Yoga & Tai Chi

Ashtanga 101
Learn about the fascinating world of yoga through the lens of Ashtanga / Mysore style yoga in this 6-week course for beginners. This style of yoga encompasses philosophy, lifestyle practices, and an intricate system of vinyasa, breath and posture. Students should pre-register for the course.

Ashtanga Exploration
Based on the principles of Ashtanga we will follow the opening sequence and then explore ways to become more comfortable and strong in more advanced asanas by aligning, refining and stretching the parts that need it most. Suitable for beginners to advanced students.

Half Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is a science and a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. Led together as a group, this is 1/2 primary series, slowed down a bit. We will also work on refining understanding of the foundational aspects of the asanas (body postures) and vinyasas (specific ways of moving between asanas). We may spend extra time learning specific guidelines to the practice and going over fundamentals such as proper alignment, jumping through and jumping back, chakrasana (backward somersault), learning how to headstand, etc. This class is open to all levels.

Intro to Yoga
New to yoga or need a refresher? Come experience all the mental and physical benefits of this ancient practice. A consistent yoga practice will help you find more inner peace, focus, calmness, strength, flexibility and agility of body and mind, and so much more! All bodies can benefit from yoga, and we welcome everyone! All you need is a mat, some clothes that stretch, and the willingness to show up as you are and give it a try! In this class, you will experience all six movements of the spine, holding some simple postures (asanas) sequenced in a body-intelligent way with warm up and cool down, along with some easy breathing and mind calming techniques.

Intro to Mysore Ashtanga Yoga*
Experience Mysore yoga with our supportive and knowledgeable Ashtanga teaching team guiding the way. Sought after worldwide, Mysore Ashtanga is an ancient style of yoga that’s personally adapted to each student’s abilities and challenges. Practitioners will learn how to evolve a practice of asanas (postures) in a specific sequence called the Primary Series, designed to bring balance and health to the body. You’ll learn two types of sun salutations and a simple sequences of asanas and vinyasas, which are movements linking the asanas together with the energies of the breath. Our Intro to Mysore Ashtanga class is intended for those new to Ashtanga or those familiar with Ashtanga who are ready to learn (or re-learn) the Mysore style.
*This class does not meet on Moon Days.

Intro to Tai Chi
Tai chi is extremely popular around the world, especially in Asia, and for good reason: it’s an internal art that’s reflected outwardly through smooth, peaceful patterns of movement and alignment. We believe everyone can benefit greatly from this ancient, mysterious practice. Tai chi helps promote health, injury recovery, balance, stress relief, strength, and groundedness. This class will give you all the tools you need to practice tai chi in the way that’s most beneficial for you!

Mysore Ashtanga Yoga*
Ashtanga Yoga is a science and a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. Mysore Ashtanga is a unique, traditional way of practicing Yoga from the iconic city of Mysore, India, in the tradition of Master Yogi Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Each student learns & practices at their own personal pace under the guidance of the teacher who helps them every step of the way to learn and memorize specific sequences of postures and movements, according to what the student is ready for. The class is for all people- from yoga newbies to experienced practitioners. This intelligently sequenced yoga system is intended to be practiced 6 days a week and increases strength, flexibility, balance, stamina and focus.
*This class does not meet on Moon Days.

Meditation & Movement: Qigong
Meditation brings us into the present, reduces stress, and increases self awareness, patience and tolerance. Join James S. for an hour of meditation and Qigong. to help get you centered and grounded. Start off with guided meditation, then move into slow, meditative standing movements that are linked to the breath. These exercises have been used for centuries to cultivate good mental and physical health by developing a clearer mind and a more relaxed body. This training will help to improve range of motion, balance, and muscular efficiency. It can be a valuable supplemental training for any athlete, as well as an effective tool for injury rehabilitation.

Primary Series of Ashtanga*
The full Primary series of the Ashtanga system taught in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya of Mysore, India and led together as a group. This intelligently sequenced practice involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of sun salutations and postures. We practice a full range of asanas after warming up with sun salutations, concluding with backbends, inversions, a short sitting and breathing practice and a relaxing rest to ground and assimilate. The teacher calls out the asana names & vinyasa counts in Sanskrit and counts each breath to encourage a seamless, meditative, guided flow. Afterward, we may likely do a few minutes of sanskrit chanting practice.
*This class does not meet on moon days.

