Workshops & events.
One of the most important and vibrant parts of the experience here at PYP is our community. Our workshops and events are spaces for you get to know your fellow students off the mat, to dig more deeply into your own practice, and to experience a sense of belonging.
And don’t forget to check out our free monthly classes!
Prenatal Yoga Series
Sundays, Dec 22, Jan 5, 19, & Feb 2 from 4:30pm-5:30pm
with Kelley Voegelin at PYP Forest
Join Kelley Voegelin for her ongoing 4 part series prenatal yoga at the Portland Yoga Project.
Kelley believes that prenatal yoga can support a birther physically, mentally & energetically.
Expect accessible transitions, safe modifications & strengthening, with breath work, mental focus & intentional rest. This series will include asana, pranayama, pelvic floor awareness & labor prep techniques. Appropriate for all levels & all birthers.
$48 series | $15 drop in
Yoga Foundations SeriEs
Wednesdays, January 8, 15, 22, & 29th, from 5:30pm-6:45pm
with Alyssa Adkins at PYP - FOREST
It’s always a good time to connect with the foundations of yoga. Whether you’ve just done your first class or you’re an experienced practitioner, this series will serve as a container for you to explore yoga’s history, philosophy, the essential asanas (poses), safety and adjustments, and the purpose and techniques of focused breathing. We’ll also take time throughout to discuss and debunk common yoga and movement myths.
With such pressure to rush outside of—and sometimes within!—our yoga practice, the Yoga Foundations Series will be a welcome invitation to slow down, think deeply, and ask questions. We will take the time to know and support one another so that you leave the course feeling more firmly rooted in yoga as an ongoing practice and as a community of practitioners. Emerging from our time together, this deep dive into fundamentals will bring a greater sense of confidence, presence, safety, and context in the classes you take. All have something to gain from Yoga Foundations!
Week One: Yoga History + Foundational Poses
Week Two: Yoga Philosophy + Poses with Neutral Hips + Backbends
Week Three: Poses with Externally Rotated Hips + Vinyasa Flows
Week Four: Revolved Poses + Balancing Poses
Alyssa [they/she] is a yoga history and philosophy nerd who loves getting into the nitty gritty of how and why modern yoga came to be – and the vast gray area of how and why we practice as we do today. They also have a love of anatomy studies and use movement science-informed approaches to help folks learn yoga poses with confidence and feel empowered to make adjustments for their bodies.
$18 drop-in or $60 for the entire series | 10% off for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
Post-Inauguration Rest Space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Friday, January 24, 2025
Hosted by Tender Table and The Portland Yoga Project at PYP DOWNTOWN
Inspired and held deeply by Tricia Hersey’s Rest is Resistance framework, this community rest event is an invitation to reclaim spaciousness, ease, slowness, and care in the face of uncertainty. We will hold softness for each other and create room for idleness and imagination. Our aim will not be to become more productive or focused, but to invite us into a dreamspace of what just futures can be.
We will open the space with words by Maya Williams, leading us into a writing practice of our own where we can explore all the different ways that this shifting political sphere is taking effect in our lives. Victoria Rutledge will lead us through a restorative yoga practice (long held poses with the support of bolsters, blocks, and blankets) woven together with the sounds of Kafari’s music.
We’ll end our time together with an optional share circle.
Props for restorative practice will be provided. Wear comfy/cozy clothes, and bring a journal and writing utensil. Bringing favorite blankets/pillows is encouraged!
This event is free.
Please register using the link below to secure your spot. Space is limited.
About Kafari:
‘Kafari’ is the alias of Cincinnati, OH-born, Portland, ME-based pianist, rhythm bones player, beatmaker, and teaching artist Ahmad Muhammad. Kafari’s music synthesizes his love of ambient piano music, spiritual jazz, and experimental hip-hop, inspired by the musical legacies of Dorothy Ashby, J Dilla, Chopin, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who in a 2014 performance sparked his interest in the rhythm bones – an Irish percussion instrument popularized in America through blackface minstrelsy which Kafari often distributes and teaches to his audiences.
About Maya:
Maya Williams (ey/they/she) is a spoken word artist and poet who dives fearlessly into themes of grief, suicide, religion, and relationships. With a raw, powerful voice, Maya’s poetry creates space for connection and understanding, inviting audiences to feel deeply and reflect.
