Yoga Center of Minneapolis Magazine Fall 2011 by Yoga Center

Oct-Dec 2011 Magazine

Yoga Center of Minneapolis

Celebrating 10 Years!

Class Schedules & Workshops

Yoga Recovery Yoga Music Fall Playlist Interview with

DOUG SWENSON AYURVEDA & RECIPES

to Ground for Fall Yoga Study Corner, Upcoming Events...

SEASON OF YOGA p.7, 14, 19

This quarterly publication is assembled by the Yoga p.9 p.10, 19, 20

Center of Minneapolis staff and community.

Our studios are

p.15

located on the west

p.13

edge of downtown Minneapolis near the Twin’s Stadium (212 3rd Ave N. #205)

p.12, 16 p.9 p.22 p.24

and between Lake Calhoun and Hwy 100 (4200 Minnetonka Blvd).

A special thanks

p.14

to those who have contributed their talents to this publication. If you are interested in contributing ideas or articles, please email register@ yogacentermpls.com.

p.24 p.22

Director’s Note Fall, my favorite time if year! As the weather moves from hot to cool, mother nature works hard to set the stage for our winter to come. At the Yoga Center,

Oct-Dec 2011

TABLE OF

conTENTS YOUR YOGA JOURNEY

Getting Started

Class Passes & Free Class Opportunities...............................................3 Personal Yogi Consultation...............................................................3 4 Class Categories and Descriptions....................................................... 4 Class Level, Sweat Factor.................................................................

Entry Level Practices 5-6 Beginner Class Descriptions and Session Dates................................... Continuing

Deepening

Practices View the Drop-in Class Schedule online! 7-22 Summer Workshops & Series............................................................. 22 J.A.I. Postnatal Yoga Crib................................................................

Your Journey

23 Special Programs: Detox Week, Yoga For Transformation Month................... 24-25 Visiting Instructors......................................................................... 26 Yoga Teacher Trainings....................................................................

FEATURED ARTICLES

27-28 Doug Swenson Interview........................................................................................ 29-30 Music Guru: Playlist & Wanderlust............................................................................ 31-32 Stories from the Mat: My Fat vs. My Mat.................................................................... 33-35 Foodie Focus: Staying Grounded for Fall.................................................................... 36-37 A Yoga Recovery.................................................................................................. 38 Yoga Study Corner............................................................................................... 37, 39 Coupons...........................................................................................................

as we launch into our 11th year, we find

After 11 years our commitment to

the same pattern. We look at fall as a

quality and our community has not

time for transformation and evolution

changed and continues to be our top

of our programs and business. Taking

priority. Once again, my heart fills with

a look at what has grown and changed,

gratitude toward all of you, yogis and

what needs help and what is working

staff, who have made these 11 years so

well. Each fall we make the necessary

successful and meaningful.

changes and create new programs to set the stage for our winter to come.

- Namaste, Jennifer Gray

ÂŠ Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

NEW STUDENT DEALS METRO AREA RESIDENTS new to the Yoga Center of Minneapolis can take their first drop-in class free. All new students can take advantage of unlimited classes for $25 during their first week!

Yogi Rewards Did you know you can earn free class passes? Through the ‘Refer a Friend’ and the ‘Frequent Yogi Card’ programs you can earn free classes and vouchers to apply toward retail purchases. Visit the website under Class Info > Yogi Rewards for details on how to get started!

CLASS PASSES

Use at either Studio. Class passes expire 3 months from date of first use unless you are a member. Single Class: $17 4 Class Pass: $64 6 Class Pass: $96 12 Class Pass: $169 24 Class Pass: $299 36 Class Pass: $414 8 for 88!* Pass: 8 classes for $88 (*1-month expiration, membership not applicable)

YEARLY MEMBERSHIP: $50 + tax All pass expiration dates will be waived for ONE YEAR from the membership start date. Receive 10% discount on all retail plus access to studio space for personal practice when available. See web for full list of benefits!

Student/Senior Single: $13 Student/Senior: 6 Class Pass $69 (Seniors=65+ / Student= a college/trade school student with current ID paying for own classes.)

Personal Yogi Consultations

Helping you define your personal wellness needs, goals, and options Meet with one of our teachers to create a program of wellness services that is right for you utilizing YCM classes, workshops, programs and Dharma Wellness services. Each student’s needs are unique and we wish to help you find the path to achieving your goals in a manner that feels good, is affordable, and fits into your schedule. Call to schedule a Personal Yogi Consultation at either studio location. If you prefer, you may consult by phone. We request a $25 deposit at the time of your consult, which will be applied toward your first class passes, workshops, or intensives. New to Yoga? For those of you who are just beginning, your first consultation will be spent determining your needs, goals, physical limitations, desires and experience to help place you in a class and/or recommend wellness services that are a best fit. Once you begin your classes or services, your Personal Yogi will follow up with you to answer any questions. Have Yoga Experience? Take advantage of a consultation to determine how to deepen or create a consistent practice, weave wellness services and in-depth workshops into your practice, and explore other yoga opportunities. Pregnant? YCM offers a variety of services and classes to help make this special time in your life meaningful, comfortable and help you to bring a calm state of mind to the birthing room. Your yogi consultant will help you design a program to support you in a yogic fashion during your pregnancy. We look forward to getting to know you! © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

ANU...SHTANGA..MUKTI...ASANAAAAA?!

CLASS STYLES DECRYPTED

Although “Hatha Yoga” technically encompasses all physical practices of yoga, over time the yoga tree has sprouted many physical variations. YCM welcomes all styles of yoga, so in order to help you find your best fit, we loosely categorize the styles we offer so even if you’re not familiar with the specific tradition or practice, you will have a better sense of what to expect in class. Specific class descriptions are available online.

Vinyasa

Hatha

Vinyasa-based classes link breath and movement for a moving meditation. Poses are generally held for a shorter period of time so that transitions may become part of the poses themselves. This allows for more poses to be practiced during a class. Generally, our vinyasa classes are more rigorous than what we term ‘hatha’ classes and may involve sun salutations.

Our hatha-based classes generally involve holding the poses for a longer period of time to allow for more exploration of breath within a pose. This allows more time for focus on alignment.

Ashtanga Vinyasa (and all YTG -Vinyasa) Slow Flow Urban Flow Jivamukti

Anusara Aerial Yoga Big A#%! Yoga Mi-an Yin Yoga Restorative Twilight Yoga Yoga for Flexibility Yoga for Back Strength

Tantric yoga is the original yoga of ancient India in which all other styles of yoga are rooted. Tantra literally translates to “extend beyond all limitations.” Tantra class pays special attention to the whole person and works to intentionally help you move energy in a productive and clear direction, detoxify your body and mind, build your inner fire and through sequences that are both dynamic (repetitive and moving) and static (still), and help you create space and strength in your physical body while you gain a better sense of clarity and peace of mind. Pranayama (breath work) is the cornerstone of the practice.

Experience Level

Pregistration required for beginner sessions. Register online or call 612.436.4700. Level 1/2: For those who have some yoga experience and are still working on gaining flexibility and need help learning how to modify poses for their bodies. Level 2:

For intermediates who have yoga experience and are ready for more challenging poses, pace, and concepts. For those who know how to and willingly will modify poses to suit their experience level and comfort.

Level 2/3: For yogis who are intermediates and up who are able to safely work into backbends & inversions such as Bridge Pose and Headstand.

DROP-IN CLASS SCHEDULE? By checking the schedule online, you see up-to-date changes and substitute teachers. You can also purchase class passes and reserve your spot in class. If paper is still your preference, pick up a print schedule at either studio or print from our website.

G ST ETT AR IN TE G D

Our weekly class schedule can be found at www.yogacentermpls.com.

Oct-Dec 2011

BEGINNING YOGA CLASSES

Call or check online for updated session dates. Register online or call 612.436.4700 If classes are not full, drop-ins may be allowed (excluding Absolute Beginner Classes). Call the studio to check availability.

Absolute Beginner Class (4-week series $50) The Absolute Beginner Class is for those new to yoga, and meets once each week for 4 weeks. This class will provide you with the tools to get started: yoga classes, fundamentals of yoga asana (poses), pranayama (breath work), and answers to your questions on the various forms of yoga or your personal practice. Whether you are coming to get in better physical condition or simply stop the chaos of your mind, there is a style of yoga that is right for you. Therefore, at the end of the four-week series, you will have the opportunity to consult with your instructor about your personal goals and choose the next yoga class(es) that will move you toward these goals. Mondays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Saturday Sundays

11:15am - 12:15pm 7:30 - 8:45pm 7:30 - 8:45pm 8:00 - 9:15am 5:30 - 6:45pm 6:15 - 7:20pm 9:30 - 10:30am 4:00 - 5:00pm

Beginning Hatha Yoga

SLP Studio SLP Studio MPLS Studio SLP Studio SLP Studio SLP Studio MPLS Studio SLP Studio

(10/17-11/7) (11/14-12/5) Amanda Whisner (10/10-10/31) (11/7-11/28) (12/5-12/26) Amanda Whisner (10/11-11/1) (11/8-11/29) (12/6-12/27) Deirdre Murnane (10/5-10/26) (11/2-11/23) Laura Lund (7/6-7/27) (8/3-8/24) (8/31-9/21) Michelle P.W. (10/6-10/27) (11/3-12/1) (12/8-12/29) Laura Lund (10/15-11/12) (11/19-12/17) Maria Bamonti (10/23-11/13) (11/20-12/18) Tara C. Sherman

(6-week series $96 ~ *$90 if just completed 4-week Abs. Beg Class)

This 6-week class is for all beginners and anyone wishing to deepen their foundational knowledge of Hatha Yoga. Each class will help you to develop a safe understanding of basic yoga postures, their benefits and help you build confidence to move to the next level. Cost for sixweek session: $90, or $85 for all students who have completed the Absolute Beginner Series. Mondays Thursdays Sundays

6:15 - 7:20pm MPLS Studio (10/17-11/21) (11/28-1/2) 7:30 - 8:45pm SLP Studio (10/13-11/17) (12/1-1/5) 11:30am - 12:45pm MPLS Studio (9/18-10/23) (10/30-12/4)

Beginning Vinyasa Yoga

Jennifer Davis Laura Lund Deirdre Murnane

(6-week series $96 ~ *$90 if just completed 4-week Abs. Beg Class)

If you love the idea of a flowing, moving, yoga practice, this six-week session is for you! Classes will start with the fundamental ideas of linking breath and movement, developing awareness of Ujjayi Pranayama and other breathwork. We will go in-depth with the core poses of Surya Namaskara - the traditional Ashtanga sequencing, as well as other variations of Sun Salutations, and learn modifications for the different poses. In the following weeks we will learn how to move through standing and seated sequences, focusing on the alignment and technique needed to safely practice Vinyasa styles of yoga. Upon completion of the workshop, students will feel confident to attend mixed level Vinyasa classes and be able to work within their own limitations and potential. Mondays Sundays

6:00 - 7:15pm 4:00 - 5:15pm

SLP Studio SLP Studio

Beginning Big A#%! Yoga

(10/24-11/28) (12/5-1/9) (10/2-11/6) (11/13-12/18)

Amanda Whisner Naomi Hollingsworth

(6-week series $96 ~ *$90 if just completed 4-week Abs. Beg Class)

This fun, challenging, and inspiring class is designed especially for bigger women and men who want to begin yoga but want to do it in a setting where everyone is similar in size and shape. Instructor and YCM owner Jennifer Gray (a Big A#%!™ graduate herself) and others will help all students find yoga poses that work for their current body type and create a beneficial yoga practice for all. In this class you will create a body mind connection, learn yoga poses that strengthen and tone, gain trust and find enjoyment in moving your body, and laugh and have fun!! Big A#%!™ yoga does not focus on losing weight and how you should look. This class strives to help you build self-trust and learn to reconnect and enjoy your body again. We call it Big A#%!™ Yoga so that everyone knows they are coming to a place where they can laugh and be comfortable with who they are. Any other name just wouldn’t be as fun! See web for more details and a note on physical limitations. Cost for 6-week session: $90, or $85 for those who have completed the Absolute Beginner Series. Wednesdays Saturdays

