class descriptions

class descriptions

If you can breathe, you can do yoga.

Krishnamacharya

Hot or cool? Energized or relaxed? Simple or advanced? We have classes for everyone! Listed in alphabetical order:


Buti Yoga*

Unheated (45 or 60 min)

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Buti is an Indian Marathi word that translates to “the cure to something that’s been hidden away or kept secret.” This energizing class invites you to connect with your primal strength, loosen inhibition, and remember to play .

Swell’s version of Buti combines bursts of cardio, spiraling core movements, and traditional yoga postures. Loose instruction with space for creative liberty guides you to increase strength and flexibility, particular in the hips and shoulders. Low and high impact options are available so there’s something for everyone.

Leave feeling energized, empowered, and uplifted.

*This class is open to female-identifying students.


Ebb & Flow

Warm: 85° Heated: 97°

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Dynamic and playful, this vinyasa class is a compassionate approach to flowing with the breath through sun salutations, standing, seated, supine, and inverted postures. Starting gradually allows both newer and more advanced students the opportunity to go deeper or relax, honoring the body as needed.

Strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

Discover freedom and playfulness on the mat and in the full practice of life off the mat. Leave feeling centered, satisfied, and empowered.


Gentle Yoga

Unheated (60 or 75 min)

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

A combination of Vinyasa + Yin, or “Yin-Yasa,” the vibe is chill, the flow is slow. Class opens slowly in a relaxing Yin Pose. Poses (or “shapes”) in Yin are held longer (3-5 minutes) in order for you to access deeper connective tissues of the body, such as ligaments, tendons, and fascia, and find relief in joints like the hips, sacrum, spine.

Then the pace builds a little with slow flow yoga–movements that are fluid and dynamic– and standing postures that strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

The last 15 minutes of class bring you back down to the mat for mellow Yin holds and an extra long savasana (laying on your mat in complete relaxation). Leave feeling calm, grounded, and restored.


Hatha

Warm: 85°

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

In its broadest definition, “hatha” can be used to describe any type of physical yoga practice and this style is open to interpretation. With a mellow pace and foundational postures, Swell’s Hatha is perfect for those looking to lengthen and strengthen muscles, stabilize the joints, and improve flexibility. Hatha classes will be a little different every time and while they share some similarities with Vinyasa classes, Hatha typically emphasizes a slower pace and longer holds compared to Vinyasa.

Hatha classes often incorporate step-by-step instruction and demonstration. A Swell Hatha class may include a simple breakdown of sun salutations, though it’s not a primary focus. Students have the opportunity to breathe deeply, focus on their movement, and wake parts of the body that have gotten sleepy. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

Leave feeling calm, grounded, and satisfied.


Heat Wave

Heated: 97°

Vinyasa experience recommended

Lively and dynamic, Heat Wave is an upbeat, informal vinyasa class that sticks with a similar sequence every time so that you begin to know what’s coming. The music gets loud and the vibe gets funky. Inject a little spice and personality into your practice while increasing heart rate and building endurance.

Strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

Leave feeling energized, satisfied, and empowered.


Hot Series

105° (60 or 75 min)

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Surrender yourself to heat, discipline, and stillness in this class of 26 poses and two breathing exercises, originally established as “Bikram Yoga.” This therapeutic series was developed as a system of simple movements, designed to be performed in the exact order, as each posture builds upon the previous postures and prepares you for the next.

Hot Series is characterized by its use of stillness following each posture. Students strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility, while also developing focus, concentration, and self-control. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

Swell’s take on traditional “Bikram” emphasizes restraint, compassion, and intuition. (Level II is for experienced students and teachers who are familiar with the sequence.) Leave feeling refreshed, satisfied, and empowered.


Meditation Group

Unheated

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Interactive and conversational, Swell takes a holistic approach to meditation through the study and practice of mindfulness. You are guided through a uniquely curated meditation to set the space and your mindset before your instructor invites you into silence and stillness. In this class you will explore a variety of meditation styles (guided, vipassana, metta, pranayama) as you dive deeper into yourself and learn more about the inner workings of your mind. 

If you are looking for an ongoing community to learn and grow with, this class is for you. All levels welcome. Beginners encouraged!


Power Flow

Warm: 85° Heated: 95+°

Vinyasa experience recommended

Incorporating quick-flowing Sun Salutations and challenging holds, “power” yoga classes have roots in Ashtanga, a type of vinyasa yoga associated with athleticism and endurance. “Flow” yoga is often interchangeable with vinyasa, as the body moves in sync with the breath, creating fluid and smooth movements.

