Please see the home page for all
zoom scheduled classes.

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CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

1. Bikram Yoga -meeting online only

  

Count on a uniquely gentle teaching of this sequence and kind encouragement in a class that respects silliness, seriousness and independent, explorative creativity. The focus of practice is awareness, health & freedom. Witnessing our habitual reactions and perspective, and choosing whether to have them or not have them, is movement toward uncovering our already free self.  Mind AND body flexible, strong, imaginative, living well both within your culture or, if you choose, beyond culture, era, ego and circumstance. 
Bishnu Ghosh (the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda whose book "Autobiography of a Yogi" introduced millions to Kriya Yoga, meditation and, eventually, The Self Realization Fellowship), was a famous Physical Culturist in India, living 1903-1970.  He developed a well-researched 26 pose + 2 breathing techniques sequence.  One of his top students, Bikram Choudhury, was sent to Japan and to the USA to teach it.  It became known as “Bikram Yoga”. 
This sequence meditatively and systematically lengthens, strengthens, lubricates and oxygenates 100% of the body, restoring all systems toward healthy, balanced order. It is intended for any level of student as each pose has its beginning and advancing stage.  Poses include standing, one legged standing, floor poses on the belly, back, and sitting.  We start and end with a breathing technique.  

While you can count on relief of stress from every practice, continued efforts result in increasing awareness, control and relaxation of the body and the state of mind, meaning you can prevent stress from building in many situations that once inspired it. Mindfulness is a priority in this class.

Carla also offers useful anatomical and holistic health information and has been a Massage Therapist for 27 years.

Carla created A Perfect Knot in 1996 and welcomes everyone to come and spend awhile in an absolutely beneficial way. The room is warm (75-80 degrees). Layering of clothing is encouraged in the wintry months. Be sure to bring your largest towel, a washcloth, and a waterbottle to every class.

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Important info:

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• Classes are non-competitive, respectful & drop-in (unless marked pre-registration).

• Open to all levels.  

• Attire: clean, stretchy or light and loose clothing. Remove fragranced products from your skin.  

• Practicing hydrated and with a fairly empty stomach feels best. 

• ​​​​​​​Arrive up to 10 minutes before class. Maintain quiet in the coatroom if a class is finishing.

• If you’re pregnant, injured or have other health concerns, I can easily make pose adaptations or eliminations. Please tell me and I will help you.

• Sticky mats available but definitely bring your own if you have one. Bring a towel & a water bottle.

 

2. Somatic Movement NOT CURRENTLY MEETING

If you read these articles, you will learn a lot!
https://somatics.org/library/htl-cse
https://somatics.org/library/bbc-hanna-gift
 

Physical problems and pain are often the result of chronically tight muscles.  The ongoing tightness begins to affect skeletal alignment--which then pulls on other muscles, puts pressure on joints, and may affect internal organs, breathing, blood flow, etc.  In short, a contraction pattern can be the source, the cause, of many issues we are dealing with today and blamed on aging.
Somatic education, taught in the T. Hanna tradition, aims to end this cycle.

Somatic Movement offers slow, re-educational movements which cause the sensory/motor neuron tract in the Cortex (part of the brain where we learn) to become aware of muscular tension that has become so familiar, so repetitive, that the Cortex "forgets" about it.  In Somatics, this is called SMA, Sensory Motor Amnesia.  Familiar physical patterns move to the Sub-Cortex where they will not change until told to by the sensory/motor tract in the Cortex.  In the case of walking, ice skating, holding a spoon, etc., it is excellent that the familiar and learned movement moves to the Sub-Cortex.  It allows us incredible coordination and the power to not have to relearn how to make a movement, every time. However, whether from a mental, emotional or physical source, maladaptive (more harmful than helpful) muscle memory, is also stored in the Sub-Cortex.  This is what we are interested in!

While this class will vary in exercises, the intention is to teach every person the core sequence that resets the brain and body to a relaxed state each day.

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3. NOT CURRENTLY MEETING
Introduction to Yoga ~for ages 14 - 75 years~ 

~For anyone curious about and wanting a foundation in yoga~
 

If you have been thinking about trying a yoga class for the first time and prefer
a class with other beginners, this is it! Each class will build upon the previous class and different styles will be introduced. All poses and skills will be reviewed each class and printed materials given. I have been teaching for 19 years and have so much to share. Yogic awareness of one's mental, emotional and physical landscape is key to a transformative practice.  Learn to quiet a busy mind, release physical/mental tension, joint stiffness, and change your perspective to one that is helpful to you.  Diminish injuries from athletic adventures. Breathe more fully. 
Count on kind encouragement in a class that respects silliness, seriousness and independent, explorative creativity. The focus of practice is health & freedom. Witnessing our habitual reactions and attitudes, for the temporary, changeable tendencies that they are, is movement toward uncovering our already free self. Mind AND body flexible, strong, imaginative, living well both within your culture, if you choose, and beyond culture, era, ego and circumstance. 

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SOMATIC MOVEMENT WORKSHOP
TIME & PLACE CHANGE:
TBA
9:30am - 12pm
at Jules Pilates
What is the key to getting chronically tight muscles to release their contraction?  If you could do this, wouldn't you?

Learn about Somatics as developed and taught by Thomas Hanna.  
In this short workshop, for beginning and continuing do-it-yourselfers, Carla will teach you how, through gentle, slow movements, to access the specific part of your brain that is holding that tension unconsciously, and how you can re-educate yourself back to relaxation.  Whether the tight muscles are from physical, mental or emotional stress or injury, recent or long ago, how you have adapted to it may have become the habit that is currently causing you physical pain. 

As a massage therapist for 30 yrs and a yoga teacher for 25, Carla now has a lower back that is more comfortable than it has been in decades and a shoulder she can now sleep on comfortably.  No amount of stretching or massaging had this effect. 
Should you like to read about Somatics before then, this is a good article:
https://somatics.org/sites/default/files/Somatics_Modern_Pain_Relief_v2-2.pdfBio
Doors open 9:15am to get settled for an 9:30am start. $20, cash/check. Important to be on time.
This may not be like anything you've tried before--an open mind is a big plus. Loose or stretchy clothes. No belts, buttons, skirts or jeans.  15 persons max. Please let Carla know you are coming and how many at 608 469 3205, text or call.