​amrita yoga style

“An authentic and holistic curriculum that strikes the ideal balance between theory/practice, philosophy/asana.”  — Student, I. G.​

amrita yoga, created by Sarahjoy Marsh, integrates vinyasa yoga with Ayurveda, neuroscience, yoga philosophy and psychology, pranayama,
​chanting, mindfulness, and dharma.

amrita yoga emphasizes the bio-mechanics of alignment, anatomy, kinesiology, and rehabilitative processes.

​amrita yoga is taught in alignment with the rhythms of nature. Ayurveda teaches that our yoga practice should be in harmony with the changing of the seasons as well as the time of day (and your life cycle). To support these natural cycles, amrita yoga classes have different morning and evening rhythms (based on dinacharya) as well as seasonal focuses.

Dinacharya (Daily Rhythm):​
​amrita yoga morning rhythm (surya) classes are dynamic, focusing on practices that energize, cleanse, promote vitality, build stamina, strength, and resilience. Class includes sun salutations, vinyasa (vigorous at times), standing poses, arm balances, backbends, and inversions, as well as seasonally-appropriate pranayama practices, mindfulness tools and meditation.

amrita yoga evening rhythm (chandra) classes are meditative, focusing on practices that rejuvenate vitality (including vinyasa and dynamic standing poses), address mental fatigue or tension (including pranayama), cultvate mindful, introspective attention, and restore the nervous system through Ayurvedic restorative poses. Classes include mindfulness tools and meditation

Seasonal Rhythm:
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​winter season (vata) classes emphasize poses that are grounding, warming, and that create steadiness and mental calm. Pranayama is used to still the windy nature of the mind and to leverage the inspiring nature of vata. Classes  may include restorative poses with warmth and weight (to calm the nervous system), longer hold standing poses (to generate internal heat), headstand and shoulderstand (to stabilize the mind), and twists (to support the colon).

spring season (kapha) classes emphasize poses that mobilize, energize, and uplift. Classes include sun salutations, standing twists (to release internal stagnation), restorative standing poses (to strengthen respect for the body’s root system), backbends (to awaken energy in the heart and lungs), hip openers (to “un-muddy” the root system), seated forward bends (to nurture the deep generativeness of kapha), and practices that alternately heat and calm the body and nervous system (to cleanse and prepare for pitta season).

summer season (pitta) classes emphasize poses that cool, soothe, and sweeten. Classes include quieting sequences that open the heart (pitta enjoys shining!), soothe inflammation (physical or mental), and remind students of their inner radiance (to reduce ambition and grasping). Backbends and playful inversions are sequenced with introverted poses (forward bends, restorative or cooling poses), mindfulness tools that prevent over-heating in standing poses, and pranayama to maintain a cool (moonlight-like) internal energy in approaching poses of all kinds.