Acenda Yoga

Acenda Yoga is a sacred space created for the teaching and learning of yoga as a whole life practice. Our teachers are all versed in yogic philosophy and history and their classes are infused with the knowledge and unique experience that each one of them brings. Yoga is a spiritual practice and it is our intention at Acenda to honor and nurture the growth of each individual who enters our space. Elements of philosophy, pranayama, sacred chanting, and meditation may be included in many of our classes.

Asana, or the practice of postures, is only one limb of yoga. Our hatha classes offer a slower paced, deeper exploration of asana, taking time to focus on alignment, breathing and inner-body awareness in the pose. Beginners’ hatha classes are a great place to become familiar with asana and build a solid foundation for your practice, while intermediate/advanced hatha classes invite the more experienced student to deepen their practice and strengthen the physical body with more advanced poses. Various facets of yoga are explored in our Hatha classes including philosophy and inner-body awareness.

 

Vinyasa yoga is breath-synchronized movement, based on the performance of a series of poses in which movement is initiated and dictated by the breath. A Vinyasa class will typically start with a number of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching and deeper poses done at the end of class. It is an invigorating class and provides students with physical challenge as well as an opportunity to engage in meditation while uniting movement with the breath.

Based on the groundbreaking teachings of Iyengar certified instructor Matthew Sanford, Adaptive Yoga is the adaptation of the experience of practicing yoga for the purpose of increasing mind-body awareness in individuals living with disabilities or having suffered trauma to the physical body. It is a process of transforming disability and provides the opportunity for those living with disabilities to connect with their body and live a more complete life. Adaptive yoga enhances quality of breath, balance, spatial awareness, sense of peace and self-confidence as well as flexibility. Students are taught to recognize subtle sensations in the body and shifts in energy that allow them to experience a different kind of freedom where they otherwise may have experienced limitations. Students should bring a caregiver to class with them when possible, as volunteers can be limited. Wheelchair students will transfer to the floor when sufficient assistance is available.

Registration required at least 2 hrs. prior to class for all Adaptive classes. Register here.

Based on the principals of Adaptive Yoga, ambulatory classes are ideal for students who are capable of walking, but have suffered injuries or illnesses that have affected their balance or mobility such as head injury or stroke. Individual needs of the student are addressed.

Registration required prior to class for all Adaptive classes. Register here.

 

Energetic flow is a powerful yoga class with demanding strength postures that will have you moving, breathing and building heat. You will move at a pace designed to build internal heat, engage and build core strength while you focus on alignment and breath. Some yoga experience is recommended.

In an effort to give back to the community and support other non-profits, Acenda offers donation-based classes on Friday evenings. The following dates will benefit Urban Lotus Youth Yoga:  March 29th, April 12th and 26th to benefit Urban Lotus Youth Yoga. Urban Lotus is a local non-profit organization that provides free yoga classes to youth in our city. Acenda welcomes volunteer teachers from the Cleveland Yoga teacher training program who will share what they have learned with students in this heart-opening class as their offering of service to the community. Suggested donation of $10, all proceeds will benefit ULYY. www.urbanlotusyoga.org

Acenda teachers will be teaching on all other Fridays with proceeds benefitting our Adaptive Programming.

 

Ashtanga is a system of yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. 

 

Yoga means “union,” it’s all about the connection between the body and the mind. The benefits of children developing a yoga practice include a greater sense of self and their body, respect for others, greater mental focus, increased self-esteem and body image and overall relaxation. 

In class, the children will develop techniques to build their social skills, and learn breathing techniques to calm themselves when they are feeling stressed or to refocus their busy minds. 

The class is designed for children ages 4-12.

Drop-ins: $7 per child 

Passes: 5 classes for $25

Experience deep breathing and personal awareness in this challenging slower paced vinyasa yoga class. This class allows time to go deeper to really explore the postures and will cultivate strength, flexibility and challenge you to remain mentally engaged through your entire practice. 

Yoga nidra is an ancient yogic practice of guided meditation designed to cultivate utter relaxation and meditative awareness. The phrase literally means "yoga sleep." While it does not involve actually sleeping, the practice emphasizes long periods in Savasana, or Corpse Pose -- a full-body, reclining relaxation posture taught at the end of conventional yoga asana classes.

Our Yoga Nidra class begins with several restorative poses to bring the body to a relaxed state before being led through a guided meditation.