Citizen Yoga Class Types

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

A foundational first step for new practitioners looking to learn the principles of movement and breath, and a refresher for seasoned practitioners needing to rest and digest the happenings in life. You’ll learn the basic terms to familiarize yourself with the practice, including common pose names, the meaning of frequently used alignment cues, and types of breathing. You can expect to establish an understanding of poses such as cat/cow, downward facing dog, and lunges, as well as methods to support mobility in the hips, hamstrings, shoulders and spine. Practice will always include fundamental breathing techniques to slow down the pace of the mind and manage healthy stress in the body. 

Recommend for every student that is new to Citizen or the practice of yoga. A class for all levels.

CHALLENGE YOUR PACE

The fastest paced class, Vinyasa links breath with movement and is designed to be moved at the pace of the inhale and exhale. You can expect to move through a taught sequence on your own for at least one third of the class. This class incorporates Sun Salutations followed by sequences that are a combination of standing, standing balancing, forward bends and backbends. Depending on the focus of the class, teachers will incorporate guided steps to arm balances, inversions, seated poses, and backbends. 

Recommended for students with a more established practice, including some familiarity with poses, alignment principles, and comfortability moving through sequences on your own.

A COMBINATION OF STYLES

Combines the flow of Vinyasa with the guided challenge of Slow Burn. The pace of this class moves from Sun Salutations, often but not always guided by the teacher, into long-held postures that offer space to build heat and explore new alignment techniques. If you are familiar with Short-Form Ashtanga, this class offers a similar pace including Sun Salutations, standing poses, standing balancing, inversions, seated poses, and backbends. In a Blend class, teachers have more room for creativity in regards to pace, with space and time to offer education about pivotal poses or alignment techniques. 

If you are unfamiliar with practicing poses or sequences on your own, you are still welcomed and encouraged to take a Blend class, with the knowledge that there will be some unguided flows for up to 10 minutes.

FOCUS + LONG HOLDS

This class dispels the myth that slower is easier. Though the class and poses may still be challenging, the pace is appropriate for any student less familiar with the practice of yoga. Different from a slowed down vinyasa, this class is fully guided with no repeated sequences and an emphasis on longer held poses of up to 10 breaths. There is no “flowing” in a Slow Burn, which means there will be minimal chaturangas. 

Recommended for new students, students with a general familiarity with yoga, and students looking for a slow, strong and steady pace to practice.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Begin with 15-30 minutes of yin practice to appropriately and effectively work with the connective tissue in your body, followed by more active movement linked to the principles explored in the yin portion of class. Guided by Traditional Chinese Medicine and five element theory, practice will often reflect seasonal patterns and attune to the energetic body as much as the physical body.

Recommended for all experience levels.

STRENGTH + STABILITY

We're combining yoga, pilates, light cardio, weights, and breath for a full-body experience. Each class will feature the teacher’s movement modality specialty combined with yoga, to build strength and stability for a well rounded movement practice.

All levels welcome. Perfect for someone looking to sweat a little!

METAPHOR + INSIGHT

Katonah Yoga®, founded by Nevine Michaan in Katonah, New York, is a school of yoga that weaves elements of classical Hatha yoga, Taoist theory, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and sacred geometry into a practice focused on potential. Through the language of metaphor and analogy, physical alignment based on geometric measure, invigorating pranayama, and an emphasis on contact with yourself and others, this practice offers students a unique connection to present moment.

Trying Katonah for the first time? Expect frequent prop use, partner work, and a communal and conversational experience.

All levels welcome.

WAKE UP GENTLY + MOVE

An early morning sunrise class that combines the flow of Vinyasa with the guided challenge of Slow Burn. The pace of this class moves from some gentle self-guided warm-ups into long-held postures that slow the body, focus the mind, and work toward a well-earned savasana.

Recommended for students who have taken 1-5 yoga classes.

EXPAND YOUR PRACTICE

In this online discussion format class, conversation ranges from anxiety and depression to self-realization. The purpose of philosophy class is not just about contemplating transcendental theory, but understanding personal struggle through a practical approach. Several books and schools of thought are referenced including Buddhism, poetry, Yoga Sutras, Dr. Gail Parker’s “Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma” and more.

Everyone is welcome to this weekly open discussion as a “camera on” active participant or as a “camera off” listener.

No experience or prior training is necessary.

This is a discussion-style class, there is no physical movement involved.