The Yoga Center of Minneapolis - Class Descriptions

Class Descriptions

DROP-IN Class Descriptions
Stop by and drop in. Our DROP-IN classes are indicated on our schedules with a

next to them. You can attend any class at any time. Our 4, 12, 24 & 36 Class Passes can be used at either studio for any Ongoing class. We also run classes in SESSIONS to help deepen your practice or to learn a specific sequence. Click here for Quarterly Session Descriptions.

Level 1 | Level 1/2 | Level 2 | Level 2/3 | All Levels | Yoga for Kids & Family

Level 1 (Beginning) Classes

Our Beginning classes are run as Quarterly Sessions.
Beginning Yoga 1 & 2 | Beginning Vinyasa & Ashtanga | Meditation
Beginning Yoga for Flexibility | Beginning Yoga for a Better Back

Level 1/2 (Beginner-Plus) Classes

Twilight Yoga: Indulge in the ultimate yoga experience. Soft lighting and music soothe the soul and senses as you flow through various poses. The serene setting allows you to slip into a deep sense of peace and relaxation. A great start to the weekend!

Friday Celebration Yoga: A fun, dynamic vinyassa-inspired class for all levels of students. Come celebrate friday! Let go of the week with upbeat music and poses that get your prana (energy) flowing. By serving tasty snacks and beverages after class, you'll get a happy hour you'll feel great about!

Level 2 (Intermediate) Classes

NEW! Donation Class: - suggested minimum $5. Open to all levels, we waive the class drop-in fee, but ask that you pay what you can. This class is taught by up-and-coming yoga teachers completing the YCM Yoga Study training program who are donating their time and talents for the greater good, and all proceeds will be donated to the YCM Karma Yoga Fund, to be used to fund community outreach, yoga classes, and yoga therapy for populations that would otherwise not have access to it.
Class does not meet on the last friday of every month, May 2, or June 14.

Slow Flow Vinyasa: Vinyasa but not in the traditional sense. Work into poses and hold for some time with vinyasa between them. This class is challenging yet deeply profound in the after-effects.

Anusara Yoga: Anusara means to flow with Grace or to follow your heart. Developed in 1997, by John Friend, Anusara Yoga is the fastest growing school of yoga in America. Fun, uplifting and seriously playful this yoga uses Universal Principles of Alignment to joyfully unite body, mind and spirit. This 8 week course will provide you with tools to transcend your current level of yoga. All levels - all hearts - warmly welcomed.

Vinyasa Flow: This fun, flowing class combines postures and sequences from various styles of yoga to give your body the breathwork and movement it needs. With a dynamic flowing sequence of postures linking breath and movement, cultivate awareness while building core strength and flexibility. The level of intensity depends on the style of the teacher.

Kriya Yoga: Kriya means action or "to do" as well as to purify or cleanse. When we make something a Kriya we are setting forth intentional action in doing something with intent and focus. In this Hatha style Yoga class you will learn Kriya techniques - cleansing and purifying the physical and energy bodies. This class will help you to take action on your form and alignment, breath, pranic energy currents and focusing the mind or setting intention. A Kriya class will work the body, focus the mind and ignite the spirit. Every class is a different class with some comfortable familiarities.

Yoga for Flexibility: Click here for more info
Shakti Flow/Danskinetics: Click here for more info

Hatha Yoga: Take your practice to the next level! Learn new, challenging poses and find a deeper connection between mind, body, and breath. Backbends and inversions may be introduced. For students with prior yoga experience or those who have taken Beginning Yoga.

Level 2/3 (Intermediate to Advanced) Classes

Ashtanga Primary Series: An instructor will lead you through the traditional Primary Series as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Ashtanga is distinct in that the postures or asanas are connected to one another by a flowing series of movements called vinyasa. This powerful and vigorous practice purifies and realigns the body clearing energy channels blocked by years of stress and arouses the internal fire helping to cleanse, detoxify and strengthen the body. The synchronization of movements with breath awakens the mind-body-soul connection establishing consistent states of balance, inner peace, and well-being.

1/2 Ashtanga Primary Series: The primary series (see above) up to navasana with a shortened cooling sequence. Fits neatly into your lunch hour!