11:15am- 12:30pm SLP Studio (9/21-10/26) (11/2-12/7) 10:30 - 11:45am MPLS Studio (9/24-10/29) (11/12-12/31)

Steph Narveson Celia McCoy Oct-Dec 2011

Yoga for Men

(6-week series $96)

Calling all men! Have you been curious about yoga, but don’t know where to start? Or are you avoiding yoga classes, feeling intimidated by visions of studios full of super-flexible yogis who have been practicing for a lifetime? Well, here is an opportunity to discover what this growing tradition is all about, one that was in fact, originally created and practiced exclusively by men for hundreds of years. Yoga is a journey that can indeed last a lifetime, but every student must start at the beginning, no matter when that happens. Join us for an introductory class for men of all ages in the basics of a traditional yoga practice. The emphasis will be upon basic physical postures and breathing. We will also address other aspects of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, including self-discipline, relationships, and inner focus.Yoga students will gain body awareness, self-control, flexibility, and coordination as well as improved concentration and more energy. Tuesdays

7:30-8:45pm

Beginning Anusara

SLP Studio

(11/22-12/27)

Joe Polach

(6-week series $96 ~ *$90 if just completed 4-week ABC)

For the beginning Anusara student- come learn in the style of Anusara yoga. Anusara means to flow with Grace or to follow your heart. Developed in 1997, by John Friend, Anusara Yoga is the fastest growing school of yoga in America. Fun, uplifting and playful this yoga uses Universal Principles of Alignment to joyfully unite body, mind and spirit. Fridays

9:00-10:15am

Morning Meditation

SLP Studio

(10/7-11/11)

Chris Gordon

(8-week series $100)

The purpose of meditation is to help calm the mind and release attachments that cause suffering. This brings clarity and balance to the mind in the way yoga balances the body. This is a 4-week class that meets twice a week, and will focus on a specific theme every month. We will practice techniques in breathing and visualization that can help clear the mind. We will also pactice silent meditation for 20-30 minutes followed by a brief chant. Tues & Thurs

7:00-7:45am

SLP Studio

(10/4-10/27) (11/1-11/2) (12/6-12/29) Laura Lund

SLP STUDIO

4200 Minnetonka Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Located between Hwy 100 and Lake Calhoun on Minnetonka Blvd. FREE PARKING in the lot behind the studio and on the street.

212 3rd Ave. N. - Suite 205 Minneapolis, MN 55401

MPLS STUDIO

FREE PARKING on NON-TWINS GAME DAYS: M-F before 8am or after 4pm, and weekends. Colonial Warehouse Lot is located behind the building and accessed from Washington Ave. Street meters available ($.50/hr -$1.00/hr.)

Come prepared for class:

• •

If you are new to the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, please arrive 15 min early to fill out a New Student Form Wear comfortable clothing to stretch easily. Yoga is best practiced with bare feet and on an empty stomach. (Avoid eating 1-2 hours beforehand.) Avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, etc. or smoking cigarettes before class. We encourage students to bring their own yoga mats, but we do provide free loaner mats and props (also available for purchase at either studio). Inform your instructor if you have injuries, are pregnant, or have any medical conditions that may require caution. Silence cell phones while at the studio. (You may leave your cell phone with the desk attendant if you are expecting an important call.)

G ST ETT AR IN TE G D

• • • • •

Oct-Dec 2011

OCTOBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

Mi-an Yoga: Takes on Ashtanga! with Monique Maxwell Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/1/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Join Monique as she uses her unique Mi-an method to deconstruct the fast-paced sequencing of poses that is the Ashtanga Primary Series. Whether you are a current Ashtanga practitoner, or just starting on your journey, the opportunity to slow down and dissect the asana with the Primary Sequence does not always present itself. See web for full description. Cost: $55

Therapeutic Adjustments with Jennifer Davis Location: MPLS Sat 10/1/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Effective adjustments can transform your students practice and greatly improve your teaching. Adjustments have the power to protect students from injury, teach them greater body awareness and take them to a deeper place in their practice. Learn how and when to safely adjust. Practice maintaining proper form to protect yourself while offering adjustments. Explore the subtlety of listening with your hands. We will work with adjusting a variety of different bodies. With practice you will become comfortable and confident giving effective adjustments. Cost: $55

Calm Mind/Healthy Spine with Camille Gage Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/1/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM This workshop is designed for individuals who would like to relieve low back pain and acknowledge the role that stress plays in pain and muscle tension. Calm Mind/Healthy Spine blends carefully selected poses, guided meditation and restorative poses to gently stretch and strengthen the entire back body, build posture awareness, and quiet the mind. Learn how to reduce tension in neck and shoulders; build strength in the lumbar region, and bring awareness to posture – both sitting and standing – which will help you to elongate the spine, reduce compression of the disks and build the core strength needed to sit and stand tall. Cost: $40

Family Yoga with Angela Wethor Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/1/2011 From: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Yoga for kids is a time of building strength, imagination and concentration. For children of all stages of life, teaching them to calm and connect to their centers enhances contentment, emotional balance and love. From silly, wild dances, deep breathing, drumming, crafting, and singing at the top of their lungs, to quiet time and storytelling, this class offers children and families a life-long practice and discipline. Cost: $16 for 1 adult 1 child, $6 per additional.

Devotional Gathering with Jennifer Gray Location: St. Louis Park Sun 10/2/2011 From: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM New! Come to this inspirational, non-denominational, community gathering and set the tone for your week to come. Join Jennifer Gray for an hour of mantra, dharma talk, and bhakti yoga - the practice of devotion. To start your day with asana, consider attending Tantra with Jennifer at 9am and stay for the gathering, or arrive at 10:30 with an © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

open mind and an open heart. This class is donation-only (upon arrival). Please register in advance if possible!

Morning Meditation with Laura Lund Location: St. Louis Park Tuesdays & Thursdays (10/4-10/27) From: 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM See page 6 for description. Cost: $100 for 8 classes.

Ashtanga-Based Personal Practice Development Series™ with Moya Mathews Location: St. Louis Park Thu (10/6-11/3, skip 10/20) From: 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM This Personal Practice Development series will explore Ashtanga methodology and sequencing as a starting point for developing a personal practice. The four-week session is limited to ten students who are ready to explore the challenges surrounding their yoga practice. The instructor will help each student identify their limitations while also developing their strengths. Learn ways to modify, prop and adapt your asana practice so you can refine the breath. In-class practice will be supplemented by weekly take-home assignments for contemplation and practice. Cost: $100

6-Week Beginning Anusara with Chris Gordon Location: St. Louis Park Fridays (10/7-11/11) From: 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Anusara means to flow with Grace or to follow your heart. See page 6 for description. Cost: $96

Self-Care Shiatsu for Pain Relief with Paul Cherba Location: St. Louis Park Fri 10/7/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Who doesn’t feel pain somewhere? Bring your pain and any questions and we will laugh as we discover how to connect our breath to movement and touch. We will learn to use finger pressure, stretching and balls (supplied) to help stimulate and move the stuck energy (Chi) in our bodies. We will discuss and learn to massage, hold or stretch 12-20 key points along the Shiatsu meridians as we discuss their flow. Points for migraines, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, digestive pains and any other pains you might have. All levels welcome! Bring your pain and say good-bye to it. Cost: $40

PPD™: Personal Meditation Development Series with Tara Cindy Sherman Location: St. Louis Park Sat (10/8-11/5, skip 10/15) From: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM Of Patangali’s 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, 4 limbs are dedicated to meditation. Come discover why meditation is so important. The instructor will help each student create a meditation practice that is both practical and optimal for their particular needs as a means to cultivate the inner riches of yoga. Traditional yogic and tantric methods of meditation will be employed. In class participation will be supplemented by weekly take home assignments for contemplation and practice. Highly recommended for anyone who has practiced for at least 6 months and is ready to deepen their yoga practice. Cost: $100

Intro to Aerial Yoga

CO PR NT AC INU TI IN CE G S

with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/8/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Come hang out! Unnata® Aerial Yoga combines traditional mat yoga while practicing select postures suspended in a soft, fabric sling a few feet off the ground. With the help of gravity and the fabric, we can create space in our bodies and explore poses without compression of the joints and spine. Please wear sleeves that fully cover your underarms and no jewelry or metal clothing that might snag the fabric If you have medical issues that prevent you from inverting (glaucoma, heart condition) or have spinal injuries, contact the instructor before registering. Cost $40

Oct-Dec 2011

OCTOBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

18-Point Marma Meditation with Dr. Indu Arora Location: MPLS Sat 10/8/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 18 point Marma Meditation is a classic example of rejuvenation through Yoga and Ayurveda where the knowledge of Pratayahara coming from Yoga and the knowledge of Marma comes from Ayurveda. Ayurveda and Yoga believes in the balance of the human body, mind and soul. It offers treatments which focuses on preventive measures. It eliminates all toxic imbalances from the body and thus building resistance and good health. The body can be divided into five regions relative to the five elements. We can treat the elements in the body according to the marmas in the portion that relates to them. Cost: $75

Yoga of Sound and Kirtan with Coleen E and Tara Cindy S Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/8/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Spend an afternoon in the healing vibrations of yogic chanting while exploring the various types of mantras and their specific effects. The Sanskrit language is energy based first and communicative based second, this means it is the language of our chakras and energy body. Hidden within the names of these mantras lies the power of the presence of the Divine, through repetition of this sacred language the inherent power of the mantra is released from within. The results are often both transformational and blissful. No experience needed, handouts are provided. Cost: $40

Yoga on the Slackline with Sam Salwei, Dan Norgard, Linda Rae Holcomb Location: MPLS Wed 10/12/2011 From: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Slackline Yoga has been described as “distilling the art of yogic concentration”. The YogaSlackers have developed a new style of yoga that is practiced on a line, a one-inch piece of webbing, tensioned between two trees or anchor points about 3 feet off the ground. Although it is challenging at first, the rewards are truly incredible! In this workshop we will play and experience yoga on the slackline. Learn basic poses to practice on and off the line, how to fall, how to breathe & use your Drishti (gaze or focus) for balance. Dan Norgard and the rest of the team have collectively taught more than 6,000 people worldwide, ranging in age from 2 to 82 years. Build your core strength & balance with great emphasis on the breath and come to have fun! Cost: $40

Infant Massage with Kristin Wilk Location: St. Louis Park Wed 10/12 & 10/19/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM For infants ages birth to six months. This is a 2 part series that will meet for one hour per class. Ideal for pre-crawling infants. This class emphasizes sustaining child friendly cultures and the role of nurture on infant development. See “JAI Crib” p.22 for description. Cost: $90 per couple. Cost: $40 for both classes.