Selected as Portland, ME’s seventh poet laureate (2021 - 2024), Maya has published three poetry collections, including Judas & Suicide, a finalist for the New England Book Award, and Refused a Second Date, a finalist for the Maine Literary Award. Ey brings stories to life with boldness and humanity, leaving a lasting impact with every word.
PYP Downtown Grand Opening Party
Saturday, January 25 from 5pm-9pm-ish
Live DJ set by Pika, cocktails + mocktails by Cocktail Mary, wine by Grippy Tannins, & food by Benkay & Quanto Basta
Join us to celebrate the opening of our second location, PYP DOWNTOWN!
We have joined up with Cocktail Mary to provide us with a signature cocktail & mocktail for the evening, as well as wine from Grippy Tannins! Additionally, we will provide food from Benkay and Quanto Basta for delicious eats throughout the night.
5PM-7PM
AMBIENT LIVE DJ SET BY PIKA FOR MINGLING, DRINKS, AND EATS!
7PM-9PM
PIKA WILL PICK UP THE BEATS FOR DANCING! DRINKS, MINGLING, & SNACKS CONTINUE…
Please register in advance! Registration is free. Admission (and valid ID) includes 1 FREE drink ticket, eats, and fun! Additional drinks available to purchase throughout the night!
Chair Series
Saturdays, February 8, 15, & 22 from 1pm-2:30pm
with Devon Harris at PYP - DOWNTOWN
This three-week series will explore familiar postures in new, creative ways using a variety of props—particularly the backless yoga chair. Yoga chairs are often used in the Iyengar yoga system and can be a wonderful tool to strongly open the body and quiet the mind. This series is aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to use this wonderful prop in their own home practice, or when chairs are used in class at PYP.
Each class in this series will build on the one before and students are encouraged to participate in the full series if possible. As is common practice in Iyengar Yoga, classes will be slow and detailed, and postures will be tailored to suit each individual practitioner.
This series is taught by Devon Harris, a dedicated student of Iyengar Yoga for over 8 years, whose all-time favorite yoga pose is a backbend over a chair.
Week 1: Standing poses, introduction to inversions
Week 2: Standing poses, backbends & twists, continuation of inversions
Week 3: Restorative (including more passive exploration of standing poses, backbends & twists, and inversions)
$20/drop in or $55/series | 10% off for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
Sapphic Valentines Day Restorative
Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 1pm-2:30pm
with Victoria Rutledge at PYP - FOREST
Join Victoria for this 90 minutes restorative class to celebrate love beyond the gaze of the patriarchy. This class is intended for any and all folks who identify as women, nonbinary, gender expansive, and agender, all folks who love women and the feminine, and those in relationships and relationship constellations that celebrate love beyond cisgender heteronormative scripts (sorry, no cis-men invited). In this intentionally protected space, we will write love notes to ourselves and those we love, slowly savor rich chocolates, and lay our bodies down for deeply supported and delicious REST. Come in comfy clothing, just as you are.
$30 | 10% OFF FOR AUTO-RENEW UNLIMITED MEMBERS
Yoga for Core and Pelvic Floor
Wedensday, February 19, 7-8pm
with Jenn at PYP - FOREST
This is a slow flow format class that includes a little bit of heat building and aimed to empower you to embody a deeper connection to your deep core and pelvic floor. Dr. Jenn Gelfand, a passionate and experienced pelvic floor physical therapist and owner of Root To Rise PT & Pelvic Health, will lead you through class with a strong emphasis on alignment and breath providing intentional cueing and sequencing. Class is geared towards promoting spine and pelvic health as well as overall functional capacity and resilience.
This class is appropriate for all levels of experience including pregnant and postpartum people, as well as those returning to practice following injury.
$18 Drop In | FREE FOR UNLIMITED AUTO-RENEW MEMBERS
Yoga with Live Piano by Kafari
Immerse yourself in a 90-minute yoga class led by Morag, accompanied by the soothing sounds of Kafari on the piano. This session settles you into a serene dreamscape, where movement and music awaken your senses. As Morag guides you through a mindful flow, Kafari’s melodies deepen your connection to to the present moment, creating a peaceful, meditative atmosphere. Let the harmonious blend of yoga and rhythm bones transport you into your body, leaving you feeling grounded yet blissed out.
Part of the proceeds will be directly to Preble St Teen Center where Kafari teaches piano and to Black Owned Maine in conjunction with our February Mutual Aid Monday. We encourage you to donate to these organizations if you can!
