Making the Rounds #1

About This Class

Bryan Kest leads a wide-ranging, full-body flow class structured around progressively deepening "rounds" — each pass through familiar shapes (Down Dog, Cobra, Plank, standing balances, lunges, hip openers) adds a layer of challenge as the body warms. The session opens in Child's Pose with a sustained focus on nasal, deep, smooth breathing, establishing breath as the central anchor throughout. From there, Bryan builds through Downward Dog, Cobra, Plank, arm-balance explorations (knee-to-tricep), Crescent Lunge with twists, standing balance sequences with extended leg holds and Tree Pose variations, wide-legged forward folds with hands under feet, lateral side stretches, Bow Pose, Shoulderstand, supine twists, and a deep seated wide-leg forward fold. Core work includes scissor-leg lifts and boat-like holds. The class is threaded with Bryan's philosophical commentary on mindfulness, stress reduction, ego, sensation as teacher, and the yoga sutras (Patanjali's Chitta Vritti Nirodhana). The final segment transitions to a seated meditation of gratitude followed by a compassion meditation, before Savasana. Props are not called for. The tone is equal parts physically demanding and deeply contemplative — challenging the body while consistently returning attention to inner calm.