We hope that you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and are feeling relaxed and refreshed. The Holiday Season is officially in full swing, so be sure to take some time for yourself. Practicing yoga allows us the space we need to stay, well, sane during a time of increased stress, social obligation, and travel. Let your yoga practice transform this holiday season into your best one yet! Kick it off with one of our weekend picks below, and have a great weekend wherever you are!

Don’t see events listed in your city? Want to submit an event of your own? Email us at Submissions@yoganonymous.org and let us know the deal!

___

Nashville, TN

Friday, December 2nd – Sunday, December 4th

Don’t miss this weekend of Detox Flow® workshops with Seane Corn at the Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville, TN!

Each day we are exposed to toxins that affect our energy, health and vitality. Many of our ailments and diseases today, including fatigue, weight gain, high blood pressure and depression can be attributed to a poor diet, environmental stressors, lack of exercise as well as repressed emotions. In this workshop, we will explore how we can improve our physical heath, increase our vitality, decrease our susceptibility to illness and disease, balance our emotions and develop practical tools for managing stress.

~ Explore how making conscious and responsible choices- in all aspects of our lives- can help purify our body/mind.

~ Discuss the importance of proper nutrition, conscious consumerism and sustainability

~ Learn practical tools to identify toxins in your home, office and environment.

~& Much More!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

Philadelphia, PA

Friday, December 2nd

Join John Vitarelli at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for Just Breathe: Yoga Night from 5pm – 8:45pm!

Get centered before the holidays at the Museum. Learn about the time-honored practice of yoga through meditative exercises, yoga postures, and breathing techniques among the beauty of the Museum’s collection. After a peaceful stretch, dance to DJ-spun bhangra music. Henna tattoos, themed tours, and specialty healthy-menu items will be available throughout the night. Don’t forget to bring your yoga mat.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

San Francisco, CA

Saturday, December 3rd

Join Les Leventhal on Saturday afternoon for Hips & Twists: Liberate Your Hips, Free Your Spine at Yoga Tree Castro!

To open the hips, we begin by cultivating awareness of the challenges we hold in our hips and pelvic region. We can begin to relax and strengthen the quads, the inner and outer muscles of the thighs and stretch the hamstrings. While unlocking this area of our bodies we will also free the spine with twists which can infuse the body with vitality and well being and release enormous amounts of tension. Twists are associated with toning and rejuvenating the abdominal and pelvic regions. When these regions are engaged, blood flow naturally increases and toxins are released – a natural internal massage. Relaxing and strengthening these areas releases lower back tension and frees limitation in the neck and shoulders.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

San Francisco, CA

Saturday, December 3rd

Get ready to rock the Shakti with Micheline Berry on Saturday night at Yoga Tree Castro!

Surrounded by the liquid muse of Castro Street, join us for an unforgettable live music yoga journey with yogini firefly Micheline Berry and her latest musical collaboration, RED MUSETTE including several acclaimed core members.

Music and rhythm have been used for millennium to induce healing states of being. Accompanied by the intoxicating grooves of RED MUSETTE, our Liquid Asana yoga journey will guide you deeper into the creative flow, where musician and yogi disappear into a ‘surreal’ state of bliss.

You will generate an ecstatic flow of energy through purifying vinyasa kramas (flowing yoga sequences) & ecstatic movement, landing into deeply meditative hip openers, forward bends and spinal twists… ending in our signature Sound Garden Savasana that will transport you beyond.

Renowned for their ability to rock the dance floor or chill the asana room, RED MUSETTE ENSEMBLE spans genres from Batucada to Electronica, Afro-Cuban to Asian, World Beat to Downtempo, Roots/Rock to Indian Chant, and is deeply honored to be rockin’ the Castro at Yoga Tree!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

Pacific Palisades, CA

Friday, December 2nd – Sunday, December 4th

Join Will Duprey, Steve Gold, Elena Brower, and many other wonderful teachers for this weekend’s Gratitude Gathering – a mini-retreat!

The Gratitude Gathering is gathering of teachers & artists, who will guide you to gaze within and offer out fully, through deep asana practices, meditations and contemplations, accompanied by the healing vibrations of live music. A perfect time of year to reflect, hike, listen & just be in this spectacular location.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

Portland, OR

Friday, December 2nd – Saturday, December 3rd

Join Sarah Tomson Beyer for 2 Flowmotion workshops at Yoga Union in Portland this weekend!

