Class Descriptions

Classes at Stone Turtle Yoga are open to everyone. Please be sure to also read about Yoga Etiquette at the bottom of the page.

Class Descriptions:

Hatha Yoga:  Hatha Yoga is our foundational yoga class. Emphasizing yoga fundamentals, this class includes standing poses, seated poses, reclining poses, and breathing techniques, and may also include inversions and movements such as sun salutations. Hatha Yoga is ideal for beginners to seasoned practitioners, and aims to increase flexibility, improve balance, build strength, and enhance health and well-being for students of all abilities.

Gentle Yoga: Gentle Yoga is a fun and gentle practice, perfect for beginners or anyone in need of a good stress relief. While exploring conscious movement and breath, you will not only improve overall strength and flexibility but also calm the mind attuning it to the inner light of awareness. Surrender to your breath and allow your heart to radiate with truth and love. Move freely from a place of compassion and acceptance to create more peace and ease within in your practice and daily life. Rest your mind, rejuvenate your body and restore balance while feeling energized and transformed! This class will move at a mellower pace than other Stone Turtle Yoga classes, and will frequently use wall space and other props for enhanced support and relaxation.

Core Yoga:  Core Yoga is a slow-flow style yoga class that emphasizes strengthening and stabilization of the core muscles. This challenging yet accessible practice strengthens and empowers the body, mind, and spirit. Core Yoga teaches students to communicate with their bodies and access their physical and spiritual “core,” with the hopes of leaving them feeling strong, capable, and connected. All levels welcome.

Slow Flow Yoga: This grounding, intentional flow class is perfect for building inner heat and focus, and offers students the ability to flow in the way that best suits them in their practice. This class features slow, progressive sequences with longer, deeper holds. Poses build on upon the next, offering students the opportunity to modify or advance. Sequences culminate unto a vinyasa flow (one breath, one movement). All levels welcome.

Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa Yoga features dynamic flowing sequences combined with controlled breathing to create a moving meditation. This class emphasizes movement, balance, and stamina, in addition to giving you, as the practitioner, an opportunity to dive deeper into your yoga practice. Vinyasa yoga generates heat and will leave you feeling challenged and satisfied. We recommend taking our Hatha Yoga, Slow Flow, and Core classes if you are newer to yoga.

Yoga Strength: Yoga Strength combines the muscle lengthening benefits of yoga with the muscle strengthening benefits of resistance exercise. This invigorating class is a unique combination of yoga poses, core strengthening exercises, and resistance training with mini-dumbbells, and is designed to leave you feeling lean, long, and energized. This class is open to all levels, and the instructor will provide modifications for different abilities to make sure the class is fun, welcoming, and challenging for everyone (don’t be intimidated by the weights!). It is the perfect class for anyone looking for a way to strengthen key muscle groups, improve balance and flexibility, and calm the mind through purposeful movement and breath work. Weights are provided for the strengthening portion of the class, but you are welcome to bring your own.

SUP Yoga (privately scheduled classes only): Practice yoga on a Stand Up Paddle Board on beautiful Higgins Lake! This fun, outdoor yoga class involves paddling out to chest-deep water on a leg  stable SUP board with the instructor, tossing in a tiny anchor (provided), and practicing yoga on the board! Connect to your body and connect to nature in this one-of-a-kind yoga class, where fresh air, nature sounds, and crystal clear water help create a truly memorable experience. This class is appropriate and safe for all levels, including beginners to yoga and SUP boarding. This class lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. *This class does not meet at the yoga studio.* SUP Yoga is held at B&B Marina at 431 Clare Blvd. in Higgins Lake, about 2 miles east of the North Higgins Lake State Park, right by the Dairy Queen. Normal yoga class rates apply (see StoneTurtleYoga.com). You may bring your own board, or rent one from B&B for $10. Please pre-register for a board rental by calling B&B at 989-821-6549, as rentals are limited. While we will not go into water deeper than 4-5 feet, it is best that only proficient swimmers take this class.

Yoga Etiquette:

Please arrive early to class. Leave enough time to sign in, pay if you need to, roll out your mat, and get ready for class. Late arrivals are disruptive to the class flow and are difficult to teach through.

If you arrive late and the class has already started in silent meditation or is chanting, wait outside the class until the instructor has indicated that you may enter.

If you are new to the studio, please introduce yourself to the teacher and inform her about any injuries or special conditions of which she should be aware.

Do not leave during Savasana (Final Relaxation pose). This is disruptive to those who are still and silent. If you must leave early, please inform the teacher before class that you need to leave early, then make sure you allow enough time to put your belongings away and to be out the door before the start of the group Savasana.

Please check in at the front desk before class.

Take the time to introduce yourself to other students. This supports your yoga practice and builds friendships and community. Take an interest in your fellow students.

New to Yoga?

Dress in comfortable clothing that will allow you full range of motion. Loose fitting shirts are prone to “riding up” during some yoga poses, so close fitting, stretchy clothing is helpful. Stone Turtle Yoga can offer specific suggestions on what to wear. Just ask!

Students are welcome to bring their own yoga mat, but mats are provided free of charge. Feel free to bring a water bottle and a towel into class, if desired.