The Real Thing with this California Yogi: Mark Stephens

Don't miss this chance to enjoy master practice classes (all levels) and skillful sequencing workshops with Mark Stephens!
Join master trainer, author and inspirational teachers Mark Stephens from California at Yoga Moves. Mark Stephens is widely regarded as a master teacher of teachers, author and yoga teacher. Mark teaches, practices and writes about yoga as a means of better living. Practicing for 23 years and teaching for 18 years, his three recent books – Teaching YogaYoga Sequencing andYoga Adjustments are international bestsellers. Mark draws from a deep background in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow, tantra, yoga anatomy, bio-mechanics and yoga philosophy to make yoga more sustainable and deeply transformational.

Mark's understanding and skills for teaching are wide and deep. He is as skilled with beginners students as with advanced teachers. Come enjoy this series of master-classes (practice oriented sessions) and teacher oriented workshops (yoga alliance continuing education credits available)


4 Days: 19-22 November 2015 @ Yoga Moves

 

#1
Master Class
Refined Pranayama & Heart Opening Backbends

9.30-12.00  | Thurs 19 Nov

Prana is the transformative elixir at the heart of yoga. In refining it, we more easily open to new possibilities in our practice and our lives. Here we will prepare the path to gloriously deep heart-opening backbends (with energetically awakening and balancing pranayamas.

 

#2
Workshop (Teacher Oriented)
The Art & Science of Sequencing
I. Philosophy, Principles, Essentials

13.30-16.30 | Thurs 19 Nov

We want our yoga classes to offer accessible, sustainable and deeply transformational practices. With intentional sequences, we start with a simple yet profound question: “why this, then that”? Here we will explore how ancient to modern yogis answer this question, distilling kernals of wisdom to give us the core principles and techniques for designing yoga classes. We will look closely at the inter-relations of asanas within and between the main seven asana families (standing, core, arm balances, backbends, twists, seated/supine and inversions).

#3
Master Class
Hips & Arm balances: Integrating Body, Mind, and Spirit

9.30-12.00  | Fri 20 Nov

Arm balances simultaneously require and help us to develop strength, flexibility and focused awareness. The qualities are enhanced when the asana involves hip opening positions. Here we will explore how to approach hip-intensive arm balances such as Bakasana, Astavakrasana, Eka Pada Koundinyasana, Galavasana, Utthana Prasistasana and the Mukta Hasta Sirsasana Vinyasa (a sustained series of interconnected arm balances intiated from Sirsasana II). With proper preparation and focus, we will open to the possibility of greater equanimity, confidence and personal freedom on and off the mat, using patience, intelligence and compassion as our guides.

 

#4

Workshop (Teacher Oriented)
The Art & Science of Sequencing
II. Designing Beginning to Advanced Classes

13.30-16.30 | Fri 20 Nov

Here we apply the theories and methods from Sequencing Session to designing classes for different levels of student ability. After a brief talk on Vinyasa Krama, we will work, play and explore together in designing, critiquing and refining several different class sequences. Through we will focus on designing classes that are informed, efficient, effective, beautiful and integrated, thereby offering students more sustainable, joyful and transformational practices.
 

#5

Master Class
All Levels Integrated Practice & Satsang: What Is Yoga?

19.00-21.30  | Fri 20 Nov

Is yoga 5,000 years old? What’s the original yoga? Why does this matter? Did the ancients do Chataranga Dandasana? Can we do you on a Stand-Up Paddle? Is yoga hindu? What’s the difference between Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Tantra Yoga? Why are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali considered to be the most important source of philosophy today? Why do you practice yoga? What does it mean to you?

#6

Master Class
The Grandest, Deepest, Fundamentally Transformational Sun Salutation Refinements Imaginable

9.30-12.00 | Sat 21 Nov

The entire foundation of all flow-styles of yoga is rooted in the dynamic movement of Surya Namaskara, the greeting of the sun and the universe within each of us. It is here that we set the rhythm and mood for all that follows, connecting breath and bodymind in a conscious dance that opens us more deeply to the entire practice. In this workshop we will pause to look in great detail at all of the elements of the twelve asanas in Classical Surya Namaskara and Surya Namaskara A and B as well as their transitions. We will look at the connection between pada bandha and mula bandha, roots and extension, alignment and energetics, effort and ease, all with an eye towards making these timeless flows simpler, deeper and more sustainable.

 

#7

Workshop (Teacher Oriented)
The Art & Science of Sequencing
III. Designing Classes Across the Life Cycle

13.30-16.30  | Sat 21 Nov

People of all ages can benefit from yoga when offered practices that make sense for where they are in the season of their life. While some styles of yoga offer the same practice to kids, pregnant women and the elderly, ideally we design classes that make sense for the conditions we experience at different ages. In this workshop we will look at the unique and common needs of students across the span of life. With collaborative exploration, we'll design classes that enable every one to practice in ways that are meaningful, sustainable, and transformation

 

#8

Master Class
Integrated Practice: Pranayama, Asana, Pranayama, Meditation

9.30-12.00 | Sun. 22 Nov

How we breathe conditions everything. Here we will start with natural breathing, explore a variety of awakening pranayamas, awaken more deeply through an integrated asana practice, cultivate more refined energy through balancing pranayamas, then sense it all in expansive meditation that takes us from the internal world of dharana to the wholeness of it all.  You can call it the tantric boat to bliss.

 

#9

Workshop (Teacher Oriented)
The Art & Science of Sequencing
IV. Traditional Energetics

13.30-16.30 | Sun. 22 Nov

While most informed sequencing draws from western medical understandings of functional anatomy, biomechanics and kinesiology, ancient to modern yogis have given us a very different way of mapping our journey: koshas, prana, prana vayus, chakras, nadis and gunas. In this workshop we will explore how to bring these traditional energetics most alive in integrated class designs, focusing primarily on creating deeply transformational chakra-oriented classes.

 

 

Information

Prices:

Master Class €35 | All 5 €145

Workshop (teacher oriented) €45 | All 4 €155

All 9 Master Classes & Workshops | €285

Yoga Moves Infinity: 15% discount Single Sessions

 

Dates:  19-22 November 2015 | workshops & teacher oriented courses

Location: Yoga Moves Utrecht

SIGN UP

 

Display Date
Nov. 19-22
Date