At Generations Yoga in Wilmette Illinois, we offer a wide range of classes to accommodate the novice to the more advanced student and everyone in between. Take a look at the classes below and discover how yoga can enhance your physical, emotional and spiritual quality of life. If you like, we would be happy to help match you with a class and teacher that's just right for you. Either drop us a note at info@genyoga.com or give us a call at 847-919-0533 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Click here to view our current class schedule.

Anusara-Inspired Yoga™

Anusara Yoga® is a modern system of Hatha Yoga. It is heart-oriented, spiritually inspiring, and has an integrated set of alignment principles for optimal health. Anusara means "stepping into the current of grace", or "to follow your heart". Classes are physically challenging and recognize and embrace each student's uniqueness and strengths.

Intro to Yoga

This type of yoga class is designed specifically for those individuals with little or no yoga experience but can also be a great refresher class for those students who haven't stepped onto their mat for quite some time. Students will not only learn breathing techniques to help create body awareness while relaxing the mind, but they also will learn the basic sitting and standing poses. Through this class, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of a basic yoga class and will receive the essential knowledge needed as they continue on along their yoga journey.

Yoga Basics

Yoga Basics offers students an opportunity to learn basic standing and sitting poses as well as various breathing (pranayama) techniques. This class type focuses on body alignment, breath technique, and form to help gain flexibility, balance, and strength. Begin to learn the art of linking movement with breath to help hone in on body awareness as you slowly break down poses and sun salutations. Great for those students who have just begun their yoga journeys or for those individuals looking for a slower paced practice. This class offers useful and meaningful ways to reduce stress and quiet the mind.

Kids Yoga

This class focuses on enhancing and supporting children’s innate sense of creativity and vitality while teaching tools to help them relax and focus. Yoga for children works to build flexibility and self esteem, a sense of connection to themselves as valued human beings and a better understanding of the world around them. Though not a religious practice, Yoga is practiced with a sense of reverence and respect for the divine spark in all things and teaches compassion and non-violence as a way of life.

Through playful songs and games, asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing) are explored with lightness and acceptance of each child’s unique abilities. This class will celebrate the gifts and blessings that are inherent within each child that they might cultivate a strong sense of self and confidence as they grow.

Forrest

The pillars of Forrest Yoga® are breath, strength, integrity, and Spirit. The mission of this dynamic and mindful yoga practice is to create in each of us a sense of freedom, a connection to our spirit, and the courage to walk as our spirit dictates. This challenging practice empowers the student while emphasizing breath connection, core strength, body awareness, and most importantly, joy. Forrest Yoga® will enable you to go deeper, find your truth, and encourage you to take the gifts you have received while on the mat as you walk your path off the mat throughout your life’s journey.

Gentle

This form of yoga is great for beginners, seniors, those students with limited mobility or prior injury. It is also great for anyone looking for a more relaxing way to practice. Gentle yoga is designed specifically to help with the healing process that accompanies injuries and is great for people who suffer from lower back injury or discomfort. This gentle class combines basic yoga poses and breathing exercises to help strengthen the body and relax the mind. It is a fantastic, gentle way to start or end your day.

Hatha

This is a multi-disciplinary approach to practicing yoga. Each class incorporates methods and techniques from a variety of different teachers and traditions. Hatha Yoga focuses on increasing flexibility, strength, and balance through fundamental poses, both seated and standing, while emphasizing the power of breath. This form of yoga is great for all levels—for the injured or athletic, both the young and old. Hatha Yoga is a great way to manage and reduce the stress and tension caused by daily life.

Hatha Yoga & Meditation

This practice makes room for stillness and introspection within a slow-flowing Vinyasa framework. Special emphasis is placed on breathing practices and mindful posture sequences. Poses can be modified for all body types and all ages. It is taught with attention to alignment and individual needs. There will be a led seated meditation at the end of each class (5-10 minutes). Come try this unique, challenging and meditative blend of Kripalu, Vinyasa and Tantra yoga with Nick and Lela!

