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.

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, May 22, 2p – 4p; Galesville Hall

$25 by May 18; $30 after May 18

Ease into life with a calm – come discover the wonder of restorative yoga. In this gentle and serene 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, moments of silence, and so much more. This workshop is for everyone; no prior yoga experience is needed. Trained facilitators will be present to ensure personal attention, care and ease during the program.

Note: All participants will be requested to bring a pillow and a blanket. If you have an eye pillow then bring that as well, otherwise we will have one for you. All other props will be supplied.

Yes, I want to register now

A grand restorative yoga program we had indeed this afternoon: A full house of 16 participants, 2 facilitators, a live flautist, and yours truly.

Using bolsters, blocks, straps, eye pillows, sand bags, pillows, blankets and much more, all got the opportunity to experience the calm within.

It is a highly individualized program. Our two facilitators, Annie J & Sharon B, did a wonderful job of keeping everyone aligned and comfortable. And our flautist, Mary Flora – a music teacher at Windy Hill Elementary (Owings) – kept us under her spell. Please listen to a short audio clip below of her playing.

This was our 3rd restorative yoga seminar of 2010 and we look forward to offering more in the new year. Please do join in and experience first-hand what it is all about.

Here are a few lines of what today’s participants had to say about the program:

- So relaxed in bhadakona asana (reclining bound angle) that I had to debate if I really wanted to move into the final posture.

- I liked supported child’s pose best; the music was wonderful.

- What did I like best? Relaxing, having assistance when needed – and I did [need it]!

- The best part of the seminar? being here! with my sister too!

- Well paced – feel ready to tackle the holidays.

- I liked it all! I would certainly recommend this to others.

Click here to see more photos.

Touch on the arrow below to hear a short yet sweet clip of our flautist play during the seminar. (1min 52 sec)

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

Restorative Yoga ~ Full

Sun, Nov 21, 2p – 4p, Galesville Memorial Hall

$25 by Nov 17; $30 after Nov 17

Ease into life with a calm – come discover the wonder of restorative yoga. In this gentle and serene 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, moments of silence, and so much more. This workshop is for everyone; no prior yoga experience is needed. Trained facilitators will be present to ensure personal attention, care and ease during the program. We also have a special guest to make things a little more sweet – a live flautist for the program’s culmination.

Note: All participants will be requested to bring a pillow and a blanket. If you have an eye pillow then bring that as well, otherwise we will have one for you. All other props will be supplied. Only 16 spots available…so sign up today.

This session is now full, please email us to be placed on the waitlist.

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.

Restorative Yoga Workshop - Register Now!
Sun, Jan 31, 2:00p – 3:30p
Galesville Memorial Hall
$16 by Jan 25; $21 after Jan 25

Start the New Year 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. If you have an eye pillow then bring that as well, otherwise we will have one for you. All other props will be supplied.

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

Or bring your payment to any class.

Monthly Pass Holders: $10.00 by Jan 25