Your practice. Your yoga.
 
 
 
 
 

Your compassion.

Your wisdom.

Your strength.

This is your practice.

This is for you.

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Life can be really freaking hard. Yoga helps. You belong here.

All Are Welcome | All Experience & Abilities | All Circumstances & Backgrounds | In The Studio | Live Online | On The Beach

 

You are loved for being you.

Most of us usually bounce around between “Yeah, I think I’ve got it together today” and “I am an unholy messy, twisty, confused, overwhelmed, stuck in the mud, rage filled, anxiety ridden, disaster of a human”.

Welcome to the club! You know who loves that about you? Your mat. And me! Everyone is in the same way.

Just make it simple. please!

No confusing memberships forcing long term commitment. No costly passes that expire before you can use them. All classes have sliding scale fees available. No questions asked. No criteria to meet.

Commit to yourself - one class at a time. That is all you need to do. Showing up can feel difficult. I am always here for you.

 

find your peace. for you.

If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help your family, friends, colleagues, or the community. This is your time for you. This is your practice to strengthen your peace and nurture your own heart centered healing and wellness.

It’s not selfish. It’s required. Take care of yourself.

 

Yoga is for every body: a commitment to accessibility

A quick internet or social media search portrays yoga as something that is only for ripped, fit, bendy, athletic individuals standing on mountain tops or tropical resorts performing difficult postures or movement sequences.

This is intimidating, limiting, and honestly… a bunch of bullshit.

I’ve talked to so many people who say “I can’t do that.” or “I don’t belong in there or fit in.” or “I’m not flexible at all.” or “I’m not strong enough or capable.” or “I have issue X that won’t let me do yoga”.

Few things get me more fired up than hearing that. The industrial complex of yoga in the west has blocked and excluded so many people.

The practice of yoga is far more than only physical postures and movement. I facilitate classes that are invitational, accessible, safe, and welcoming for all bodies, abilities, and experiences.

Learn more about my approach to accessibility and my guiding principles here


Chris standing in front of a yoga class on Pine Point Beach

Using props to support the body is always encouraged in every class.

Chris, a white man with a beard, is wearing a teal shirt and blue shorts and a backward baseball cap. He is standing in front of a yoga class at Sunflower Farm with goats and people and fencing visible.

Chris teaching the Annual Sea Change Yoga Fundraising Class at Sunflower Farm.

 
 

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS THAT I OFFER

 

 

 
  • Vinyasa means "to place in a special way". There is a focus on organizing a sequence of movement and postures that invites the student to flow through them while matching breath to movement. The emphasis is one of invitation - explore movement and breath based on what you feel the need is in the moment.

    I offer sequencing that starts with a gentle warm up. You then build heat as you transition an active sequence focusing on strengthening postures and integrated movement. Finally you land in a where the body and mind can invite space to relax and cool down, absorbing and honoring the practice and effort.

    Check the schedule here

  • Yin yoga focuses on the connective tissues within the body - the tendons, ligaments, bones, and fascia - to increase flexibility, strength and hydration of your joints. An excellent compliment to the vinyasa practice as well as any other activity that requires a lot of movement such as running, biking, hiking, sports, etc.

    Yin yoga is a radically different approach than that of vinyasa, power, or other movement or posture practices. Yin yoga holds postures for longer periods of time and in stillness while gently negotiating the edge of discomfort. The aim is to gently apply mild stress to the connective tissues while releasing tension from the muscles.

    Because there is stillness and time in each shape, the yin practice also invites you to draw upon mindfulness practices to observe thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they shift within your experience.

    Check the schedule here

  • Life is busy as hell. There are a million things competing for your attention and demands on your energy. This class is to help counter that.

    This practice is rooted in mindfulness and exploring breath and movement together to reconnect with the wholeness of your amazing heart in this moment.

    There is an emphasis on moving at a slower pace, with integrated and functional movement, plenty of rest and resets, and an array of options to help you choose how to make the practice yours.

    Check the schedule here

  • Mindfulness Meditation is a practice that invites the practitioner to intentionally connect with the present moment. You invite your awareness to explore the experience that is happening in the environment around you and the sensations, thoughts, and feelings within you.

    Drawing from the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, the practice focuses on acceptance of observations that are present. You practice acceptance without attaching judgement or values such as good or bad.

    This is done through the lens of being kind, compassionate, and loving to yourself. In turn, it can lead to greater peace, happiness, and well-being not just for individuals but through our connections to the community and world as a whole.

    I send out guided meditation through my email newsletter “Your Practice off The Mat”. You can sign up here

    Every yoga class also has elements of meditation practice as well.

    Check the schedule here.

  • Functional Movement is the ability to perform daily tasks and movements with ease and efficiency. It involves the coordinated use of multiple muscle groups and joints to move with strength, stability and efficiency.

    Maintaining your functional movement helps prevent injury, improve balance and stability, and sets you up for a lifetime of moving through your day with ease.

    Drawing from my experience as a Balanced Athlete® Coach, Functional Movement Screening® Provider, and from yoga and mindfulness, this practice introduces you to the core concepts of sustainable, integrated, & functional movement principles.

    You will use blocks, resistance bands, fitness pipe, yoga straps, blankets and more to notice and correct your movement patterns and imbalances while improving your strength and mobility.

    Check the schedule here

  • I have worked with the University of Southern Maine, University of New England, Scarborough Police Department, New England Veterinary Association, Maine Yoga Festival, Heart of Biddeford, the band Phish, and more to create unique programs, lectures, and classes.

    I’d love to help your group, studio, or organization with your special event. We can create an experience that will fit your needs.

    If you are interested you can contact me here.

    I also list any workshops, trainings, or special events on my schedule. Check it here.

 

MAYBE YOU ARE THINKING: “THIS IS GREAT AND ALL. BUT HONESTLY, I AM STILL NOT SURE. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.”

THAT’S AWESOME! CHECK OUT SOME COMMON QUESTIONS I AM OFTEN ASKED: HERE.

 
 
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NEwsletter: your practice Off the mat

 
 

LemmyCat helping me review some of my favorite resources.

Email newsletter offering

1-2 times a month(ish) I write a blog post that explores various reflections on the practice of yoga, mindfulness, and movement. You can read them all here

I draw inspiration from books, podcasts, conversations, and the random everyday mundane occurrences that provide inspiration. Maybe its when I lose the studio keys, or try relish for the first time in a decade, or need to make big life decisions, or navigate life’s uncomfortable moments.

I send these reflection posts in my email newsletter straight to you. It also includes other ways to share the practice with you including:

  • guided audio meditations

  • short videos of practice suggestions

  • deeper reflections

  • community updates,

  • referrals to my friends in the yoga community

  • and more!

All of it straight from my heart to you as a way of offering additional resources to support you on your journey when you can’t make it into class.