Hot Power Hour

This HOT Power-ful and athletically oriented practice will build heat, strength and stamina. In our heated studio, (80-85°) we will partake in a flowing asana practice combining Vinyasa and Astanga traditions and integrating mental practices for developing a calm, less reactive state of mind. By increasing the body temperature, you are creating a greater detoxifying effect on mind and body, leaving you feeling cleansed and strong. In this HOT Power Yoga class, you are encouraged to focus on the process, the present moment, the now - and not the end result. Knowledge of sun salutations is required.

I-REST Meditation

I-REST Meditation is based on a 4000-year-old transformative process called "Yoga Nidra", loosely translated as "yogic sleep". This supine meditation is a deep relaxation for body and mind that helps you to work through self-limiting beliefs and patterns to produce a pure awareness of your own being. By reducing stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions, I-REST invites you to find a true meaning of self and a sense of enlightenment. You will be lead through breath, body and energy awareness that will help to lift the stresses of your daily and lifelong existence. This mediation is done lying down, supported by bolsters and blankets; please wear comfortable clothing..

Kundalini Yoga in the Morning

Start your day with Kundalini Yoga—the Yoga of Awareness-- at the same time a serious, powerful & challenging practice that is also gentle and forgiving. Whereas most forms of Hatha Yoga traditionally required years and years of devotion and focused, exclusive practice to master, Kundalini Yoga was designed for busy people who are engaged in the world: it is the yogic fast track to health and happiness. A Kundalini Yoga class is never boring – it incorporates breath (pranayam), asanas (postures) put together into sets (called kriyas) designed to achieve specific effects on the body and mind. Classes also include mantras / chanting, and meditation – and they establish a vibration that will give both energy and peace for the entire day. The positive effects of Kundalini Yoga (as taught by Yogi Bhajan) can be felt immediately – many people report noticeable improvement in their mental, physical and emotional well-being after only one class.

This class is designed is for women and men who want to love their bodies. It is suitable for all levels. No prior yoga (or Kundalini) experience is necessary.

Kung Fu (Adult)

The Adult Kung Fu class teaches basic skills, fist forms (boxing), weapon forms, self-defense forms, and Sanda (Chinese Kick Boxing).

Basic skill training focuses on the basic Kung Fu movements including striking, kicking, jumping, defensive/offensive stances, and basic forms.

Fist form (boxing) training teaches over 30 forms. Beginning forms include Five Motion, Shaolin Long Fist, etc. Advance Forms include Long Fist, Southern Fist, animal forms, etc.

Sanda (Chinese Kick Boxing) involves kicks, strikes, throws and locks. This training is designed for different levels of students with fun and effective practices. It focuses on coordination between partners.

Self-defense forms and individual movement forms are used to teach offense and defense.

Kung Fu (Kids)

The Kids Kung Fu classes are similar to Adult Kung Fu classes in the teaching of basic skills, fist forms, weapons and self-defense forms. In addition to Kung Fu practices, the instructors also educate the children with the culture and values of Kung Fu. The instructors develop caring relationships with the students and teach them respect and be disciplined in Kung Fu and life.

Mindfulness Meditation Class

Mindfulness meditation is a way of paying attention to what is unfolding in the present moment in the mind, body, and emotions. Research has shown the effectiveness of meditation in reducing stress, facilitate healing and improving mental and physical well-being.

In this class, participants will learn about and explore meditation in its various forms. Instruction, practice and discussion will be including in each class. This class is open to all students - beginners and experienced meditators alike. Please wear comfortable clothing. All props needed with be provided by the studio.

Prenatal

This class is designed for expectant moms in all stages of their pregnancy. Experience relaxing yet challenging poses suitable for students of all levels. Students will learn key poses intended to help alleviate common aches and pains associated with pregnancy like back pain, leg cramps, and sciatica. Simple breathing techniques that are beneficial throughout the entire pregnancy are also taught in this helpful class. The attention that yoga places on relaxation, focus, breathing, and endurance are proven to help women through the process of childbirth.

Restorative

As we partake in our busy lives, most of us are operating in start or stop mode. We might presume relaxing is when we are in the "stop" position - be it during TV watching or even falling straight to sleep. Restorative yoga is a chance to teach and encourage the body to relax.