What’s Your Flow? | 12/2 | 7pm – 9pm: Feel empowered as you color outside of the lines in an authentic Flowmotion experience! Deeply explore warm-ups + sun salutes in the style of Flowmotion – then shift into rhythmically fluid sequencing. As the intensity + pace of the sequence builds, tune into your rhythm + express your flow! (Kick-start your weekend with this creatively challenging class.)

Find Your Rhythm | 12/3 | 4pm – 6pm: Rock out to a signature Flowmotion class + be liberated by the rhythm within you! (energetic) Check into your groove with warm-ups + sun salutes in the style of Flowmotion – then dive into rhythmically fluid sequencing. Set to a unique sequence soundtrack, this energetic class will leave you feeling empowered and inspired.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

New Cumberland, PA

Saturday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 4th

Join Nancy Kate Williams and Shannon Paige Schneider for a weekend of workshops focused on ‘Skill In Action’ at Flow Together in New Cumberland!

Learn to express the evolution of asana in relationship to the key actions that ease the natural unfolding from simple to complex offerings.  The method comes through the embodied conversation of one family of yoga to another and the leveraging of mindful progression in vibratory resonance to the body’s energetic alignment.  This may be the highest discussion you have held in your strength, grace and attention to the manner in which one posture naturally grows into its more unfolded, bound, or integrated form.  Embody and share the unfolding of yoga!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Friday, December 2nd – Sunday, December 4th

Join Gina Caputo for a weekend of workshops at the Samadhi Yoga Institute in San Juan, Puerto Rico!

It all kicks off on Friday evening with her Prana Flow Yoga: Energetic Vinyasa workshop. On Saturday, Gina will be teaching a Chakra Vinyasa workshop in the morning, followed by a Roots Run Deep workshop in the afternoon. She brings it all together on Sunday with her Lotus Heart Rising backbending workshop – which is sure to leave you feeling energized and ready to take on the week ahead!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

Brooklyn, NY

Friday, December 2nd – Saturday, December 3rd

Join Manoj Chalam for a weekend of workshops at Abhaya Yoga in DUMBO!

The Power of the Archetype in Yogic Deities: Philosophy workshop with Mantras and Meditation | 12/2 | 8:15pm – 9:15pm: In this unique workshop, Manoj will bring in statues and relate the symbolisms of Hindu & Buddhist deities to archetypes within us.   Manoj will teach about the symbolisms of these archetypes and more importantly the 4 ways to work with them as part of a non-dualistic Tantric yogic practice.

Awaken Shakti - the Divine Mother and Slumbering Goddess of Tantra (with Sara Neufield) | 12/3 | 10am – 11:30am: This class is suitable for men and women.  Discover the archetypes of the slumbering Goddesses or Shakti within us as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali, Durga, Tara and Kwan Yin.  Unleash this Shakti, within you as the creative power of the One.  In Tantra, this Shakti archetype guides us through all apsects of life transitions such as adulthood, relationships, marriage, parenting, profession and adaptation to new challenges.

Ganesha: Secrets Symbolisms of the Self & Dancing with Shiva | 12/3 | 2pm – 5pm: Manoj will relate symbols of Ganesh to verses in the little-known tantric text called the Ganapati Atharva Sirsha that elevates the primordial form of Ganesha to symbols of consciousness.  Discover how these nondualistic teachings of  Tantra and Vedanta can add great insights into your yogic practice.   Tantra is the spiritual path of allowing the Divine to expand us into our true nature and  follows a long tradition of Shaivite (Shiva) and Shakta (Shakti) lineages.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

New York, NY

Friday, December 2nd – Sunday, December 4th

Join Maria Garre for Prana Flow Workshops at Sonic Yoga this weekend in NYC!

Learn how to heal and nurture the mind and body via the chakras and koshas. Based upon the ancient teachings in Yoga, Kundalini, Ayurveda and Tantra the ancient scriptures offer us various methods and practices to restore, renew and tend to our sacred bodies through an Eastern anatomical view of prana. Discover how various aspects of asana practice and sequencing, meditation, pranayama and bhava (feeling mind) can alter the subtle body. Experience the Prana Flow approach as created by Shiva Rea to awaken and restore your Pranic body.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

___

Wishing you a fun & fabulous weekend!

