Our yoga is
Deep Yoga.

Yoga at Shine isn’t physical exercise.

Yes, you get strong and flexible, and yes, some students lose weight. But what we see more of, and what we’re after, is that students begin to live in their bodies.

Students feel empowered, students feel beautiful. Students’ bodies start to remember how good it feels to move and how equally good it feels to rest.

We are after the deep stuff. The real stuff, the beautiful human stuff that yoga makes possible.

Everyday, we go deep, into our hearts, our bodies, and our minds.

Here’s how we do it…

Move.

Yoga has too many tools to be restricted by styles. We need everything that yoga offers in this upside-down world of ours.

Our “Move” classes are centered around a flow, but in every one, we will also pause for alignment, muscle engagement and range of motion techniques. We will also quiet our minds and teach our bodies and minds to rest.

Movement is amazing. It helps us to express our emotions. It can drive our energetic experience. It wakes up muscles that have forgotten how to work. It takes us deep into ourselves and it unravels joy.

In yoga, movement is also deeply connected to breath. In fact, I think of vinyasa or flow classes as a pranayama practice—a means of regulating the breath for a specific purpose. We will use breath as our tempo and our practice in all Move classes.

As you’ll see in the descriptions, Move classes go from extra gentle to longer, more physically intensive classes.

Flow to Rest
(Saturday’s 10:30-11:30 am)

This class is a Shine favorite. I first designed it for people with low mobility who had a difficult time sitting and kneeling on the floor and getting up and down. There aren’t any down dogs or planks in this one, and we are on our feet for the majority of the class. While it’s gentle, this class does challenge you to let go and sink into your body. Many students find emotional release and catharsis in this class.

The first 40 minutes are slow, continuous movement. The last 20 minutes are restorative.

Intensity Level: Low intensity, suitable for all levels including people with low mobility and injuries. But yogis of every experience level love the chance to sink in and move slowly together.

Day Break
(Monday’s, Wednesday’s & Friday’s 6:30-7:15 am)

Start your day off on the right (or left) foot in a candlelit room, and allow yourself the space and safety to turn inward before the sun rises on your busy day.

Classes focus on gentle movement to wake up and bring energy and warmth to your spine, muscles, and joints, assisted with props, grounded postures, and myofascial release. You're encouraged to follow the rhythm of your individual breath and listen to your body's needs throughout the entire class.

While the focus of each class differs (e.g., wrists and ankles, 6 movements of the spine, opening the side body, etc.), all classes include a longer warm-up, held postures, and flowing sequences. Friday classes will be special "Hands-Free Fridays," giving your hands and wrists a much-needed break. 

Intensity Level: This is an all levels class.

Let it Go Flow (Fridays 4:30-5:30 pm)

Shake off your week by moving and breathing together! This fun, but intentional class will get your body moving so that you can push your thoughts and worries away. The result, an hour of joy.

This class is perfect for anyone who wants to build stamina and strength. It moves a little faster than our other classes, but modifications and rest are always welcomed. 

In between set flow sequences you will explore intentional, held postures, which gives you a breather and brings your focus back to your body. 

As always, we teach you how to do postures in this class. This is not a class where the teacher shouts out names of poses. What we care about is that you are benefitting from what the postures and class offers, which is an increased heart rate, linking breath to movement and building strength.

Intensity Level: More intensive will include up and down movement at a faster pace. But accessible to everyone.

Shine Classic
(Monday’s and Wednesday’s 5:30-6:30 pm Friday’s 10:30-11:30 am)

The majority of the class is a mix of held postures and flowing postures supported and guided by the breath. You can expect downward-facing dog and warrior postures within the sequence, but also child's pose and reclined twists. Our teacher’s excellent cuing help you to engage muscles in challenging postures and let go of your worry. We end in a well deserved guided rest.

Intensity Level: Suitable for everyone from beginners through experienced students.

Shine Gentle & Myofascial Release (Tuesday’s 6:15-7:15 pm)

This class is a mix of movement and yin/restorative postures that help you to shake off the day and settle into yourself. This class also includes myofascial release (MFR) which promotes hydrating the fascial layer of the body that’s between the skin and muscle. It's the tissue where we hold tightness, it's where the knots in your shoulder are located, it's where we have scar tissue. MFR helps to hydrate and heal this layer. Expect to feel very relaxed and grounded after this class with a lot less pain and lasting mobility.

