yoga in Ithaca, NY

Ahimsa offers a variety of different classes - mostly yoga but with a handful of other little treasures added into the mix. Below are descriptions of many of our different offerings. Check the class schedule for up-to-date information on when they meet.

 

Yoga w/Hawk

Hawk is a Yogini of 20+ years.  As creator of AHIMSA Yoga Studio and Ithaca Yoga Center she has had the opportunity to work extensively with Yoga as a vehicle for transformation.  Going beyond her original training as Yoga teacher and therapist, over the past decade she has helped many people to ignite their own miraculous healing powers through advance Breathing techniques.  She brings a gentle, nurturing energy to her work that combines with the clarity and power of Spirit achieved after many years of work and study.


Akhanda Yoga w/ Jackie

Akhanda Mandala Karam - The cosmos and the manifest universe is one indivisible entity.

Yogi Vishvketuji and his wife Chetana Panwar are the co-founders of  the World Conscious Yoga Family. They chose the word Akhanda  which means unbroken tradition, entire, whole to identify with their holistic style of teachings that include asana, pranayama, relaxation, mantra, meditation, and yogic philosophy to create a balanced class. "This integral approach to yoga classes is intended to give students access to more of the diverse teachings, and techniques that the yoga system has to offer" (C.Panwar).

Iyengar/ Vinyasa Blend w/Sara

Vinyasa Yoga is a fun, heart opening and energizing flow of postures that integrates the breath with the body. Considerable attention is given to alignment instruction within the flow of postures.

Iyengar Yoga emphasizes careful attention to alignment of each posture as a means to seeking an awareness of the inner intelligence of the body.  Iyengar yoga focuses great attention on individual poses using demonstrations, anatomical inquiry and props.

Beginning: for students who are new to yoga or coming back to it. Physical alignment, breath and body awareness and self-acceptance are emphasized.

Basic:  ongoing development of a solid foundation of basic postures and alignment

Intermediate:  continuing with basic postures plus adding more complex postures including deepening practice of inversions, backbends and arm balances. There is more linking of the poses (vinyasa) in this class.

Ashtanga Mixed Series w/Lennessa

A creative, spontaneous mix of deep forward and backward bending, cleansing twists, exhilarating inversions, and playing with balance. Combined with ujjayi breath, energy locks (bandhas) and focused gaze (drishti), to create meditation in motion. The ultimate practice.

Slow Flow w/ Astrid

Thursdays 10:00 -11:30 am. This class is for people of all levels (beginners are welcome) who are interested in learning how to link basic poses together in tune with the breath. We will practice breathing techniques as well as the proper alignment of poses and spend time learning to flow through the poses as a form of moving meditation. In so doing, we will warm up the body and achieve deep relaxation.

Intermediate Hatha w/ Astrid

Wednesdays 5:30-7:00 pm. This class is a blend of iyengar and vinyasa yoga. Iyengar yoga emphasizes great attention to detail in the alignment of the poses while vinyasa yoga seeks to link the movement of the poses through the breath. Thus, we will focus on breath, alignment and flow with the intention of having stronger and more flexible bodies, centered minds, open hearts and relaxed spirits. Basic knowledge of yoga poses is helpful for this class and we will move into more advanced postures based on the experience of class participants.

Kundalini Yoga w/Jai Hari

Kundalini Yoga is a dynamic form of yoga that combines yoga postures, movement, breath and meditation techniques that provide relaxation and restores strength and flexibility to the body and the mind.  It works to clear the body and the subconscious of energetic blocks, allowing your natural energy to flow, and consequently uplifting the spirit.  No flexibility required!!   All levels are welcome!! 

Jivamukti w/Tammy

The Jivamukti method of Yoga is one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha Yoga. The name Jivamukti means Liberation while living. Jivamukti is taken from the Sanskrit term, Jivanmukti, which is used to describe the state of enlightenment. David Life and Sharon Gannon named this yoga method Jivamukti because they wanted the student to be reminded of the ultimate aim of the practice—to live in enlightenment (Samadhi). Whether you're a beginner or an advanced yogi, an Open Jivamukti class encompasses all levels. A typical Open class consists of a vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating flowing vinyasa sequence partnered with hands-on adjustments, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, Sanskrit chanting, yoga philosophy, and deep relaxation. To keep the practice unanticipated, asana sequences are ever-changing. We do sitting, standing, and inverted postures and suggested variations for everything in-between. Exuberant, eclectic music plays an integral role in Jivamukti yoga; in a typical Open class you might practice to a shifting soundtrack of uplifting and inspirational music from Krishna Das to Michael Franti to the Beatles. In the words of Sharon Gannon, "The Jivamukti method could be described as that way of teaching and practicing Yoga where the student is constantly reminded that their true Self is none other than happiness, Love itself."

Ithaca Kapala Mandala w/Mary

Ithaca Kapala Mandala is a satellite sangha of Tara Mandala, a retreat center founded by Lama Tsultrim Allione.

We welcome you to join us. We alternate between Feeding Your Demons and the Chod practice each Sunday from 5 to 6 pm. To reserve your space, see contact emails below.

Feeding Your Demons is a 5-step process developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione for dealing with negative emotions, fears, illness, and self-defeating patterns. We pair up at our FYD sessions, one assisting the other for half an hour, and find that by nurturing these demons, we can free ourselves from struggling with them.

The progenitor of Chod was the 11th century Tibetan teacher Machig Lapdron. Informed by the PrajnaParamita (perfection of wisdom) scriptures, Machig developed the Chod as a means to cut through fear, fixation, and self-clinging. The practice is chanted in Tibetan and performed with drum and bell.

Prerequisites:

Doing the Chod requires transmission from a qualified teacher, but attendance at the practice is open to all.

Feeding Your Demons is open to those who have read the book of that title by Tsultrim Allione; or have attended one of her talks, workshops, or teachings; or have had a short orientation with one of the sangha steering committee: Lenore lenorie@lightlink.com OR Mara malper@ithaca.edu OR Mary mg24@cornell.edu

Additional information can be found at the website for Lama Tsultrim’s retreat center: http://www.taramandala.org

Breathing w/Hawk

Benefits accrue at all three levels of body, mind, and spirit simultaneously and often at a level beyond conscious awareness.  While no specific medical claims are made, nearly all known dis-ease has been seen to respond favorably to conscious breathing; ranging from cancer to digestive dis-orders, migraines, heart and circulation problems, addictions, high blood pressure, immune system dysfunction, depression, chronic fatigue... the list is endless.  Transformational breathing also complements and integrates all other healing systems.  The simple truth is that complete oxygenation of our cellular system is essential for good health!

Contact Improv

Contact improvisation is a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for exploration through movement improvisation. Contact Improvisation is a form of dance improvisation and is one of the best-known and most characteristic forms of postmodern dance init.

607-280-0191
www.ithacayoga.org