With LOVE,

YOGANONYMOUS

According to Ayurvedic seasonal cycles, summer is considered to be Pitta season, where the energetic principles of fire and water are strongest. It is during summer that Pitta dosha, inherently driven by solar force, is most predominant, as it is comprised of the fire and water elements.

Pitta dosha is the expression of radiant energy, both within our bodies and in the universe.  As we move in and out of the Summer Solstice it is a time where the Earth is receiving the most sun, heat and radiant energy thus bringing the qualities that are sharp, hot, bright, and penetrating.  We mostly feel the drying effects of this time of year via the hot sun and for some areas dry winds as well.  Ayurveda considers this a time of dehydration that occurs both inside and outside the body. Following the principle of like increases like we follow a summer guide based on Pitta pacification measure to balance what is predominant in our environment.

“During the summer there is enhancement of katu (pungent) taste, the roughness and weakness in the body is severe” Charka Samhita Sutrashtana VI:6

The key qualities or gunas of Pitta are hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, slightly oily and fleshy smelling.  When these attributes build up within the body due to wrong diet and lifestyle, Pitta accumulates and begins to manifest various imbalances.  This imbalances can more easily arise in the summer whether you are of Pitta prakriti or not.  However, for those with Pitta in their constitution this season is an especially sensitive time of the year for you because during the summer season, due to the hot quality, Pitta people become more susceptible to heat related ailments.

Signs of Inceased Pitta in the Body Include:

~ Excessive Body Heat

~Heartburn

~ Hyperacidity

~ Peptic Ulcers

~ Acne

~ Irritation, impatience, anger, frustration,

~ Skin Rashes

~ Diarrhea

~Early graying of the hair of falling hair

The Pitta person is prone to a low tolerance for heat, sunshine, or hard physical work.  When out of balance emotionally, the sharp quality of Pitta arouses aggression, irritability, anger, hatred, judgment, criticism, and jealousy.  Special care must be taken in order for them to remain cool, calm and peaceful.  In general, to balance Pitta, we learn to apply its opposite qualities to any given imbalance.  For example, if a person has eaten chili peppers, making their mind sharp and agitated we counterbalance with cooling foods, remedies and practices.

“During the summer, the sun evaporates the moisture of the earth by its rays.  In that season, the intake of sweet, cold, liquid, unctuous diets and drinks are prescribed.

One should further avoid taking diets that are salty, sour, pungent, or hot.  Physical exercise is a lot to be given up during this season.”

Charka Samhita Sutrashtana VI: 27-32.

Diet

Due to the strong properties of the sun and the body’s need to stay cool and release internal heat Ayurveda correlates this in terms of internal Agni in the body.  Meaning that Agni is pulled to the extremities to keep the body cool and therefore digestive Agni is compromised weakening our digestive capacity.  That is why in the summer we are often less hungry and want to eat less. So it is good to eat lighter and smaller meals during this time of year.

Increase sweet, bitter, and astringent tasting foods that are light in nature.  Eat plenty of bitter salad greens such as lettuce, arugula, radicchio, basil, and endive are particularly Pitta balancing. Include cool drinks and raw foods in the diet, including cucumber, mango and coconut water. Natural fruit juices without added sugar, mint teas, and raw berries are good choices.

Reduce sour, salty, and pungent tastes

Favor:  coconut water, watermelon, cilantro, leafy greens, okra, zucchini, asparagus, olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, ghee, cucumber, soaked/peeled almonds, kale, broccoli, pomegranate, apples, cranberry, mint.  Dill, fennel,  cardamom, coriander, saffron.

Avoid: tomatoes, eggplant, chili peppers, garlic, dry ginger, black pepper, fermented foods, spicy foods, sour fruits, heavy protein, mustard oil, molasses, coffee.

As for alcohol beer is better then wine and hard alcohol and drink plenty of water to off –set the drying and heating nature of alcohol.  Also best to avoid daytime drinking and wait until the sun goes down.

Exercise Lightly

To prevent excess Pitta from accumulating in the physiology, we should enjoy light exercise during the summer. We must not overdo any form of vigorous aerobic exercise, since that would overheat us and aggravate Pitta. Therefore avoid long-distance running, spinning, and other forms of exercise that heat the body.