Oct-Dec 2011

4-Week Beginning Aerial Yoga with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Wednesdays (10/12-11/2) From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Unnata® Aerial Yoga combines traditional mat yoga with select postures suspended in a soft, fabric sling a few feet off the ground. With the help of gravity and the fabric, we create space in our bodies without compression of the joints and spine. During the 4-week series, explore poses on and off the sling to find a more vibrant expression of each pose at your own level of comfort. Please wear sleeves that fully cover your underarms and no jewelry or metal clothing that might snag the fabric If you have medical issues that prevent you from inverting (glaucoma, heart condition) or have spinal injuries, contact the instructor before registering. Cost: $100

VATA PITTA KAPHA

Intro to Yoga for Doshas with Dr. Indu Arora Location: MPLS Fri 10/14/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM According to ayurveda, doshas are made up of five elements: air, space, fire, earth and water. Each person is thought to be born with a combination of the three types of doshas, with one or two dominant doshas determining our physical, mental and emotional characteristics. Let us connect to our true Divine essence and expand your consciousness. Whether we are predominantly Vata, Pitta, or Kapha, let us stay focused on your intention to stay present and take our yoga practice to a deeper level. Learn about your dosha including including asana and pranayama to bring harmony in to your practice. Cost: $65

Intro to Yoga Nidra - Deep Relaxation with Kevin Kortan Location: MPLS Sat 10/15/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Yoga Nidra is an ancient form of yogic meditation. Kevin teaches a modern adaptation of Yoga Nidra, also called iRest®, developed by Richard Miller that helps you break free of selflimiting patterns, emotions and beliefs so that you may live a contented life, free of conflict, anxiety and suffering. In its ultimate form,Yoga Nidra reveals the secret of enlightenment and introduces you to your True Nature as joyful and radiant Presence. Yoga Nidra is that it lures you into meditation effortlessly, through the valley of deep relaxation. These workshops and classes begin with some gentle, mindful movements and segue into the practice of Yoga Nidra. See webs for full description. Cost: $40

Aerial Yoga: Hips & Shoulders with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/15/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM The patience required to open hips and shoulders in your mat practice is difficult to cultivate, thus we often ‘crank’ on these complex joint structures with little to show for it. Enter aerial yoga: Use gravity, the sling, and breath to gently coax open hips and shoulders. Deepen your understanding of the challenges facing your right and left sides and discover what else in the body may be holding them back. Cost: $40

Twist and Om!

CT U IC ING ES an

PR A

Contin

with Sarah Kalweit Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/15/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Yes, we love to do the “Twist,” but what is actually happening in our body as a twist develops? How do I twist properly and how do I determine my limitations? These questions will be answered as we experiment with restorative twists working our way to the more challenging balancing twists, and many others in between! Our strongest consideration will be the safe method of entering each twist, followed by an engaged breath and focused mind to deepen each twist. Twists tone the belly, while the spine gains much needed energy and strength, and the internal organs take on vitality and function more effectively. Ahhh, and it feels so good!! Come with empty stomach (allow a few hours after your last meal). Cost: $40

Oct-Dec 2011

OCTOBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

Special Screening of the Film ‘Yogawoman’ Location: MPLS Sat 10/15/2011 From: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Free Movie! Sign up online in advance to reserve your spot. Arrive at 5:30pm and join Sarah Jane for a special pre-movie drop-in Slow Flow class to get you in the mood. (Use a pass for class or sign up via the online class schedule.)

Chakras and Asanas: Muladhara and Svadhisthana with Holly Schramm Location: MPLS Sun 10/16/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM What’s a Chakra? Ever wonder? Broaden your life experience and expand your “self” study when you join Holly Schramm for an introduction to your energetic body (the chakra system). Learn about the various elements and move through supporting asana of the root chakra “Muladhara” and your creative center “Svadhisthana”. This is one of a three part series on the Chakra System. Cost: $40 (All 3 Chakras & Asanas workshops for $105)

5-Week Yoga Nidra with Kevin Kortan Location: MPLS Fri 10/21/2011 - 11/18/2011 From: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Yoga Nidra induces deep relaxation throughout your entire body and mind and enables you to eliminate stress and resolve personal problems and trauma. See Intro description on page 10. Cost: $76 for 5 weeks

Hips Workshop with Naomi Hollingsworth Location: St. Louis Park Fri 10/21/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Come explore the deep spaces of your hip joints, the large muscles that hold them together, and learn safe and effective ways to stretch and strengthen the hamstrings, hip flexors, gluts, and lower back muscles.You will learn about the range of movement within your hips and how that mobility, or lack of mobility, affects many of your yoga asanas from seated to standing postures. We will also look into adjustments and modifications for injury prevention as well as support techniques for limitations of the muscles and joints. Cost: $40

6-Week Peace Medicine Continuing/Advanced with Coleen Elwood Location: St. Louis Park Sat (10/22-12/10, skip 11/26 & 12/3) From: 10:30 AM - 11:55 AM Embrace your destiny...utilize your unique gifts...awaken and replenish! A continuing series for students to put into practice tools and techniques explored in the 4 week intensive. Deepen your ability to ground, protect, distill, cleanse and replenish. A unique blend of ancient wisdoms ( yogic and shamanic) with modern day applications to deepen your connection to nature, your spirit and your community. Earth-based, soul-centered practices and support for the changing consciousness. Continuing education for all students who have completed the 4 week intensive. Cost: $120

Oct-Dec 2011

Thai Bodywork for Yoga Teachers - Level 1 with Angie Viehman Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/22/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM In this workshop you’ll learn how to fold the ancient art of Thai Bodywork/Massage into your yoga classes and private sessions. Thai Bodywork helps to create space and balance energy in the body using assisted stretching, acupressure and muscle manipulation. These techniques will allow your students to explore the full depths of their asana practice. Build your adjustment vocabulary, examine alignment from a different lens and learn how to give a little extra love to your students in Savasana. Each person will have the chance to give and receive each of the techniques. No previous massage experience necessary. Workshop is suitable for current or aspiring yoga teachers. Cost: $40 or $75 for Levels 1 and 2.

Fall Renewal Yoga Workshop with Coleen Elwood Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/22/2011 From: 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM The fall season holds an energy that aids in purifying one’s life and for planting new seeds and endevors. A time to celebrate the harvest and set new goals for the year ahead. Purify, rejuvenate and meditate with this luxurious 3 hour workshop. A two hour gentle class includes movement, meditation, restorative postures, chakra balancing, mudra and guided imagrey to connect to the forces of Nature and awaken to new beginnings. Self-acupressure foot massage, facial, breath-work and conscious relaxation round out this replenishing workhop. Chilled cucmbers for your eyes and peppermint foot lotion for your feet add to this spa-like experience. All levels welcome! Cost:$55

4-Week Intro to Kundalini Yoga with Nicole Nardone Location: St. Louis Park Tuesdays (10/25-11/15) From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM See description online. Cost: $64

Yoga for EveryBODY with Amanda Whisner Location: MPLS Sat 10/29/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Recovering from an injury or surgery? Have arthritis or other conditions that limit mobility? Or just looking for a gentle practice you can do any time and anywhere? You can do yoga. This workshop introduces those of us with limited mobility to breathing, stretching, and strengthening poses that gently bring your body to new levels of ﬁtness, increasing circulation and energizing the body to assist in healing. We will incorporate chair yoga, breathing techniques (pranayama), relaxation techniques and props to ﬁnd the practice right for YOUR body in this moment. Cost: $40

Building Core Strength with Crystal Hanson Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/29/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Owning a strong core enables you to have good posture, appropriate alignment and strength for absolutely everything you encounter in your life. This workshop will teach you about the various muscle groups involved with your core and how these groups function in building a strong, balanced body center.You will experience core strengthening exercises and enjoy an asana practice that will bring focus to the center of your physical being. Cost: $40

with Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner Location: St. Louis Park Sat 10/29/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Experience the essence of Taoism through discussion, lecture and a full Yin Yang practice that will incorporate the Five Chinese Elements. This is a combination class of yin postures (longer deeper © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

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Taoist Yoga Featuring the Five Elements

NOVEMBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them! supported holds) with yang flows (fluid movements cultivating chi) that is steeped heavily in the Tao (The Way of Nature). Participants will leave with a better understanding of Taoist philosophy, methods for chi flow, meridian lines, and the five elements. 2.5 hours. Cost:$40

Kundalini Yoga & Meditation for Intuition with Nicole Nardone Location: St. Louis Park Sun 10/30/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM We all have intuition, a subtle inner compass, an inner voice of wisdom. Sometimes we tune out this intuitive voice out of fear, shame, or lack of confidence. Maybe we are afraid of what new horizons our inner compass will discover. These intuitive impulses can serve as a guide down the river of your life, help you see the ocean possibilities that might be right around the corner. Kundalini Yoga merges the very practical and grounded, with the very intuitive and sensory parts of ourselves to awaken us to the full potential we contain as human beings. Gain tools to develop your intuition and experience what it feels like to live from the seat of intuition. Intuition is like a muscle, regular exercise will make it stronger - so tips for home practice will be given in this workshop. Cost: $40

Morning Meditation with Laura Lund Location: St. Louis Park Tuesdays & Thursdays (11/1-11/29, skip 11/24) From: 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM See page 6 for description. Cost: $100 for 8 classes.

Personal Practice Development Series™ with Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner Location: St. Louis Park Thu 11/3/2011 - 12/1/2011 From: 6:45 PM - 8:00 PM Whether you enjoy practicing at home or in your favorite class, this four-week journey will add depth and meaning to your yoga practice on and off the mat. The session is limited to ten students ready to explore the challenges surrounding their yoga practice. The instructor will help each student identify their limitations while also recognizing and developing their strengths. In-class practice will be supplemented by weekly take-home assignments for contemplation and practice. This series is highly recommended for all Yoga Study students and anyone who has practiced yoga for at least six months and is ready to deepen their yoga practice. Cost: $100

Yoga and Acupressure for Immunity with Moya M. and Jennifer J. Location: St. Louis Park Fri 11/4/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM The immune system, a network of glands, nodes and organs that work to protect the body from bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms, requires a steady supply of energy and nutrients to maintain optimum function and performance. Stress, toxins in our diet and environment, sleep deprivation and excessive fatigue interfere with the proper activity of the immune system. Have no fear:Yoga and Acupuncture for the Immune System is here! Come play and learn asana and pranayama accessible to yoga students of every level aimed toward enhancing and balancing the flow of energy to the immune system. Dharma Wellness Center’s own Jennifer Johnson, licensed practitioner of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, will be on hand with her knowledge and skill to give your immunity a mid-winter boost. Cost: $40

Oct-Dec 2011

Shoulders and Heart-Openers with Jennifer Davis Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/5/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM We all carry tension in our shoulders. In fact, the shoulders, neck and upper back can be a tough area to reach in your yoga practice. Sometimes it can feel like yoga even builds tension in this area. Tight shoulders can make back bends and inversions quite a challenge, not to mention downward facing dog. Join me in this workshop devoted to our shoulders and the opening of our hearts. We will release the tension and stress of daily life through gentle movements. Once we have begun to relax this area, we are ready to learn how to effectively build strength without building tension. Leave with a better understanding of your shoulders and how to relax and release the tension that loves to build in this area. Cost: $40

Family Yoga with Angela Wethor Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/5/2011 From: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Yoga for kids is a time of building strength, imagination and concentration. For children of all stages of life, teaching them to calm and connect to their centers enhances contentment, emotional balance and love. From silly, wild dances, deep breathing, drumming, crafting, and singing at the top of their lungs, to quiet time and storytelling, this class offers children and families a life-long practice and discipline. Cost: $16 for 1 adult 1 child, $6 per additional person

Yoga for Men - Intro Workshop with Joe Polach Location: St. Louis Park Sun 11/6/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Calling all men! Discover what this growing tradition is all about, one that was in fact, originally created and practiced exclusively by men for hundreds of years! Every student must start at the beginning, no matter when that happens. Join us for an introductory workshop for men of all ages in the basics of a traditional yoga practice. There will be time for questions and answers in a non-competitive, non-judgmental atmosphere. The emphasis will be upon basic poses of a yoga practice, class etiquette, as well as some discussion of the history and philosophy of the tradition. This workshop is an excellent precursor (but not required) for the 6-week series starting on November 22nd. Cost: $40

6-Week Continuing/Advanced Aerial Yoga with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Mondays (11/7-12/12) From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Prerequisite: 4-week Aerial Series (or 4+ aerial yoga classes/workshops) It’s finally here! Cont/Adv Aerial is for everyone who wants to continue their aerial practice beyond the basic 4-series. We’ll continue learning new poses and incorporate pranayama to ease in to the subtleties of familiar poses. Becky will offer suggestions for modifying each student’s asana based on personal needs. Cost: $96

Teaching Yoga to Pregnant Students

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with Jennifer Gray Location: St. Louis Park Tue 11/8/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM This 3-hour Advanced training will help you to create sequences and understand the value of yoga for women during all stages of pregnancy. This 3 hour workshop will include asana do’s and dont’s for pregnancy, changing anatomy of a pregnant woman, opportunity to explore and create prenatal curriculum and much more! Cost: $65

Oct-Dec 2011

NOVEMBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

Infant Massage with Kristin Wilk Location: St. Louis Park Wed 11/9 & 11/16 From: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM See “JAI Crib” p.22 for description. Cost: $90 per couple. Cost: $40 for both classes.