Swell’s Power Flow is based on these same principles, but is designed for those looking for a little more intensity in a little less time. With an energizing pace and dynamic shapes, Swell’s Power Flow is perfect for those looking to increase heart rate, build endurance, strengthen muscles, and increase flexibility.

Improve balance, coordination, and mobility. Leave feeling energized, satisfied, and empowered.


Restorative

Unheated

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Restorative yoga is all about calming the mind and nervous system. Lights are low, music is soft, and you’ll spend most of the time seated and lying down. Because props such as bolsters, blocks, and blankets completely support every part of the body, restorative shapes are held anywhere from 5-10 minutes each.

In addition to helping those with injury or limited mobility, restorative classes activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for helping us relax and combat stress. Restorative classes are a blissful anecdote for anyone feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or in need of recovery from other physical endeavors.

It’s important for students with injury to understand the difference between Yin and Restorative classes, as Yin yoga facilitates gentle stress to certain deep tissues while Restorative allows the tissues to completely relax.

Leave feeling calm, grounded, and restored.


Slow Flow

Unheated

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

“Flow” yoga is often interchangeable with vinyasa, as the body moves in sync with the breath, creating fluid and smooth movements. A slower-paced vinyasa class, Slow Flow links movement together with the rhythm of the breath in a mellow and easygoing vibe.

Class will be a little different every time and support the fundamentals of vinyasa. Appropriate for beginners, those wanting to focus on fundamentals, or simply looking to slow down, Slow Flow sequences typically incorporate simple sun salutations, standing, seated, and supine poses. Strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility.

Leave feeling stretched, calm, and grounded.


Vinyasa

Unheated Heated: 97°

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

In its broadest definition “vinyasa” can be used to describe any type of flowing yoga practice and this style is open to interpretation. With an energizing pace and dynamic shapes, Swell’s Vinyasa is perfect for those looking to link breath, movement, and expression. Vinyasa classes will be a little different every time and while they share some similarities with Hatha classes, Vinyasa typically emphasizes more intensity and fluid transitions compared to Hatha.

Vinyasa classes often incorporate sun salutations, standing, seated, supine, and inverted postures. Students have the opportunity to go deeper or relax, honoring the body as needed. Strengthen muscles, stabilize joints, and increase flexibility. Improve balance, coordination, and mobility.

Leave feeling centered, satisfied, and empowered.


Yin + Restore

Unheated (60 or 75 min)

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Done mostly on the floor using props, Yin classes are slow-paced and therapeutic. Lights are low, music is soft, and you’ll spend most of the time seated or lying down. Poses (or “shapes”) in Yin are held longer (3-5 minutes) in order for you to access deeper connective tissues of the body, such as ligaments, tendons, and fascia, and find relief in joints like the hips, sacrum, spine.

This class gives you the opportunity to heal injuries, identify structural imbalances, and become more mindful of your body. It’s important for students with injury to understand the difference between Yin and Restorative classes, as Yin yoga facilitates gentle stress to certain deep tissues while Restorative allows the tissues to completely relax. Please let your Yin instructor know if you are working with injury.

Leave feeling calm, grounded, and restored.


Yoga Strong

Unheated

All levels (Beginners welcome!)

Miss our Yoga Barre classes? So do we! Until we can bring Barre back to the schedule, try Swell’s take on a Yoga Sculpt-style class. Yoga Strong is a combination of vinyasa yoga with low-impact strength training movements using props like hand weights, stability balls, resistance bands, and more.

Like any traditional yoga class, you’ll tune into your breath and awareness of your body while improving balance, coordination, and stability with a focus on functional movement. Increase bone density, pelvic floor strength, and muscle tone with safe movements and an upbeat vibe.

Leave feeling strengthened, centered, and uplifted.


**Community Classes

We understand that there could be assumptions about the quality of donation-based offerings in the wellness world. At Swell, we believe everyone deserves access to the same high quality of class regardless of how or what they pay. Our community classes are taught by certified and trained instructors who bring the same level of care, dedication, and preparation to every class they teach. 

At the same time, we value yoga instructors as professionals and are committed to supporting their livelihood and investment in their craft. This means that teachers for Community Class are compensated using our standard model for all classes, no matter what the donations bring in. In order for Community Classes to be sustainable, then, we encourage a donation amount that works for you. If finances are a barrier for you at this time – we welcome you anyway! Please don’t let finances keep you from taking care of your wellness. 

How it works: when you sign up for a community class in Acuity, there is no need to enter payment information or a code, simply include your name & contact info and press “confirm” to reserve your spot. When you arrive to class, you can bring along a cash donation or donate via Venmo @SwellYoga anytime. 


Questions, feedback, or concerns? Please click here to visit our contact page.