Two Great Restorative Workshops
Presented By Special Guest Teacher: Sara Duke

Restorative Yoga: Discovery & Practice
Sun, April 1, 10a – 12:30p
$30 by Mar 26; Register Now (limited spaces)

Restoring & Rebuilding the Inner Core
Sun, April 1, 2p – 4p
$25 by Mar 26; Register Now

Galesville Memorial Hall

We wish to wholeheartedly welcome Sara Duke of Duluth, MN who will be coming to our area to present two wonderful restorative yoga workshops on April 1, 2012.

Sara and I met a few years ago as bloggers on the YJ blogsite and our relationship grew from there. She was instrumental in helping me develop the restorative workshops that I have presented to date and now we are fortunate to have her come to Galesville.

Sara and her husband are great travelers and are embarking on a mega tour of the US. When Sara contacted me saying that she was coming to the mid-Atlantic region in early spring, I was eager to have her come – for a variety of reasons: To finally meet her in-person, to have her meet our community and join in on some classes, and most certainly to have her share her expertise and present a workshop (or two!)

Sara is a wonderfully warm person and I really hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to take one or both of her below workshops. More about Sara is posted below her workshops descriptions…

Restorative Yoga: Discovery and Practice
Sunday, April 1, 2012, 10:00am – 12:30pm, Galesville Memorial Hall

This workshop will explain what Restorative Yoga is, talk about the risks and benefits, and introduce a number of postures that students can do at home. Students will: learn to become comfortable with multiple props; get familiar with how to set up each pose; learn options for using furniture and blankets at home to set up their poses; and learn to feel signs of discomfort in their own body and what to do to make themselves comfortable. Following this discovery process, students will be treated to a Restorative Yoga class which will include a short Yoga Nidra session.

Yes I would like to register now for Restorative Yoga: Discovery & Practice.

Restoring and Rebuilding the Inner Core
Sunday, April 1, 2012, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Galesville Memorial Hall

In this introduction to the Inner Core we will discuss the main elements of the Inner Core, what can cause Inner Core dysfunction, and what you can do to gain or regain positive function.

How do you know if you would benefit from Inner Core work?

- Do you have back pain, neck pain, a tight jaw, incontinence, trouble sitting or standing still without propping? Any of these symptoms may indicate a need to restore the function of the Inner Core.
- Are you an athlete? Inner core work will help your performance.
- Do you need to “lock” your joints in your Yoga poses to support yourself? Inner Core work will support you from the inside out.
- Are you pregnant or have you had a baby? Inner Core work will help create a stronger support for you and your baby and will help you return to full function after giving birth.

If anything in the above list is true for you, then you are someone who would benefit from learning about the Inner Core.

We will learn exercises to isolate the muscles of the pelvic floor, the pelvic girdle, the respiratory diaphragm, and the deep muscles of the spine. These are the “Core 4″ of the Inner Core. We will also learn to isolate the Core’s “helper” muscles and to stop the “bully” muscles from taking over. (Read More…)

Yes I would like to register now for Restoring and Rebuilding the Inner Core.

Sara Duke, E-RYT 200, began practicing Yoga in 1998 as a way to get out of pain. After 3 car accidents as a teenager, Sara’s neck and spine were misaligned and caused pain throughout her body. Sara found a teacher that taught her Therapeutic Yoga and the Inner Core – revolutionary practices that helped her get out of pain. She decided to take teacher training to learn more and completed the 200 hour teacher certification requirements through Yoga North’s Teacher Training program in 2008 (Certified through Yoga Alliance). Since then she has expanded her knowledge and deepened her practice through multiple in-depth trainings: Therapeutic Yoga, Restoring and Rebuilding the Inner Core, Thai Yoga Bodywork, Somatics, the Therapeutic Spinal Strip and Backbender, and many philosophy classes. She has a particular interest in practicing and teaching Restorative Yoga and Restoring the Inner Core.

Below is a short video from today’s live sitar and yoga seminar. Together we ventured deep into a meditative flow and engaged in basic movements as well. We had a solid turnout – and more than that – those who came fully invested themselves in the program. That made it an extra special afternoon. And indeed thanks so much to Anthony for his absolutely wonderful playing. More about the program is noted below.

The above scene is from the opening segment of the program wherein we were all attuning our minds to a more subtle and tranquil flow. It was a time of transition: A time to leave behind the rigors of worldly life, relax the body, soak up the sweet sounds, and introvert the mind.

(As the “videographer” was also the lead instructor, it was only really possible to film  a scene with no movement and no speech – though there was plenty of both during the program.)

