| date |
event (select the event title to view details) |
| Sep 4-6 |
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, with Edwin Bryant, Ph.D
- Friday6:30-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-5:30pm
- Sunday10:00-3:00pm
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the classical ancient Indian treatise on the practice of Yoga. While Yoga conjures up images of bodily postures and stretches in popular western culture, this aspect of yoga, the asanas, is only the third limb of the eight limbs outlined in the Yoga Sutras - and, indeed, Patanjali pays only passing attention to this aspect of the system. This seminar series will consist of a close reading of Patanjali’s original text, focusing on the opening section of the work, wherein Yoga is defined and the state of samadhi, liberation, described, as well as on the eight limbs of yoga covered in the heart of the text, which outline the step by step methods for attaining this enlightened state. Attention will be paid to the pre - modern commentaries of the text, thus exposing students to the traditional understanding of the practice of classical Yoga and its goals. Students are advised to bring any copy of the Sutras which has the Sanskrit text in romanized script as attention will be focused on the original source rather than its westernized manifestation. Please note: The recommended text for this workshop is the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, by Edwin Bryant (August, 2009), which can be ordered on Amazon here.
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| Oct 2-4 |
Yoga: An Energy Map to the Mind and Emotions
The Nervous System, Emotional Body, and Happiness Pathways
- Friday6:00-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-6:30pm
- Sunday11:00-5:00pm
This workshop will explore yoga's extraordinary influence on our mind, emotions, energy body, and inner self. We will examine the elements of the nervous and limbic systems that influence thought, emotion, and behavior and potentiate the mind-brain-body connection. We will discuss the power of personal patterns or samskaras in holding us back from growth; students will gain awareness of some of their primary limiting samskaras, and track these throughout the workshop.
We will delve into the energetics of yoga, including the koshas, chakras, and gunas, and how these yogic concepts connect to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health or disease. We will explore the nervous system and emotional body, examining ways in which our yoga practice can mirror our samskaras, or patterns. We will explore the system of Integrative Yoga Therapeutics, developed by Bo Forbes, and its potential for healing the mind, nervous system, physical body, emotional body, deep visceral body, and immune system. The workshop will contain exercises done in pairs to allow for reflection; some of these will be shared with the group.
*Priority registration will be given to those students taking the Elemental Yoga Teacher Training.
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| Oct 30 - Nov 1 |
Art of Assisting, Level I
- Friday6:00-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-6:30pm
- Sunday11:00-5:00pm
Assisting is an often overlooked, complex art that has the potential to offer healing and greater self-awareness to students. Immerse yourself in an investigation of yoga alignment and the subtle art of assisting, and deepen your study of yoga.
Students will receive an in-depth review of alignment for the primary poses of the vinyasa yoga system, as well as many of the therapeutic poses in the Elemental Yoga system of Integrative Yoga Therapeutics. You will learn about your anatomy and your yoga practice (including special issues), and have the opportunity to observe your fellow students and assist them in poses.
The class will cover: the purposes of assisting; different forms of assists, and when to use them; the ethics of touch; alignment principles; and beginning energy anatomy and body reading. This course is ideal for teachers, aspiring teachers, and yoga students who wish to gain a more in - depth knowledge of alignment and deepen their personal practice. There will also be a free practice class on Sunday afternoon in which you will assist students in a live class setting.
*Please note: this class is a requirement for Art of Assisting, Level II in December. Students who have not taken Art of Assisting, Level One must complete it first prior to applying for Level II.
**Priority registration will be given to those students taking the Elemental Yoga Teacher Training.
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| Nov 6 - 8 |
The Tree of Tantra: An Introduction to Tantric Yoga from the Original Sources with Carlos Pomeda
- Friday6:30-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-5:30pm
- Sunday11:00-5:00pm
What better way to learn about Tantra than to receive it from the ancient masters? For that reason, this Introduction to Tantric Yoga is based on a little-known work by the great 11th c. Tantric master, Abhinavagupta. Translated into English for the first time, his “Seed of the Tree of Tantra” (Tantravatadhanika) gives us the perfect platform to learn about Tantra and its practices in an authoritative, yet inspiring and practical way.
