Some of the poses in Forrest Yoga may be performed differently or look slightly different than the versions you’ve experienced in vinyasa classes. I invite you to try doing these familiar poses in a different way and seeing what new information arises.
Forrest Yoga classes typically focus on one pose category – like backbends or hip opening – rather than try to do a little bit of everything in one class. This may feel different or “incomplete” if you don’t experience poses you’re used to experiencing at the end of classes. I invite you to stay open to new sequences and ways of practicing yoga.
WORKSHOPS
Pranayama, Restorative Forrest Yoga, Yoga Nidra
Forrest Yoga is thought of as an intense practice, and it is. But it can also be practiced in a more restorative way, with postures being closer to the ground or using more props for support. This 2-hour workshop begins with pranayama practice. Pranayama literally means “management of the life force.” We will explore breaths to down-regulate the nervous system and calm and clear the mind. Then we’ll move into a slow-paced restorative Forrest Yoga class focused on the hips and low back, and conclude with a 30-minute yoga nidra practice. 1 hour of yoga nidra is equivalent to 4 hours of sleep!
Forrest Yoga to Open Your Hips
“The hips hold tension” is one of the most often heard refrains in yoga classes because it’s true. The outer hips and buttocks are a dense, multi-layered complex of muscle. Our sedentary culture has limited the range of motion we experience in our hips and pelvis, resulting in weakness, tightness, lack of responsiveness, and pain.
Before we can safely release tension from the hips and rebuild our connection to this area of the body, we need to tap into the strength of the feet, legs, and core. Through a series of poses designed to build heat in the hips, thighs, and buttocks, the muscles will be prepared to open once we arrive at the apex poses of the workshop. Experience the magic that happens when you connect to your strength and allow it to support you in surrender.
This is also an amazing opportunity to experience a Forrest Yoga Intensive: a two-hour long practice that goes deep into a particular pose category or area of the body. If you’ve never experienced a Forrest Yoga Intensive, this is your chance!
A strong beginner-to-intermediate practice is recommended for this workshop.
Workshop concludes with a long savasana and delicious savasana assists for all!
SIGN UP FOR FORREST YOGA IN THE BLUE ZONE HERE