4-Week Beginning Aerial Yoga with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Wednesdays (11/9-11/30) From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM See page 10 for description. Please wear sleeves that fully cover your underarms and no jewelry or metal clothing that might snag the fabric. If medical issues prevent you from inverting (glaucoma, heart condition) or you have spinal injuries, contact the instructor before registering. Cost: $100

Personal Practice Development Series™ with Kevin Kortan Location: St. Louis Park Thursdays (11/10-12/8, skip 11/24) From: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM The four-week session is limited to ten students who are ready to explore the challenges surrounding their yoga practice. The instructor will help each student identify their limitations while also recognizing and developing their strengths. In-class practice will be supplemented by weekly take-home assignments for contemplation and practice. This series is highly recommended for all Yoga Study students and anyone who has practiced yoga for at least six months and is ready to deepen their yoga practice. Cost: $100

Live in Concert! The Music of Shantala with Heather & Benjy Wertheimer Location: MPLS Fri 11/11/2011 From: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide as the duo Shantala, with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s soaring vocals is freshly original and profoundly moving. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. The audience is invited to participate fully through call-and-response chanting and meditation. Cost: $25 ahead or $30 at the door.

Honoring Loss with Moya Mathews Location: MPLS Sat 11/12/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM As the winter holidays approach, the stresses of the “shoulds” may dawn upon the heart and mind of one who grieves. “I should attend this function, prepare this special food, go shopping, feel festive. My loved one should be here!” For a person who has experienced deep emotional trauma and loss, the tension and pressure of the holidays can heap additional stress on a mind and body that is already holding grief. If we seek opportunities to acknowledge and mourn our losses and release the energy of those experiences, allowing it to flow through us, we can be free to accept the healing that is available to us and fully embrace the goodness of life as it is. This workshop will combine reflection, meditation, gentle asana and ritual to honor our losses and cleanse our bodies to help us feel lighter, balanced and free. Cost: $40 © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

Behind the Pose; Stories of the Asanas with Amanda Whisner Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/12/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Ever wonder why we warrior? Who was Anjaneya and why do we lunge for his sake? Why do we end each practice in “corpse” pose? Behind each yoga pose is an ancient story about a god, sage, or sacred animal, much like Aesop’s fables or European folktales. These myths illuminate the mystical, hidden potential within each pose and within ourselves. This delightful Hatha/Yin Workshop, inspired the book Myths of the Asanas, introduces you, on a deeper level, to the mythical aspects of many of your favorite yoga poses and is designed to benefit everyone, regardless of yoga experience. Cost: $40

Thai Bodywork for Teachers - Level 2 with Angie Viehman Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/12/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (Level 1 not required to participate.) In this workshop we’ll build on the techniques learned in level 1 to further integrate the ancient art of Thai Bodywork/Massage into your yoga classes and private sessions. Thai Bodywork helps to create space and balance energy in the body using assisted stretching, acupressure and muscle manipulation. These techniques will allow your students to explore the full depths of their asana practice. Build your adjustment vocabulary, examine alignment from a different lens and learn how to give a little extra love to your students in Savasana. No previous massage experience necessary. Workshop is suitable for current or aspiring yoga teachers. Cost: $40

Fall Into Love: Partner Yoga, Wine and Chocolate with Holly Schramm Location: MPLS Sun 11/13/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Feel the spirit of Fall with partner yoga, chocolate and wine! This workshop is for everyone. Bring someone you care about (significant other, sibling, parent, or friend) and get ready to have some fun with doing partner yoga and meditation. This workshop would only be complete with some delectable chocolate and the option to taste some of Holly’s favorite wines of the season. Cost: $85 for 2

JAI Prenatal Yoga for Birthing - for expectant moms and their birth partners! with Jennifer Gray Location: MPLS Sat 11/19/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM See “JAI Crib” p.22 for description. Cost: $90 per couple.

Deeper Yin Yoga

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with Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/19/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Been to a yin class and just can’t get deep enough? Curious about the meridian lines and how to create a full bodied practice centered around movement of chi? Learn how to deepen your postures in yin while still accommodating your bodies structure. This class goes beyond the basics of Yin Yoga. Experience longer holds and how to soften into them. Begin to find yin techniques that you can fold into any personal yoga practice. Class will include a short lecture and discussion along with a full yin practice with opportunity to address individuals needs within the postures. Cost: $40

Oct-Dec 2011

NOVEMBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

Mi-an Yoga: Strengthening the Whole Body for Floating & Flying with Monique Maxwell Location: St. Louis Park Sat 11/19/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Drawing on her extensive experience with yoga, pilates, and bodywork, join Monique Maxwell as she teaches creative techniques to control your body, strengthen your core, and maintain correct alignment as you develop your asana practice. Learn what it means to “float” in your sun salutes, or “fly” in your inversions, as you become aware of the muscles, bandhas and bones involved in supporting these poses. Cost: $40

Creating Energetic Boundaries with Coleen Elwood Location: MPLS Sat 11/19/2011 From: 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM The World is changing for the better. Many of us are waking up to our gifts, becoming more sensitive, developing our intuition. This workshop gives practical tips, tools and techniques for creating and sustaining energetic boundaries. The first half explores meditations, visualizations and discussion on grounding, defining your aura, distilling heavy energy, protection and cleansing. The second half weaves in yogic postures and breathing techniques along with shamanic (Earthbased) tools for navigating the changing world. Ideal for teachers, healers, body workers or anyone interested in delving into the world of energy. Led by certified Yoga instructor, Reiki master and Shamanic healer Coleen Elwood. Cost: $55

Yoga Psychotherapy for the Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with Rachel Allyn Location: St. Louis Park Sun 11/20/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Find ways to optimize your energy and maintain a healthy mood through the late fall and winter months, with Rachel Allyn, Ph.D., L.P., RYT-500, Clinical Psychologist & Registered Yoga Instructor. The dark days of fall and winter can be hard, both emotionally and physically. Sure, an escape to a tropical vacation can boost mood temporarily but for lasting changes consider this workshop. We will learn tools for managing winter by looking inward. Learn to identify symptoms and cultivate prevention techniques. Discussion will be interwoven with yoga (asana), breathing (pranayama) to address the issue holistically within the mind and body. Worksheets will also be provided for your home practice. Cost: $40

Yoga for Men (6-week intro series) with Joe Polach Sun 11/6/2011 See page 6 for details. Cost: $96

Location: St. Louis Park From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

4-Week Intro to Mantra with Betsy Weiner Tue 11/22/2011 - 12/13/2011 See web for details. Cost: $64

Location: St. Louis Park From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM

Pratyahara, Pranayama & Flow with Naomi Hollingsworth Sat 11/26/2011

Location: St. Louis Park From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Oct-Dec 2011

Pratyahara is the practice of withdrawing or disconnecting the senses away from the mind. The mind is easily distracted by all of the sounds, smells, sensations and sights that are ever present in our world. This can make it very difficult to stay aware of the breath and creates a challenge for us to find peace and quiet in the constant barrage of distractions around us. During this holiday weekend of Thanksgiving there may be many people, events, thoughts, responsibilities, and other distractions creating a bit of chaos around us. Learn tools to assist us in taking the distractions away from our minds and pulling our energy back into ourselves so that we can become more aware on our mats and more present in our lives. Cost $40

Devotional Gathering with Jennifer Gray Location: St. Louis Park Sun 11/27/2011 From: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM New! Come to this inspirational, non-denominational, community gathering and set the tone for your week to come. Join Jennifer Gray for an hour of mantra, dharma talk, and bhakti yoga - the practice of devotion. To start your day with asana, consider attending Tantra with Jennifer at 9am and stay for the gathering, or arrive at 10:30 with an open mind and an open heart. This class is donation only, upon arrival. Please register in advance if possible!

Chakras and Asanas: Manipura and Anahata Chakras with Holly Schramm Location: MPLS Sun 11/27/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM What is so interesting about these chakras? If you are curious about your energetic body and want to learn more about how to tap into your inner power and outer strength, deepen your compassion for yourself and others and find peace within….. Join Holly Schramm in a two hour workshop to learn about the elements associated with these fascinating chakras and experience an energetic asana practice igniting them. Feel the love! Feel the power! Cost: $40

Personal Practice Development Series™ with Chris Gordon Location: St. Louis Park Fri 12/2/2011 - 12/23/2011 From: 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM The four-week session is limited to ten students who are ready to explore the challenges surrounding their yoga practice. The instructor will help each student identify their limitations while also recognizing and developing their strengths. Inclass practice will be supplemented by weekly take-home assignments for contemplation and practice. This series is highly recommended for all Yoga Study students and anyone who has practiced yoga for at least six months and is ready to deepen their yoga practice. Cost: $100

5-Week Yoga Nidra with Kevin Kortan Location: MPLS Fri 12/2/2011 - 12/30/2011 From: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Yoga Nidra induces deep relaxation throughout your entire body and mind and enables you to eliminate stress and resolve personal problems and trauma. See Intro description on page 10. Cost: $76 for 5 weeks

Transitions Workshop

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with Sarah Kalweit Location: St. Louis Park Fri 12/2/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Some of the most gratifying moments spent on the mat can be those few moments spent moving or “transitioning” from pose to pose. These can also be some of the most difficult moments! We will spend the workshop “picking apart” the movement that occurs during transition time between the most common flow poses. Each transition will take place with intense mind focus and the imperative support of the breath.Your practice will take on a new perspective and gracefullness as you slow the pace of your transitions. Become stronger and more balanced in the process! Cost: $40 © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

DECEMBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them!

Intro to Aerial Yoga with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/3/2011 From: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM Come hang out! Unnata® Aerial Yoga combines traditional mat yoga while practicing select postures suspended in a soft, fabric sling a few feet off the ground. See page 8 for description and restrictions. Cost $40

Shakti Flow and the Goddess Kali with Tara Cindy Sherman Location: MPLS Sat 12/3/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Shakti Flow combines flowing yoga warmups with creative movement and dance to allow the freedom of spirit to express itself through the vehicle of the body. It includes chanting, drumming, rocking music and yoga nidra for a full experience of the sacred. In this workshop we’ll focus on the Tantric Wisdom Goddess Kali to invoke energies of growth, change, facing our fears, and transformation by learning to dance with our shadows while we honor all parts of ourselves. No experience needed, everyone is welcome whether you consider yourself a dancer or not. Cost: $40

Mi-an Yoga: Backbends with Monique Maxwell Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/3/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Drawing on her extensive experience with yoga, pilates, and bodywork, join Monique Maxwell as she teaches creative techniques to control your body, strengthen your core, and maintain correct alignment as you develop your asana practice. This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of backbending and heart opening. These bright and energetic poses can sometimes feel hard to achieve as we get caught up in the anxiety of our expectiations. Break through these mental barriers Mi-an style, through the practice of contemplation, laughter, and idea of trying, and trying again. Cost: $40

Family Yoga with Angela Wethor Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/3/2011 From: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Yoga for kids is a time of building strength, imagination and concentration. For children of all stages of life, teaching them to calm and connect to their centers enhances contentment, emotional balance and love. From silly, wild dances, deep breathing, drumming, crafting, and singing at the top of their lungs, to quiet time and storytelling, this class offers children and families a life-long practice and discipline. Cost: $16 for 1 adult 1 child, $6 per additional person

Morning Meditation with Laura Lund Location: St. Louis Park Tuesdays & Thursdays (12/6- 12/29) From: 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM See page 6 for description. Cost: $100 for 8 classes.

