Tension & Release

About This Class

This flowing, 93-minute practice opens with intentional breath retention and body scanning to locate muscular contraction before any movement begins — a concept the instructor returns to throughout the class. From supine core work (leg lifts, bicycle crunches, twists) the practice rises through Surya Namaskar A, Crescent and Warrior sequences, Tree Pose, Warrior Three, and balanced standing poses before diving into Eagle, Half Moon, side crow, and bound lateral-angle variations. Hip-flexor lunges, half splits, and deep pigeon poses on both sides address accumulated tightness, while forearm plank, Dolphin, Sphinx, Locust, Cobra/Up Dog, side plank, and backbend (Upward Facing Bow / Urdhva Dhanurasana) build strength and spinal mobility. The practice closes with shoulder stand / plow options, supine twists, a full-body tension-and-release Savasana, and a brief heart-and-belly meditation. The instructor consistently frames the work as understanding contraction in order to achieve genuine relaxation, making the class equally useful for stress relief and athletic recovery.