$30 | 10% OFF FOR AUTO-RENEW UNLIMITED MEMBERS
Soothe and Move
Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 1pm-2pm
with Julie Campilio at PYP - FOREST
Through a playful and engaging approach, a blend of mind/body tools proven to soothe the nervous system will be shared. Evidence-based practices and curriculum help participants utilize deep breathing, mindfulness, yoga postures/embodiment, cooperative games, and guided imagery to craft their unique toolbox of stress resilience strategies they can use in daily life. There will be space to collaborate and build community along with time for individual exploration. This is a welcoming space that empowers participants to show up authentically and no experience is required. Fun is always a “must”!
Note:
Space is limited to 10 families. Sign up early to secure your spot.
One registration is for both the caregiver and child
Class is designed for ages 5-10 and their caregiver
To learn more about Soothe and Move please visit: https://ourrootsup.com/in-person-classes-soothe-and-move/
About your instructor Julie Campilio
Julie founded Roots Up to empower youth with self-soothing strategies for navigating big emotions. For nearly 20 years, Julie's taught soothing strategies in schools and youth organizations and has worked with over 10,000 children. She has partnered with social workers, therapists, researchers, and educators to create content that supports children's emotional well-being in ways that are evidence-based and playful. Most importantly, children have been the leaders in crafting these tools, ensuring they are relatable, engaging, and truly meet the needs of children’s emotional health.
$25/FAMILY | 10% OFF FOR AUTO-RENEW MONTHLY MEMBERS
Yoga for Core and Pelvic Floor
Wedensday, January 15, 7-8pm
with Jenn at PYP - FOREST
This is a slow flow format class that includes a little bit of heat building and aimed to empower you to embody a deeper connection to your deep core and pelvic floor. Dr. Jenn Gelfand, a passionate and experienced pelvic floor physical therapist and owner of Root To Rise PT & Pelvic Health, will lead you through class with a strong emphasis on alignment and breath providing intentional cueing and sequencing. Class is geared towards promoting spine and pelvic health as well as overall functional capacity and resilience.
This class is appropriate for all levels of experience including pregnant and postpartum people, as well as those returning to practice following injury.
$18 Drop In | FREE FOR UNLIMITED AUTO-RENEW MEMBERS
Yin Yoga & Kidney Mudra
Friday, January 10, 5:30pm-7:30pm
with Kelley Voegelin at PYP-FOREST
This 90 minute Yin Yoga class will incorporate the use of a mudra that nourishes our kidneys & deep reserves of energy. Mudra’s are like doing yoga with your hands—they can embody or invoke unique qualities that nourish our physical, mental or spiritual layers. Expect a well rounded Yin yoga practice, mudra and meditation.
$25 | FREE for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
New Year Yoga with Live Cello
Friday, January 3, 5:30pm-7pm
with Morag Howson & Robin Lane at PYP FOREST
Begin the year with a gentle vinyasa flow, guided by Morag, and accompanied by the soulful melodies of Robin on the cello. This thoughtfully designed sequence will help you integrate the past, ground into the present, and align your energy for the year ahead. The deep, resonant tones of the cello will enhance your practice, creating a meditative state to connect the body and breath.
$20 | 10% off for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
Yin & Yoga Nidra + Reiki
Saturday, December 14, 4-5:30pm
with Molly Donlan AT PYP FOREST
When spilling your morning coffee turns into a full-blown meltdown–
it’s time to make space in your month for rest! If life feels like a lot lately,
consider this workshop to be a reset button: for 90 minutes you do not need
to plan or think, you don’t need to hold space for anyone else, you’re invited to
ease slowly into your body and let go of your to-do list in a space created for
you to completely rest.
Yin Yoga helps to release tension and patterns of strain within the
deepest layers of the body, freeing you from holding on to the physiological
response to stress. Yoga Nidra is the ancient, scientific, and methodical
practice of combining deep relaxation with guided meditation—giving you
space for your nervous system to take an exhale to connect with the human
that exists beneath your thoughts, stress, and anxiety.
This workshop will be offered with a period of Yin poses and breath
work to prepare your body, mind, and heart for the deep stillness of the Yoga
Nidra practice, traditionally experienced in Savasana pose. During the Yin
portion of this workshop and with your consent, Reiki practitioners will make
their way around the room, offering their healing hands to you in service of
heightening your own restorative capacity and aiding in your deepest
relaxation.
No experience is necessary and all are welcome! Dress comfortably in
layers and experience for yourself this powerful combination of practices.