Infant Massage with Kristin Wilk Location: St. Louis Park Wed 12/7 & 12/14/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM See “JAI Crib” p.22 for description. Cost: $90 per couple. Cost: $40 for both classes. © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

4-Week Beginning Aerial Yoga with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Wednesdays (12/7-12/28) From: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM See page 10 for description. Please wear sleeves that fully cover your underarms and no jewelry or metal clothing that might snag the fabric. If medical issues prevent you from inverting (glaucoma, heart condition) or you have spinal injuries, contact the instructor before registering. Cost: $100

Intro to Manifesting Abundance with Kate Karshna Location: MPLS Fri 12/9/2011 From: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Connect to the source of your abundance through yoga, meditation, journaling and other creative exercises. Learn how the combination of meditation and intentional baby steps can work wonders in helping you achieve your dreams. Open your consciousness to new possibilities and discover how to create the life you imagine. Students in this workshop may choose to follow up with a 4-part Manifesting Abundance Series (coming in 2012). Cost: $40

Full Body De-Stress and Tune-Up with Crystal Hanson Location: MPLS Sat 12/10/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bring your body (and mind) in for a seasonal tune-up.You will learn about muscles that tighten and cause tension and stress in your everyday life.You will gently stretch and self massage key muscles and pressure points throughout your body to experience that much needed relief. We will go deep within to lengthen the connective tissues (those around our joints) as we practice Yin Yoga.You will learn Pranayama techniques to help rid your mind of unnecessary “chatter” for full relaxation. This workshop is suitable for EVERYONE, no prior Yoga experience necessary. Help someone you love to de-stress as you invite them to participate in this workshop along with you (*give it as a gift). Leave feeling calm, peaceful and overall “tuned up.” Cost: $40

Aerial Yoga: Inversions Workshop with Becky Stella Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/10/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM No previous Aerial experience required. What really happens when you’re upside down? Do you ever stay there long enough to find out? Unnata® Aerial Yoga (in a fabric sling) gives us the opportunity to invert in a completely relaxed state. We’ll explore all manners of being upside down, and work through the panic and mental blocks that trick us in to thinking that we can’t balance or that we must re-vert. We’ll prepare the body to hold its own inverted weight strengthening and stabilizing our base, while in our supported inversions. Gain a more flexible perspective about your physical relationship to the outside world and a new understanding of center. Cost $40

Foundations of Standing Poses and Balances with Moya Mathews Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/10/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM See web for description. Cost: $40

Oct-Dec 2011

with Holly Schramm Location: MPLS Sun 12/11/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM This is the 3rd in a 3-part Intro to the Chakras series, but attendance at either of the previous classes is NOT a prerequisite! Vishudda, Ajna and Sahasrara chakras! Say that fast five times! Is curiosity getting

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Chakras and Asanas: Vishudda, Ajna and Sahasrara

DECEMBER Workshops & Series See web for updates. Register online or call 612.436.4700.

Workshop Discount: Purchase a package of 3 two-hour or 3 three-hour workshops and receive $15 off. Workshop credits remain on your account until you decide to use them! the best of you? Join yoga instructor Holly Schramm in a two hour workshop about the chakras that govern self- expression, intuition and bliss. Meditate, chant and enjoy a lively asana practice to awaken the energetic body of the throat, third eye and crown of the head. Come explore the elements of these chakras and leave enlightened! Cost: $40

Intro to Vinyasa Yoga with Sarah Jane Wroblewski Location: MPLS Sat 12/17/2011 From: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Vinyasa Yoga has become a widely recognized term in modern fitness culture, but what are the origins of this style of yoga? Vinyasa translates as “linking breath with movement”. Using postures from the Ashtanga tradition,Vinyasa refers to the flowing movements that link each pose, like the silence between the notes that make music. Discover the basic components of breath and posture of Slow Flow Vinyasa, and learn how this practice can bring intention to your life by embracing a fluid connection between thought, word and deed. Cost: $40

Self-Care Shiatsu for Neck and Shoulder Pain Relief with Paul Cherba Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/17/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Got a pain in your neck that won’t to go away? Tired of eating your shoulders every time you try to look to one side? Learn some calming and relaxing Self-Care Shiatsu Yoga to help relieve your neck and shoulder tension. We will learn about the Shiatsu meridians that run through the shoulders and neck and some key points and ways to stimulate and nurture these points. We will connect breath with movement, pain with laughter as we discover new ways to release pain. With the help of balls (supplied) we will help stimulate and move stuck energy (chi) in our bodies. All levels welcome! No massage experience necessary but some will be gained. Any Self-Care Shiatsu Yoga workshop will be filled with several easy to learn and follow mini-sequences that help connect our bodies through movement and breath awareness. We use tennis balls, golf balls, squishy balls, soft golf balls, racquet balls to help. Cost: $40

Hips and Hamstrings with Ted Roseen Location: St. Louis Park Sat 12/17/2011 From: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Join our resident distance athlete and yogi, Ted Roseen, in a workshops sure to leave you feeling open and stabilized and strong. Whether you stick with asana, or mix it up with running, skiing, or walking, your hips and hamstrings play a vital role in how you move your body. They affect your practice in nearly every pose. They restrict you if they are tight, and don’t provide enough challenge if you are extra loose. We will work with modifications for all body types as we learn how to stretch safely and actively release tension in this flowing 2-hour practice. Come with your questions and pose requests! Cost: $40

Holiday 90-Minute Candlelight Yin and Vinyasa with Thea Jensen Location: St. Louis Park Fri 12/23/2011 From: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Nurture yourself before the holidays with a cozy yin practice followed by a balancing yang (vinyasa) practice. Come replenish, get centered and build your immune system during this candlelite class. There is the possibility of hot tea and treats! Sign up via the class schedule to use a class pass, or purchase a $17 drop-in pass here. © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

Sankalpa & Burning Bowl Workshop with Naomi Hollingsworth Location: St. Louis Park Fri 12/30/2011 From: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM A sankalpa is more than a new year’s resolution. Sankalpa is purpose. Sankalpa is determination. Sankalpa is an intention. Instead of resolving to do something for the new year; find your purpose, add the fire of determination, and then set your intention. In this workshop we will take a moment to let go of the past year, ground in the present moment and set our new year’s intentions for 2011. We will use meditation, chant, asana and pranayama practices to stoke our internal fires. Then everyone will have the opportunity to “release the old and bring fire to the new” in a burning bowl ceremony. Cost: $40

The JAI Crib

(Pre & Postnatal)

J.A.I. Prenatal Yoga for Birthing For moms and their birth partners!

with Jennifer Gray Location: MPLS Studio Sat 11/19/2011 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM During this fun and interactive workshop with founder of JAI Prenatal Yoga, Jennifer Gray, couples will learn a variety of yoga based coping techniques for labor and delivery. Each couple will practice what they learn and will recieve a take home packet of information and tools for the birthing room! Breath work from JAI Prenatal Yoga is taught, along with labor massage, movement, relaxation, and visualization. Special attention is given to the birth partner, who will be mentored in labor support. Great for women who have goals of unmedicated birth, as well as those who are open to pain medication. Cost: $90 per couple.

Infant Massage (Birth-6 months)

**If you are a JAI Prenatal student who has recently given birth, email your birth stories and photos to register@yogacentermpls.com so we can announce the arrival of your little one! © Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Contin PR AC U TI IN CE G S

with Kristin Wilk, CMT Location: SLP Studio Oct Session: Wed 10/12 and 10/19 Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM Nov Session: Wed 11/9 and 11/16 Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM Dec Session: Wed 12/7 & 12/14/2011 Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM For infants ages birth to six months. This is a 2 part series that will meet for one hour per class. Ideal for pre-crawling infants. This class emphasizes sustaining child friendly cultures and the role of nurture on infant development. Within weeks babies begin to develop expectancies from their caregivers through habituation- she will begin to map links between events in her world- maybe after bath time you will play a lullaby, she will hear the swish of oil in her parents hands, she will feel secure by eye contact, the familiar scent of her mom, and the loving intentional touch. The focus of this workshop is to teach loving parents an entire massage that can enhance physical growth as well as relieve colic symptoms and encourage good sleep patterns. These relaxation techniques will provide a foundation for babies to let go of stress early on! Kristin Wilk has earned National Certification in massage, and provides therapeutic massage as well as Pre- and Post-natal education. If you have an infant that is already crawling and you are still interested in learning infant massage, private instruction is also available with Kristin upon request. Cost: $40 for both classes. Price includes one adult and one baby (additional adult $15).

Oct-Dec 2011

Deepening Your Journey Commit to your practice through in-depth trainings and experiences.

Fall Detox Week with Jennifer J and Jennifer G Location: SLP Studio

Dates: Monday Oct 31- Friday Nov 4 Time: 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Cost: $250 (See web for YFT & Detox Alumni discounts)

Fall is the season for transition and change. In Chinese medicine, this is the season associated with the stomach and the spleen. As the weather cools and activity levels slows down, it is appropriate to change our diets. A Fall detox helps to rejuvenate our digestive system and strengthen our immune system. Join us for a week-long Detoxification program which uses the riches of Yoga, Chinese Medicine, herbs and whole foods to help cleanse the body, mind and soul. The group will meet every morning Monday through Friday from 7:00 - 8:30am at the St. Louis Park Studio. Acupuncturist Jennifer Johnson Lic.Ac. MAOM and yoga instructor Jennifer Gray will provide you with all of the tools to help you reap the benefits of nourishing your body with food, acupuncture (optional), herbs, reflection, and specifically designed yoga practices. Class size limited. When you call and register you will be mailed your detox packet so that you can prepare your meals and head into your week with intention. The week includes:

• Instructional booklet with 5-day cleanse, recipes, grocery list and journal • Week supply of detox support herbs • 5 yoga classes: 7:00 - 8:30am Monday - Friday at the St. Louis Park studio • 2 Mini Detox acupuncture sessions during savasana with press balls (optional but included) • 20% off additional individual acupuncture appointments

Fall Yoga for Transformation Month with Jennifer Gray Location: SLP Studio

Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-8pm (10/6-11/1) Saturdays 9:30-11am (10/8-10/29) Cost: $400 (Discounts: Call or see web for YFT Alumni, Yoga Study, or package prices)

YFT is a 4-week intensive that meets 3 times each week and will help you to detoxify, clarify, feel better mentally and physically, and instill the practice of yoga into your body and mind. Each YFT session will include 1.25 hours of special detoxifying and balancing yoga practices with Jennifer Gray, and a 1-hour workshop taught by experts in that wellness field. Fall is the time to dedicate yourself to making the changes you have been intending to make this year. Whether you are a fan of Detox Week, a YFT Alumni or are just ready to make lasting changes to your yoga practice and sense of well being, this month-long intensive will be the catalyst for your journey. NEW for 2011 - This Fall’s YFT month will feature the addition of the science of ayurvedics with Dr. Arora Indu, cooking classes, and optional personal consulations, as well as continued focus on the Tantric practices of sound, energy, breath, movement, and intention. All of these teachings will come together to help you to begin to lead a more balanced, meaningful and healthier life as well as transform the way you view and react to the world. These classes will be documented and handed out so that you can continue your new practice at home. Basic yoga knowledge is recommended but all levels are welcome. It is recommended (but not mandatory) that you attend the Fall Detox Week to kick off your Transformation Month (at a discountsee web). Fall YFT participants receive a discount on personal ayurvedic consultations with Dr. Indu Arora. This will be a wonderful complement to your training this month and will supplement your class practices. Please call the studio to sign up, and recieve a 10% discount. Once you have completed this month-long experience you will be a YFT Alumni and will be eligible to register for the continuing YFT weekly classes, yoga practice homework assignments, priority registration and special future YFT and Detox Week discounts. Our wonderful YFT community is growing quickly and has proven that the fun, learning and practices do not have to end once the month is over! Payment Plan available; see web for details. *Please note that if you currently hold a Yoga Center Pass and register for this program we will freeze your pass until after this program and extend your expiration date.

