Adult Class Descriptions

“What is needed essentially to support this yoga knowledge is faith,
courage, and a sense of adventure.” —Shri K. Pattabhi Jois

Meditation [Free Class] (15 min)
Relax your body... quiet your mind with 15 minutes of guided meditation.

Intro to Yoga [Free Class] (60 min)
This free class is designed to introduce the fundamentals of a basic yoga class. Instruction in proper breathing (ujayyi), sun salutations (surya namaskara), as well as fundamental standing and seated poses (asanas) will be emphasized.

Boomer Yoga
A yoga class designed for the ‘boomer’ generation (those born in the 1950’s). This all level hatha yoga class is designed for healthy aging through exploring a yoga practice to strengthen and stretch body, breath and mind. If you are looking to slow the aging process, reduce general inflammation, minimize pain and cultivate contentment and peace, this class is for you.

Beginning Vinyasa Flow (75 min.)
This class is designed to teach the fundamentals to beginning level students. You will learn sun salutations, breathing techniques, and various standing and seated asanas so that you feel prepared to take level I-II classes.

Vinyasa Flow I (75-90 min.)
An introduction to asanas (postures), pranayama (breath) and dristhi (gaze). This class is designed to introduce the fundamental asanas and introduce the vinyasa form of yoga (flowing from one posture to the next, motivated by breath), as well as Surya Namaskar A & B (sun salutations).

Vinyasa Flow II (60-90 min.)
An intermediate class for those students who would like to master the fundamentals. Utilizing the vinyasa form (flowing from one posture into the next, motivated by the breath) and emphasizing the principles of forward folds, backbends, and twists.

Vinyasa Flow III (90 min.)
A vigorous class which builds heat and stamina through sun salutations and standing poses. These classes include the vinyasa form and the more challenging postures such as inversions and backbends.

Ashtanga L1-2 (75-90 min.)
An introduction to the Ashtanga Vinyasa system, a sequence of asanas integrating breath and movement in Vinyasa. This class introduces Surya Namaskar A & B (sun salutations), the standing postures of the primary series, and a variety of the seated poses. The class will finish with the closing sequence of the primary series.

Ashtanga Primary Series (75+ min.)
The full Primary Series of the Ashtanga Vinyasa System; a precisely designed sequence of postures linked together with the breath. Using Ujjayyi pranayama (deep breathing), dristhi (gaze), and bandhas (locks), this powerful and rigorous practice purifies and realigns the body and energizes the spirit.

Gong Bath with Kenny Kolter
Since ancient times gongs have been used as a tool for meditation and prayer. For over 5000 years gongs have announced the arrival of royalty, provided a sonic backdrop to celebrations, and were used to ward off evil spirits. A Gong Bath is an opportunity to go within utilizing the gongs soothing resonance to achieve mind/body harmony. Immerse yourself in sound with the healing vibrations of the gong. A Gong Bath will both calm and inspire your spirit. The vibrations can help balance and cleanse the energy in your body. The sound & energy works at a cellular level and can help with stress, fatigue, depression, anger, and blocked energy. This is an experience you will never forget. Bring a mat & a blanket, and be prepared for a journey of a lifetime. Bathe in the powerful, relaxing, and energizing song of the gong. Ride the healing sound waves, meditate & pray in the harmonious blend of sustained resonance with recording artist and sound practitioner, Kenny Kolter.

Average Joe-ga: Yoga for the Average Joe
Join us for North Shore Yoga’s first class designed for men, i.e. any “Joe” interested in starting or improving his Yoga practice! No girls allowed! In this four class series, you will be introduced to sun salutations, proper breathing, and fundamental postures including standing postures, seated postures, twists, balancing postures, and more. You will experience the yin and yang of yoga practices, including the more active Vinyasa Flow style of yoga as well the more passive Yin style. At the end of the four weeks, you will feel competent and confident attending any level I or I-II yoga class. Want to find out about the benefits of a yoga practice without worrying about looking silly in front of the ladies? Now's your chance! Check it out in the guys only "Yoga for the Average Joe".

"Average Joe-ga" will be taught by Jim Carpenter and Chuck Frenkel, both of whom are currently on the faculty at North Shore Yoga. Jim is a 46-year old, married father of four who lives in Glenview and has been practicing yoga for over six years and teaching since 2007. He started practicing yoga to relieve back pain and overall stiffness resulting from years of running, weightlifting and playing rugby. Over time, the mental benefits of yoga became as important as the physical, resulting in the ability to better deal with stress, improved sleep and a better overall sense of well being. Chuck is a 56 year old father of two who found yoga while rehabilitating a severe cycling injury. As a competitive athlete, Chuck appreciates the balance that yoga brings to life. Not only did yoga "bring him back" from a broken body, but also helped to heal his mind and spirit and now he shares that wonderful experience teaching yoga.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Sheila Dixon
This 4-week session is based on the teachings of Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts. By attending this workshop you will learn to quiet the chatter in your mind through guided instruction in meditation, mindfulness & breath awareness. You will learn how meditation and moment-to-moment awareness increases your ability to cope with life stressors and achieve a greater sense of mastery over your life.
Sheila Dixon, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice. She also teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Evanston.

Mysore Style Ashtanga
Mysore style classes create an environment where each student can work at their own appropriate pace because the teacher instructs each student individually. Each student does the Ashtanga practice at the pace of their own breath. This method originated in Mysore, South India and is still taught there today by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. No prior Ashtanga experience is necessary. Students can begin and finish their practice any time between the listed start time and complete time.

Pilates (60 min.)
All levels will practice together as Pilates encourages students to master a personal fitness destiny.  While practicing with control, precision, fluidity, and breath during the mat sequence you will gain incredible strength, length, and flexibility.

Pranayama with Sharyn (45 min.)
This donation based class is designed to teach those new to Pranayama (the process of breath control), and those with an existing foundation in Pranayama, a platform in which to deepen their practice and commitment to pranayama. We will practice the basic preparations/cleanses and introduce the 8 major breath practices. Breath is intricately connected to the mind and emotions. When one is calm the breath is deep and slow. When one is tense, anxious, angry or fearful the breath is either held, irregular, short or difficult. Therefore by learning to control the breath we not only regulate our emotions and feel calm but can bring balance to the nadis and Ayurvedic doshas on a deeper, energetic level.

Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga is yoga for EVERYBODY... No yoga experience needed. Restorative Yoga poses are "active relaxation". By supporting the body with props, we alternately stimulate and relax the body to move toward balance. Relax, Renew, Find Balance. Enjoy!

Yoga for Runners & Multi-Sport Athletes with Julie
Looking to enhance your marathon or triathlon training regimen with the benefits of yoga? Join Julie Leahy for a series of special classes designed specifically for endurance athletes. Sessions are meant to complement your regular training by mindfully targeting specific areas that need some extra attention after long runs, swims or rides; enjoy healing hip work, IT band stretches, hamstring releasers and shoulder openers, all while engaging the power of the breath. Whether you are training for a specific event or wanting to supplement a regular running regime with sport-specific poses, this class is for you. No previous yoga experience or knowledge is required.

Yin Yoga
Experience the gentle, harmonizing effects of a Yin yoga practice, a practice that perfectly complements the "yang" Ashtanga/Vinyasa Flow practice. Yin yoga works by gently loosening and stretching our connective tissues, opening and restoring the joints and invoking a remarkable feeling of freedom and lightness in the body. Yin yoga consists primarily of seated poses held for a period of time and performed in a manner which allows gravity to do most of the "work", while gently opening the body. Performing the asana in this fashion allows the practitioner to fully explore each asana while experiencing a wonderful, meditative calm.