News

*Afternoon Qigong begins April 4th

Wisdom Healing Qigong w/ Matthew Anziani

Wednesdays & Fridays 4:30-5:45 p.m. (starting April 4th)

(drop-ins welcome, or purchase a class card)

 

Qigong is a technology that applies ancient wisdom, modern science and the mind’s creative power to transform our lives from dis-ease to health and well-being.  Using standing movements, breath awareness, creative visualization, and sounds, qigong harmonizes the flow of life energy in your body creating greater well-being.

Matthew Anziani  transmits this practice with permission from his teacher, Master Mingtong Gu. Matthew is a sound/music therapist who used the power of his voice to heal from tetraplegia (paralysis affecting all four limbs).  At the age of 23, after experiencing a traumatic fall, which shattered two of his neck vertebrae, Matthew used his knowledge of sound, music, and the healing power of the voice to completely recover from an injury that should have kept him wheelchair-bound for life.  Matthew has a degree in Jazz/World music performance from San Francisco State University and is certified in Sound, Voice, and Music Healing from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

* March 26th | Pratyahara: A Multi-sensory Healing Event

Imagine, laying down your yoga mat, reclining over bolsters and blankets, closing your eyes and being serenaded by healing chants, and beautiful instruments like harmonium, acoustic guitar and crystal bowls. In the depth of bliss, a fragrant essential oil anointing takes you further into peace. As a moment of silence comes, it is so full of contentment, your mind is effortlessly peaceful. This is Pratyahara.

Pratyahara: Harmonizing the Senses
Mondays 7:30 – 9 p.m. | March 26, April 30 (attend one or both)
Instructors: Nicole Becker & Matthew Anziani
Step into a healing sanctuary for the senses. Rest comfortably while being ministered to with soothing vocals and instruments, anointed with pure plant essential oils, and guided into relaxation with healing imagery meditation. A unique offering from two devoted healers and teachers. Enjoy an individual class or take as a series.
Click here for full details and to pre-register.
(Space is limited so pre-registration is recommended since we cannot guarantee drop-in space on the day of.)

**January: Pregnancy Movement & Labor Dance Series

Pregnancy Movement & Labor Dance Workshop
Sundays 1-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 15th-Feb. 5th

 $18/class or $64 series. Recommended for women in their 2nd & 3rd trimesters

During pregnancy exercise benefits you and baby through increased energy, strength, and stamina. Specific movements encourage the baby into optimal positioning and help the cervix open more easily and labor progress smoothly.  Baby and mama marinate in oxytocin while tuning inwards for the deep transformational dance of childbirth.

Topics in this class include:
       *  Connecting with your baby through specific practices/exercises
       *  Body mechanics and pregnancy posture
       *  Preparing the body and mind to work together (the mind-body connection)
       *  Relaxation, breathing, visualizations, & more
       *  Positions for labor & birth (optimal fetal positioning)

“pelvic motion is really important to many women if they want to give birth with a minimum of pain and discomfort… every pregnant woman should practice exploring the range of motion of their pelvis” (Ina May Gaskin).
Gingi Allen www.mamababyconnection.blogspot.com
ChildBirth Doula, WombWellness Educator, Mother

**January: Kid’s Yoga (ages 8-12) FREE INTRO SESSION

Girls and boys ages 9-12 can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of Yoga through a combination of practice and play. Students will have room to be themselves as they develop strength, coordination, flexibility and concentration and learn about the Yoga’s underlying philosophy of kindness and compassion.

Day/Time: Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Free Intro Session: Tuesday, January 10 | 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Winter dates:   Jan. 17 – Feb. 14th
Cost: $15 drop-in, $50 full series

Instructor: Lisa Klein is a yogi, storyteller, theater artist, and educator. She’s been an artist/educator (pre-K – university) for 18 years, teaching yoga, movement, improvisation, poetry, creative writing, storytelling and theater arts. Lisa is a certified Yoga Ed instructor, (Yoga Ed Instructor Training, Pre-K – High School, August, 2009), and a certified Yoga Alliance instructor (200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification, May, 2010.) www.dolphintalesyoga.com

“Lisa’s love for teaching, story telling and Yoga is obvious in her class for children. She mixes story telling and asanas to create an inviting environment for children to learn and explore yoga.”

