Gentle yoga tends to be a slower and more grounding class, and does not necessarily have any flowing movement like a vinyasa class. It might make sense as a flow or it can be broken into segments. It can include longer restorative-like holds or more challenging holds (read: it’s not always an “easy” class).

Generally speaking with slower classes, you can allow yourself more silence with your breathing, or as I like to say, “to exist in stillness”. Gentle classes also take into account injuries or limited ranges of movement with more modifications (and time to manage them). For example, if you have to add more props (blanket, blocks, straps, etc) to support weak knees, you would have time to place the proper cushioning or take modifications where needed for support.

Gentle yoga is not necessarily a beginner class, and I would not categorize it as such. I think of it as an accessible format class meeting different needs, an all levels class. It’s a little bit closer to the parent style of Hatha than Vinyasa. Gentle yoga is usually offered at yoga studios and community centers, and online with me. 😙

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