classes

What is "Soft Strength"?

Soft Strength prioritizes fluidity, ease, and inner resilience with a no-judgment approach to movement. The Soft Strength approach emphasizes internal body awareness, breath, and mindfulness.

This practice will help you listen to your body and understand its strengths and limitations. Rather than avoid discomfort, you’ll learn to confidently test the edges of your comfort zone.  Venture beyond restriction to discover freedom and joy in movement. 

What can you expect in a Soft Strength class?

Use what we do in class to feel better when you’re not in class. 

This unique group fitness class blends functional strength and mobility training with the mindful practices of yoga, Pilates, and somatic movement (Feldenkrais). It focuses on building strength, coordination, and balance through purposeful, controlled movements. 

Whether you're a fitness beginner or a seasoned athlete, these classes offer a supportive environment for to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance.

Chair-based, mat-based, and somatic rolling classes are offered. 

Chair-Based Soft Strength is designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility using the support of a chair. Other props like dowels, blocks, blankets, therabands, balls, and bolsters enhance the practice to make it accessible. 

Class begins seated, focusing on the breath with easy-to-explore movements. We layer in more movement complexity to improve pelvic and hip strength. Progressive strength and mobility work will lead to chair squats and, in turn, our ability to sit and stand. We also use props to target the wrists (grip strength), arms, and shoulders,
Students should come prepared to work hard as they learn about how their bodies are designed to move.

This class is suitable for all levels—even the seasoned practitioner will pick up a few tips and tricks. It is appropriate for people who want to learn more about their bodies but may have limitations due to knee, hip, or back pain.

Chair-Based Soft Strength is offered:
Monday mornings at the North Presbyterian Church on North Forest in Williamsville.
Tuesday mornings at Carriage House Collective on Delaware Ave in Buffalo
Friday mornings at the Jewish Community Center Holland Building on Delaware Ave in Buffalo.

Chair-Based Soft Strength

Mat-Based Soft Strength

Mat-Based Soft Strength is designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility from the floor. Other props such as dowels, blocks, blankets, therabands, balls, and bolsters will add load to build strength and increase movement complexity.

Class often begins on the floor, either on the back or belly. We use the breath to focus our attention and develop intra-abdominal pressure (to help with back pain). We isolate and activate larger muscle groups to build some heat and prepare for more complex movements in kneeling and standing. 

The class is suitable for practitioners of all levels. It is the perfect support and supplement to any activity you participate in off your mat. 

Mat-Based Soft Strength is offered:
Tuesday Evenings at the Carriage House Collective on Delaware in Buffalo.
Thursday Mornings at the North Presbyterian Church on North Forest in Williamsville.
Sunday Mornings at Devi Bollywood Performing Arts at Elmwood Commons on Elmwood in Kenmore.

Muscle Mending is a restorative class designed to alleviate exercise soreness and promote recovery through somatic principles inspired by methods like Feldenkrais.

This class focuses on gentle, mindful movements that help release tension, improve body awareness, and restore optimal function to muscles and joints. Whether recovering from a challenging workout, heavy lifting, or just needing to unwind tight muscles, Muscle Mending provides a soothing environment to reconnect with your body, enhance mobility, and facilitate healing.

Perfect for all fitness levels, this class encourages a deeper understanding of your body’s natural movement patterns, helping you recover faster and more effectively.

Muscle Mending is offered:
Friday afternoons at AE Fit 716 on Amherst Street in Buffalo.

Muscle Mending

(an Active Recovery class)

Student Testimonials

  • Soft Strength has grown on me. It offers parts of yoga and also attention to my joints and muscles that feel right and safe as my body changes over time.

    Sheila P

  • Soft Strength has been such a life changer for me. I feel stronger, have better balance, and have increased flexibility in my hips, shoulders, ankles, and hands.

    Barb T

  • As someone with scoliosis and chronic pain, I have experienced the benefit of Soft Strength classes. I enjoy the functional movement approach and find it helps maintain my strength, range of motion, and flexibility without worrying about impact or injury.

    Liza Z

  • I’ve taken classes from Carrie for several years. I used to have shoulder and neck issues requiring physical therapy. Since taking Soft Strength classes, I’ve remained pain-free and have excellent range of motion in both shoulders.

    Betsy G

  • Without Soft Strength, my body feels foreign to me. Movement feels like an effort. Tight hips, stiff neck, achy back and shoulders. Even my wrists and ankles don't feel like they work as they should. With Soft Strength, these issues have disappeared. It took some time, but I began to feel free inside my body. My hips, neck, and shoulders move effortlessly. No aches, no pain. I glide as I move throughout my day.

    Judi R

  • The classes are humbling and challenging and offer a new way to think of yoga. Soft Strength forces you to activate your muscles in a way that most typical yoga classes ignore.

    Erin M