Jivamukti: Jivamukti Yoga is a challenging vinyasa flow class that includes chanting, breathwork, meditation and nadam. From the sanskrit Jivan- living and mukti- liberated Jivamukti was developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life as a practice that encourages you to become liberated while living.

Mi-an Yoga: This practice is dedicated to the development of a perfect balance between body and mind through the art of words, the telling of stories, the love of laughter, and the discipline of "let's try again"

Urban Flow: Feel the urge to shake up your yoga practice? Looking for something that gets your pulse jumping and your body moving? Come breathe, move, meditate (and sweat!) to a dynamic sequence of postures set to the upbeat rhythms of soul and hip hop music that will liberate, energize, and revitalize every part of your being.

Vinyasa Flow: This vinyasa class is for students with a good level of yoga experience who want to heat things up, try some new poses, and just feel great afterwards. The level of intensity depends on the style of the teacher.

Yoga for Transformation: This class is designed to help you take your yoga to the next level. Although based on a vinyasa model, there is also strong emphasis on chanting, meditation, and pranayama. We will take time to workshop poses and learn the keys to unlocking some of the more difficult asanas. Learn to float, fly, turn upside down, look at life from a new perspective and find a new way to connect yoga to every aspect of your life. Find your voice. Live your yoga.

All Level Classes
NEW! Open Studio - Assisted Self Practice Practice side-by-side your fellow yogis with the assistance of an instructor. While you are responsible to direct your own practice, the instructor is there to give meaningful adjustments, support, and guidance or feedback if asked. Any type of hatha or vinyasa based practice is welcome, and you can arrive anytime as long as you have enough time to finish by the ending time (9am). Beginners are also welcome if they wish to learn the Ashtanga Primary Series.

NEW! Hatha Yoga 55 Plus: BETTER WITH AGE. Improve and maintain your quality of life though the practice of classical Hatha yoga. This class is geared towards the older adult with lots of warm-ups and guided breathwork to loosen and warm the body, followed by a practice designed to keep the spine strong and limber, improve circulation and ease your heart, and create deep relaxation. Although this class is focused on the older adult, it is well-suited to students of all ages with limited movement or those who consider themselves extreme beginners.

Restore and Renew Restore and Renew with this gentle, meditative class. Students focus on steadiness and comfort, honoring the bodies wisdom and cultivating intuition. Class includes, mantras, mudras, yoga postures, breathwork and meditation to cultivate balance and nourish peace within. Open to all levels.

Yoga for New Mommies: Click here for more info
Yoga for a Better Back: Click here for more info
Meditation: Click here for more info
JAI Prenatal Yoga: Click here for more info
Yoga Bonding® Postnatal Yoga: Click here for more info
Playtime / Kids / Preteen Yoga: Click here for more info

Other opportunities for kids to do yoga:
• All children and teens ages 11 and up are always welcome in any of our Beginning Yoga classes with or without parent.

Key to Levels

Level 1: For beginners.
Level 1/2: For those who have some yoga experience and are still working on gaining flexibility and need help learning how to modify poses for their bodies.
Level 2: For intermediates - has yoga experience and is ready for more challenging poses, pace, and concepts. Knows how to and willingly modifies poses to suit their experience level and comfort.
Level 2/3: For yogis who are intermediates and up who are able to safely work into backbends & inversions such as Bridge Pose and Headstand.

Key to Yoga Terms

= Hatha |

= Vinyasa

Hatha Yoga: Relax, stretch, and let go. Classical Hatha or “posture” yoga reconnects you with the pleasures of movement and sitting still. Our classes offer a range of approaches to Hatha yoga. Hatha classes include: Beginning Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Anusara Yoga, and Restore & Renew.

Vinyasa Flow: Move, sweat, strengthen, and stretch. Cultivate overall stamina, strength, and flexibility, while gaining focus and peace of mind. Learn to breathe and move using classical yoga poses to help heat the body to stretch it comfortably and safely. Vinyasa Flow yoga is the ultimate yoga workout! Vinyasa classes include: Primary Series Ashtanga, Slow Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Twilight Yoga.


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