Inner and Outer: A Exploration of Yogic Alignment (Weekend Only)

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says that our asanas should be held with a balance of steadiness and ease, because only in that balance can the inner process of yoga unfold. He means not only the external posture of the body, but the internal posture of the mind, the posture by which we hold whatever experiences happen to arise. This posture must be grounded and receptive at the same time, so we can remain open but stable as old patterns of thought and feeling unwind.

In Ashtanga Vinyasa, we cultivate this posture by balancing the two opposing forces of the breath. These are called prana and apana, and they are said to underly the primitive movements upon which living organisms depend—opening and closing, swelling and contracting, forming and dissolving. By balancing these forces, we can find the internal posture of awareness that allows us to unravel from the tangles of our conditioned minds.

To find this balance is to connect yoga practice and philosophy in a visceral way, and that is what our intensive is all about. Together we explore the principles of postural alignment, and we learn to use these principles to cultivate the internal posture upon which the process of yoga depends. We learn to hold this posture gently as we move sweetly through the forms, feeling the continuity of our inner and outer realities, and steeping ourselves in the quiet exhilaration of coming undone.

There are two options for this intensive. You can take just the weekend, for a little taste, or you can embrace the whole offering, and join for one full week of intensive practice and study. There are no requirements of ability or proficiency and people with special circumstances of any kind are absolutely welcome to join.

Schedule for Weekend Only Intensive: Friday, December 1st - Sunday, December 3rd

Friday, December 1

Surya Namaskar 6-8 pm

Saturday, December 2

Mysore 7-9 am

The Secret Life of Standing Postures 10 am - 12 pm

Talk: What is Hatha Yoga? 1 - 3 pm

Sunday, December 3

Mysore 7 - 9 am

Backbending 10 am - 12 pm

Pranayama: Practice and Theory 1 - 3 pm

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:

MYSORE:

This is a Mysore style asana class. We practice together, mostly in silence, following the natural cadence of our own breath. This is not a guided class, so you must know your own sequencing to attend. Ashtanga Vinyasa will be the predominating style, but other Vinyasa-Krama styles are welcome. This is an opportunity for individual attention and support.

PRANAYAMA AND MEDITATION:

Pranayama is the practice of giving space to the breath. When the movements of the breath merge together, they reveal a perfect continuity. They suspend the mind in the liminal space between creativity and emptiness. This session involves a guided practice of pranayama and somatic visualization to awaken the breath, and taste the sweetness that lies beneath.

THE SECRET LIFE OF STANDING POSTURES:

Standing Postures have a secret life, a secret inwardness, a secret drama that is easy to miss. They can seem simple and accessible when we first learn them, but as we feel into them with closer attention, they start to reveal an unfathomable depth. Each standing posture is a unique stage for the dynamic interplay of prana and apana, and when we learn to direct those subtle forces into one another, using the structure of the postural form, their drama begins to unfold. In this session, we learn to balance prana and apana within the standing postures of the Ashtanga Vinyasa system.

Cost: $250 early bird pricing (until September 1st)

$300 full cost (after September 1st)

Note: Refunds are given only if cancellation is made 30 days prior to workshop. All refunds are given minus a 10% administrative fee. Thank you!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Miami Yoga Garage, 1940 NW Miami Ct, Miami, United States