Recommended exercises include those that are more cooling:  Lunar Yoga, tai chi, walking, swimming, bicycling, restorative Yoga, etc.  Avoid exercising during the hottest time of the day between 11 am and 3 pm and favor early morning or sunset exercise.

Favor yoga asanas that remove excess heat from the body instead of building heat.  Forward bends, twists and mild backbends are the best peak asanas for this time of year.  Use caution with inversions, arm balances and standing asanas that build too much heat as it is important to counter-pose any heat building during this time of year.

Pitta Aromas, Herbs, and Daily Routine

In Ayurveda, aromas of essential oils and resins derived from plants are used to pacify aggravated doshas (bioenergies).

The following essential oils are recommended for Pitta season: sandalwood, rose, lavender, jasmine, lotus, gardenia, khus, and vertivert.  Having a rose water mister is a wonderful refresher for the face and body

It is often wise to supplement our diets with one or more gentle and cooling herbs during Pitta season to maintain proper digestion, elimination, and to prevent excessive accumulation of hot, light, and mobile energies. In addition, Pitta season can create conditions for inflammation and over-activity of certain metabolic processes and secretions.

Lifestyle Recommendations

Since the stomach, liver and skin are the principle seats of Pitta dosha, simple cleansing techniques aimed at these regions are commonly employed in the summer months.

~ Upon awakening, do some yoga asanas, including Chandra Namaskar.  The emphasis throughout your practice can be on surrendering, forgiving, softening and being gentle with yourself – a cooling, grounding sadhana.

~ Spend time outside before 10 am and after 5 pm.  Avoid being outdoors during the hottest times of the day.

~ Practice cooling pranayama after your asanas.  Either Shitali pranayama or left-nostril breathing will cool and calm the hot quality of pitta dosha.  Be sure to release any remaining internal heat from within the body before meditation.

~ Give yourself a slow and loving full body massage before taking a shower.  Use Pitta massage oil, Coconut oil or Sunflower Oil.

~ Essential oils of rose, sandalwood, jasmine or lavender are cooling

~ Drink a tea of cumin, coriander, fennel and rose to pacify the hot quality, improve digestion and calm the mind. Mint tea.

~ Wear clothing of light texture and color.  Excellent choices would be cotton, linen and silk of white, blue and green.  Red and yellow shades tend to increase the fire that is already present.

More information from her newsletter below:

We are upon the final days until Summer officially begins, which therefore brings us the the great junction, sundhi, Spring and Summer and creating harmony and balance during this shifting time will help maintain health and vitality. According to Ayurveda, each season has specific qualities, energetic effects upon the body, that affect our energy, strength, digestive fire, and stamina.  The Summer season increases the hot, sharp, penetrating, spreading qualities and depending upon where you live the dry qualities as well.  To maintain balance and keep these qualities from aggravating your body and mind employ cool, soft, stable, and dull properties.  Though Summertime is one of our favorite times of year it does can increase sensitivity to heat and light via the skin and and mind.  In order to keep harmony and stay cool:

- choose the bitter, astringent and sweet tastes
- favor lunar based yoga practices or choose to add more twisting and forward bending asanas in vinyasa based classes
- exercise during the least heating time of day before 10 am or after 7 pm

—

Click here to register for the webinar.

Be sure to check out Maria’s awesome and informative newsletter, The Living Flow, for more information on workshops and events. Also, stay connected by following her blog!

Join Maria Garre for a weekend of intensive training at Ananda Shala in Frederick, Maryland.

Garre will teach you the art of sequencing and teaching Prana Flow®, a form of energetic vinyasa created by Shiva Rea. She will also help you to deepen your personal practice and will provide tools to improve your teaching skills.

For more information, check out Maria’s website!

From the studio website:

Fluid Power: Moving Around the Mandala

Friday, May 20th – Sunday, May 22nd | Friday 5-9 pm; Saturday 7am-6pm; Sunday 7am-4pm

Join Maria Garre for this weekend intensive of Fluid Power, created by Shiva Rea for a new perspectivefor teaching Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Throughout the weekend we will immerse and enjoy dynamic mandala-based sadhana sessions, sequencing labs, teaching/cueing practicums, and new teaching methodologies.

