BODY AND BREATH AWARENESS (A special YOGA workshop with Birgit in Albuquerque) - January 16th & 17th (Cost: $20 for each day)
Location: 3701 Carlisle NE (First Unitarian Church), Albuquerque, NM

* Saturday (1/16), 6:30-8:30pm - a soothing evening of meditation, breathing, chanting, relaxation, and philosophy
* Sunday (1/17), 3:00-5:00(7:00)pm - a more vigorous asana (posture) practice, followed by a potluck (please bring a vegetarian dish to share and join us for dinner)

The main focus of this 2 session workshop will be on body and breath awareness through the practice of asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (breath/prana). This workshop is suitable for all levels. Both beginners and practicing yoga students are welcome. Through correct alignment, we achieve balance. This balance is of importance to find inner peace and harmony. From there a state of well-being can be realized and within this ease and relaxation, deeper layers, more subtle layers, of our being can be explored. As we learn correct breathing techniques, the mind or the continuous flow of thoughts and thinking processes is stilled or even quiet at times. Within the practice of Yoga, we work on the richness and wholeness, also on the holiness, of the self. Yoga is indeed an integrated and holistic path to health and awareness that increases knowledge, attentiveness, thoughtfulness, kindness and inner harmony.

To register, call Linda Sorauf at 505-821-1283, or visit http://www.joyandshine.com/yogalight. Space is limited.

Yoga Intensive: "Awarenes and Surrender within Yogasana" - October 24th, 2009, 1:30-7:00pm at Yoga of Los Alto
In this workshop you will get the opportunity to explore the efficacy of and transformation from awareness to surrender to hightened awareness within your asana, pranayama and meditation practice. You will also have the chance to examine the efficacy of those transitions. There will be two parts:
* 1:30-4:30pm Asana
* 5:00-7:00pm Pranayama

These sessions may be taken together or separately.

The practice of moving into, staying in and coming out of an asana will deepen the essential conditions to create freedom within. Freedom, the ultimate goal of a yogini/yogi, unfolds through meditativity and ease within the sadhana. The main focus will be on spinal awareness and spinal surrender; the extension and flexion of the spine to be looked at in twists, forward bends and supported back bends; this will lead to further understanding of proper yogic breathing techniques. Maintaining your concentration on body-mind-breath conditions in an asana for a longer and sustained period of time will blossom into a sense of equilibrium. Increased vitality and aliveness are the outcomes.

The wise sage Patanjali perfectly and impeccably defines in the Sutras II.46/47/48 that over time and through fervent practice the effort ceases; effortlessness and ease lead to a meditative state of consciousness where dualities dissolve and the stored potential energy is released… Asana and pranayama practices are appropriate for all levels. A “yoga intensive” truly opens new avenues as there is more time to deeply explore the practice. Please join and enjoy this special journey. All levels are WELCOME.

"Transition from Asana to Yogasana " - August 29 , 1:30-4:00pm at Yoga of Los Alto
The process of learning opens the mind and intelligence; from there we begin to study and explore, then continue to penetrate deeper into the subtleties of the awareness of body, mind, breath, senses, emotions and consciousness. To go beyond the physical wakefulness, paying attention to details etc.., a transition from asana to Yogasana has to be made.

In Yogasana we become the asana. Through vigilant refinements, gradually, the effort ceases and we do not think our way into the asana. We sense and feel our way into the asana through love, devotion and humbleness. Transformation evolves. The focus of this workshop will be on the reflective and meditative conditions of the sadhana; therefore a slow paced journey. All levels are welcome! We regularly fine-tune the asana,pranyama and meditation practice.

"Dynamics within Statics " - June 7 , 2-4:30pm at Devi Yoga
An exploratory workshop with Birgit Reimer, following the yoga lineage of B.K.S. Iyengar and Ben Thomas. All levels.

The practice of asanas is not merely physical - asana practice offers us an opportunity to explore the self. This exploration is known as the threefold quest (sadhana) in yogic terms. Sadhana is the fine and close work on and with the self, for the Self. This quest is an inward journey from the outer to the inner, and from the inner to the innermost layers of the self.

In this workshop, we will explore the sadhana through:
* asana foundations (outer quest) such as alignment and balance,
* inner spaciousness, as felt and sensed by, with, and through the breath, the withdrawal of the senses inward, and concentration (inner quest), and
* deeper levels of practice, by holding the poses to increase the ability to reflect and experience the dynamics within statics (innermost quest).

In addition, the application of sound forms will bring students into the sphere of vibration and allow expanded awareness of the space within. This workshop is a well-rounded yogic experience which includes a refined asana practice, pranayama, some chanting, and meditation.

"Pranayama" - May 2 , 2-4:00pm at Yoga of Los Alto
All levels who wish to explore the BREATH and PRANA are welcomed. According to Sage Patanjali, pranayama is the 4th aspect of the 8 interrelated limbs of Yoga. Prana means life force, bio-force (B.K.S.Iyengar), divine energy… Ayama is translated as prolongation, restraint, control, regulation … Pranayama is the practice of the consciously, skillfully and volunteered control, restraint and prolongation of the breath AND prana.

The learning process will begin with a SOLID FOUNDATION. We will learn about the physical actions and movements of the lungs, rib cage, skin etc.., and about the subtle travels of the self-created energy through the various techniques of pranayama. There are many different pranayama techniques and levels, and as almost with everything in life we want to build our knowledge and life experiences on a solid foundation. This science works on the subtleties of the body and mind as they relate to the nervous system, the emotions, and the flow of awareness and energy.