Yoga is an ancient wholistic system, that, with consistent practice, brings about mind-body balance, inner and outer strength, emotional and mental stability, inner and outer awareness.  

Some think yoga is mostly about the physical poses, which is just one branch of yoga. Many of us are motivated to start with the physical to "get in shape," recuperate from injury, or de-stress. Yoga can do all this and more when approached as it was designed, a progressive multi-faceted art and science.

Nope. A better question might be, "Do I want more flexibility?" If your answer is yes, you're in the right place. Accepting where you are, you'll be guided to move forward in safe increments that will encourage you to keep going.

Hatha, ha=sun, tha =moon in Sanskrit, is an umbrella term to describe many styles of yoga concerned with the physicall poses and breathing, the 3rd and 4th branches of the eight-limbed yoga.

Iyengar Yoga is based on the teachings of the brilliant Mr. BKS Iyengar, 1918-2014. It is the style of yoga I am trained in, the most developed method of Hatha Yoga I know. It is progressive, adaptive, balanced and challenging, in unexpected ways.

Vinyasa=connection, or transition in Sanskrit. It is the part of (even Iyengar) Yoga when poses are strewn together in continuous sequences. In Iyengar Yoga it is taught after all the individual component poses are learned well and safely. So when a flow of poses is done in succession, slowly or rapidly, the student knows how to exit a pose and how to gracefully and safely approach the next pose and how to combine them as connecting threads. Also, Iyengar Vinyasa has an infinite number of pose combinations with much creativity, enjoyment, challenge and fun!

Many styles of yoga have fixed Vinyasa sequences that are repeated as a form of meditation.

Today and in the last few decades, Vinyasa or "Vinyasa Flow," classes are given as an athletic style of its own, often without foundational instructions, with new students expected to "catch on."

Form fitting clothing such as leggings, or shorts and a t-shirt are recommended.

If you are just beginning yoga and might feel self-conscious about wearing tight clothing, at first go for comfort and ability to move in the clothing.

As you go further in your studies, you may become more accepting and less concerned with what others might be thinking. You will want the instructor to more easily see your body in order to make valuable suggestions and corrections ito your poses.

If you are not just beginning, you may be asked to wear clothing that makes it easy for the instructor to see and evaluate your poses.

Register for the course or classes that will be a good fit so your pacing and amount of challenge will feel just right.

If you're not sure, book a Free Discovery Call with Joni, answer the questions on the Intake Form, and have Joni help you find a course or classes that are the right fit for you.

When you register, you will receive a confirmation email, some pre-course materials to review before the course starts, a reminder email, and recommendations for more information.

You are welcome to join Joni's Free Practice Sessions anytime so you can meet and get to know Joni and experience her instruction style.

For beginner's courses, you'll be expected to have a yoga mat, 2 blocks, at least one strap, or belt and access to a wall or door, with about 6 feet (or the length of your height) in front of the wall. You may be asked to use a blanket or towel.

Each course will have a prop list. As you progress in your learning, you will want to augment your prop collection to make your expanding repetoire of yoga poses accessible and safe at all levels.

See RESOURCES for recommended prop vendors.

Ideally, yoga is practiced daily, as consistency will bring you the most benefits.

You might start with 10-20 minutes at a time, or 10 minutes twice daily. As you begin to experience the cumulative benefits, you'll naturally want to increase your time spent practing.

Once you have learned some yoga in your course, you'll have practice sequences and replay recordings to guide you so you'll know what and how to practice.