Throughout the weekend you will:

~Gain tools and perspectives to bring more fluidity into your practiceLearn and teach Shiva’s Mandala Namaskars~

~Integrate a liberating, philosophically, and physiologically grounded approach to fluid movement and flow into practice and teaching.~

~Development of class openings and mini-vinyasas for beginning and mixed-level classes that cultivate wave motion and fluid body~

~Integration of sound, music, and chanting as the vibratory source~

~Relevance and detailed understanding of the fluid/pranic body for balancing and healing the stresses of 21st-century life~

~Micro-meditations to stay connected to the flow while living yoga.~

~Learn the art of Mandala based Wave Sequencing~

Click here to register today!

To learn more about Maria, click here!

See the Flyer below with details:

Visit the Studio Website to Register and for More Information

The Toronto Yoga Conference & Show is taking place the weekend of April 14th – 17th, and so many amazing teachers will be presenting! Below you will find info on one of our personal faves, Maria Garre.

To learn more about the event and to register today, click here

Join Prana Flow teachers Maria Garre and Coral Brown for one of both of these amazing programs, all the details are below:

Surrender & Transform | Himalayan Yoga Retreat in Badrinath | October 12th – 22nd

Our destination is located in the Garhwal hill of the Himalayas. On the banks of the Alaknanda River at over 11,000 feet is one of the holiest temple pilgrimage sites in all of India dedicated to Lord Vishnu.  Encompassing thousands of years of history and forming part of India’s holy scriptures including the Mahabharata, we will walk along the famed trail  to Heaven that the Pandava Brothers undertook. Situated a few kilometers from the Indo-Tibet border, Badrinath offers a unique opportunity to immerse in both Indian and Tibetan culture.

—-

Diwali Rishikesh Retreat | October 22nd – 30th

Join Maria and Coral on an auspicious, celebratory journey to the foothills of the Himalayas, to Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world. This India excursion offers a truly remarkable experience into the roots of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian Culture.

Each day begins with morning meditation along the sacred River Ganga, pranayama, and Yoga Sadhana followed by various scheduled activities ranging from an Indian cooking class to temple pilgrimages and sacred sites.  Immerse in the daily ritual experience of India, living, and honoring Ma Ganga, the holy River Ganges, as She flows from deep in the Himalayas.

—-

Additional info on the Flyer Below:

Maria Garre will be leading 2 amazing retreats to India in September, all the details are below:

Rishikesh Yoga Immersion | September 3rd – 12th

A special journey to the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world.  This India excursion offers a truly remarkable experience into the roots of Yoga and Ayurveda. Each day begins with morning meditation along the sacred River Ganga, pranayama, and Yoga Sadhana followed by various scheduled activities ranging from an Indian cooking class to temple pilgrimages and sacred sites.  Immerse in the daily ritual experience of India, living, and honoring Ma Ganga, the holy River Ganges, as She flows from deep in the Himalayas.

Trekking to the Source – Gomukh (Glacier of Ma Ganga) | September 14th – 24th

This retreat is for the avid trekker and nature lover.  We are heading deep into the Himalayan mountain range where the greatest Rishis and Yogis meditated to receive the teachings we know as Yoga today.  Not only will be bathe in the purest part of the River Ganga at Her source,the largest glacier in all of Asia, but we will also go deeper into the valleys to sleep under the stars for 5 nights and enjoy daily treks and excursion form base camp in Tapovan.  This retreat is available by application ONLY due the physical demands and limited size.

Additional Info on the flyer below:

Master Classes

(all master classes will take place at Ananda Shala in Frederick, MD)

Saturday, February 5th

8am – 10am

—-

Friday, February 18th

6pm – 8pm

—-

Saturday, February 19th

10am – 12pm

—-

Sunday, February 20th

9:30am – 12:30pm

—-

Embodying the Flow

February 18th – 20th

A weekend intensive for intensive for teacher training and intermediate students, created by Shiva Rea. Register for either the treaher training module OR  a single Prana Flow Class. Learn the art to intelligent an dynamic Vinyasa Flow sequencing as created by Shiva Rea. Embody your flow and surf the waves of Prana.

Embodying the flow serves as an introduction to Prana Flow as created by Shiva Rea.  This module is a great weekend training for Yoga teachers looking for a fresh and inspiring approach to teaching Vinyasa Flow sequencing.

Ananda Shala’s 300 hour teacher’s certification programs begins with Embodying the Flow.