Oct-Dec 2011

Fall Yoga For Transformation: Continuing Classes with Jennifer Gray Location: SLP Studio

Dates: Thursdays 11/10 - 12/29 Cost: $96 (See web for package discounts)

Time: 7:00 AM - 8:15AM

These weekly classes are for those who have ever taken Yoga For Transformation or Detox Week and wish to continue their work with these practices. In this weekly class we will continue to deepen out practices with pranayama, detoxification , the power of sound and space creation in the physical body. This class will need a minimum of 10 pre-registered students to run and due to the size of our “Transformation/Detox Alumni” population, preregistration for 6 of the 7 weeks will be necessary, those who attend the first six classes will get the 7th free!

Visiting Instructor: Dr. Indu Arora Dr. Indu Arora is an international speaker,Yoga Master, Ayurvedic Counselor, doctor in Alternate Medicine, author and healer with more than 30,000 hours of teaching experience. She has received awards like ‘Gem of India”, “Ray of Light”, “Hall of Fame”, “Dupage Woman you should know” for her contribution to Yoga. Learn more at www.yogsadhna.com.

Personal Ayurvedic Consultations with Dr. Arora Dates: 10/6 - 10/13 Location: SLP & MPLS Studio

Time: 1- hour timeslots. Call to book: 612-436-4700. Cost: $120

Get your pulse diagnosis for knowing your Ayurvedic constitution (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and follow appropriate holistic diet and life style to stay in sync with nature and yourself. Sessions may include: A mind/body questionnaire analysis, pulse diagnosis, diet and nutrition based suggestions, herbal remedies for a particular condition - ailments like cold, cough, asthma, migraine, arthritis, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, IBS etc. , mudra, breathing and asanas for your body type or condition, gem and stones suggestions, life style changes suggestions.

Workshops with Dr. Arora 18-Point Marma Meditation - Sat, 10/8 from 1-5pm -- Cost: $75 See page XX for description. Intro to Yoga for Doshas - Fri 10/14 from 6-9pm -- Cost: $65 See page XX for description.

Visiting Instructor: Doug Swenson Balancing Strength and Softness Dates: Fri day 11/4 - Sunday 11/6 Cost: Full Weekend: $195, Individual Workshops: Friday ($60) Sat & Sun ($50 each) Doug Swenson began his study of yoga in 1969. He has had the fortune of studying with many great teachers including Dr. Ernest Wood, K. Pattabhi Jois, Ramanand Patel and others. Doug is a master yoga practitioner, philosopher, poet and dedicated health advocate. He has incorporated influences from several different yoga systems along with his passion for nutrition and the environment to develop his unique approach. Over the years he has authored several books and travels extensively offering workshops and teacher training courses worldwide. Doug’s classes are invigorating and inspirational, and his supportive style of teaching and keen sense of humor send his students home with a smile on their faces and a softness within their hearts.

8 Limbs of Yoga/Mastering the Secrets of Yoga Flow Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00PM

EP E JO NIN UR G NE YO Y U

This class will begin with a 30-minute lecture where students will acquire a broad spectrum view of the eight limbs and how it affects our daily life. Also included – a glimpse into some of the smaller branches, (Raja, Karma, etc). The main focus of the rest of the class is centered around the fluid movements of soft and hard form vinyasa and how to this philosophy to create flow in your daily life – a variety of yoga postures – both easy and challenging will be

Friday 11/4/11

expand used.

Oct-Dec 2011

Explanation will be made as to how the fluid energy lines of vinyasa in your yoga practice can affect your daily life in a positive way. A connection is made to help create a flow in your diet, at work in relationships and throughout your daily life.

Sadhana Yoga Chi (Fluid Power) Sat 11/5/11

Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

A very soothing arrangement of soft and hard yoga asanas, connected together with mostly light (non - muscle resistance vinyasa) and some challenging (muscles resistance vinyasa).You will enjoy the challenge, achieve a variety of new poses and move with fluid power. When finished, drift into a blissful deep relaxation followed by a guided meditation.

Yin Yoga Sat 11/5/11

Time: 2:30 PM - 5:00PM

In this class the students will enjoy the simplicity of a nurturing, gentle asana flow. Many postures will be supportive, relaxing and held for longer duration. The vinyasa will be light (Non muscle resistance). Studio owner, or students - are asked to supply props, which greatly enhance the experience.

Vinyasa Yoga- Cross Training (Balancing Strength and Softness) Sun 11/6/11

Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00PM

This class is a delightful blend of Ashtanga and Soft form Yoga. Class starts with Doug’s completely unique approach to powerful Ashtanga Yoga, and then shifts gears into a challenging, yet, soft form Yoga format. Followed by, Pranayama and deep relaxation.

Live in Concert! The Music of Shantala with Heather and Benjy Wertheimer Fri 11/11/2011

Location: MPLS Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide as the duo Shantala, with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s soaring vocals is freshly original and profoundly moving. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. The audience is invited to participate fully through call-and-response chanting, dance, and meditation. Cost: $25 pre-purchase (preferred), or $30 at the door.

Upcoming Visiting Instructors (See web for details) Rod Stryker Tantra Shakti: The Power and Radiant Soul of Yoga (ParaYoga® Master Training/5-Day Intensive) Jan 18-22, 2012

Kevan Gale

PranaVayu Yoga: Accelerate your Asana, Open your Mind

March 2-4, 2012

Jim Bennitt Tantric Vinyasa Weekend May 4-6, 2012

Judith Lasater ** Early Bird discount ends 10/31!

Anatomy, Asana and Therapeutics

June 4-8, 2012

Oct-Dec 2011

TEACHER TRAININGS The Yoga Center of Minneapolis offers both a 230-hour Training program that is registered with Yoga Alliance and an advanced 300-hour program that along with a 200-hour+ program, meets Yoga Alliances 500-hour registration requirements. These comprehensive programs are designed for any student wishing to teach or deepen their experience of yoga and its philosophies. Payment plans are available. The Yoga Center of Minneapolis is licensed as a private career school with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 141.21 to 141.32. Licensure is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions. Minnesota Office of Higher Education: 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108 | 651-642-0567. Grading Policy: Students earn hours for participation under the guidelines of Yoga Alliance. Students graduate once they have completed sufficient hours to satisfy the Yoga Alliance RYT200 standards, and earn a passing evaluation from their mentor and the program director. Per Yoga Alliance, no credit can be given for previous trainings toward a 230-hour program certification. See web for current faculty and additional program information.

INFORMATIONAL OPEN HOUSES

Primary 230-Hour Program Upcoming 9-Month Trainings:

:: Monday Evenings :: Sunday Afternoons

-Starts Jan 23 -Starts Feb 26

Upcoming Year-long Trainings:

:: Sunday (Bi-monthly)

Learn more about Yoga Study Teacher Trainings by attending an Open House. See web for upcoming dates!

-Starts Oct 30

Yoga Study students will learn from a variety of experienced instructors from different backgrounds and yogic philosophies. Training topics include Yamas and Niyamas, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, Yoga Sutras, Alignment, Adjustments, Bandhas, Chakras & the Energy Body, Gross Anatomy, Sequencing, Finding Your Teaching Voice, Practice Teaching Labs, various styles of yoga, pranayama and additional technique topics. Tuition includes core meetings and electives: 5 weekend workshops, Visiting Instructor Weekend, 34 Tech Sessions, 15-hour mentorship, and public class pass option. Each group will create a karma yoga project making yoga available to a local population that would otherwise not have access to it. See web for curriculum and schedule details.

Advanced 300-Hour Program (Combine with 200HR+ training for RYT-500 Registration) Module A - Working with Special Populations Module B - Yoga Therapeutics for the Physical Body Module C - Yoga Therapeutics for the Emotional Body Module D- Advanced Alignment, Cueing, Adjusting, & Sequencing Module F - Working with Pranayama, Meditation, & Teaching Practices Module E - The Philosophy, Science and Mystics of Yoga

EP E JO NIN UR G NE YO Y U

Modules may be taken as stand-alone trainings or in any order to achieve 500RYT status. See web for all module curriculum and schedules. Open to anyone who has completed a 200HR+ training that meets Yoga Alliance standards. This program has been broken into 6 modules (A-F) offered in a Monday daytime format (9am-4pm) or weekend format (one weekend/month for 3 months). Make-up any missed hours in the next round of that module. Required reading and report assignments due at the end of each module. Upon completion of each module you will receive a certificate. Upon completion of all six, you will receive a graduation certificate and may choose to apply for Yoga Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 500-hour registry.

See web for upcoming sessions! Now taking registration. Note: Module E Starts Oct 15th, 2011. Modules B & F start Jan 2012!

ÂŠ Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

Speaking with

DOUG SWENSON

ÂŠ Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

nhale. Breathe in the smell of clover, salty sea air, or balsam pine. Exhale, fold, listen; the wind sighs through the trees, a sailboat’s rigging clinks merrily or a bird sings. For some yogis it doesn’t get better than this: practicing outdoors, feet on the ground, feeling a part of nature’s rhythm and pulse. “Practicing outside has inspired my own practice the most,” said Doug Swenson, in a recent interview. Google images of Doug Swenson and you can see his love of the outdoors. In one photo he is seated in Lotus position on top of a mountain, in another he’s balanced across a rocky chasm, in this one he is in Eka Pada Koundiyanasana, perched on rocks in the middle of ocean waves, or in Tree Pose on railroad tracks. “I like the feeling of the energy of different areas,” he says. Doug was a surfer before beginning his study of yoga in 1969. He is now in his 50s, muscular, with a solid grace. He continues to surf as well as bike, hike, run and climb. Hiking in the mountains is a form of meditation for Doug. “My vinyasa music is practicing outdoors to the music of wind, ocean, or a quiet stream,” he says. “I am constantly learning from the earth, clouds, sunlight, or the ocean – energy tells a story.” Watching his shadow as he stepped from one asana to another on bare rock inspired Doug to create his own vinyasa flow practice. Forty years of personal practice, teaching and exploring other disciplines such as Tai Chi helped to hone his creation,

Sadhana Yoga Chi. On Doug’s website, references to nature help explain his particular style of yoga: “Let your yoga flow naturally like the energy of a river as it journeys to the sea, sometimes powerful and sometimes soft.” Sadhana Yoga Chi is an evolution of vinyasa, ashtanga, yin, power and restorative yoga together with a belief that it is to a student’s advantage to practice both hard and soft forms of yoga, “creating a greater balance of both physical and mental energy, allowing the student to progress at a more rapid pace, without injuries.” It emphasizes movement with fluidity and grace while maintaining power and strength as you enter and exit each asana. His classes combine soft and hard form vinyasa with pranayama and deep relaxation, reflecting a deeper understanding of yoga as union, yin and yang.

training – a balance between aerobic exercise, muscle resistance training and stretching – and that combining these activities in a holistic manner will enhance your vital life force or flow of prana and lessen your chances of injury. Doug is the author of several books, including “The Diet That Loves You Most.” He has been a vegan for 40 years, eating about 90% raw food, and is passionate about nutrition and diet. “Your body is your temple and you should treat it with respect,” he says. Doug Swenson will be teaching at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis Nov 4-6, 2011. See page 24 for details, and learn more about Doug at www. SadhanaYogaChi.com

“The way you move from one posture to the next is as important, if not more important, than choosing between hard or soft yoga practice.” This movement between postures is called a vinyasa, or connecting link. Vinyasa has been compared to the punctuation and connecting articles that can turn words into poetry so it’s no surprise that Doug is also a poet. A river flows to the sea -a melody of strength and softness, peace and tranquility; representing energy in motion filling its destiny. One of the workshops Doug offers is “Vinyasa Yoga/Cross Training,” a blend of Ashtanga and Soft Form Yoga. Doug believes that a person’s health can benefit from cross-

................ Nancy Vala (RYT200) is a yoga teacher, writer, and artist living in Minneapolis. Her Facebook page is “Nest of Stillness”.

