A class which varies based upon the participants present. Each class will include elements of hatha yoga postures (asana), breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and yogic philosophy. Periodically, deeper explorations of working with the body's energies, breath and meditation techniques, flowing pose sequences, chanting, and more will be included. Meets via Zoom Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30 AM and is simultaneously livestreamed directly into the Bloom studio. Offered in studio every other Saturday.

Make Monday Happy Again!

Well, it may not be a slogan we can wear on a hat, but Sara will deliver the goods!

Vinyasa is a dynamic style of yoga that links movement and breath to attain balance in the mind and body. From the Sanskrit “to place in a special way,” vinyasa aligns a deliberate sequence of poses with the breath to achieve a continuous flow. Inhalation is usually connected to upward, open movements, while exhalation is often tied to downward movements or twists.

Beat the Monday blahs ~ energize your Monday with Sara ~ class meets at 5:30 PM!

A class we describe as meditation in motion, suitable for all levels of experience and/or ability. Each class includes breathwork and meditative asana (poses), concluding with savasana, a period of deep relaxation that feels wonderful and helps to embody and process all that's come before. This in-studio class meets Tuesdays at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM and alternating Saturdays at 9:00 AM.

This very gentle class is an ideal practice for people for whom movement is a challenge. Many yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation techniques can be performed, with modifications, from a chair. A portion of the class takes place seated, and a portion takes place standing behind the chair, using it for support. Chairs are anchored on yoga mats to prevent slipping. No part of the class takes place on the floor. Two yoga blocks or two thick books are helpful for this class, also.

Chair yoga is for everyone-- regardless of your age or physical condition, you can experience the health benefits of yoga! Meets via Zoom Tuesdays at 2:30 PM.

This Kripalu-inspired multi-level flow class is for new and seasoned yoga students. The class will start with meditation and breathwork, followed by a series of yoga postures taught with various modifications for all abilities, then ending the class with a blissful relaxation to leave you calm and grounded. Each class will have a theme or specific focus to dive deeper into your yoga practice.

Dedicated sign in space for ODG employees.

Sean first starting taking yoga at Bloom almost a decade ago. He has recently completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training from the Amrit Yoga Institute and has worked for 30 years as a counselor in a variety of settings including school, community, college, and private practice. Sean's mixed-level class is a unique blend of yoga and counseling-related themes. Sean’s goal over time is to help everyone better understand how our ego/worry mind can negatively impact our lives while using Asana (yoga poses) as well as Pratyahara (withdrawal of attention to external disturbances and internal distractions) and Pranayama (breath work) as tools to help build resiliency. Each class is modified to best meet student ability levels and needs.

A class which varies based upon the participants present. Each class will include elements of hatha yoga postures (asana), breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and yogic philosophy. Periodically, deeper explorations of working with the body's energies, breath and meditation techniques, flowing pose sequences, chanting, and more will be included. Meets via Zoom Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30 AM and is simultaneously livestreamed directly into the Bloom studio. Offered in studio every other Saturday.

Shailene's teaching focuses on yin yoga, a style which is ideal for people of most fitness levels who want to develop a relaxed practice or balance an intense exercise routine. Yin is slow-paced style, incorporating principles of traditional Chinese medicine with long-held asanas. The asana sequences are designed to stimulate the channels of the subtle body, known as meridians in Chinese medicine, and as nadis in hatha yoga.

Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the body's connective tissue—the tendons, fasciae, and ligaments —.with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. A meditative approach to yoga, its goals are awareness of inner silence and bringing to light a universal, interconnected awareness. Yin practice allows the practitioner to slow down, relax, and turn inward, which helps alleviate stress and restores energy levels.

A class we describe as meditation in motion, suitable for all levels of experience and/or ability. Each class includes breathwork and meditative asana (poses), concluding with savasana, a period of deep relaxation that feels wonderful and helps to embody and process all that's come before. This in-studio class meets Tuesdays at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM and Saturdays at 9:00 AM.

Chamatkara is a Sanskrit word that means magical mystery, charming, wondrous, full of scintillating awe. Imagine the moment a multifaceted diamond becomes aware of its own splendor and lustrous beauty… This is chamatkara.

First century Kashmiri tantric philosopher, Abhinavagupta, describes chamatkara as the felt sense of wonder and joy that our awareness expresses when it first becomes aware of itself. This curiosity and awe naturally soften back into the present, peaceful bliss of being ourselves, being aware (sat:chit:ananda).

Awareness is the vast ground of our beingness according to yogic philosophies of the Indian subcontinent. It is the spacious field from which our deepest ways of resting, knowing, caring, and relating blossom. We cultivate a relationship to our innate presence of awareness through mindful practices and self+collective caring rituals, like Yoga. At the heart of all schools of Yoga are contemplative practices of meditation.

There are no “right” or “wrong” ways of meditating. There are only infinite ways to meet ourselves and our naturally wise awareness. Join Rashmi to explore some of the possibilities, purely for the wonder and joy of it.

This program will evolve into a year-long offering following this introduction where we will be exploring a variety of practices in a supportive environment. Each month will be devoted to a practice, and explorations will build upon each other.

While consistent practice is encouraged, we recognize that circumstances may not always allow weekly attendance. So, we have organized the series as drop-in classes suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

About Rashmi

Rashmi Bismark, MD, MPH is a resident of Sherrill and a VVS grad (class of ‘95). Her relationship with yoga began at home with her parents, Rema & Sid, who moved to Sherrill in the 1970’s from Kerala, India. Yoga philosophy was embedded into their ways of living. Rashmi and her sister were encouraged to sit in meditation every morning and evening, even if just for one minute. These small moments of connection blossomed into a lifelong, loving exploration of life and awareness.

Rashmi is a certified yoga teacher and teaches meditation practice, theory, and scientific evidence for Yoga MeditationⓇ yoga teacher trainings across the world. She is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher who has completed a two-year professional training program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, along with multiple mediation trainings and retreats from a variety of contemplative traditions like Vipassana, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Yoga Nidra, Vedanta, Sri Vidya Tantra and more.

Rashmi has been formally facilitating mindfulness in clinical and community settings for over a decade. Her teaching style is rooted in the wisdom traditions of her ancestors, informed by her medical background in Preventive Medicine, and inspired by her experiences as a daughter, sister, wife, and mom. Rashmi loves sitting on her porch and writing. She is the author of a kids book, Finding Om, and continues to pursue writing for kids and their families.

Website: www.rsbismarkmd.com

Instagram: @rashmi.bismark