The vagus nerve is longest of all 16 cranial nerves. In this class we do vagal nerve stimulation exercises (stretching fascia, humming, breath retention) proven to reduce depression, anxiety, and paralysis.

In the heart loop, we lift and spread the top chest while descending the shoulder blades in back. This movement lifts the lungs and heart upward from the diaphragm in preparation for pranayama.

In this class we isolate the flow of air through one nostril at a time in order to gain the feel and dimensionality of the breath along the right and left sides of the body.

The classic “alternate nostril breath” requires sensitivity and dexterity in the fingers. Like playing a wind instrument, we practice to hit smooth “notes” while regulating the flow of breath.

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body traveling from the low back down to your toes. In this class we mobilize the lower sciatic nerve (the tibial nerve) as it tunnels through the knee, calf, ankle, and foot.

The upper sciatic nerve is typically the culprit for radiating pain in the hip, buttock, low back and upper leg. In this class we loosen the muscles that surround the sciatic nerve in order to release the structures of the hip, hamstring, and buttock.

Yogis have described the internal pitch of pranayama to be like the sound of humming bees. In this class we activate the sound, vibration, and pitch of the pranayama breath in order to impart subtle shifts in the brain waves and consciousness.

There are very strong, strapping muscles that attach directly to the lumbar spine and all too often twisting, shearing or compressive forces pull the lumbar out of true. In this class we balance, fortify and tune the lumbar vertebrae.

The upper back is prone to searing tension between the scapula, an aching tension that radiates up into the neck. In this class we mobilize the upper back and shoulders in order to support deep, rhythmic and relaxed breathing.

In this class we sensitize the flow of breath through the nostrils and throat while attending to the subtle sound through the airway of the throat and palate.