Workshops
Working With Chronic Pain
Come explore your relationship to chronic pain through the lens of yoga philosophy, gentle movement, and mindfulness practices. Each person’s experience with chronic pain is unique—everyone has a different body, different emotional reactions, different strengths and different limitations. This class will meet you where you are, help you to feel that you are not alone, and provide tools and concepts that can be used in “real life.”
Although some might think that yoga and chronic pain are not compatible, the practice of yoga is accessible to all bodies and we have had a great deal of success using yoga to help with this condition. In the six-week Yoga for Chronic Pain series, we will explore the mind/body connection to chronic pain, look into the habitual ways of being with our pain, and investigate how we can begin to change those, finding some ease and joy again in our bodies.
This class is taught by certified yoga therapist Rachel Plies through the Integrated Movement Therapy program at the Samarya Center. This Working With Chronic Pain series and it’s description were developed at the Samarya Center.
This six week series costs $85 – early bird discount is $75 before January 15th.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of injuary or limitation.
Max Strom: Avoiding A Near Life Experience
Experience Max Strom’s prana-flow class designed with emphasis on transformation from tense and anxious, to calm and courageous. Class will include a short talk, gentle vinyasa-flow, breathing, and meditation. This workshop will help you to sleep. Bring your mat and writing materials. This workshops is for all levels.
This workshop costs $50. Attend both of Max’s Sunday workshops and save $10.
Max Strom: Transformational Breath
Join Max for a special session of standing and sitting breathing exercises to revitalize and inspire your body, emotions, and your life. The goal is not to tie ourselves in knots – we”re already tied in knots. The aim is to untie the knots in our heart. The aim is to unite with the ultimate, loving and peaceful power of the universe. This workshop is for all levels.
This workshop costs $50. Attend both of Max’s Sunday workshops and save $10.
Prepare For Liftoff!
Are you baffled by arm balances? Looking to fine tune your flying crow? Success in arm bal- ances requires stability and support in the hands, wrists, and shoulders, proficiency with our bandhas and core strength, and openness through the hips and hamstrings. It also asks us to summon our courage and face our fears… even if we might fall on our face. In this work- shop, we’ll set a firm foundation to approach our fears head-on, knowing that if we leap, we will be caught.
Come to this workshop to play, refine your skills, and maybe even take flight for the first time. All are welcome, though for your safety and benefit, it is recommended you have at least 6 to 12 months of regular asana practice.
This workshop costs $25.
Restorative Yoga
As contemporary humans, our new “normal” is to live in a state of chronic stress. Physiologically, stress hor- mones flood the body and heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure all rise. Blood is directed to the extremities in preparation to fight or flee, at the expense of the internal organs and the immune system.
A restorative yoga practice helps to activate the relaxation response, which results in a reduction of stress hormones, lower heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure, and an increase in blood flow to the internal organs. This practice is an effective way to come down from the elevated stress state, soothe the nervous sys- tem, and encourage the body and mind to come back to a place of healing and balance.
In this workshop, we will use props to fully support our bodies in a series of gentle reclining postures. We will hold each pose for 10-20 minutes in order to receive the full benefits of the relaxation response.
This workshop costs $25. All levels welcome. Attendance is limited.
Less Talk More Acro!
Get ready to fly! In this intermediate workshop we will explore transitions, pop- ping the flyer, and the fundamentals of handstands and hand to hand. This is for students who are familiar with Bird, Throne, Star, Shoulderstand, and Foot to Hand. Students should have a free headstand practice and be able to safely attempt handstand at the wall. No partner needed. Remember to bring some snacks so you’ll have full power all afternoon.
This workshop costs $60 – early bird price is $50 when you register before April 1st.
Chakra Balancing With Crystal Bowls
Relax and unwind your body and mind with the healing, blissful frequencies of singing quartz crystal bowls. Nicole Vanderhoff, Certified Hypnotherapist, guides you through a chakra clearing and balancing with the assistance of 9 singing quartz crystal bowls. Healing hypnotic suggestions of raising your vibration to the higher frequency of love and light are integrated into each of the chakras.
Side effects may include: an energetic field raised to a higher vibration, a sense of Divine embodiment, a balanced energy field, rejuvenation, relaxation, peace- fulness, blissfulness, and a greater connection to your higher self, the world and to the Source of All that Is.
This workshop costs $20.