*Improve Your Health with Every Breath…

If you’ve been to a yoga class, you’ve heard the instruction, “Just breathe.”  You’ve probably even seen it on a bumper sticker. But, what does this really mean, and why is it so important?
As someone who has been practicing yoga for 18 years, I can testify that no practice has been as healing or transformational for my body and mind, than conscious breathing. Yet, I find that it is often the hardest thing to convince students to study in depth. Why learn about something I seem to have been doing quite well all day long for my whole life?
For starters, most of of only use 30% of our lung capacity. Lungs are one of the primary detoxifying organs of the body. Can you imagine if you only took out 70% of your garbage each week? After all these years, what would happen?
Clinical Research has found that meditative breathing practices and efficient breathing directly correlate to improved immunity, happiness levels, balanced hormones and quicker recovery from injury and stress.

I invite you to attend:
“Body of Breath” this Sunday, Sept. 18th with myself and Deane Juhan. Through movement, sensory mapping, hands-on attention, yoga postures, and breathing exercises (pranayama), and slides you will:
- learn the physiology and mechanics of the respiratory system
- expand your awareness of the breath/body/mind connection
- deepen your lung capacity & voluntary control of the breath
- calm your mind and de-stress the body just by breathing
No previous yoga experience necessary. This class is appropriate for all bodies.
Click here for full details and/or to register.
Due to popular demand, pre-registration is required. You can pay online by credit card or paypal, or bring a check to the studio.

*NEW CLASS: Adaptive Yoga – Wed’s. 11:15-12:15

“Adaptive Yoga” is for students with challenges in strength, flexibility, and/or balance which make beginner Yoga classes too difficult.  Older students are encouraged to take part.  We will use the wall, chairs, and other props to help stabilize ourselves during practice.  The class will emphasize cultivating our wellbeing in a non-competitive environment.  Please consult your physician if you have any questions about your ability to join in.  For more information, please contact the teacher: Rhoda Rossman at (415) 298-0637.

August Special Events

 Upcoming Special Events/Workshops can also be found by clicking the “Events” Link on the right hand side of the website from any page.
 

(Ojas members receive 10% off workshops and special events) – details at the bottom of class schedule page

  

Thursday, August 4  -  7:30-9:00 p.m. : Free Info night and meditation for “The Art of Living”  Course with instructor, Satinder Grawal.  Meet the instructor, get info and ask questions about the upcoming course Aug.11-14th, and enjoy a 45 minute guided meditation. (full info about the course in Aug. 11 event link below)

Saturday, August 6th 1:00-4:00 p.m.:  Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) with Brooke Deputy
Practice seven simple exercises that release tension in the muscles, which in turn relaxes the anxiety of our minds. Deep held tensions can be a result of difficult life circumstances, immediate or prolonged stressful situations, or traumatic life experiences. TRE can restore a sense of peace and calm to the body and mind. Click here for more info or to pre-register

August 11-August 14th:  The Art of Living - Relieve stress and anxiety and learn breathing, meditation, low-impact yoga & philosophy as developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Instructor: Satinder Grewal. Click here to learn more about the Art of Living Course and Foundation. Ojas membership discount does not apply to this event.

Sunday, August 21 1:00-5:00 p.m.  The Pelvis: Foundation of movment, Fountain of Life with Deane Juhan and Nicole Becker. Misalignment of the pelvis during standing, sitting and moving can result in chronic hip and low back pain, sciatica as well as dysfunction in the digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. Join experts Deane Juhan and Nicole Becker for the first of the “Structure of Movement Series”. Includes movement, hands-on techniques, and discussion. (click event title above for full details and/or to register)

*Introducing: Tony Wolff (subbing for Gretchen Wobrock Sat’s. 9 a.m.)