The purpose of this training is three-fold:

*to deepen your personal practice as a laboratory for exploring the creative potential of vinyasa;

*provide tools for teaching vinyasa and enlivening the flow of your classes; and,

*focus on how to embody the flow of daily life with the rhythms of teaching.

—-

Click here for more details and to register today!

We hope that you all had a fantastic week and are looking forward to a weekend filled with fun times and plenty of yoga! Listed below are some of our favorite events going on around the country this last weekend in January 2011!

Don’t see events listed in your city? Want to submit an event of your own? Email us at Submissions@yoganonymous.org and let us know the deal!

—–

Venice, CA

Friday, January 28th – Sunday, January 30th

Don’t miss out on this incredible weekend with Shiva Rea and Maria Garre at the Exhale Center for Sacred Movement!

Begin the New Year by renewing a dedication towards health and rejuvenation through the practices of Yoga and Ayurveda, the ancient healing science of India practiced without interruption for over 5,000 years. In this weekend intensive, we will integrate and apply the practical aspects of Ayurveda that support the wholistic living of yoga in a way that is accessible and applicable to your individual constitution (prakriti) and life rhythm.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

—–

Washington D.C.

Friday, January 28th – Sunday, January 30th

Alanna Kaivalya, aka the ‘JivaDiva’ will be gracing the nation’s capital on January 28th – 30th with three workshops at Tranquil Space. Do not miss this chance to practice with one of NYC’s greatest teachers!

Myths of the Asanas Workshop: Who is the Warrior behind Virabhadrasana I, II and III? Why does Hanuman have three poses in his honor? What makes King Dancer pose so regal? The myths of yoga’s spiritual tradition have the power to change old patterns of behavior, providing us with enlightened insight that brings us closer to who we really are.

The Art of Adjustments: Yoga practitioners derive tremendous benefit from effective adjustments. This workshop will explore the principles behind save and transformative hands-on assists. All types of adjustments will be covered, and an understanding of how to “see” the body and optimize students’ freedom in asanas will be explored.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

—–

Philadelphia PA + Haddonfield, NJ

Friday January 28th – Saturday, January 29th

Dan Wilf is returning to Philly for 2 asana-kicking workshops! Currently living in Brooklyn and teaching at NYC’s Pure Yoga and Sonic Yoga, Dan is set to make his first return to the city of brotherly love since moving to the big apple in 2010.

Dan is a fun, energetic, passionate, and extremely motivated yoga teacher. Drawing from his “rock ‘n roll” background, Dan’s classes and workshops are known for their creative and intelligent sequencing, great music, plenty of time going upside down, laughter, sweat, some bad ass bhakti, and an overall great vibe!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

—–

New York City

Friday, January 28th – Sunday, January 30th

Head on over to Pure Yoga for 3 days of Blissology with Eoin Finn!

Join us for a unique and powerful Blissology discussion about strategies to find sustainable happiness, that work for the sensibilities of our modern era, followed by Eoin’’s classic all-levels all good vinyasa flow class. With insightful alignment techniques, challenges for your fitness to increase vitality, mindful and deep stretching to release old holding patterns, breathe and move with Eoin towards a complete mind-body relaxation and his unique earth-body meditation.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

—–

Chicago, IL

Thursday, January 27th – Sunday, January 30th

Leeann Carey is coming to Moksha Yoga (Riverwest Location) this weekend to teach her Bend-2-Mend Dynamic Restorative Training. This is a fantastic way to strengthen your teaching!

The four days are full of learning, exploring and understanding Yoga Therapy from a dynamic and therapeutic restorative perspective — learning both dynamic and relaxing treatments to help correct imbalances physically and emotionally, and restore general well-being. You will learn how to teach traditional supported yoga poses using all recommended props, combined with current methodologies of yoga and class development to meet the needs of your demographics.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

—–

Wishing you a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend

With LOVE,

YOGANONYMOUS

Blessings into the New Year!