$35 | 10% off for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
Annual Thanksgiving Day Donation Classes for Sea Change
Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Day donation classes for Sea Change!
We will be holding THREE classes this year to support Sea Change.
PYP Forest: Join us for either our 9:30am vinyasa class or our 9:30am barre class
Registration is free and a $15 suggested donation will be collected at the door via cash, check, or directly to Sea Change via Venmo.
Sea Change Yoga is a nonprofit yoga service organization. We bring the evidence based practices of trauma- informed yoga and meditation to those who have experienced trauma, are under-served and marginalized, and in need of the emotional regulation and increased physical and mental health that trauma informed yoga and meditation practice provides.
We currently teach more than 100 classes per month to students at residential treatment facilities, community recovery centers and correctional institutions.
Our trauma-informed teaching strategies are designed to be uniquely effective for students with trauma in their background. We modify the elements of traditional yoga to facilitate mindfulness, maximize tolerance, build empowerment, and cultivate a more positive relationship to one’s body.
These simple, powerful tools of transformation reduce stress and anxiety, support the addiction recovery process, help break the cycle of substance abuse and incarceration. We teach a method of mindfulness practices that our students can use every single day in their lives.
Moving and Living with Chronic Pain and Physical Limitations: A FREE WORKSHOP
How to adapt and modify your way through yoga class and everyday living.
Join Ben for this FREE workshop as he empowers you to accept and work with your pain and limitations rather than resist against or push through it, by encouraging you to give yourself permission to modify, adapt, and rest as is needed, offering skills, courage, and knowledge to do so.
At the end of this workshop, you will have received the knowledge and permission necessary to maneuver through any class with the ability to adapt as needed for yourself, and feel as though you can do it and will continue doing it as you discover the benefits of self compassion with your pain and limitations that might allow you to resolve and heal your pain in a way you weren’t previously aware could be done.
This workshop will include discussion, movement, and meditation.
FREE | Register to secure your spot
Yin Yoga & Lung Mudra
Join Kelley for a 90 minute Yin Yoga class that will incorporate the use of a series of Mudras that benefit the lungs. Mudras are like doing yoga with your hands—they can embody or invoke unique qualities that nourish our physical, mental or spiritual layers. Expect a well rounded Yin yoga practice, mudra and meditation.
FREE for auto-renew monthly unlimited members | $25
Prenatal Yoga Series
Sundays, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, & 12/15 from 4:30pm-5:30pm
with Kelley Voegelin at PYP - FOREST
Join Kelley for her ongoing 4 week prenatal yoga series. This series will include movement, breathwork, pelvic floor awareness & time for intentional rest. We will focus on various positions & movements that can keep labor moving along & create space in the pelvis. This class is open to all birthing people & levels of experience in yoga.
$15 drop-in or $48 for the entire series | 10% off for auto-renew monthly unlimited members
PYP x Maine Mariners
Join us for a day of relaxation and excitement as the Portland Yoga Project teams up with the Maine Mariners for a unique event. Start with a tranquil on-ice yoga session from 3 pm-4 pm, then switch gears as the Mariners face off against the Norfolk Admirals at 6:15 pm. Enjoy the thrill of the sport while supporting a great cause, as a portion of your ticket sales will be donated to The Summer Camp, dedicated to providing enriching experiences for children. Don't miss out on this dual delight of relaxation and excitement. Get your tickets today using the link below!
Breathe, Meditate, Restore—Less is More
Join Kelley on October 18 5:30-6:30pm
This class will include breathwork, meditation and restorative postures. Kelley's aim is to provide attendees with a quiet, slow, simple class that focuses on the subtler pieces of our yoga practice... where less is more. Expect guided breathwork, guided meditation and restful asana.
$20 | 10% FOR UNLIMITED AUTO-RENEW MEMBERS
Prenatal Yoga Series
Join Kelley Voegelin for her ongoing 4 part series prenatal yoga classes at the Portland Yoga Project.
Prenatal yoga can support a birther physically, mentally & energetically. Expect accessible transitions, safe modifications & strengthening, with breath work, mental focus & intentional rest. This series will include asana, pranayama, pelvic floor awareness & labor prep techniques. Appropriate for all levels & all birthers.
SEPT 8, SEPT 22, OCT 6, OCT 20
SUNDAYS 4:30PM-5:30PM
$48 for entire series or $15 drop-in (non-refundable)
queer movement
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.