Restorative yoga will show you the way in which the body can be remain in a relaxed state even during your waking hours. Many props will be used to support the physical, and emotional, body as we settle into a few select postures. Gentle, guided breathing will help soothe the tired mind.

Restorative yoga is a great practice for yogis of every body to partake in-especially as an accompaniment to your regular yoga practice, whether it be Vinyasa, Hatha or Gentle.

Sunrise

What a wonderful way to start your day! For those who like the early morning hours, Sunrise Yoga greets the new day with a practice that incorporates pranayama and asanas that will leave you feeling relaxed yet energized, and able to start the day with a well-grounded center, clarity, and stillness of mind. Beginning your day with yoga will help improve your productivity, efficiency and concentration throughout the workday. This 60 minute class is suitable for all levels, from beginners to experienced yogis and will have you downtown ready to start your day by 8:30AM.  

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an internal health and movement exercise that starts with breathing and Qigong. This practice aims to relax the body and mind, and to increase strength and sensitivity through cultivation of Qi. Beginners start with Eight Form Tai Chi and then learn the other forms including Twenty-four Form and Forty-two Form. Training also includes push hands and Tai Chi Sword.

Teen Yoga

The teenage years are a wonderful time to become involved in yoga. For teens that are physically active or involved in organized sports, the strength and flexibility that yoga provides can enhance performance and enjoyment as well as decrease the propensity for injury. For those not so athletically inclined, yoga can offer a positive avenue for self discovery in mind, body, and spirit.

With all the demands imposed upon the youth of today, the physical movement and the mediation inherent in the practice of yoga can supply a means of relieving and controlling stress and developing a positive body image.

At Generations Yoga Center, we strive to create a welcoming, safe environment where teens can experience the physical and mental benefits of a consistent yoga practice. Students will learn breath awareness techniques and poses that both challenge and relax them, stretch and strengthen their bodies, alleviate stress, and leave teens feeling energized and renewed. This course is the ideal respite from teenagers’ over-programmed lives and will give them a chance to discover new freedom in their bodies and minds. For beginning and experienced students ages 13-19. Space is limited.

Vinyasa

The word Vinyasa translates as “"breath-synchronized movement."” This vigorous form of yoga links movements from pose to pose with breath, creating internal heat, which helps to purify the body and mind. Vinyasa Yoga focuses on creative standing sequences that are unique from class to class guaranteeing you a different experience each time you step on your mat.

Yoga for Athletes

Drawing on both her athletic and yoga backgrounds Courtney Riley will guide you through a yoga practice that will benefit every athlete. You will gain core strength, balance and concentration realizing multiple benefits....

• Develop Deep, Relaxed Breathing -.Deep, relaxed breathing is the foundation of reducing anxiety and improving concentration. Yoga will help you develop a habit of breathing correctly and increasing your lung capacity.

• Increase Core Strength - Yoga poses are all about building core strength. The slow, focused movements require a strong mid-section and the isometric contractions of many exercises will add a new form of resistance training to your typical machine-based workouts.

• Increase Flexibility and Range of Motion -Yoga routines incorporate slow, steady flexibility exercise that is ideal for athletes. Frequent yoga training will increase flexibility, and range of motion while relieving muscle tension.
  
• Improve Balance -Yoga is a perfect way to incorporate balance exercises into your training routine. Balance exercises are often overlooked by athletes, but are one of the most effective ways to correct muscle imbalance or body mechanic problems. With most sports and weight training routines you tend to perform repetitive motions that develop some muscle groups while others are ignored. Yoga is great for great Cross Training since it is a great low-impact way to cross train. Cross training is necessary for athletes who do the same sport or exercise routine year-round. Adding new exercises can help reduce injury, relieve training boredom, add variety and help recover from hard aerobic or strength workouts.

Add a new dimension to you regular athletic regimen every Saturday at 8:15 AM with Courtney.

Yoga Therapeutics

This small group class provides a forum to address specific areas of your body that require more attention.  It is a great class for those students in our community with limited mobility or prior injury. Classes are structured around needs expressed by class participants, and change week to week.  All are welcome as the focus of each class remains a systems approach where we experience the total body through breathwork and asana.