I learned a lot from a little girl at the grocery store on Sunday afternoon – she reminded the freedom of innocence and play.  I celebrated my 40th journey around the Sun last week and I felt that I was finally coming into “adulthood” as there seems to be something monumental and powerful in the number 40 and beyond as opposed to the 30’s.  It seemed as if I was entering into a more refined and mature sense of myself.  Now I am not so sure. Standing at the check out line, I noticed these awesome sparkling red shoes (something like Dorothy would wear) under the shopping cart behind me and a woman smiling in the distance looking over toward my isle.  Eventually, the red shoes peered around the side of the cart, revealing a little girl wearing fantastic bumble bee wings over her very normal attire beaming with joy as she helped her dad place the groceries on the conveyer belt. I smiled and admired her sense of courage and adventure to dress up for no reason other then pure joy because as a child you have complete permission to do this.

But then somewhere along the way we loose ourselves and become inhibited and discriminant about how we dress, behave and speak.  We sensor ourselves to conform to how society expects us to act and live.  Society would not accept me showing up to the grocery store in red sparkle shoes and bumble bee wings on my back.  I was reminded that life can be as fun as I choose to make it and I can allow my mind to sensor my sense of play or fun as I turn 40 or take the opportunity to not become more mature but rather become more playful and spontaneous.  To allow myself to let go to the paradigms I have created and boundaries the mind creates and rather let my heart guide the thinking, rationing mind to express myself freely and colorfully.  Therefore, don’t be suprised if you see my showing up to teach with wings on my back ….

As you continue to initiate the path of 2011 for yourself and manifest your dreams, goals, and ideas may you grow in a way that embraces play and fun in life and dare yourself to find the inner child  that has not been expressed and let him/her come out and play – even if just for one afternoon.

Jai Ma!

Maria

—–

Retreat to India in 2011

I am thrilled beyond words to offer 4 retreats to the mother land next year which offer you an opportunity to choose as your life flow allows.  As always I will be offering our 3rd Annual September Rishikesh Yoga Retreat along with an amazing and auspicious trek to Gomukh (the glacier source of the Ganga) and two new retreats to Badrinath and a special Diwali Rishikesh Retreat!

This year the trip to the source of the Ganga, Gomukh, has been modified to include what I consider a National Geographic style trek as we go up and over Asia’s largest glacier, Gomukh, to Tapovan and make our base camp for 3-days to explore the meadows and peaks of the Himalays (Mt. Meru, Mt. Shivling) were most of the Ancient sages lived and made their home to meditate and reach higher states of consciousness. Rishikesh as always offers you an true, multi-dimensional experience of India from daily Yoga and Meditation on the Ganga to sari shopping, various sacred temple tours, Indian mythology, cave meditations, white water rafting on the Ganga and much more.

And for the first time this year I am offering a special trip to Badrinath, one of the holiest temples in all of India, which I visited last year, offering you a chance to sip tea at the “last indian village” on the border of Tibet, meditate in the cave where Ganesha is said to have written the Mahabharate and the Vedas, celebrate Diwali  and so much more.

—–

Harmonize and Winterize | Ayurveda and Winter Part II

We are now in the middle of the Winter season bringing forth very cold, moist and heavy qualities associated with Kapha dosha.  Depending upon where you live the severity of these qualities will vary from place to place.  As Winter has settled in, many of you are beginning to feel this intiation inside your body and mind which will either create an imbalance or not.  It is both typical and normal for our bodies to respond with increased appetite, a need for greater sleep and relaxation and a natural craving for warmer, pungent, and heavier foods.  Ignoring this natural tendency or endulging too much in any of the above tendancies is what ultimately can create an imbalance in the Spring.

Therefore, this can be a critical time according to Ayurveda where we should honor balance to ensure that we don’t increase Kapha qualities causing accumulation and aggravation. What does this mean exactly?  In simple terms, it means we should continue to eat heavy and nourishing foods but with an awareness to how our internal body responds so that if too much mucous or heaviness builds up then we’ve gone too far in that direction.  In addition, allow yourslef to rest more, do less and relax in moderation balancing that with movement and acitvity that foster strength and  endurance.

—–

Fundraiser Report for Jagriti

On December 31 I had the great pleasure of delivering all of your wonderful contribution to the Jangriti School in Rishikesh, India.  I am and all of the children will be forever and eternally grateful for all of your contributions which allowed me to donate over $1500 in addition to my personal contribution offering $1800 that will fund the school this year allowing them to purchase books, supplies and clothes and financial support to the poor families so that the children can continue to attend school and not be made to work to help support the family.