Tony Wolff is subbing for Gretchen while she takes a leave of absence for her health. Tony teaches what he calls, “Lightening Up: The Yoga of Self-Acceptance”. Very much in the spirit of all of our classes here at Ojas, you will learn how to practice a pose for your own body – not trying to look like a page out of a yoga magazine.

Here’s a description from his website:

We will explore familiar postures in a new way, learning to maintain the calm awareness as well as the diligent effort that are the twin aspects of Patanjali’s stirum sukham asanam. This is not a new way to do asana. It is a way for you to honor your body, your strengths, and most of all, to use your limitations as teachers, not as obstacles to be overcome. The goal is to find “right” effort, not maximum effort, and to feel great about wherever you end up. You will learn to alter the asanas to fit your body, rather than trying to make your body look like those pictures on the yoga calendars.

The class can be strenuous or easy depending on your inclination and intuition. The class follows the viewpoints of Gary Kraftsow (“There is a perfect way to do each posture; it just may be different for each person!”) Erich Schiffmann (“Yoga shouldn’t hurt”) & Richard Rosen (“We have to put the ha back in Hatha”). Diligence, perseverance, and progress are valuable parts of class; but a little lightening up might be a good idea, too.

Tony Wolff is author of Lightening Up: The Yoga of Self Acceptance, to be published in 2011. He is a recovering achievement addict, coming to yoga from Vipassana meditation over 20 years ago. He found that yoga embodied meditation by focusing attention on the actual physical experience occurring through the effort of asana. But he also found himself striving to make his body do things that more experienced practitioners seemed to have mastered. After years of injury and dissatisfaction, the 5 Not So Noble Truths emerged: slow down, pay attention, breathe, relax and lighten up. Those precepts guide his teaching. www.yogaofselfacceptance.com

New Class: Kundalini Yoga (CORRECTION: STARTS 6/15)

Join guest teacher, Sadhu Singh Atehortua for a special 10-week introduction to Kundalini Yoga.
Correction! Wednesdays, 7:40-9:00 p.m.  JUNE 15  June 22- August 17

Enjoy as complete introduction to the practices of Kundalini Yoga, or drop in as time or interest allows. 
Regular class passes can apply, New student pass 3 for $30. Drop-in $18.

Kundalini Yoga, the Yoga of Awareness, consists of simple yogic techniques that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter his or her age or physical ability. It is a complete science that includes breathing exercises (pranayam), yoga postures (asanas), sound, chanting (mantra) and meditation. It is designed to provide you with the experience of your highest consciousness.

Week  1: Breath and Relaxation
Week  2: Pranayam and Physical / Mental Balance
Week  3: Opening the Spine
Week  4: Moving Energy and Improving Circulation
Week  5: Mental Clarity
Week  6: Circulation and Aura
Week  7: Transforming Sexual Energy
Week  8: Digestion
Week  9: Strengthening the Naval
Week10: Preparation for Deep Meditation
“Sadhu Singh Atehortua is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher who started practicing Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan PhD. at the age of 10.  He has been teaching beginner/intermediate Kundalini Yoga in the Bay Area since 1995 and is currently working on developing rural and urban yoga centers in Ecuador, where he teaches courses once a year. Sadhu has explored various spiritual paths, martial arts, therapeutic massage, and other healing arts throughout his personal evolution, and applies this knowledge to his yoga classes to provide a wholesome exploration of personal growth, self care, and overall evolution of the self.”

Studio Closed Memorial Day (5/30)

We hope you enjoy your Holiday Monday – we will be enjoying some time with our families that day so the studio will be closed on Monday. Sat/Sun classes remain as scheduled.

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