Workshops
Expand and enrich your practice of yoga. We offer various workshops, events and seasonal retreats designed to deepen your understanding of yourself and yoga. Our workshops range from meditation, asana intensives, partner yoga and anatomy among others. In our commitment to practicing yoga as a way of life, we also offer yoga-inspired workshops such as nutrition, non-violent communication, Ayurveda and much more.
All of our workshops are pre-registered. Register by phone, email or in person.
Partner Thai Massage: With Paul Cramer
February 11, 2012
Thai massage incorporates a full-body treatment that is both stimulating as well as relaxing. It releases blocked energy and increases awareness and vitality. Gentle stretching of the joints and muscles relieves tension, enhances flexibility, and induces a deep state of tranquility.
You and your partner will be guided through the techniques, acupressure points, postures and sequencing that make this such an easy to learn massage that you will leave feeling confident to practice with each other right from the start. You will both feel revived and restored after this workshop and you will develop the skills to perform a massage for your partner.
This course is beneficial for all levels of experience. Please note though that Thai massage takes place on a soft mat on the floor. You will need to be able to work for 15 - 20 minutes at a time on your knees or in a modified stance.
Paul Cramer is a Registered Massage Therapist with over 10 years experience as both a practitioner as well as a teacher of Traditional Thai Massage. He teaches internationally and has experience teaching newcomers as well as advanced programs.
Saturday, 2:30-5:30
Cost: $60
To register please contact shantiyoga@mail.com, ro 780-421-9444.
Space is limited so register early to avoid disappointment. This is a great thing to do with your partner for a romantic start to Valentines Day.
The Deeper Dimensions of Yoga: A weekend with Yoga & Buddhist teacher Michael Stone
STUDY. PRACTICE. ACTION.
March 23-25, 2012
Friday: 7:00-9:00 - By Donation
What does Yoga have to offer a world in crisis? In this talk Michael will weave together Yoga and Buddhist teachings that show us the way towards living more engaged lives. There is a pivotal role for yoga and Buddhist practice in serving the economic and ecological crisis unfolding today. Michael will discuss his role in the #occupywallstreet movements and other ways he brings spiritual practice into the world.
Saturday, 9:00 - 12:00
Slowing down the traditional sequences of Ashtanga Yoga, we look deeply at the role of breathing and attentiveness in undoing habitual patterns in the body, mind and nervous system. The role of pranayama and bandhas in yoga postures will be explored in depth.
Saturday, 1:30-4:00
We will learn the basics of sitting meditation with detailed instructions on the sitting postures and how to develope a daily practice. Following this we will look at some key teachings of the Buddha and how they apply in our own minds and heart and how we can extend the teachings into the spheres of relationship, community and ecology.
Sunday, 9:00 - 12:00
Sitting postures are a way of settling the mind and delving deep into the meditative aspect of yoga. We will take the principles of mindfulness meditation into a variety of forward bends and twists.
Cost $325 + GST
Register before March 1st $300 + GST
Students of all levels are welcome. This workshop is beneficial for teachers interested in learning the depths of practice and how to bring those depths to life with students.
Michael Stone is a Yoga teacher Buddhist teacher, author and psychotherapist. He is the Founder of Center of Gravity, a urban community in Toronto integrating Buddhist practice, Yoga and social action. He is a voice for a new generation of young people integrating spiritual practice with environmental and social issues. His most recent book is "Awake in the World: Teachings from Yoga & Buddhism for living an Engaged Life." www.centerofgravity.org
Yin Yoga Teacher Training with: Joe Barnett
Part 1: Foundations; Teaching a Practice of Surrender
- Introduction to Taoist Anatomical Analysis and Yin/Yang Yoga Sutras of Paul Grilley
- Interactive hands-on study of anatomy
- 14 Functional Segments of the Skeleton
- Understanding and discriminating sensation: Tension vs Compression, Muscle vs Fascia, Physical vs Subtle Energy
- Finding skeletal landmarks and testing ROM
- Communication: When to listen/observe, when to speak/lead
- Introduction to sequencing
Yin Yoga is a very simple practice. We settle into and asana 3-7 minutes and slowly relax our muscles to allow the deeper drier tissues- the connective tissues that wrap our muscles and make up our joint capsules, to be safe and therapeutically stretched, stimulated and strengthened.
The alignment rules of the postures are also simple, but more importantly they are functional and organic. We listen to our bodies and lead ourselves into the shape that follows the natural contours of our spine, pelvis and hips. However, bringing ourselves into this simplicity can be quite challenging. The practice of being still and quiet for minutes at a time can be trying enough, let alone while dropping into a powerful stretch that moves across wide sheets of fascia and drops deep into the ligaments of the joints. We listen to our bodies to find an understanding and familiarity with the ever changing sensations in the body.
In this training we will analyze, observe and practice all of these elements of Yin Yoga in depth. We will examine ourselves on a personal level with ancient meditation techniques that guide us into a steady awareness of the changing sensations in the postures. We will study with slides of real bones and by articulating the joints on a plastic skeleton. The training will be hands on and interactive. We will examine each other with ROM tests (range of motion).
The study culminates in a truer understanding of why every posture should be modified to the individual, and the basic techniques which help guide each Yin student with their unique skeletal structures into the appropriate asana for them.
April 6 -8, 2012
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 12:30pm
Saturday: 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Sunday: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Cost: $350 + GST
This training is a strong complimentary training for a current Yoga Instructor of any style, or for the student who is looking for a broader, fuller prospective and appreciation of the practice of Yin Yoga.
Joe Barnett, ERYT-500, has been teaching for over a decade. He travels nationally and internationally year round, teaching many styles of movement and has certifications in Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga and Acro Yoga.
His main focus of study is Functional Anatomy for Yoga and all forms of movement. Joe is a senior student of Paul Grilley, a true Yoga Scientist who is largely responsible for the current rise in the popularity of Yin Yoga and Functional Alignment. Using Paul's Taoist analysis of yoga and the body, Joe travels teaching teachers how to understand and feel the full range of motion of their joints and their students joints; and how to use this wisdom to effectively and therapeutically build the postures in yoga.
