Yoga and pilates are the key components of our Mind Body class offerings. Both practices add much-needed balance to one's life—literally and figuratively. Our wide variety of yoga and pilates classes will strengthen your core and calm your mind.
Learn about our Yoga Class Etiquette.
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Mindfulness & Meditation
"Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn
This pithy definition from meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn will guide our practice over the course of this eight-week offering. Drawing from Buddhism’s rich contemplative tradition, this course will offer pragmatic tools for deepening concentration, building mental resilience, cultivating insight, and expanding our compassion for both self and other. The course will guide participants in proper seated posture, developing concentration through awareness of breath and sensations, reflection on the nature of experience, and development of loving-kindness. Simultaneously, students will engage with brief prompts for reflection and exercises to foster connection with other students.
Pilates
Pilates - Chair
This unique and dynamic workout takes traditional Pilates to new heights by incorporating the Pilates Chair apparatus, adding an exciting challenge to your practice. In this class, you'll experience a full-body workout that focuses on building strength, flexibility, and balance. The Pilates Chair provides resistance through a series of springs and pedals, allowing you to engage your core and target specific muscle groups with precision. Throughout the class, you'll learn how to use the Chair to perform both seated and standing movements, creating a diverse and engaging workout that keeps your body and mind constantly engaged. As you progress through the class, you'll notice improved posture, increased stability, and enhanced coordination. The small group setting ensures personalized attention, allowing you to refine your technique and achieve maximum results.
Pilates - Mat
Pilates is a non-impact system of exercise that focuses on the deep muscles of the abdomen and spine. Pilates mat classes focus on toning, strengthening, and lengthening the entire body using only your own body weight and gravity. The results include toned muscles, a sculpted waistline, improved posture, increased flexibility, and improved mind-body connection. The fluid movements coupled with the breath are designed to reduce stress and tension, leaving you refreshed and not exhausted. Workouts are safe, versatile and effective for all ages and fitness levels.
Yoga
Yoga - Awakened Ashtanga
Awakened Ashtanga utilizes breath, movement and awareness to open our hearts, bodies, and minds, leading us to experience the full vibrancy of our lives. By weaving mindfulness with a vigorous, Ashtanga-based flow, this course aims to connect participants with the inherent vitality that moves in and through all of us. Students will learn powerful yoga sequences that help the body release tension, build strength, find balance, and break a sweat. In addition, students will use various approaches to mindfulness in the midst of movement to help nourish curiosity, ease, sensitivity and joy. All are welcome – from absolute beginner to advanced practitioner, this course is for all levels – just be ready to sweat, smile, and explore.
Yoga - Basics & Beyond
Curious about Yoga? This class is for students new to yoga or for those who wish to refine and improve their practice. Learn the foundational aspects of Yoga Asana and gain the tools and confidence you need to step onto your mat. This course is designed to introduce students in a safe and supportive space to the fundamentals of yoga practice, including essential yoga postures (Asanas), fundamental flow sequences (Vinyasa), and meditation and breathing techniques.
Yoga - Find Your Flow
This class offers a unique opportunity for curious students at every yoga level to experience and sample various styles of yoga, including Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Flow, and Yin. This well-rounded line-up of classes is designed to foster connection and enhance your range of motion, strength, endurance, balance, & focus, all while using yoga mindfulness tools for self-discovery. Before diving into the physical practice, we will begin each session with a short discussion question, creating space for you to connect with fellow peers. Whether you are brand new, looking to explore yoga and fitness for the first time, or a movement enthusiast, this class is for you. There is no need for prior yoga experience; everyone is welcome.
Yoga - Fire Flow
A powerful yet playful vinyasa flow that brings the heat 🔥 Fire Flow invites you to move mindfully with your breath while finding your edge with elements of both strength training and yoga asana. Each class will offer a new challenge and opportunities to progress through the course. No experience necessary, but come ready to sweat!
Yoga - Hatha Mainstream
Well rounded and accessible to all levels and ages, this class focusesc on alignment, deeper understanding of asana and it's connection to breath and it's power. If you are looking for a restorative flow- this would be a great class to try.
