Davenport School of Yoga, Davenport, IA, USA

The Davenport School of Yoga (DSY) has been sharing the insight and power of yoga with the Quad Cities since 1996, and we are proud to be the Quad Cities "original" yoga studio. We specialize in traditional Hatha yoga, and you can expect fundamental classes from our instructors, emphasizing the most important aspects of any yoga practice: strength, flexibility, and balance, internal focus and release of tension and stress. Visit us at our main space at 421 Brady Street (shared with our Ashtanga vinyasa sister school, tapas yoga shala), or at any of our satellite classes throughout the community.

Class Descriptions

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is not a specific type of yoga, but rather encompasses all of the asana, physical posture, systems. Like all Sanskrit words, “Hatha” has many meanings, including “force” or “effort” as well as “sun/moon” (“ha” – sun + “tha” – moon); that is, the archetypal uniting and resolution of opposites. In the context of modern asana practice, the general term Hatha has come to be used in the specific, describing a more classic approach, a one-pose-at-a-time style class, with focus on alignment, anatomy, body mechanics, and mindfulness.

In our Hatha classes, expect an emphasis on simplicity, repetition, and ease, a pursuit of effortlessness even as we work out the body’s kinks. Relaxation is paramount as we make a full circuit of the body’s range of motion with standing postures, twists, backbends, forward folds, and hip openers.

Level I – No experience required. Come learn the basics with a mixture of students: beginners and experienced yogis looking to go back to basics – always a good thing to do periodically in this practice. We will practice the most basic asana, learning fundamental techniques and discussing the many benefits of the poses. Regular practice relieves stress, improves mood, and deepens appreciation for all aspects of life by bringing health to the body and peace to the mind.

Level II - A slightly more intense exploration of a classical Hatha practice, developing strength, balance, poise, and flexibility. Many of the same postures as Level I, but a bit more of a challenge. This class is appropriate for experienced Hatha yogis who enjoy a classical practice or for newcomers interested in a bit more physical challenge.

Level III - Dig still deeper into your practice and understanding as we continue to follow the basic Hatha class structure, but stretch out into more challenging territory, including arm balances, hip openers, inversions, and backbends. Previous experience required.

Kid's Yoga

Specially designed for children ages 5-10. Each class is a combination of classical asana and simple movement games sequenced to encourage flexibility, strength, balance and mindfulness. Classes are a positive outlet for children to explore movement and enjoy group situations free of a competitive environment. For a bit more info, check this out.

Yin Yoga

There are two major types of yoga – Yin and Yang. Yang yoga is what we are traditionally used to – heat building poses that take muscular energy to support them. In contrast, a Yin practice consists of cooling poses with the focus being primarily on the joints. It is about stretching the connective tissues in the joints to bring them healing chi energy. We nourish the joints (as well as our muscles and internal organs) in a yin practice by coming into the poses non-aggressively, being still and muscularly soft, and holding the poses for an average of 3 – 5 minutes. These longer holds allow time to surrender to the pose, to observe the body in the pose, and to fully open the meridians which brings healing chi to the joints, muscles and organs.

Yin Yoga is a very gentle practice that allows any practitioner (the beginner as well as the very advanced) to go deeper in poses than they ever imagined they could.

Please check our website @ www.DavenportSchoolofYoga.com for class times.