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physical culture: the joys of practicebreath | fly | contact | hoop | spin | climb | run | play | fightvinyasa yoga
A regular Hatha Yoga practice sits at the core of our cirriculum at PanYoga; our focus is deeply rooted in the even breath (pranayama), with an emphasis on fluid flow (vinyasa) with a sprinkling of ashtanga-style power moves. Our teachers strive to deliver a balanced mix of spiritual insight combined with athleticism.
flying yoga
If yoga is the root, then flying yoga is the birds in the glorious canopy. Flying partner yoga is the ultimate translation of yogic principals into dynamic partnerships. An elegant blend of Acrobatics, Yoga, and Thai Massage, this practice is all about building bonds of trust, playfulness, and communication between base, flyer, and an occasional spotter. Once a vocabulary of moves is learned, a space is opened for complete improvisational jamming.
contact improv
As the name implies, this is a fully improvisational form, aligned closely with Ecstatic Dance. Contact improv is about listening with your body. It is the most open of all these practice forms. In direct contrast to acroyoga, which has both a base and spotter giving full energy to the flyer; in contact improv, each and every participant assumes active responsibility for their own safety at all times; this both encourages risk and acute awareness amongst all practitioners.
hoopdance
Most adults consider hula hoops to be the exclusive domain of children; and indeed, the $5 plastic toy hoops purchased at your local toy store are just that. But there is another class of hoop, larger in diameter and heavier, lovingly handmade by dedicated craftspeople all over the world, which re-opens this practice to playful humans of any age. The basic movement is simple: thrusting your hips rhythmically just as you do in your favorite activity. And once an adult regains the confidence in their ability to keep the hoop revolving, then the world opens up to the endless possibilities of tricks and true movement with the flow.
poi spinning / fire dance
If the circle of the hoop represents the feminine, the orbiting balls of the poi represent... well, you get the picture. Poi is true poetry in motion. Originally a tool of the Maori tribes of New Zealand, they were used both to visually articulate stories, and to train young warriors in the fundamental flows of swordplay. These days, they are (alongside staff, hoop, and meteor) one of the primary tools of the fire dance and performance community. But all you need to get started is a pair of socks and two tennis balls! Just place the balls in the socks, grasp the socks by the ends, and start spinning. As with the hoop, once you get the basics down, the trick path is endless, so just turn up the music, and rock it.
bouldering / free climbing
One of the best methods of solo practising these skills of strength, balance, and flexibility, which also adds elements of fun, adrenaline, puzzle solving and immediacy, is bouldering, or free climbing. This is the art of climbing challenging vertical surfaces free from the crutches of rope or harness, using only your bare hands and feet to move upwards. Typically it is done on bouldering 'projects' which are less than 30 feet high, thus conveniently avoiding a fatality with a fall.
parkour / free running
Parkour is a form of movement which emphasizes finding the optimally efficient path from point A to point B, passing over, under, around and through a series of obstacles along the way. It is generally performed in urban environments. Free running adds style elements to the trace, such as flips and spins, just for fun. Practice of parkour gives one confidence in overcoming any obstacle in creative and unconventional ways.
gymnastics
A regular and disciplined gymnastics practice adds significant components of strength, balance, and accuracy to all your other practices. Serious gymnasts, like professional circus artists, are the genuine superheroes of our time. A well-rounded gymnast is the apogee of physical health.
mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, can be viewed as a quasi-violent form of dance. Two practitioners trained in the same form can escalate to a highly choreographed form of play, using forceful impact in place of subtle touch. In forms such as Tai Chi and Aikido, where solo and harm-free forms are practiced, the lines are very blurred. Either way, martial arts engender physical flow, awareness of chi, and fluidity of movement within dynamic ever-changing environments. Highly reccomended for the advanced movement arts practitioner.
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MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO |
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© 2009-2014 PanYoga / Greg Roberts. all rights reserved. reproduction is healthily encouraged with good karma.
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phone (415) 968-YOGA
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