We celebrated with an end of the year party where the kids had the opportunity to show me several choreographed dances and poetry which boosts their confidence in public engagements and public speaking, they also shared their professional dreams  and we all ended with dancing (until the power went out) and then by candle light ate cake, samosas and chai!

Upon leaving each student was given a writing journal and pen.  They are all learning to read and write English at a very impressive fast rate. They were all able to communicate in English quite well.

Again, I bow to each of you for your giving heart and know that this money is going directly to fund programs so these children can thrive and learn.  I will be returning in August with English workbooks and more fruits from a summer fundraiser.

—–

Stay Tuned to YOGANONYMOUS for more updates from Maria!

Details below from the studio website:

The purpose of this training is three-fold:

~To deepen your personal practice as a laboratory for exploring the creative potential of vinyasa;

~To provide tools for teaching vinyasa and enlivening the flow of your classes; and,

~To focus on how to embody the flow of daily life with the rhythms of teaching.

Areas to be covered include:

Philosophical roots of vinyasa yoga and Krishnamacharya lineage of Yoga

Learn to ten Sun Salutations (3 classical and six innovative namskars) to enliven your sadhana and life

Understand the arc of a well-rounded class + Prana FlowÒ Wave SequencingÔ and apply it to teaching and self-practice

Apply Shiva’s wave sequencing methodology as a ritual arc for an embodied experience from music to sequencing

Understand the primary movements of prana as a way to become embodied in the flow

Understand, apply and teach sequencing principles: vinyasa krama, wave sequencing and 3-part vinyasa method

Learn to create vinyasa combinations for both beginner, intermediate, and mixed-level students that are effective, creative, safe, and fun.

Principles and practice of creative and effective sequencing (beginning and intermediate flows)

Ritual arc of class and structure: opening, namaskar, waves, peak poses, counter-posing and closing.

Check out the flyer below for additional info:

Click here to register today! If you sign up before January 15th you will receive $75 off the cost of the training.

—–

Living Ayurveda: Daily and Seasonal Ayurveda and Prana Flow for Radiant Health

Samudra Global School for Living Yoga presents:
Living Ayurveda: Daily and Seasonal Ayurveda and Prana Flow for Radiant Health
with Shiva Rea, Maria Garre

~A Three-Day course for students and teachers integrating ayurveda and pranarasaflows™~

Begin the New Year by renewing a dedication towards health and rejuvenation through the practices of Yoga and Ayurveda, the ancient healing science of India practiced without interruption for over 5,000 years. In this weekend intensive, we will integrate and apply the practical aspects of Ayurveda that support the wholistic living of yoga in a way that is accessible and applicable to your individual constitution (prakriti) and life rhythm. The focus of the weekend is on learning to integrate a daily personal self-care (dinachaya) practice with special attention to the seasonal (ritucharya) rhythms of winter-early spring. Through daily pranarasaflows, energetic vinyasa sequences created by Shiva to balance the doshas, meditation, relaxation and engaging lecture-experiential learning with Maria Garre, Kripalu School of Ayurveda graduate, student of Dr. Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute and Samudra Teaching Coordinator, you will have the tools to begin or deepen living ayurveda as part of your life-path. Students are encouraged to read Dr. Vasant Lad’s book in advance, Ayurveda: the Science of Self-Healing, take the self-constitution test and bring towels and a bathing suit and journal to the workshop.

We will integrate:

•Living ayurveda: how to live the core principles of ayurveda for optimal health, vitality, balance in relationships, work, play, love and spiritual evolution
•Dinacharya: natural biorhythms and the practices from morning to sleep to support health and vitality
•Body Attunement Practices: the first steps to read the signs of your body to balance your system for digestion, elimination, sexuality, menstrual cycle, hydration, and energy maintenance.
•Ritucharya: the basic seasonal practices for Winter- Spring that relate to dietary choices, herbs, spices, lifestyle recommendations and activities.
•Pranarasa™ flow sequences – energetic vinyasa practices for honoring and cultivating rasa – the inner nectar – and rejuvenating our prana through an authentic relationship to the flow of one’s life-energy.
•Prananadiflowtm Massage Session with a partner or self integrating nadi lines, simple marma points and joint circulation movement with herbal oils for daily abhyanga
. •Ayurvedic Rasayana Teas for rejuvenation in the Winter Season to cultivate ojas

—–

See the event flyer here with additional info:

Click here to register today!