Yoga and Meditation Classes
Choose from a variety of classes held at
Sunwood Sanctuary studio in Galway.
Your yoga teacher is a Yoga Alliance Professionals affiliated and certified, experienced Yoga Teacher and Holistic Therapist. Britt is passionate about introducing the practice of yoga to beginners, as well as guiding those with experience on their own personal journey.
Smaller in studio classes provide personalised attention, guidance and support to ensure that each student has the best experience possible in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
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Yoga, Breathwork & Meditation Classes
Vinyasa Yoga
The Sanskrit word Vinyasa means “to place in a special way” and is derived from the word "nyasa" which means “to place”
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A vinyasa is a smooth transition between yoga postures, otherwise known as asana, in a flowing style.
Vinyasa yoga is one of the most popular, more contemporary styles of yoga. It is also referred to as flow yoga as we place an emphasis on linking the breath with movement while creating a continuous flow of postures throughout the class.
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In contrast to yoga practices like Ashtanga, each vinyasa class may differ, as in the order of the poses within class, as well as the intention behind each class.
All vinyasa classes will most likely start with breathwork, an opening meditation and a setting of an intention for the class, and end in final relaxation. But
in between, the format, pace, and other aspects will change from class to class.
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This dynamic class of movement and breathwork, can flow at a rapid pace, or it can be slow. Some classes may be more energising and may work towards building strength and stamina, while others may be more calming and nurturing.
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Vinyasa yoga can be a form of power yoga and therefore, a really good class for anyone looking for a bit of a challenge.
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If you are new to Vinyasa as a style of yoga then it is important to start at beginner level and to learn the basics and fundamentals of the practice, as classes do speed up with progress and it is important to know how to place feet, hips, shoulders, correctly, in order to avoid injury and to also allow yourself as a beginner to build up strength and stamina for the more challenging classes.
A vinyasa yoga class will ultimately work towards creating and improving flexibility, strength, stamina, focus and balance on all levels. Mind, body and spirit.
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Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures that are held for longer periods of time.
It focuses on lengthening, stretching and hydrating the body’s connective tissues, with the aim of hydrating the fascia, increasing range of mobility, especially in the joints, while further increasing flexibility, improving circulation and the flow of energy. Yin yoga can also be very effective in helping to heal injury or scar tissue. This practice is also deeply meditative and also encourages deep relaxation and introspection.
Most Yin yoga is floor based, passive and very slow.
It is ideal for anyone looking for a slower paced class, aimed at meditation and deep relaxation as well as anyone with injury or mobility challenges.
This practice is not without challenge, however, it is ultimately deeply restorative, nurturing and nourishing and has been referred to as 'the chicken soup yoga for the soul'
Yin Yoga is based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang, the opposite and complementary principles found in nature.
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Yin can be described as stable, immobile, feminine, passive, and downward moving. Yang is understood to be changing, mobile, masculine, active, hot, and upward moving.
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The sun is considered yang, the moon yin. In the body, the relatively stiff connective tissues (tendons, ligaments, fascia) are considered yin, while the more mobile and pliable muscles and blood are called yang. More passive asanas in yoga are considered yin, whereas the more active, dynamic asanas are described as yang.
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Vinyasa yoga is yang in energy and targets the yang tissues within the body such as the muscles, while this style and practice is yin in energy and targets the yin tissues such as tendons, ligaments, fascia, bones and the cells.
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We need both yin and yang to create balance.
Ideally we should be practicing both yin and yang yoga to look after all the energies and tissues.
Too much yang and we can become unbalanced and too much yin can create disharmony and dis-ease too.
Breathwork & Meditation
All group classes offered at Sunwood Studio, include breathwork and meditation.
All classes begin with breathwork to create a mind body connection, bring awareness into the body, activate the parasympathetic part of the nervous system, calm and focus the mind and provide a sense of grounding and connection with the earth.
Following breathwork, we move mindfully and with attention and intention. Vinyasa yoga classes synchronise movement and breath so that the practice becomes a moving meditation as we condition the body through asana, or yoga postures, for meditation. Classes end with meditation, rest and guided relaxation.
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In yin yoga classes, the entire practice is centred around our breathing with attention and is a deeply meditative form of yoga practice. It encourages the practice of allowing and stillness, letting go of the constant trying and doing.
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Individual one to one yoga sessions can be tailored around an individuals own requirements and for example can include breathwork for anxiety, depression, stress relief and personalised meditations to help restore an over active and 'switched on' nervous system to a rest and digest state, rather than a constant fight or flight state. One to one sessions provide space and time for personalised adjustments and guidance according to an indivduals own needs .
The secret of life is right under your nose!
Dan Brule