Yoga - Sunset Flow
What a wonderful way to restore and unwind both your mind and body. Through a thoughtful and balanced sequence of restorative poses, this class offers a radiant and welcoming end of the day reset of your nervous system and encourages you to let go. Each week, students will move through a grounding and restorative flow, and will learn techniques that inspire mindfulness and relaxation in your everyday life. Open to all levels and bodies, whether you are a seasoned yogi or it's your first time doing yoga, this class will offer space for you to build and refine a joyous, safe, insightful yoga practice.
Yoga - AS COSWB
AS COSWB is collaborating with the Department of Recreations Get up GAUCHOS program! Together we are offering a free once per week yoga class to UCSB students.
No experinece needed, this class is your chance to forget the stress of a busy day and leave feeling like you can tackle anything! Embark on your yoga journey with our COSWB Yoga class. Perfect for those new to the practice, this session introduces foundational poses and basic breathing techniques in a supportive and nurturing environment. Join us as we explore the fundamentals of yoga, fostering strength, flexibility, and inner peace, guiding you towards a path of self-discovery and well-being.! Remember, this is a first come first serve class, so register now!
INSTRUCTORS
Natalie Sampila
Living Flow Yoga Instructor
Natalie remembers starting her yoga path through being inspired by her mother who taught her movement and meditation at a young age. She became certified as a teacher in 2000 in various training. These included Hatha Yoga with Eric Schiffman, an Ashtanga training in Thailand with Paul Dellaghan, and YogaWorks 500hr program with Lisa Walford and Jasmine Lieb focusing on Iyengar, Therapeutic and Restorative. Currently, she teaches Group Classes and Privates in Santa Barbara and returned to her studies in Ayurvedic Medicine to deepen the Life Knowledge she can offer to students as an Ayurvedic Practitioner. Her classes are inspired by life and cultivate and are a safe place to explore challenges in the body to create space in our lives.
Hattie Bluestone
Strong Flow & Vinyasa Flow Yoga Instructor
Hattie Bluestone began practicing yoga and meditation in 2006, at a time when she was struggling to navigate the challenges of undergraduate life at Harvard. Breath by breath, pose by pose, these practices taught her how to relate to life with more ease and kindness--with more courage, compassion, and peace. Inspired to share these practices of mind body healing with others, she enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2010 under the mentorship of health psychologist and author Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. To deepen her knowledge of bodies and movement, Hattie went on to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of California, San Francisco. She continues to practice and study extensively in the Buddhist and mindfulness meditation traditions, most recently through Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer's Mindful Self-Compassion course. At UCSB, Hattie offers fun and challenging classes that weave together her love of both the physical and the mindful/heartful aspects of the practice.
Sierra Noland
Refresh & Reset Yoga Instructor
Laughing at yourself, asking questions, and trying again are all welcomed in Sierra’s classes. Her goal is to remind us all not to take ourselves too seriously—not only in class but also in our lives off the mat. Sierra is a certified Stress Management Teacher through Integral Yoga and took her 200 Hour Hatha and Ashtanga training in Dharamsala, India. Her classes focus on finding alignment, grounding, and ease in each posture, taking the time to establish stability, even in powerful flows. By offering various modifications, Sierra demonstrates that yoga can be adapted to everybody. For her, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing beginner students who once were anxious about taking a class, later experiencing the healing benefits of yoga. Yoga changed her life, and she believes it can transform yours, too!
Dr. Kendall Hassemer
Strong + Stretchy Yoga Instructor
Living and teaching the last ten years in the yoga hub of Portland, Oregon, Dr. Kendall completed her naturopathic doctorate at the National College of Natural Medicine. She has studied with many master yoga teachers, training specifically with Tias and Surya Little, Lisa Black, Doug Keller, and Baron Baptiste, and currently serves as a Yoga Ambassador for Patagonia.
Luca Cupery
Flow Yoga Instructor
"The core of my yoga teaching is that each and every human body has a deep intelligence that needs to be approached with sincerity, curiosity, and compassionate devotion. For over 16 years I have cultivated and dedicated myself to the practice and study of Yoga. I draw inspiration from many sources: nature, traditional Chinese medicine, music, Prem Baba’s Path of the Heart, and most recently from the groundbreaking work of Bob Cooley and his Resistance Flexibility and Strength Training."