 Intensity Level: Suitable for everyone from beginners through experienced students.

Connect.

Like anything else, the best way to connect to your body and heart in yoga is to stop and pay attention.

In a world where we rush through everything, even yoga classes, in these classes you have explicit permission to slow down and take notice of how yoga makes you feel.

In these classes, you can expect to be guided step-by-step through postures. You will learn techniques that will make you stronger and more comfortable in postures and in your body off the mat.

But you will also be given time, again and again to breathe, soften, feel, and allow—your own body, your own heart, your own mind.

Shine Strength & Stability
(Tuesday’s 10:30-11:30 am)

Expect to be guided through precise physical engagement. For most people, midmorning is the ideal time to focus and learn. Taking a yoga class at this time does two things. First, it helps you to better learn technique and apply it during the class. Second, the combination of physical engagement, focus, and rest allows you to be more focused and less stressed after class.

Intensity Level: Perfect for everyone, including people with injuries and low mobility.

Resilience
(Wednesday’s 10:30-11:30 am)

Build strength and flexibility in this classic practice. Each posture will be held for a few breaths each for challenge.

Suitable for beginners who benefit from taking more time in postures, people with lower mobility and anyone looking to build greater strength and flexibility through thoughtful modern and traditional techniques.

Intensity Level: This is an all levels class.

Somatic Yoga
(Monday’s & Thursdays 10:30-11:30 am)

While all yoga focuses on connecting the muscular-skeletal system and the nervous system, Somatic Yoga uses explicit techniques to rebuild neural connections that our bodies have forgotten about because of injury, surgery, age, or habit.

This class is great for people looking to improve balance and move more naturally.

If physical therapy hasn't been effective for you, or you are looking to regain strength, proprioception, and mobility this class can help you.

Intensity Level: The style is gentle and accessible for people who have trouble getting up and down.

Rest.

Rest is something we have forgotten how to do. Forty percent of Americans report short or long term insomnia, something Sara has suffered from for thirty years. But the problem is bigger than sleepless nights.

Just like the messages for effectively using the shoulder muscles can go dormant, so can our ability to recognize the mental and physical signals to rest.

And we need rest, maybe more than anything else. We need to be able to stop our chattering minds and recharge every day.

The good news is that we can. These classes will help you teach yourself to quiet your mind and body. Even better, our nervous system is made to get better at what we do regularly, which means that what you do on the mat will help you get to sleep each night.

Restorative and Yoga Nidra (Sunday’s 10:30-11:30 am)
Reiki Restorative (The first and third Wednesday every month 7:00-8:00 pm)

These classes are just rest. You will spend all your time lying down, supported by bolsters and blankets and your teacher. Any restorative postures we take are designed to open up your heart and hips to prepare you for complete rest.

The approach will vary depending on the teacher and time of day.

Some classes will include candlelight and some will include essential oil. Barb’s classes will include Reiki.

Intensity Level: Extra Gentle.

Free & Donation-Based Community Classes

Yoga for a Healing Heart: The Jack G. Rogers Foundation

  • This class is taught by RYT-200 Jessie Reno.

    Grief comes in many shapes and sizes. This monthly class seeks to provide a safe, comforting,
    and compassionate space for all participants.

    This floor based class will begin with a calming essential oil
    and move into a practice that focuses on soothing and grounding poses.

    All classes focus on simple
    diaphragmatic breathing, gentle movement, and a guided relaxation to finish the class.

    A portion of the proceeds from this class will be donated to The Jack G. Rogers Foundation, Inc. A $20 donation is suggested.


    The core efforts of this non-profit organization is to make donations towards activities that our
    beloved Jack was involved in and loved. We hope to honor Jack's memory and keep his spirit
    alive.

  • This class is held the last Friday of each month from 6pm-7pm.

    *Subject to change, please check the schedule*

  • Held at Shine.

    35 Pierce Ave
    Hamburg, NY 14075

Can’t decide?

We are here to help and want you to have the best experience. Get in touch with Sara for your free Yoga Prescription meeting or just for some quick advice.

Call or text Sara at 716-222-0195
Email: Sara@shineyogawny.com