September 2010 Workshops

Developing a Sustainable Arm Balance Practice

Saturday, September 18, 2010
1:30pm-4:30pm

Chataranga, Up Dog, Down Dog. Sounds easy enough, yet it doesn't always feel that way. The steady flow of the salutations often makes it difficult to fully explore the elements of each pose and transition, often leading to confusion, frustration and even injury. Yet Sun Salutations are at the heart of most Hatha yoga practices. Here we set the rhythm and mood for all that follows, warming the entire body as we connect breath and movement in the gradual opening to deeper practice. And as simple as they are, they are also fairly complex when we look at them closely. Learning the subtle nuances of each pose open up your practice in incredible ways, making it more and more a practice of freedom and joy.

In this workshop we will go deeply into each element of the Sun Salutations, exploring basic principles of alignment, breath, movement, bandhas and dristi within and between each of ten basic poses. The workshop is designed for teachers interested in deepening their understanding of how to teach safe, expansive, spirited Sun Salutations in Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga Vinyasa and other flow-oriented classes.

Price: $35

Teaching Pre-Natal Yoga

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 & 26, 2010
12:30pm-5:30pm (BOTH DAYS)

Yoga can be a wonderful practice when pregnant, a source of continued health, balanced energy and more subtle bodily awareness as body and baby change day-to-day. It's also great preparation for giving birth and reintegrating the body when in the glowing presence a newborn baby. Whether you're pregnant or a teacher with either pregnant students or new moms, it's essential to practice or teach in a way that is informed by knowing what to do and not do during each trimester, after your baby is born, when lactating and under a variety of maternal conditions.

This workshop is designed to give you a basic foundation for safely practicing and teaching both pre- and post-natal yoga. Topics include:

• Basic maternal anatomy and physiology;
• Guidelines for asanas (postures) specific to each trimester and various pre-natal conditions;
• Adaptations and contraindications for a variety of asana and pranayama (breathing) techniques;
• What to expect and how to support emotional changes;
• Creative use of yoga props and hands-on adjutments to ensure safety and support;
• Pelvic floor exercises designed to ease delivery and recovery;
• Breathing and relaxation techniques designed to create more comfort during pregnancy, labor and early mothering.

Open to teachers, teachers-in-training, pregnant yoga students and their partners.

10 Hours of Teaching Training credit are applicable to RYT 200 and RYT500 Continuing Education Units and yoga teacher certification.

Price: $85

The Art of Living – Season Attunement to Autumn with Glenn Kazmierski

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Explore Chinese Medicine though self-care techniques and attune your body and mind to Autumn. Autumn is an important time to make changes in order to increase wellbeing and avoid illness in the winter. In this 3-hour workshop you will learn how to attune yourself to autumn with diet changes, self-massage, qigong and stretches that are known increase your immune system. You will learn the basic Chinese Medicine’s Theory of Autumn as discussed in the Nie Jing- The Yellow Emperor’s Classic written over 2,500 years ago. The 5-Element theory of the Metal Element Energetics associated with the Lung and Large Intestine will be explored in depth through exercise and theory. Anyone wishing to enhance his or her wellbeing is welcome.

Price: $35