Yoga Smorgasbord
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - Teens
Two weeks ago, a Yoga for Wellness reader who enjoyed June 20th’s blog on “Midwestern Sensibilities” and the varied geographic cultural influences, wrote back to me commenting that I should write about varied yoga cultural influences as well.
This got me thinking about the studio that I belong to: Mosaic Yoga.
Shortly after the world experienced a pandemic shut down, our tribe of yoga instructors devotedly met weekly on Zoom to brainstorm how we could continue to teach to our community. Eighteen months of weekly meetings resulted in many gifted offerings that I’m so grateful for, one of them being, our name “Mosaic Yoga.”
Shortly after the world experienced a pandemic shut down, our tribe of yoga instructors devotedly met weekly on Zoom to brainstorm how we could continue to teach to our community. Eighteen months of weekly meetings resulted in many gifted offerings that I’m so grateful for, one of them being, our name “Mosaic Yoga.”
Mosaic is our Smorgasbord.
“Life is like a mosaic. It's an image of thousands of smaller colored tiles that make up your life. Every choice you make is a little tile in the mosaic. You won't be perfect, you will make mistakes.”
-Author Unknown
Mosaic Yoga is a dedicated group of yoga instructors in Salt Lake City, Utah who have a desire and passion to offer yoga classes to its community. This band of teachers, most of which have been working together for many years, are all well versed in their particular style of teaching. Class offerings range from Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Kundalini Yoga, Forrest Yoga, Mindfulness Meditation, and more.
When I first began practicing yoga, I thought it could replace my allotted time for exercise. Once children came, time for myself flew out the window! … and It remained as such for what seemed like decades, but realistically, it was more like a solid 5 years.
Forever coordinating babysitters and maneuvering childcare around busy teaching and firefighting schedules, my much needed practice often fell second or third on the priority list of who got served.
Placing myself on the list was a practice all unto itself.
Sometimes my children joined me at the studio. Some of my sweetest memories are bringing a 2-year old Abigail with her puzzles and books and placing her near me within the yoga studio. She was, and has remained still, my quiet soul and cooperatively waited until Savasana (90-min later) before she would crawl on top of me laying heart-to-heart while we synchronized our breath and closed out the session.
Which was my practice, Yoga or Life?
21 years later, a pandemic hit and Mosaic needed to make a decision about finances as reflected by our community. We were being approached by many people asking such questions like, “My job got furloughed and I need yoga to help me figure things out, but I cannot afford it. Can I still practice with you?” and “I miss practicing in-person, how can we take a class?”
We taught on Zoom, Facebook Live, eventually Backyard Yoga and properly socially distanced Hybrid Optional in-class/in-person yoga through the generous offerings of Publik Roasters.
The practice of yoga extended FAR BEYOND the mat. The pandemic taught us to put our practice to use. Throughout the 18-months prior to finding the studio, The Local Co-op for which we operate from put us in constant motion moving through the ebb and flow of available information and requested need.
In the end, Mosaic Yoga has also created a business model with their community in mind. Instead of the typical class pass standard, they have developed an opportunity for anyone that wants to practice yoga to do so without the worry of financial burden. Mosaic Yoga is a donation-based yoga studio. That means, attend any yoga class, then donate to your teacher whatever fits your yoga budget. If that means you are unable to donate that particular day, no worries. Consider the class as a gift to you.
Here are the cultural yoga offerings of Mosaic Yoga
Which one works for you? (Try them all!)
Power Hour
A 60-Minute Vinyasa Yoga style practice. While moving at your own pace, expect to flow through a variety of themed yoga sequences accompanied by intentional breathing.
Power Flow
A powerful, dynamic yoga flow designed to challenge intermediate to advanced yogis, but also be somewhat accessible to beginners. We will not practice impossible poses, but rather use basic/intermediate poses in a way that allows the practitioner to feel challenged and tap into their intrinsic strength. We will build our physical practice around our breath — slowly and intentionally.
This class typically includes a slower portion in the beginning, focused more on alignment ... and then a slightly faster breath-to-movement flow as well. We work on developing our STABILITY as well as MOBILITY at the same time. Come prepared for strengthening, stretching, and balancing.
Restore Yoga
Relax & restore your body/mind through deep & intentional stretching of the muscles and connective tissues with the use of supportive props & a slower pace. Great for releasing tension and stress, improving the quality of sleep and creating an opportunity to slow down and chill out. Accessible and inclusive to many different body types, abilities, ages and experience.
Movement & Sound
“I’m not flexible enough to do yoga!”Sound familiar? The movement portion of this class is designed to ease into tight muscles and stiff joints with intention to create mobility, flexibility and increased strength for everyday life. Following the movement portion, a savasana with a sound bath experience will help to relax and calm the nervous system. This class is accessible and inclusive for many different body types, abilities, ages and levels of experience.
Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra
A 60-minute Yin Yoga practice followed by a 30-minute Yoga Nidra practice. Yin Yoga is a slow, deep yoga where poses are held from 3-10 minutes each. It is typically done in a dark room with poses on the floor and with many props. Yin postures target connective tissue and are powerful in adding flexibility and softness to the body, providing an opportunity to sit in stillness, silence, and reflection. Yoga Nidra is similar to a guided meditation. Lying in savasana, you simply listen to the instructor's voice as you are guided with powerful imagery through the layers of self and into a place of deep relaxation and self-healing.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of awareness. It is a powerful yoga that includes breath work, chanting (mantras), sequences of postures (called kriyas), meditation, and relaxation.
The goal of all types of yoga is to awaken you to your highest potential, to raise your consciousness. Kundalini Yoga scientifically focuses on the glands, nervous system, and meridians to help you connect with your highest self in a powerful, efficient, and highly effective way.
Night Owls Yoga
A slower, more gentle approach to Power Yoga designed to help you soften into the hard places while focusing on the breath and creating a moving meditation with your body. This is one of the best classes for a beginner who is ready to start to build their practice. This class uses galaxy projector lights on the ceiling to create an experience that takes you out of this world!
Chill Vibes Power Flow
Just a little less intense than some of our other Power classes and only 60 minutes long. We still breathe, flow, move the same way we do in Power Flow class, just a little slower and more CHILL! This class is set to music and there are galaxy projector lights on the ceiling to create an experience that takes you out of this world! Oh and don’t forget the Soundbath Savasana!
Deep Power
Some might say this is a "slow burn"... a strong power class without the need for speed. This class is a slow yet powerful flow intended to bring you deeper into each posture, rather than just moving through like in some vinyasa style classes. We will move with intention and attention rather than momentum, paying attention to even the smallest micro-adjustments that change the posture from the inside, allowing the practitioner to relax into a deeper, fuller, more aligned expression of their pose.
This class is approachable for beginners but will also be challenging enough for seasoned practitioners. Modifications will be given and are always welcome!
Core/Restore
The best of both worlds! This class is half Power/half Restore. PLUS, two of your favorite teachers! This class is also fun because it is co-taught by two of our most beloved teachers, Katie and Kim!
Hope to see you on the mat soon!
