Class Descriptions

A balance of inspiring, challenging, invigorating flow based sequence with an attention to brilliant alignment & mindful anatomical form.

Ignited by clear fluidity and producing inner warmth, this challenging, dynamic and long held pose sequence is linked by breath, and balanced with both creativity, play, alignment and skill.

Devotional dharma, mantra, meditation or breathing exercises may be emphasized.

Influences of Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Iyengar, Bhakti Yoga. Intelligent modifications will be instructed to make this more inclusive and fun!

Swan Align

This class emphasizes long held, demonstrated modifications for varying body abilities as a means to safely acclimate to the changing cycles, upkeep and recovery of our bodies. We will move mindfully with intelligence, alignment, skill and integrity for a greater embodiment of stability from the foundation up.

Poses will be highlighted for their anatomical structure & safety for individualized longevity and depth of form (more than flow) as the means from which to inform the body of misalignments and the biomechanics of poses.

You will learn about clear physical actions, and the creative, fun use of props, blocks, straps or a wall is often integrated, all meant for informing our body’s innate intelligence by feeling it deeply.

Influences from Anusara, Iyengar and Yoga Therapy.

Dharma, mantra, meditation and mantra may also be implemented.

*A teacher offering our Swan River Alignment class has been teaching at least 3 years and has a 500 hour minimum YA training.

Adaptive Yoga

Adaptive Yoga is yoga for every body. This class meets your body where it is, including bodies with limited mobility, flexibility and balance. Regardless of age, ability level or experience, you will be offered personalized adaptations of fundamental yoga poses. Each student receives support to enhance and deepen their mind-body connection. Co-taught by Kelly Haas and Keith Porteous with additional support and assistance from graduates of Swan River Yoga’s Therapeutics Teacher Training. Class is limited to 10 students.
Level: OPEN

Beginners: Foundations Level 1

For those entirely new to the practice. Develop strength and balance through emphasis on building the foundation of the pose, creating space in the spine, and aligning the general form. This class breaks down the asana poses succinctly, with proper use of props so they are safely explained, demonstrated, and experienced with modifications.

This class is appropriate for students with injuries and/or physical limitations.
Level: Beginner

Beginners Fundamentals

For beginning practitioners or on-going students who desire alignment-focused, slower moving classes. This class explains and demonstrates asana poses succinctly and with safety. Building on strength and balance, and a spacious spine, this class includes clear form and actions, solid alignment techniques, strengthening in backbends, and a slow introduction to more weight bearing poses on the upper body without vinyasa flow.
Level: Beginner

Kundalini

Kundalini Yoga uses sound (mantra), movement (kriya’s), breath (pranayam), relaxation and mediation to balance and strengthen your physical, emotional and spiritual essences. This yoga technique offers away to combat the day to day stress by organizing, supporting and nourishing various systems in the body (glandular, elimination, nervous, etv.). Many of the classes focus on bring balance to the glandular and immune systems to provide healing and therapeutic benefits to the nervous system. It works on subtle levels to provide profound effects. Ultimately, it is vehicle to uncover your true self to live soulful, healthy and happy. It is often refereed to as a “Yoga of Awareness”.
Level: ALL

Restorative Yoga

This class invites deep nurturing, receptivity, self inquiry and a total slow down. Done low or lying down, there are no standing nor rigorous sequences offered.

Originally created by Judith Hansons Lasater and influenced by BKS Iyengar, the use of props such as bolsters, blankets, blocks, straps and the wall gently ease one into opening the energy over an extended period of time.

Created especially for those under stress, decompressing, recovering from injury, beginning, unwinding from a difficult time, hardship or trauma, this is the permission of conscious stillness, the reduction of multi-tasking and glorifying therapeutic slowing down.

For beginners, those with injuries, injury recovery, special needs, pre-natal and trauma recovery.

Bring into calm the commotion of the world.

Level: ALL

“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.” Pico Iyer; Adventures In Going Nowhere

Slow Flow

Slow Flow is a physically present practice in between a beginner’s class and an open Swan River or Jivamukti class. This class will be challenging but available to all ages. Expect movement, breathing practices, balance poses, and restorative yoga to conclude your practice.
Level: ALL

Sound Bath

This pure high vibrational lying down concert includes large crystal bowls, planetary gongs, an extensive collection of tuning forks, balinese metal drums, elemental chimes, along with the soothing serenade of sacred mantra by Swan Michelle.

Meant to recalibrate the nervous system, energy body and chakras, sound therapy has also been used as a soft form of meditation, and an artful transmission for healing PTSD.In yoga, sound and listening was the original form of healing.

This is both an incredibly creative and unique experience to bring your entire family to in silence and a deep reset of the sacred. All levels are welcome. There is no movement in this sound experience.

Swan Michelle has been offering Sound Bath’s as an invitation to listen and deepen our sensitivity to harmonic, resonate frequencies at Swan River Yoga since 2012 and across the Gulf Coast and globe.

Swan Intermediate

This class spices up the practice just ever so slightly with a bit more vigor and a few key challenging peak poses demonstrated. Similar in flavor to our Swan River Yoga Open Level, it is chock full of the same delicious treats such as dharma, bhakti, breathing & a balance of alignment and flow, yet it is meant to inspire challenge & growth in a light, celebratory atmosphere. Often you will find a Senior Swan Teacher with a seasoned practice leading/doing this class.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Teacher Training

Serve you community in the highest. Delve more deeply into your practice and serving others. Learn the fundamentals of yoga, chanting, voice, meditation, philosophy, anatomy, asana alignment, yoga assists, asana sequencing, ayurvedic medicine, esoteric anatomy, breathing techniques, and community service or seva, so that you honor your Inner teacher. In honoring your inner teacher you may then find the need, calling of desire to teach others yoga. The purpose of this training is both meant for personal growth and as a means to naturally serve, teach or liberate whomever we meet.
A regular 6 month 350-hour course is offered as well as an annual 6-week course in Advanced Studies, suitable for those both currently teaching and those wishing to advance their personal studies and practice. Find out more here.