Thereafter we gently came to a seated position where did gentle neck stretches and explored aspects of the yogic breath. A few gentle seated poses got us loosened up and then again we returned to a seated meditative stance where we took our samkalpa (firm determination) embarked on our ideative journey using mantra.

With everyone’s deep involvement & Anthony’s seamless playing, the program only soared upwards from there. We went through some standing sequences accompanied by a narrative to keep us focused on the meditative journey. And indeed time and again we returned to that point of stillness within – in various ways and forms.

There is much more to tell – balance poses, relaxation, pranayama, guided meditation, reflection, story and more.

I certainly hope those who participated will share their tales and experiences.That will certainly help fill in the gaps.

As a co-presenter, all I can say is that I did not even look at Anthony once the entire afternoon. There was no need for even the slightest of gestures. The whole program  flowed from an inner feeling and understanding the entire way through.

Thanks everyone for coming out and creating such a sentient atmosphere where the mind was easily able to slip into that peaceful, meditative state.

Namaskar…

Yesterday we had a full house for our restorative yoga workshop – a way to go into deep relaxation and experience release. It is the type of program where everyone is asked to bring a modest, if not dramatic, laundry list of personal items (blankets, towels, pillows etc) and where we provide literally a car-full (& then some!) of yoga props.

Fittingly one person arrived literally with a laundry basket filled with her neatly folded towels and blankets for the program. Restorative Yoga is not the place where I generally take pictures – I feel people should be granted the personal privacy to bask within, unencumbered by the digital world. However seeing one of our participants arrive with “laundry-basket-in hand”, full of personal items, I was sort of wishing I had brought my camera. That picture I would have taken!

Great to have everyone out for the program. With your endeavor the hall transformed into an abode of peace and sanctity.

Here are but a few of the many things participants had to say about the restorative yoga workshop.

In response to the query, the best part of the seminar was…

- How I felt at the end – excellent workshop.

- The second strap pose I went into a trance, both body and mind. Not sleep but something like a conscious relaxation.

- The sandbags helps stretch out the spine.

- Being at peace.

- The support and getting lost in the moment.

- The teacher’s kindness, clear instructions and comments; the helpers’ assistance; and just resting and clearing a stressful thing that was bothering me.

- Wonderful, relaxing, nurturing – thank you!

Finally, a big part of the success of the restorative yoga workshop lies with our facilitators: Annie & Sharon. With their refined sense and gentle touch, they help many go deeper into the experience.

We look forward to offering this program again in the near future!!

Restorative Yoga Workshop - Register Now!
Sun, Apr 11, 2:00p – 4:00p
Galesville Memorial Hall
$20 by Apr 1; $25 after Apr 1

New & improved featuring:
Facilitators (approx 5 – 1 student-instructor ratio), new poses & props,
yoga nidra, longer length session, and much, much more.

This program is really all  about responding to what
your body and mind are asking for!!

Ease into spring with a calm – come discover the wonder of restorative yoga. In this gentle session we will use a variety of props to bask in supportive, relaxing poses which enable our bodies and minds to heal, restore and find balance. This a great way to center oneself: physically, emotionally, and mentally. Along the way we will also explore breathing & relaxation techniques. This workshop is for everyone; no prior yoga experience is needed.

Note: All participants will be requested to bring a pillow and a blanket as well as x-tra clothes for layering: sweatshirt etc. If you have an eye pillow then bring that as well, otherwise we will have one for you. All other props will be supplied. A week before the program we will send you a detailed list of exactly what to bring.

YES, I want to register now on-line!!

Or bring your payment to any class.

Monthly Pass Holders: $12.00 by Apr 1

Yesterday, marked our first ever Restorative Workshop, and 23 participants braved the snow and made it in for the experience!

Restorative Yoga is the practice of bringing your mind and body into a state of balance through very gentle postures – supported by props – held for longer periods. It is a time to be still, quiet, and delve inside. Even then there is the occasional hurdle – as some will attest with regards to the standing/seated wide angle series! By and large though restorative yoga is a soothing program of restful poses that help to recharge oneself. In its totality it is a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual journey towards enhancement – with each participant having their own unique experience.

With bolsters abound, straps around, blankets covering, chairs side by, and eye pillows on top, we step by step embarked on our endeavor. It was new to some of us, like seeing an old friend for others, yet in the course of things we all experimented and found renewal and peace in our practice.

As a facilitator, it was a joy to partake and I also walked away with new and better ways of doing for next time.

This is something we do wish to offer more of and I hope everyone will come out and experience first-hand the joy and serenity inherent to a restorative yoga practice.