Restore
We take the time in this class to slow down, relax, and repair the body. We bring the mind and body into a state of connection and calm through mindful movement. With this calm connectedness we are able to dive deeper into our Restorative yoga, truly feeling into our movements. We begin to open up the body with a restorative flow preparing the body for our deeper static poses.

Soft & Slow
Offering a blend of mellow, grounding and restorative postures set to music, which will calm the body and mind in preparation for relaxation and rest. Breath, release of muscle and fascial tissue tension, & aligning the body in a healthful way will be the focus of this class.

Study Sangha
Join our Sangha, where we come together to build community and deepen our understanding of our practice with a shared purpose of awakening. These bi-monthly sessions are an opportunity to learn about specialized Yogic and Taoist topics like practices, historical explorations and philosophical teachings that are not covered in our daily classes.  build community and deepen your understanding of the yogic system.

Tai Chi Open Class
Explore the internal art of tai chi in this class designed for students of all levels. Hundreds of years old, this fascinating practice uses yin and yang principles to create dynamic exercises based on soft, relaxed movement. Tai chi is low impact and suitable for people of all ages. This class is available as a drop-in for all students regardless of experience. Beginners welcome.

Taichi Level One
A 6-week course teaching the beginning section of the Cheng Man-ching Taichi form. Postures are taught in order throughout the course. Students should pre-register for the course.

Tai Chi Level Two
A 6-week course teaching the second section of the Cheng Man-ching Taichi form. Postures are taught in order throughout the course. Students should pre-reegister for the course.

Vinyasa
Unite your breath, body, and mind as you flow through a creative sequencing of asanas that will both challenge and calm you. This all-levels flow weaves in elements of ashtanga, arm balances, and deep stretching in a playful and empowering way.

Vinyasa Level 2
This extra challenging vinyasa class is for experienced practitioners that are very familiar with yoga vocabulary, asanas and alignment. We will be learning and practicing advanced asanas and vinyasas that entail arm balancing, inversions, deep hip rotations, and that use all directions of mobility. Level up your practice and build on the foundation of strength, flexibility and confidence that you have already worked so hard for.

Vinyasa & Meditation
This longer practice is an opportunity to build depth in your yoga practice through asana, meditation, and pranayama. The asana portion will gradually build heat, preparing you toward a peak pose that may entail arm-balances, inversions, or deep hip rotations. The last portion of practice will focus on meditative techniques so you can practice concentration, presence, and calm. Modifications and options to deepen the challenge will be offered so that all practitioners can find benefits—come with an open mind and a playful heart!

Yoga Lounge
With fresh, innovative and dynamic flows, this music infused class offers the perfect blend of heat and relaxation for a night time glow. We serve up this creative class for all levels of practitioner, beginners to advanced. Come grow and flow with us!

Yoga is learned step by step. All exceptional yoga practitioners were once beginners who put many hours of practice in to get where they are today....if you have never done yoga or have very little experience, you are welcome here. We offer a safe, non-competitive, inclusive and supportive environment to learn, practice, and expand your abilities in. Our most beginner-friendly classes are:

Ashtanga 101
Learn about the fascinating world of yoga through the lens of Ashtanga / Mysore style yoga in this 6-week course for beginners. This style of yoga encompasses philosophy, lifestyle practices, and an intricate system of vinyasa, breath and posture. Students should pre-register for the course.

Ashtanga Exploration
Based on the principles of Ashtanga we will follow the opening sequence and then explore ways to become more comfortable and strong in more advanced asanas by aligning, refining and stretching the parts that need it most. Suitable for beginners to advanced students.

Intro to Yoga
New to yoga or need a refresher? Come experience all the mental and physical benefits of this ancient practice. A consistent yoga practice will help you find more inner peace, focus, calmness, strength, flexibility and agility of body and mind, and so much more! All bodies can benefit from yoga, and we welcome everyone! All you need is a mat, some clothes that stretch, and the willingness to show up as you are and give it a try! In this class, you will experience all six movements of the spine, holding some simple postures (asanas) sequenced in a body-intelligent way with warm up and cool down, along with some easy breathing and mind calming techniques.

