Class Descriptions

Hatha Yoga: All levels

This varied and accessible practice is for the bold and enthusiastic, and the novice stepping out to explore mindful movement, body awareness and simple breathing practices. Each session is unique to the moment, always fun and interesting and always leaves each individual participant feeling as if the class had been designed just for them!

$20 per class. Drop-ins welcome!

~ led by Jayne

Yoga with a Chair

Chair Yoga, Easy Does It:

Chair Yoga, Easy Does It, is for folks who do best with a shorter session, concentrating slowly on specific movements for rehabilitation, pre or post surgery to the knees and hip joints, for shoulder injuries and gentle movements for strengthening the core and back muscles. Learning to regulate breathing patterns, and introducing skills to balance the nervous system is important, in order to adapt to the physical and emotional challenges which arise in our daily lives.

Chair Yoga for Level 1:

Folks spend more time on a variety of standing and seated postures. Range of motion in all the joints and strengthening the limbs, with focus on balance are explored here. Hand-eye/ coordination games add to the fun of this very popular session. Learning to regulate breathing patterns, and introducing skills to balance the nervous system is important, in order to adapt to the physical and emotional challenges which arise in our daily lives.

Chair Yoga for Level 2:

Similar poses explored in Level 1 are now challenged with longer holdings and deeper bends. Spinal twists are performed in a variety of ways; both seated and standing. Reclining relaxation is a benefit in this class for those who can get down and back up from the floor. Learning to regulate breathing patterns, and introducing skills to balance the nervous system is important, in order to adapt to the physical and emotional challenges which arise in our daily lives.

$20 per class. Drop-ins welcome!

~ led by Amy

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga deeply nourishes and rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit. Gentle movement, supported postures, mindful awareness of body, emotions and thoughts encourage and support a deeper connection to self.

In a Restorative Yoga class you have permission to stop, to let go of doing and to simply be, allowing for more clarity around the busyness of our lives and for a more balanced and healthy relationship with our bodies.

Restorative Yoga is suitable for all bodies, regardless of yoga experience, flexibility or age. We practice staying close to the floor, so practitioners must be able to get down to the floor and up again without assistance.

$20 per class. Drop-ins welcome!

~ led by Gillian

Yoga Flow

A vinyasa flow class of traditional Hatha Yoga poses and sequences. “Vigorous” means strong, healthy, and full of energy and together we add some fun. The class is geared to intermediate to advanced students but all levels are welcome with options to make the class as challenging as you want it to be. Remember, the most important part of yoga is your outfit! Well, actually, it’s your attitude! So bring your outfits and your positive energy and let’s rock this class!

All classes are by donation. Suggested donation is $20 or whatever you can afford. blisshouseyoga@gmail.com

~ led by Howie Baral

Gentle Stretch Yoga Asana

Come home to your heart centre and lovingly reconnect your breath and body through asana with Amy. Easy going and uplifting music. Taking time for you. Let’s move into the weekend with self-care and gratitude.

All levels class.

~ led by Amy Lavigne

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a practice whereby the body and mind get an opportunity to relax completely. The postures, mostly done on the floor, are held for up to 8 minutes, allowing the fasciae to elongate and release, restoring the physical body to it natural relaxed state. The poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues of the body—the tendons, fasciae, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. Props are used in each posture to ensure safety and additional support for the joints and connective tissues. While long, slow breathing is encouraged in this class to facilitate meditation, it is the long held and supported postures that are fundamental to this restorative and relaxing class.

Drop-ins welcome. Pre-registration recommended at jkhowe54@gmail.com

Cost: $15 drop-in | $100 for 8 prepaid classes

~ led by John

EveryBody Stretch

EveryBody Stretch is a guided stretch class using the emotive tones of classical music to enhance and develop every stretch and movement and is most popular with the 55 plus age group but it is open for EveryBODY!

Participants are encouraged to stretch comfortably within their own limits. They will feel the benefits of a regular stretching routine. Regular exercise can lower blood pressure, gives one better brain function and can increase one’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Join Catherine in this unique class and stretch out your body, relax your mind and enrich your soul in this fun supportive class.

Contact Catherine to register: cdbennett53@gmail.com

~ led by Catherine

Melt Performance

If you have ever experienced the pain and discomfort of plantar fasciitis, arthritis, neck and low back pain, hip and shoulder issues, or repetitive movement injuries, then you may have a connective tissue issue and Melt Performance can help. The MELT Method™ is a gentle self-care technique that enhances mobility, stability, and performance and is clinically proven to reduce chronic pain while restoring overall well-being.