Oct-Dec 2011

THE

MUSIC

Namaste and welcome to the Playlist Corner! After receiving lots of questions regarding the different types of yoga music that’s out there, we decided to add this musical note to the YCM magazine. Each issue offers a playlist, artist or kirtan review along with thought provoking quotes, suggestions for upcoming shows, must-see films and a whole

GURU

lot more musical yogi fun. -- Om Shanti Namaste - Linda Rae

Experience A

s I packed my bags at the hotel in Squaw Valley, CA my mind wandered. It was the final hour. This yoga festival and amazing weekend were coming to an end. I was fortunate enough to have attended Wanderlust CA in Olympic Village (July 28-31) -- a Yoga & Music festival sweeping the nation, now in its third year. Compared to others, Wanderlust is a festival rather than a conference, and is centered on yoga, music, life, and SEVA, selfless service. It’s a place where music fills the air and a smile fills every face; a place where the sky is big and the mountains powerful. Meditation domes and tea tents sit peacefully amongst the mighty Sugar Pines. The presenters included yoga greats Seane Corn, John Friend, and Rod Stryker to name a few, with musical guests such as MC Yogi, Michael Franti, Garth Stevenson and the Wailers, rocking the cool mountain air. There were belly dancers and fire dancers, acro-yogis and hoopers. YES…the hoola hoop is back! Anything and everything YOGA was ON. Students break at the Seane Corn Michael Franti Yoga Aid challenge. View more at www.tinyurl.com/yogaaid.

Oct-Dec 2011

Gazing out the open window, I thought that Wanderlust should be a CITY, a place where we could all live! It is a place where yogis and peace keepers from all over the world come together as one. Wanderlust is a place where the language and the currency are called love. And the system is built on Karma Yoga… giving to others knowing that’s how you get it back – that’s how you receive all the benefits that yoga and its realm have to offer. It moved me to think about where I stand in this community. How can I stand up a little taller? How can I give back and make a difference where I live and be a part of the change? I was truly inspired. It was Wanderlove! When the airport shuttle arrived on my return journey, I noticed that the music had stopped and the yoga slacklines had all been taken down. The dust began to settle. Some 3000

yogis had disappeared into the horizon. The sun was setting in the valley and my mind said it was over, just like Savasana at the end of class. It was then my heart reminded me that this was actually just the beginning. In class we build the poses to get us TO Savasana, that place of rest… of inner peace. Not an end, but a beginning. It is not until you step off of your mat that the magic happens. It’s called life, and it is good. So stand up! Give back – to someone you don’t even know. And if you

MC Yogi rocked the main stage Friday and wrapped up the final class with a a heartfelt speech, urging everyone to spread love as a dynamic, healing force.

get the chance to practice yoga in another state or a different community, take it! Wanderlust…it’s coming to a city near you. ♦ Namaste – Linda Rae

DANYAVAAD – Fairuza SEAN JOHNSON & THE WILD LOTUS BAND – Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha DAVE STRINGER – Saraswati Ma EARTHRISE SOUNDSYSTEM – Desh Nayad TREVOR HALL – The Return WILCO / JEFF TWEEDY – What Light MC YOGI – Give Love (Yoga Aid theme song) MICHAEL FRANTI – I’ll Be Waiting GIRISH – All Good NIBS VAN DER SPUY – Dreams of Believers Meditation Dome perched atop the Sierra Nevadas in Squaw Valley, CA.

DONNA DE LORY – Samba Sadashiva MERLIN’S MAGIC – Merlin’s Magic

AUTUMN PLAYLIST

GARTH STEVENSON – The Southern Sea

Oct-Dec 2011

My Fat vs. My Mat STORIES FROM THE MAT In the weeks leading up to finally enrolling in the Absolute Beginner Class at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, I’d pushed and pulled at myself mentally and emotionally, trying to knead my insecurity, anxiety and doubt into something small enough for me to step over, or thin enough for me to break through. I’d been interested in doing yoga for years, probably over a decade, come to think of it. But I’ve also been fat for years, quite literally my entire life. I’d never experienced the luxury of participating in physical activity without the purpose of fixing something supposedly profoundly wrong with me. (My sister remembers my grandmother forcing me to do toetouches and jumping jacks in front of the family. I remember the perennial public shame of the President’s Physical Fitness evaluation. A high school friend remembers how much I enjoyed tennis, and how much my face fell when my parents brought up that it’s not making much of a difference in my weight. And it goes on.) As a result, even though moving my body never fails to make me feel luminous—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually—it’s not something I’m able to enter into lightly. Frankly, I felt I was at the very bottom of even the Absolute Beginner Class. In response to this, a friend of mine shared valuable perspective with me: Yoga isn’t about fabricating yourself into something more fitting to others’ standards, or even your own unrealistic standards. Rather, the whole purpose of yoga is to prepare for meditation as you are, which simply can’t be done if you’re injuring yourself. He’d meant physical injury, but I realized this was true mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. Sticking to yoga was something

I deeply wanted to do, and my foray into the Absolute Beginner Class was to prepare me for the promising-sounding Big A#%! Yoga series. I thought back to a conversation I’d had with a friend, years ago, about how I’d love to do yoga but I couldn’t imagine feeling comfortable in a class, incapable of conceiving a space without judgment of my body shape and size. She lit up and said, “Oh! A coworker of mine goes to something like... fat ass yoga? I’ll check it out for you!” I remembered I’d laughed out loud, hoping a class could actually be called “fat ass yoga,” and being pleasantly surprised at the courageously cheeky Big A#%! moniker. Given the prospect of this safer space, I slowly waded out of the morass of my conscious and unconscious baggage around exercising my body. It took me a few months to actually look at the info my friend gave me. It took me a few more months to look at how the Yoga Center’s class schedules worked. And it took me a few more months to settle into feeling allowed to participate in yoga and deciding to enroll. Even with that internal resolve, it took a number of yogis in my life sharing about their practice before I could turn that decision into action—and even then, I’d purposefully started at the Absolute Beginner level, because that’s what I was. But after four weeks, I found myself on the other end of the ABC, in anticipation of the Beginner Big A#%! series. I arrived early for my first Saturday Big A#%! Yoga and set up my mat, blocks and bolster. I sat in Sukhasana and waited not without trepidation. I tried to size up the instructor, Sarah P., as we chatted. “Size up” being a sort of pun on both of us, I suppose, Sarah being

a number of inches shorter than I and not fat. While lifelong messages that my body is different and wrong have actually helped me realize that what others’ bodies are like doesn’t matter all that much, suffice to say, Sarah was petite. This mattered only because it raised some questions for me: how is this person with this very different body going to a) react to my body and b) know how to teach for my body? I continued to try to suss her out. It’s hard to put into words exactly what I mean: basically, as I’ve been made to feel different, in a bad way, my whole life, I often find myself comfortable with a person not necessarily because of good qualities they possess, but bad qualities they don’t possess. In Sarah, I didn’t detect any of the reactions I’ve been primed to expect when it comes to me and exercise: no surprise, no condescension, no pity. I didn’t detect disgust (more common than non-fat people would like to think), or any hesitation about spending the next six weeks with fat ol’ me. Sarah was impressively, phenomenally, wonderfully free of anything I could sense that might trigger hurt. In fact, all I sensed was some open friendliness and interest. I cautiously lowered one of the many red flags I’ve learned to keep at the ready over the years, and listened as the class began. There were two other women in the class. I was immediately impressed by Sarah’s matter-of-factness about the issues particular to yoga at our size. Her practice of referring to fat as “real estate” really tickled me: though I prefer to be direct and just use the word “fat,” those three little letters carry a great deal of negative connotation and denotation, and I thought “real estate”

Oct-Dec 2011

was a pretty fabulous euphemism. She also made very sure to give us a number of modifications for every pose she introduced, as well as working our way through the most comfortable and appropriate transitions. What’s more, she touched us. I mean that literally, though for me, metaphorically as well. She physically stepped into our poses with us and adjusted our bodies with her hands so we could get the correct alignment. All three of us were sweaty and red-faced, muscles shaking to support ourselves, and Sarah got close and moved us (once again, literally and metaphorically). It was only a minor occurrence, just a couple of adjustments here and there, but to me it was a big deal. Not to Sarah, though. Sweaty fat waists, sweaty fat shoulders, even sweaty fat hips—not an issue.

Not an issue! Holy crap! It’s indescribable what a relief this was. The little arsenal of red flags I’d been clasping tightly inside of me collapsed and dissolved. I realized I’d been emotionally holding my breath this whole time; I finally let it out and started to breathe. I could trust Sarah, and I could trust this class. That was back in June 2010, and I’ve been slowly developing in my practice since then. I remember now the satisfaction of sore muscles. I remember now the joy of motion, of thinking into my body and gathering the disparate pieces of myself into a center. I’ve developed in class series as well: I did additional Beginning Big A#%! series, then moved to participate in Big A#%! 2 classes. I expanded into Beginning Hatha, and have dropped into Tantra and Yoga for Back Strength classes. I’m mixing in various Hatha 1/2 sessions

right now, feeling out which classes are a kind challenge for my current ability, and even gave an all-level Vinyasa class a try. Basically, watch out! I might be coming to a class near you… ...and without the Yoga Center’s Big A#%! vision of yoga for Every Body, and the kind, fun guidance of folks like Sarah, I would never have felt that I could participate. Thanks to Big A#%! Yoga, I now have body, mind and spirit resources that travel with me to each class, allowing me to stay calm and modify even if the challenge is a stretch for me. I have so much gratitude to Jennifer Gray for making a bodyinclusive yoga space a priority, as well as for having a great third eye for picking wonderful instructors to hold open those initial safer spaces. I’m so excited to continue to gently push my edge in yoga, and to keep exploring and deepening my practice. If you consider yourself a Big A#%! and you’re on the fence about yoga, come on over. To you and everyone else, I and my fat will see you on the mat. Eleonore Wesserle is a yogini currently living in Minneapolis.

Oct-Dec 2011

Monkey Mind

Foodie Focus STAYING GROUNDED Fall Recipes to Balance Your Digestive Fires. Kate Scharenbroich is a Minneapolis-based Private Natural Health Chef Specializing in Gluten Free and Aryuvedic cooking and Yoga Instructor www.GenuineGourmentChef.com

he beach towels and bug spray are back in the closet, school buses are back on the roads at full force, and the air is laden with the lingering smells of apple orchards and crisp yellow leaves. As the days shorten, it feels like the perfect time to hunker down and get back to a more structured routine. In the spring, it’s time to focus on shedding the weight of winter and getting our bodies revved up for the high energy of summer. Autumn in

Minnesota is about acknowledging the importance of slowing down and restoring the body. Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science of medicine, believes that all of nature, us included, is bound by the relationship among the three doshas, or primal energies. Kapha dosha is associated with water and earth; it suggests groundedness, stability, and growth. Governed by water and fire, the pitta dosha is the energy of transformation,

achievement, and metabolism. Vata dosha is associated with the elements of air and ether; it governs creativity and change, and tends to wax and wane. In this view, we all contain a unique mix of the three doshas, although our bodies tend to be dominated by one at any given time. According to Ayurvedic theory, the seasons also impact doshic activity. When autumn arrives, we have gathered plenty of heat in our tissues from the

Chai Spiced Amaranth Porridge Perfect calming breakfast for a crisp fall morning (2-3 Servings)

Optional toppings: toasted nuts, local honey, or maple syrup

Ingredients 3 cups of Milk (dairy, almond, or soy) 1 cup Amaranth (best if soaked over night in 1 cup of water) ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8-teaspoon ground ginger 1/8-teaspoon ground clove 1/8-teaspoon salt 1 cup golden raisins 1 apple, diced

Procedure 1. In a medium saucepan whisk together all of the ingredients 2. Bring to a simmer and cook 25 minutes or until amaranth is tender (less time require if the amaranth was soaked overnight) 3. Serve with more milk, diced apple, toasted nuts, and honey or maple syrup