Intro to Mysore Ashtanga Yoga*
Experience Mysore yoga with our supportive and knowledgeable Ashtanga teaching team guiding the way. Sought after worldwide, Mysore Ashtanga is an ancient style of yoga that’s personally adapted to each student’s abilities and challenges. Practitioners will learn how to evolve a practice of asanas (postures) in a specific sequence called the Primary Series, designed to bring balance and health to the body. You’ll learn two types of sun salutations and a simple sequences of asanas and vinyasas, which are movements linking the asanas together with the energies of the breath. Our Intro to Mysore Ashtanga class is intended for those new to Ashtanga, or those familiar with Ashtanga who are ready to learn (or re-learn) the Mysore style.
*This class does not meet on Moon Days.

Intro to Tai Chi
Tai chi is extremely popular around the world, especially in Asia, and for good reason: it’s an internal art that’s reflected outwardly through smooth, peaceful patterns of movement and alignment. We believe everyone can benefit greatly from this ancient, mysterious practice. Tai chi helps promote health, injury recovery, balance, stress relief, strength, and groundedness. This class will give you all the tools you need to practice tai chi in the way that’s most beneficial for you!

Mysore Ashtanga Yoga*
Ashtanga Yoga is a science and a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. Mysore Ashtanga is a unique, traditional way of practicing Yoga from the iconic city of Mysore, India, in the tradition of Master Yogi Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Each student learns & practices at their own personal pace under the guidance of the teacher who helps them every step of the way to learn and memorize specific sequences of postures and movements, according to what the student is ready for. The class is for all people- from yoga newbies to experienced practitioners. This intelligently sequenced yoga system is intended to be practiced 6 days a week and increases strength, flexibility, balance, stamina and focus.
*This class does not meet on Moon Days.

Meditation & Movement: Qigong
Meditation brings us into the present, reduces stress, and increases self awareness, patience and tolerance. Join James S. for an hour of meditation and Qigong. to help get you centered and grounded. Start off with guided meditation, then move into slow, meditative standing movements that are linked to the breath. These exercises have been used for centuries to cultivate good mental and physical health by developing a clearer mind and a more relaxed body. This training will help to improve range of motion, balance, and muscular efficiency. It can be a valuable supplemental training for any athlete, as well as an effective tool for injury rehabilitation.

Restore
We take the time in this class to slow down, relax, and repair the body. We bring the mind and body into a state of connection and calm through mindful movement. With this calm connectedness we are able to dive deeper into our Restorative yoga, truly feeling into our movements. We begin to open up the body with a restorative flow preparing the body for our deeper static poses.

Soft & Slow
Offering a blend of mellow, grounding and restorative postures set to music, which will calm the body and mind in preparation for relaxation and rest. Breath, release of muscle and fascial tissue tension, & aligning the body in a healthful way will be the focus of this class.

Study Sangha
Join our Sangha, where we come together to build community and deepen our understanding of our practice with a shared purpose of awakening. These bi-monthly sessions are an opportunity to learn about specialized Yogic and Taoist topics like practices, historical explorations and philosophical teachings that are not covered in our daily classes.  build community and deepen your understanding of the yogic system.

Tai Chi Open Class
Explore the internal art of tai chi in this class designed for students of all levels. Hundreds of years old, this fascinating practice uses yin and yang principles to create dynamic exercises based on soft, relaxed movement. Tai chi is low impact and suitable for people of all ages. This class is available as a drop-in for all students regardless of experience. Beginners welcome.

Tai Chi Level One
A 6-week course teaching the beginning section of the Cheng Man-ching Taichi form. Postures are taught in order throughout the course. Students should pre-register for the course.

Yoga Lounge
With fresh, innovative and dynamic flows, this music infused class offers the perfect blend of heat and relaxation for a night time glow. We serve up this creative class for all levels of practitioner, beginners to advanced. Come grow and flow with us!

