Love Yoga Fest 2015

Experience harmony, lightness, joy and a radiant spirit with breathing exercises and inner energy practices drawn from classical and Kundalini Yoga. Through various pranayamas we will learn how to enhance and extend the breath. We will draw upon our inner locks — or bandhas — to channel our heightened pranic energy. With mudras such as hand gestures we will explore ways to strengthen our mental focus. Beginners and advanced students will receive helpful tips for an effective home practice. If most of your yoga experience so far has been asana-based studies, this workshop will round out your practice.

This class combines elements of a vinyasa class with a relaxing restorative practice to create a truly blissful experience! We begin with a slow flow to get the body moving with the breath and to build some heat, followed by yin and restorative poses and ending with an extended savasana. The focus of this class will be on slowing things down, bringing balance to the body, and encouraging relaxation. Appropriate for those new to yoga, as well as experienced practitioners.

This class will be broken into 3 short segments. We will begin with a gentle flow designed to open the chakras and balance the yin and yang energy in the body. This will be followed by more rigorous postures and a sequence that aids in the circulation of qi and prana through your bodies meridians using the 5 elements as a framework. You will learn some basics about the connections between the meridians and their corresponding organ systems and how they relate within the body and the world around you. Finally, we will conclude with some yin poses and a guided meditation with essential oils.

Noted teacher and award-winning author Sara DiVello will lead a gentle class to release the muscles we use for running (and increased summertime activity of all kinds): legs, hips, and lower back. Students of all levels, ages, experience, and ability are encouraged to attend. Whether you are a runner, just out and about this summer, or completed an exciting day of yoga, Sara will lead a gentle class with modifications, props, and options for each pose, allowing students to custom-tailor their practice to their experience, ability, and energy levels. All are welcome. No prior yoga experience required.

Seek to refine your seat - your connection to the earth and all those around you -- through the physical body and hip-opening asanas. This invigorating Jivamukti workshop will begin with a creative and dynamic flow to warm up and open the hips. Then we’ll move into some deeper, juicy hip-openers. This work will bring freedom to the rest of the body and you’ll feel more spacious in your forward and backward bends, as well as twists. This workshop will be vigorous but is appropriate for all levels and modifications will be provided.

Postural Yoga looks at common structural imbalances in our bodies and works to correct them. We will massage, stretch, and strengthen areas that are tight and weak with body rolling, traditional yoga asana, and restorative stretches.

What is our true nature? The essence of who we are? How can we use our yoga practice to sort through the stories that make up our identities and get down to our very core, or true self? These are just some of the questions we will explore together, while using the mat as our physical and spiritual laboratory. Together, we will dive deep into the flow universal consciousness, using a full spectrum vinyasa asana practice as an entry point. This workshop will focus on cultivating intimacy with our bodies, minds and energetic beings, while holding space for the present moment, and releasing precepts and concepts about who we think we’re supposed to be and enjoying who we actually are. Allow yourself to be lead gently into the space of your yogic heart and discover your satya.  This practice will be dynamic, challenging and nurturing mixed level practice, though some experience is preferred.

Learn a gentle and compassionate practice which helps you to reduce stress and create inner calm. Mindfulness has been practiced for centuries, and allows you to become present to your authentic self.  As you cultivate presence and kindness within, you also develop a new way of relating to others. Mindfulness holds a quiet power. We will practice mindful breathing, mindful body scan, and Metta -kindness awareness. Don’t mistake kindness for weakness, it is a powerful way to heal relationships with yourself and others.