friday, may 20th
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS ANDPATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRA’S
With Marla Meenakshi Joy
7:30-8:45 pm, $25
In this workshop we will explore Buddha’s Four Noble Truth’s and Patanjali’s exposition on the obstacles that arise for each yogi on the path. Understanding how the mind functions, how to liberate the mind, and accessing that freedom through chanting the sutra’s will be our focus for the evening. No previous yoga philosophy is necessary!
MARLA MEENAKSHI JOY:
Marla Meenakshi Joy, co-owner, and co-director of Downward Dog Yoga Centre, first traveled to India in 1988 to study meditation and the philosophy of the Vedas at the International Meditation Institute, in the Himalayas, India, and is a Certified Meditation teacher.
She has been teaching in teacher training programs in Toronto and internationally since 1999, as both a teacher of Philosophy and Sanskrit, Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga, and Restorative Yoga. She also leads Kirtan (call-and-response chanting) with her band SWAHA, with inspired musical compositions with her husband Ron Reid. She has produced four CD’s of Sanskrit chanting entitled “Prayer’s”, “Salutations”, “Vishnu’s Dream”, “Bolo!”, “Shanti Pulse, and their newest CD “Gone Beyond”. Marla brings her love of yoga philosophy, creative vinyasa sequencing and a sense of fun to her classes. She endeavours to bring both intelligent and challenging alignment cues as well as a nurturing softness to each class, and loves to close the circle with a chant in shavasana. www.downwarddog.com • www.swaha.ca
saturday, may 21st
MASTERING ARM BALANCES: PILLARS OF STRENGTH
2:30-4:30 pm, $30
Arm balances help us to develop the strength, stamina and focus to truly energize our practice. Finding stability through proper placement and alignment of the hands, arms and shoulders in arm balances.
By learning how to build from the ground up we will find the means to master these challenging poses and transform struggle into ease. In this workshop we will embrace the work in more exhilarating arm balances (such as headstands, handstands, and forearm balances) to feel a shift towards a stronger, healthier, more confident and more stable experience in our practice.
ASSISTING ARM BALANCES
5:00-6:30pm, $25
In this workshop we will explore both giving and receiving hands on adjustments. We will see and feel how these adjustments can bring a better understanding of the role that alignment can play in deepening our experience, bringing strength where needed while reducing the risk of injury in our practice.
sunday, may 22nd
MYSORE STYLE ASHTANGA
8-10:00 am, $25
MASTERING BACK BENDS:DEEP AND STABLE
2:30-4:30 pm, $30
In order to liberate our energy in backbends, we first need to discover ways of working that allow us to find balance through the whole body. This requires stabilizing and strengthening in some areas, and extending and opening other areas. We will be exploring some of the poses from 2nd and 3rd Series, as they contain all of the components necessary for developing both deeper and more balanced backbends. This can also lead us to the exploration of dropping back and standing up!
ASSISTING BACK BENDS
5:00-6:30pm, $25
In this workshop we will explore both giving and receiving hands on adjustments. We will see and feel how these adjustments can bring a better understanding of the role that alignment can play in deepening our experience, bringing strength where needed while reducing the risk of injury in our practice.