Developed by manual therapist and exercise physiologist Sue Hitzmann, it uses specially designed hand and foot treatment balls and custom made soft rollers (along with your own body and breath) to calm the mind, tap into the autonomic nervous system to boost control, and restore the supportive qualities of the connective tissue system. In this all levels foundational class you will learn to hydrate fascia, release tension and compression which causes imbalance and poor posture, decrease the risk of injury, and get out of pain!

$20 per class

~ led by Jerome

Melt & Pilates

Hydrate connective tissue to alleviate chronic pain, increase neurological balance and prevent future injuries. Realign the joints and spine while strengthening deep core stabilizers to support ideal alignment and good posture. Increase endurance and dynamic balance using functional movement exercises.

$20 per class

~ led by Jerome

Full Body Pilates Flow

Get ready to Strengthen, Stretch and Smile. Practicing Pilates increases core strength and muscle tone. It improves posture, flexibility, range of motion and balance and increases energy and body awareness. Grab your mat and let’s flow together.

Dec 3, 10 & 17, 2024
$50 for the 3 classes or $20 drop in

~ led by Marie Saint-Pierre

Salt Spring Insight Meditation

Salt Spring Insight Meditation Community is a community of new and experienced meditators dedicated to cultivating happiness and well-being through exploring and practicing the teachings of the Buddha, in both meditation and compassionate action.

We seek to live our lives with mindful awareness, opening our hearts to joy and to suffering, in order to live with the freedom of kindness, clarity and wisdom. We follow the tradition of Theravada Buddhism, as practiced in Burma, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, but also find support within the Zen and Tibetan traditions. Popular Theravadan teachers in North America include Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg.

This is an open group. Everyone who attends is a valued member with a place in our community. People with all levels of meditation experience (or none) are invited to attend any of our offerings.

Email questions to David & Christine at saltspringimc@gmail.com

Osho Kundalini Meditation

The meditation is in 4 – 15 minute segments guided by music. There is no talking. The first segment is shaking the body. The second is dancing. The third is sitting with music still playing and the fourth is sitting or lying down in silence.

Please arrive early to be ready to start at 5:30pm.
Suggested donation: $10

~ Facilitated by Amrita and Prakash

Crystal Bowl/Harmonic Toning Sessions

The mood of each session is very relaxed leading to deep meditative states.

In each session, we begin with the intention of being present with the light and love that already exists in each of us. We become witness to a deep healing presence radiating into and extending out of our hearts. This healing presence becomes greatly magnified as we join our hearts in a group setting.

These sessions are non-denominational and all-inclusive which are especially open to those in need of physical, mental or emotional healing.

~ led by Adam Huber

Attune: Sunday Sound Bath

The Attune Sound Bath is a wonderful place to come to let yourself receive and let go with the aid of sound as an ally for relaxation and nervous system soothing. By attuning to the harmonizing sounds of healing instruments, we entrain our cells, energy body and inner waters to resonate in a way that allows us to naturally heal ourselves over time. We nourish the energy body with harmonious tones that shift
our natural energetic baseline.

Most people will find deep rest at a sound bath, while others experience an emotional release, a feeling of activation or subtle energetic movement facilitated by the sounds. Each sound bath is different, bringing us on an inner journey of deep presence with emotion, body and mind. Marie-Jeanne’s approach to the sound bath is compassionate, slow, intentional and grounding. The use of metal singing bowls resonates deeply within the body, having a hypnotic effect.

Other instruments used are: gong, drum, ocean drum, chimes, bells and voice. We will start this event with a brief sharing circle to set intention. Participants are then invited to lie down comfortably for the duration of the sound bath. Then we finish the event with another sharing circle.

Suitable for 15 years old +, all paths of life are welcome within this space.

Payment: $20-$30 sliding scale at the door, or pay online in advance through this link:
speakingsymbols.com/sound-baths

~ led by Marie-Jeanne

Improv Theatre Class

You know you’re funny. Other people should too. You know you’re a good actor. We want you to explore that. You know you’ve been wanting to push your edge of public speaking. This is your chance.

Ari and Piet facilitate an improv class that builds on their many years of improvising on and off stage.

Don’t know any of the above? We’re calling your bluff. The class is open to all skill levels, and is the perfect opportunity to explore the best education life has to offer – Saying yes to what you’re presented in the moment, and embracing it!

No experience necessary.
Cost: $10 cash

~ led by Ari & Piet