Sometimes it's hard to imagine that a philosophical text, composed two thousand years ago somewhere on the Indian subcontinent, could have any relevance to our day-to-day lives in the 21st century, but it does. In fact, it maintains its relevance because we humans are incredibly predictable.

Prāṇa, the life and animating force that exists within us, has many functions and moves in many ways. The prāṇa vāyus correlate with our intake of nourishment, elimination of what is not needed, circulation and movement, communication, and digestion

When we are stressed, it is common to feel like we are lacking the ability to mange our responsibilities or don’t feel supported in our lives. Grounding the system can reduce feelings of anxiety. Likewise, connecting with others, (as well as with other parts of self), can reduce feelings of depression.

You may know that yoga is a practice that unites mind, body and breath, but take a moment to consider your own practice… How present is your breath awareness at any given time?

Yoga is not just what we do on our mat, it is a way to live our lives. In the Yoga Sūtra, the sage Patañjali gives instructions on how to operate on a daily basis so that we can reduce the amount of suffering in our lives. Learn how ancient wisdom can support you as you live day to day in our modern age. This workshop will consist of lecture, practice, time for reflection and journaling, and group discussion.

It can be scary to bring chanting into your own practice, let alone as a part of a class you are teaching! Using our voices, and inviting our students to do the same, adds a richness to practice. On a personal level, chanting helps us connect more deeply with ourselves, in a group setting, chanting brings group energy together. Chanting can also be used as preparation for meditation or as meditation itself. In this workshop you will learn simple three to five word chants that pay honor and respect to nature, subtle concepts such as peace or strength, and Vedic archetypes.

There are many ways to meditate, including sitting in silence, guided imagery, using movements, and repeating mantra, to name a few. How do you decide what kind of meditation to use? How do you set yourself up for success in meditation?
This workshop will explore different meditation techniques and learn how prepare for them with āsana and prāṇȳāma. We will devote time to learning about meditation objects, and how to choose imagery based on desired energetic outcomes.

How we breathe in āsana, and even āsana themselves can prepare for a prāṇāyāma practice. Learn which āsana and prāṇāyāma techniques complement each other to lead in a chosen energetic trajectory.
This workshop will include explorations of how the breath moves in our bodies, varying prāṇāyāma techniques and the theory behind these techniques.

Learn about the mechanics of breathing, and how these guide which phase of the breath correlates to the way we link breath and movement in āsana. While primarily experiential, this workshop will also include time for you to find your own voice in teaching breathing.

The Laghunyāsa is a Vedic chant which calls upon the elements, as well as other natural and spiritual forces to help heal, sustain and nourish the many facets of our human system including our senses, physical and energetic bodies, and emotions. Laghunyāsa also connects us to the eternal within ourselves, and the eternal throughout all.

In addition to prāṇāyāma techniques, learn about the mechanics of breathing, and how these guide which phase of the breath correlates to the way we link breath and movement in āsana.

Laghunyāsa also connects us to the eternal within ourselves, and the eternal throughout all. This is one of the more beautiful Vedic chants, containing a repetitive refrain that carries throughout, making it easier to learn!

As teacher trainees, we all learn the basics of modifying āsana; we have a general knowledge of how to make postures ‘easier’ or more accessible, so that more people in the room will be able to do them. Knowing what the modifications are is only part of the picture, the other being why the modifications are as they are. In this advanced tech session we will explore the why of postures (the function) in order to make intelligent decisions about how to modify (the form). To do this we will use the theoretical framework of strength and flexibility requirements of each posture, as well as real life application with classmates and ourselves. You will come away from this class equipped with an understanding of the relationship between form and function so that you can offer an even greater range of modifications with confidence.

Many people are familiar with the Gāyatrī mantra through singing kirtan, or listening to it in other contexts. Gāyatri honors the feminine form of the Sun, requesting her help in removing darkness and ignorance, and in turn providing clarity and strength. In this workshop we will learn the traditional Vedic form for chanting the Gāyatrī mantra, focusing on learning accuracy in pronunciation, timing and tone. No prior chanting or singing experience needed, only a sense of curiosity and willingness to learn.

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The Mṛtyuñjaya Mahāmantra is believed to be one of the most powerful mantras. It is chanted in times of transition, it is chanted to aid in transformation, it is chanted to promote healing and relieve suffering. You will come away from this workshop able to recite the mantra in its simple form, as well having explored the more complex iterations traditional in Vedic Chanting.

Learn how the tools of yoga fit together, and how we can sequence in order to create the most impactful practices. You can expect to come away with specific sequence ideas, as well as a framework to continue to explore and make connections and create sequences on your own.