What is most unique about Tantra and tantric yoga philosophy? Quite simply, the fact that its teachings and practices are best suited for contemporary life. Departing from earlier notions of asceticism and dry scholarship, Tantra presents a sublimely inspiring view of the world and of human existence, one that incorporates all aspects of human existence: the heart, the intellect, the body and the environment.
In this seminar we will explore Tantra and what is perhaps its most refined formulation, Kashmir Shaivism, from a perspective that is both inspirational and entirely applicable to our daily lives. We will dispel the most common misunderstandings about what Tantra is and is not, investigating its roots and its development, and uncovering the answers it provides to the most fundamental questions of existence, as well as the practices it developed to expand human consciousness. Ultimately, we will discover the value of Tantric practice in that it reveals the divine right in the midst of the ordinary, charging our lives with meaning.
Join us for this relevant, insightful and inspiring seminar.
Originally from Madrid, Spain, Carlos Pomeda has 35 years of experience in the study, practice and teaching of the yoga traditions. He received formal, traditional training in yoga during almost 18 years as a monk of the Sarasvati order, 9 of which he spent in India, in the Siddha Yoga Ashram, studying and practicing under the guidance of Swami Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananda.
During this time he learned the various systems of Indian Philosophy, immersed himself in the practice of yoga and became one of the senior teaching monks of the tradition—teaching meditation and philosophy to tens of thousands of students around the world. He combines this experience and traditional training with an academic background that includes two Masters' degrees: one in Sanskrit from UC Berkeley and another one, in Religious Studies, from UC Santa Barbara.
Carlos currently lives in Austin, Texas, and has recently created a set of 6 DVD's titled "The Wisdom of Yoga," a series of practical workshops on the history, philosophy and practices of the yoga tradition.
As a teacher, Carlos is known for his love of the Indian yoga traditions, his insight, his humor, his deep empathy with his audiences and his ability to convey the deepest scriptural teachings in a way that is clear, meaningful and applicable.
To learn more about Carlos, visit www.pomeda.com.
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| Nov 13 - 15 |
The Bhagavad Gita with Edwin Bryant, Ph.D.
- Friday6:30-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-5:30pm
- Sunday10:00-3:00pm
The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most representative and certainly the most influential and popular text from the numerous and varied spiritual traditions of Hindu India. Spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna who is undergoing a moment of existential crisis, the text deals with the nature of the self, the world, ultimate reality, the purpose of human existence and the spiritual paths that can be undertaken to accomplish this purpose. There are primarily four such paths, or yoga systems, featured in the text through which one can unite with the Divine: the path of self - knowledge (jnana yoga); the path of action in the world (karma yoga); the path of meditation (raja yoga); and the path of theistic devotion (bhakti yoga).
The philosophy portion of this workshop will undertake a detailed discussion of these four yoga systems as they have been understood by the most influential traditional Hindu commentators across the centuries, with contextual references to the background of the text and to some of the major streams of Hindu thought in general. No prior knowledge of Hinduism is necessary for this seminar; the only requirement is to bring an open mind and sincere heart.
Students are encouraged to procure any edition of the text, particularly versions that have the romanized Sanskrit text, since we will chant some of the Sanskrit verses together (a suitable version is by Winthrop Sargeant, published by State University of NY Press).
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| Dec 4 - 6 |
Art of Assisting, Level II
- Friday6:00-8:30pm
- Saturday12:30-6:30pm
- Sunday11:00-5:00pm
In this workshop, we will take the art of assisting to new levels. This weekend will include a review of the basic assists, and add on more therapeutic detail to those assists. We will learn advanced assists for basic poses, as well as more advanced postures. We will work on further refinement of language in verbal assists. We will continue to work on assessing physical ailments and alignment issues, injuries, and emotional and energetic issues. We will also explore assisting in students' "Achilles Heel" poses. There will be a great deal of practice, including assisting at the Arlington Center Sunday practice class.
*Please note: this class is a requirement for Art of Assisting, Level II in December. Students who have not taken Art of Assisting, Level One must complete it first prior to applying for Level II.
**Priority registration will be given to those students taking the Elemental Yoga Teacher Training.
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