Oct-Dec 2011

summer, which is fiery pitta dosha. As the leaves become crisp and dry up, and the wind begins to howl, vata dosha begins to take over, the one governed by air and marked by change, instability and anxiety. When you have an accumulation of the heat and fire from pitta, which is then fanned by the air of vata, it can lead to mental and physical burnout. This stresses the nervous system, adrenals, and essentially puts our body’s natural detoxification processes on hold. For example, consider the liver, the body’s natural detoxifier and one of the primary organs in which excess pitta can accumulate and cause issues. Ayurvedic texts portray the process of digestion to cooking over a flame. Digestive “fires,” called agni, “cook” food so nutrients can be optimally utilized. When our dosha are in balance, and the agni is strong, our body fully assimilates nutrients, filters toxins, and eliminates what it doesn’t need. A digestive system that is fully

functional metabolizes the food we eat to produce a biochemical called ojas, a fluid substance that connects and nourishes the mind and body. Opposite to Ojas, Ayurvedic medicine calls the toxins our body cannot process Ama (Sanskrit for “that which harms or weakens”). Claudia Welch, an Ayurvedic practitioner and author of Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life, describes that the liver processes the foods we eat, as well as chemicals we encounter on a daily basis including over the counter medications, dish soap, makeup, and particulate matter in the air. These excess toxins tax our liver and increase our pitta, which may result in migraines, irritability, rashes, anger,

and more. Welch states, “We get tired, we get sick, we gain or lose too much weight.” The liver and digestive tract, the two systems in the body that break down toxins, become overwhelmed

Roasted Parsnip and Carrot Soup Delicious root vegetable soup is perfect for a Sunday afternoon, and leftovers make for a grounding lunchtime meal at work. (Serves 4)

¼ teaspoon ground pepper ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ginger 6 cups vegetable stock

Ingredients 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rounds 3 parsnips, peeled and cut into ½-inch rounds 3 shallots, quartered 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 3 tablespoons olive oil ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Procedure 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Combine carrots, parsnip, shallots, thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and ginger in a large bowl and toss together. Then place on a lined baking sheet in an even layer. 3. Roast 30-45 minutes until the

vegetables are tender 4. Place the roasted vegetables in a food processor or blender and add in 3 cups of stock. 5. Puree vegetables, then add in another cup of broth, continuing to puree and add stock until the soup has reached your desired consistency. 6. Pour into a pot and heat through, adjusting seasonings as needed. 7. Garnish with toasted walnuts and thyme leaves.

Oct-Dec 2011

and collect a toxic sludge composed of waste products foreign to the body, and are difficult to properly metabolize, digest, or otherwise expel. This sludge settles in areas around the body, causing unbalances, and can take manifest in ways such as a coated tongue, congestion, lowered immunity, and unclear thinking. Over time, the presence of ama can lead to more severe issues such as depression, calcium deposits in the joints, plaque in the arteries, and cysts and tumors. So, how do you eat like a yogi? If you imagine filling your body with nothing but sugar and caffeine, then try to remain in savasana, what effect would it have? You can envision a balanced, calm mind is easier to achieve if you can commit yourself to nourishing your body properly, just as your commit to your 5:15 vinyasa, but what exactly does it mean to nourish property? Admittedly, extending your yoga practice to the dinner table is not always easy. What you need as an

individual is unique to this moment of your life. It is very different from someone else’s needs, or even what you needed five years ago, or will need five years from now. Just as you learned to listen to your body and breathe on the mat, you can also learn to listen to your body in the kitchen. It is natural for Minnesotans this time of the year to eat more, move slower, and sleep longer following the presence of cooler weather. According to Ayurveda, this is your body’s way of staying warm. Digest fires intensify so you can digest and enjoy winter foods, which are generally higher in fats, complex carbohydrates, and proteins, such as nuts, root vegetables, sweets and dairy products. To balance your digestion and maintain your health, incorporate warming herbs and spices like basil, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, fennel, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, pepper, and thyme-into your diet. These spices can greatly enhance traditional wintertime foods such as

savory stew, chai tea, mulled cider, and porridge. “Eating is perhaps the single most important act for one’s yoga practice,” believes 20-year yoga teacher and Ayurvedic educator, Scott Blossom. Incorporating time-tested Ayurvedic dietary principles in your daily life can enhance your health, uplift your spirit, and further your yoga practice. To prevent ama from forming, drink plenty of room temperature water with a slice or ginger or lemon to strengthen the digestive fires before meals. Continue to nourish your body with freshly prepared foods, and cook with seasonal, organic produce. No matter what your motivation, more energy, weight loss, deepening your yoga practice, or boosting your immune system before the snow arrives, you’ll be amazed at the internal and external benefits you can gain when you slow down, start to listen, and really nourish your body.

Creamed Kale Kale is a hearty fall green and when cooked becomes a vata balancing salad for the cooler months ahead. If preferred you can omit the goat cheese and add ¼ cup more heavy cream. Ingredients 1 bunch kale, stems trimmed and roughly chopped ½ cup vegetable stock ½ teaspoon kosher salt Cracked pepper to taste

1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 teaspoon thyme, rinsed and minced 1/4 cup heavy cream ¼ cup goat cheese ¼ teaspoon nutmeg Pinch of red pepper flakes Toasted pine nuts Procedure 1. In a large sauté pan or medium pot, add the kale, stock, salt and pepper. 2. Cover and cook on medium low,

stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the stock is almost absorbed. / 3. Add the butter, thyme, cream, nutmeg and red pepper flakes and cook on medium-low, uncovered, until the cream is thickened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in goat cheese until melted and coats the kale. 4. Season with more salt and pepper if necessary, top with toasted pine nuts, serve hot.

Oct-Dec 2011

A YOGA RECOVERY STORIES FROM THE MAT I have mixed feelings about October and the influx of pink ribbons worn to show support for breast cancer patients. On one hand, it has created an incredible awareness and that in itself is very positive. On the other hand, I am keenly aware of the seriousness and potential devastation of a cancer diagnosis and at times feel a small pink ribbon trivializes the diagnosis. In August of 2009, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer during my first regularly-scheduled mammogram. It was completely unexpected. I was one of those people who fell into the “no risk factors” category. There was no history of cancer in my family and the only applicable factor was that I am a woman. I spent my 40th year of life undergoing chemo, radiation, and several surgeries. That was critical to the future well-being

of my physical body of course. But after that last radiation treatment wrapped up, I began the process of caring for my emotional well-being, which is when the true nature of yoga revealed itself to me. I had been teaching yoga since 2003. It provided me the opportunity to maintain my love of the practice as well as speak to my four young children about the connection of a healthy mind and body. I adored yoga and attended trainings whenever I could fit them into my very busy, yoga-mama world, but I would often feel guilty and restless when I was away from the kids. Fast forward to the 2009 cancer diagnosis. Admittedly, I didn’t practice yoga throughout most of the chemo. I was too sick (headaches and nausea) and too weak. I’ll never forget my

first Downward Dog after the second surgery. For months I struggled with mobility issues which were devastating to someone who had spent years developing the asanas of her practice. And yet, as the breathing instinctively returned, there was a feeling of relief from being on my mat, a familiar place, knowing my recovery was ahead. What I did next was uncharacteristic. Cancer forces upon you a raw glimpse of your mortality. The benefit: a renewed desire to live my best life. I put aside my guilt and aversion to risk and enrolled in a teacher-training program at The Yoga Center of Minneapolis. At the time, the 2 1/2 hour commute and the year of Sundays spent away from my family was a major sacrifice in time and in finances, especially after a year of cancer bills. Thank God for my husband (who thought I was a little crazy). He realized pretty quickly that after a long work week, he would be pulling single-daddyduty all weekend. Looking back, I think he was probably just so grateful for my survival that I could have told him I was going to India for 3 months and still received a feeble OK. As I attended trainings every week, yoga became my new medicine. I would imagine that all of that chemo and drugs that I reluctantly had pumped into my body would release with my breath. My mentor, Monique, gently but firmly did not give me too many breaks or accept excuses why I could not do an asana.,She warned me that my emotions might present themselves during the hip openers, and sure enough, I spent a few Pigeons head down weeping on my mat. The yoga school became an extension of my therapy. I gained a deep appreciation

Oct-Dec 2011

Yoga Recovery, cont. from p. 36 for yoga’s culture and history and how the Sutras themselves, applied to my life and my practice. I’ll never have the eloquence of some of the great teachers who guide us on the Yamas and the Niyamas, but I feel I can speak of them in real world words due to my understanding gained from surviving cancer and the insight of a mother. Oddly enough, cancer was a gift, one that I never wish to receive again, of course, but nonetheless it forced me forward on many levels. My newly-created yoga community inspired me to take some huge leaps of faith. I rediscovered my love of writing and speaking and developed a deeper appreciation for my family who won’t disintegrate in my absence. The yoga community was the springboard for me to take my dreams to the next level and develop my yoga retreat business on beautiful Madeline Island. In my journey of recovery, it wasn’t a pink ribbon that offered relief and health; it was a collection of great teachers and a yoga mat. Yoga did so much more than any other traditional exercise could have ever done. It healed my heart. Amy Annis (RYT 200) teaches while raising a small army. She says that her practice not only gives her balance during a hectic time of her life but also gives her opportunities to speak to her children about the connection of a healthy mind and body. After a bout with crazy cancer in 2009, she decided to take her dreams to the next level and developed her yoga retreat concept on beautiful Madeline Island, WI. She also found her writing voice and launched her own blog (found at www.tinyurl.com/ amyannis). As a yoga mamma, wife, outdoor enthusiast, and dog lover she delights in life a little off balance. She is greatful for many things, including hair. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

COUPON FOR NEW STUDENTS

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Oct-Dec 2011

YOGA STUDY

utumn has us genetically programmed to buckle down and put our heads in a scholarly way, and the fall line-up for Yoga Study is full of opportunity to be immersed in the philosophy

CORNER

and technique of Yoga. We are excited for the new arrival of Yoga Study classes YS35,YS36 ,YS37,YS38! Over the summer, we welcomed new teacher Dr. Asavari Manvikar to our esteemed faculty. Dr. Manvikar is a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine and brings her knowledge of this healing science to the curriculum, as well as enriching our 230-hour teacher training program with her background as a Sanskrit scholar. We also welcome new Anatomy teacher, Jane Shockley to the staff. Ms. Shockley is an adjunct instructor of Dance at Carleton College and a founding member of Zenon Dance company in Minneapolis. We are fortunate to have such talented and accomplished contributors to our program, and would like to thank everyone who has contributed their time and energy to the success and growth of the Yoga Study family. The following students have completed the minimum requirements for our 230-hour teacher training program in the summer quarter, and we salute them:

Sarah Jane Wroblewski, YS Coordinator

Laura Gerstel

Samantha Thompson

Anne Lantry

Kirsten Huntley

Scott Beesley

Julie Liveringhouse

Erika Rosso

Rebecca Verr

Emily VonBank

Krista Boos

MeganBetterman

Wendy Brom

Taymara Montague

Kelly Klosterman

Kimberly Williams

Aimee Cardwell

Alison Lindburg

Angela Westlund

Stefanie Bell-Egge

Jennifer Rathke

Sarah Deziel

Theresa Hutchison

Eva Gallagher

Sofia Lorraine

Tracy Hedin

Rachel Peffer

Ginny Betzer

Mythili Chari

Rademacher

Marilee Maxwell

Dave Larson

Jennie Ernie-Steighner

Amelia Smith

Leigh Thomas

Makinna Oestreich

Laura Bursch

Sarah Peterson

Hillary Larson

Mi Chin Chung

Sylvia Chandler

Micki Rasmussen

Libby Weibel

Angela North

Stephanie Grikis

Jessica Erickson

Michaele Paoli

Allison M. Rahn

Pam Knutson

Kate Lauth

Paula Coyne

Irene Genelin

Nicole Klett

Merilen Bikers

Angella Kocian

Heather Mansfield-Lulu

ÂŠ Yoga Center of Minneapolis www.yogacentermpls.com | 612.436.4700

Oct-Dec 2011

:: SLP Studio 952.345.1953 4200 Minnetonka Blvd 55416 register@yogacentermpls.com

YOGA

:: MPLS Studio 612.436.4700 212 3rd Ave N #205 55401 register@yogacentermpls.com

of Minneapolis

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