Navtej Johar bio May 14-18 Yoga: Heaven & Earth REGISTRATION 12 credits (5 PE&L, 7 Tech)

Situating the body between heaven and earth both literally and metaphorically, the workshop will focus on establishing correlations between the body and the earth, between the breath and space and between the mind and the sun.

Yoga involves the intertwining of three components: body, breath and mind. According to T. Krishnamacharya, "till such time that these three components do not work in tandem, it is not yoga." Through the weekend workshop participants will learn about the importance of bracing or anchoring as a prerequisite to asana, whereby the earth is used as a prop of both support and resistance in order to offer the asana sthira or stability. The conversion of breath into prana or mindful-breath requires attention, meticulousness plus conscious auto-monitoring. With the faith that there is "more" to breathing than we normally understand, the participant will learn to gradually expand the scope of the breath resulting in an enhanced sukha or comfort-experience within the body/mind. The mind needs a focus of attention to draw it out and sharpen its intellect. The ancients used the sun as that perfect object of attention-tangible, unwavering, positive, life-giving and secular. The participants will be taught ways of incorporating the gayatri or the sun mantra into their daily practice of asana, pranayama and meditation. REGISTRATION $235, $205 before April 28

Thursday All Levels Class: $20 ~ 5:30-7pm ~ Thursday Master Class: $25, $15 with the workshop ~ 7:30-9pm

Friday ~ Introduction and Preparation ~ OPEN session ALL levels ~ 6:15-9:15pm ~ $40 A la Carte

Yoga: Heaven and Earth will offer correlations between the body and the universe so that we a) learn to go beyond the confines of our own body/minds to connect and identify with larger life-enhancing forces, and b) open our beings to further receive and imbibe the natural properties of these forces, i.e. from the Earth we draw stability, Space opens us up to that liberating experience of boundless expanse, and with meditation upon the Sun we imbibe its piercing intelligence that can draw life out of seed!

Friday ~ Introduction and Preparation ~ OPEN session ALL levels ~ 6:15-9:15pm ~ $50, $40 in advance A la Carte

" Methods of Bracing in Asana
" Pranayama as a method to experience expansion of space and calming the mind
" An introduction to the gayatri mantra and its ritualistic use in sun meditation

Saturday ~ 11am-6pm

* Asana: Methods of bracing different parts of the body against the floor using it as a prop of support and resistance,
" Pranayama with focus on hold after inhale and how it may enhance asana.
" Tea Break
" Meditation on the Yoga Sutras
" Lunch
" Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra
" Breath-Meditation on the Sun with focus on hold after exhale

Sunday ~ 9:30am-4pm

Asana: focusing on the use of joints in order to anchor in asana
" Pranayama with focus on hold after inhale and how it may enhance asana
" Tea Break
" Meditation on the Yoga Sutras
" Lunch
" Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra
" Pranayama with Gayatri Mantra focusing on properties of the Sun
" Questions & Answers

Tea is provided. Please bring a light lunch.

David Keil bio Sept. 10-14 Mysore-Style Ashtanga Yoga Practice Week and Adjustments Workshop for Teachers

Mysore sessions start times: 6:45am, 9am & 6pm. Limited to 8 STUDENTS IN EACH CLASS. $125 for the entire week before August 15, $140 after; no partial attendance. Call 813.932.5456 for registration info.

Yoga, for thousands of years, has been taught from teacher to student in a one-on-one format taking a student through his or her own development at an appropriate pace. Authorized to teach this system by its creator Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, David also brings to his teaching practice an in-depth understanding of human anatomy. As a Teacher of Kinesiology (the study of movement and musculo-skeletal anatomy) at Miami's Educating Hands School of Massage, and the creator of YogAnatomy for yoga teachers, David brings to his classes an understanding of movement potential and the pathways to get there. Drawing from his own dedicated practice, David will help you find deeper access to the asana in the series and to your own sweet self, with each day presenting its own challenges and rewards. You will be inspired and amazed by the effects of your disciplined efforts.

Self-practice is what it's all about.

Knowing the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is not a requirement. Being open-minded and receptive to learning is.

Mark Whitwell Nov. 6-8 Only Your Yoga: workshop and Master class

See TreeHouse workshops/events or 2008 Workshops