Yoga
- Activities
- About Us
All classes are taught by certified Yoga instructors.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding physical restrictions please check with an instructor prior to beginning the class.
Please see “General Rules” below.
Schedule
| Level | Schedule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner and Intermediate | Sunday 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM (In person / Virtual) Tuesday 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (Virtual only) Thursday 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (Virtual only) |
Free of charge |
| Seniors Yoga / Chair Yoga | Monday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free of charge |
If you are interested in Yoga activities, please join this WhatsApp group.
Before joining the yoga classes, please fill out the liability form and email it to yoga@myhtw.net.
Liability formAnnual Community Events
| Event | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 108 Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutations) |
Mid January Saturday 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
To celebrate Makara Sankranti and honor the Sun. Surya namaskars will be performed with instruction. 108 Surya namaskars will be performed with instruction |
| H2H Yogathon (Heart to Heart) | Mid February Saturday 7 AM to 10 AM |
To celebrate Heart Health month, this event will include a 1-hour walk, 1 hour of yoga, pranayama and meditation and a talk by a guest speaker. |
| Kids Summer Camp | June | This is a fee based camp. Kids will be in two groups Group1: 8 to 12 years Group2: 12 to 16 years Activities include yoga, pranayama, meditation, krida (play) yoga, Karma (service) yoga, storytelling, guest speakers and arts and crafts. When scheduled, details will be included in this page. |
| International Yoga Day (IYD) | On a Saturday close to June 21st | Since 2015, The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21st June. HTW, in collaboration with the Consul General of India in Houston, hosts a major event in Town Green Park in The Woodlands to raise the awareness of yoga in the community. |
General Rules
- All participants coming to any Yoga event must complete, digitally sign and submit the liability form.
- Please be socially responsible. If you feel sick, please do not come to the class.
- Please bring your own yoga mat, napkin, water bottle to the yoga practice and dress comfortably.
- Please come to practice with an empty stomach or at least 3 hours after your last meal.
Yoga Class Outline
Each yoga session will usually follow the following format:
-
Beginning Prayer
-
Warm ups/Joint loosening practices
-
Suryanamaskars (Sun Salutations)
-
Asana (Posture Practice)
-
Deep Relaxation Technique
-
Pranayama (Breathing Excercises)
-
Ending Prayer
Hindu Temple of Woodlands believes in building a strong and healthy community through the Yoga program.
Yoga enhances the holistic well-being of an individual by improving physical, mental and spiritual health. It is a lifestyle that is sustainable through all stages of life, for all ages and, all religious beliefs.
“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal of life is to manifest that Divinity within by controlling nature, internal and external. Do it by Work or Worship or Philosophy or Psychic control, by one or more or all of these and be FREE ….”
- Swami VivekanandaVision
Build a strong community by focusing on the holistic well-being of each individual.
Sarve bhavantu sukhinahah; Sarve santu niramayah;
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu; Ma kaschid dukkh bhag bhavet;
Aum shantih, shantih, shantih
{May all be Happy; May all be free from diseases; May all align with reality; May no one suffer from miseries. PEACE for everyone}
mission
Offer free regular yoga programs as well as yoga related annual events for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of each member.
Saha navavatu;
Saha nau bhunaktu;
Saha veeryam karvaavahai ;
Tejasvi naa vadhita mastu;
maa vid vishaa va hai;
Aum shaantih, shaantih, shaantih
{May he protect us both; May he nourish us both; May we both work together with great energy; May our studies be enlightened and fruitful; May we always work together in harmony}
values
- Respect each individual as a divine soul
- Open to all irrespective of their religious affiliation, nationality, race, gender
- Prioritize personal safety
FAQ
Can I come to the class even if I have never done yoga before?
Yes you can. The classes at HTW are tailored to meet the needs of beginner and intermediate level of participants. Yoga is not a competition. Listen to your body. We encourage you to try out one of the weekly yoga classes and see how your body responds. Please complete the liability form on the website before you participate. Discuss any concerns or limitations with the instructor prior to the practice. Please dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat, napkin, water bottle and great attitude. If you don’t have the yoga mat, on your first day, please let the instructor know and you can borrow it from HTW.
Can I attend yoga classes if I am just recovering from illness or surgery?
Please discuss with your medical provider before joining a class. You may be more suited to exercising in a chair or with the Seniors session before joining the regular weekly classes. Please inform you instructor of your concerns and limitations. HTW and the instructors are working in good faith to help you improve your physical and mental health.
Are the classes free?
Yes. However, HTW has generously offered the space for instruction. Donations to HTW earmarked for “Yoga” may be made through the “Donate Now” link above.
Are the HTW Yoga instructors certified?
Yes. All yoga instructors who teach at HTW have completed the Yoga Instructor’s Certification Course (YICC) offered by VYASA-Houston.
Does the HTW Yoga program participate in any community outreach programs?
The instructors who teach at HTW also teach yoga in other programs in the community. Some of them are:
- Canopy: A cancer survivorship center at Memorial Hermann, The Woodlands
- Stop Diabetes Camp: In collaboration with SEWA International, this camp is a 10 day – 20 hour yoga program designed to help persons diagnosed with diabetes or pre diabetes to manage and control their health.
- Cancer Survivor Yoga Class: Houston Methodist West
Donation
The weekly yoga sessions are free to all. However, HTW offers its space and facilities for the yoga program. We urge the participants to give back to the temple by donating to the temple for the “Community Yoga Program”. Make a note that this donation is for the yoga program.
DonateHTW is registered non profit organization with 501(C )( 3 ) status.
If you work for organization that has a company match program for donations, please consider donating to HTW through that program. Many participants and their employers are already donating to HTW through the gift matching program.