The Front offers the most extensive Ashtanga Yoga program in Utah! We are the only yoga shala (school) in Utah authorized by R. Sharath Jois of Mysore, India, the current head teacher or “guru” of Ashtanga Yoga. Our authorized Ashtanga teachers, Samuel Brown and Sarah Jane Burkholz have had many years of study under his tutelage and all of our Ashtanga teachers have had many years of practice under authorized teachers, through which this valuable practice was passed down with respect and love.

Ashtanga Yoga is a science and a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. The discipline has 6 sequences, each with around 30 different sitting asanas (postures). All sequences start with Surya Namaskars (sun salutations) and the same core standing asanas. Each sequence ends with backbends and the same finishing series of asanas. The first sequence, the Primary Series, can be a lifetime of practice and is called “Yoga Chikitsa” or body therapy. Yoga Chikitsa has many forward folding postures, hip openers and jumps. The forward folding postures encourage lengthening of the hamstrings and contraction of the front side of the body, conditioning the inner organs and making the lower back more secure and supple. Patience and time are required to familiarize the body and mind with this practice and it may take many years to learn completely.

Benefits of Ashtanga

Vinyasa means breathing and movement system. For each movement, there is one breath. For example, in Surya Namskar there are nine vinyasas. The first vinyasa is inhaling while raising your arms over your head and putting your hands together; the second is exhaling while bending forward, placing your hands next to your feet, etc. In this way all asanas are assigned a certain number of vinyasas.

The purpose of vinyasa is for internal cleansing. Breathing and moving together while performing asanas makes the blood hot, or as Pattabhi Jois says, boils the blood. Thick blood is dirty and causes disease in the body. The heat created from yoga cleans the blood and makes it thin, so that it may circulate freely. The combination of the asanas with movement and breath make the blood circulate freely around all the joints, taking away body pains. When there is a lack of circulation, pain occurs. The heated blood also moves through all the internal organs removing impurities and disease, which are brought out of the body by the sweat that occurs during practice.

Sweat is an important byproduct of vinyasa, because it is only through sweat that disease leaves the body and purification occurs. In the same way that gold is melted in a pot to remove its impurities, by the virtue of the dirt rising to the surface as the gold boils, and the dirt then being removed, yoga boils the blood and brings all our toxins to the surface, which are removed through sweat. If the method of vinyasa is followed, the body becomes healthy and strong, and pure like gold.

After the body is purified, it is possible to purify the nervous system and then the sense organs. These first steps are very difficult and require many years of practice. The sense organs are always looking outside and the body is always giving into laziness. However, through determination and diligent practice, these can be controlled. After this is accomplished, mind control comes automatically. Vinyasa creates the foundation for this to occur.

Ashtanga Terms

Tristhana: This means the three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. These three are very important for yoga practice and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.

Asanas purify, strengthen and give flexibility to the body.

Breathing is rechaka- inhale and puraka- exhale. Both the inhale and exhale should be steady and even, the length of the inhale should be the same length and strength as the exhale. Breathing in this manner purifies the nervous system.

Dristhi is the place where you look while in the asana. There are nine dristhis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side and left side. Dristhi purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind.

For cleaning the body internally two factors are necessary: air and fire. The place of fire in our bodies is four inches below the navel. This is the standing place of our life force. In order for fire to burn, air is necessary, hence the necessity of the breath. If you stoke a fire with a blower, evenness is required so that the flame is not smothered out, or blown out of control.

The same method stands for the breath. Long even breaths will strengthen our internal fire, increasing heat in the body which in turn heats the blood for physical purification, and burns away impurities in the nervous system as well. Long even breathing increases the internal fire and strengthens the nervous system in a controlled manner and at an even pace. When this fire is strengthened, our digestion, health and life span all increase. Uneven inhalation and exhalation, or breathing too rapidly, will imbalance the beating of the heart, throwing off both the physical body and autonomic nervous system.

An important component of the breathing system is mula and uddiyana bandha. These are the anal and lower abdominal locks which seal in energy, give lightness, strength and health to the body, and help to build a strong internal fire. Without bandhas, breathing will not be correct, and the asanas will give no benefit. When mula bandha is perfect, mind control is automatic.