Yoga practice is not an end in itself, or even simply a means of ‘transcendence.’ It is a tool for being in our bodies and being with ourselves. In a simple way, yoga is about our relationship to our body and mind; this workshop will be about enhancing that relationship in can-do ways. In the bigger sense, Yoga is about our relationship to the Self from whom we came — which grows through our relationship to the self we are coming to be.

This will be an all-levels workshop on deepening these inner relationships, which will be informative to teachers and enlightening, encouraging and inspiring to students!

 

Friday, May 25, 3:30-6:00pm

Friday Afternoon Teachers’ Session [for instructors and those with an established practice]

At the center of all movement lies the sacrum, the keystone of the pelvis, which regulates the curve of the spine as well as the ‘openness’ and flexibility of the hips. Much of yoga has focused on the suggested actions of the tailbone — even in describing ‘Mula Bandha’ — but has given little attention to the natural actions of the sacrum. This leaves the ‘tail’ wagging the ‘dog.’

This session will go deeply into the details of understanding Sacroiliac, Pelvic and Low Back Pain, in terms of sacral stability and the rhythms of its movement in the sacroiliac joint. This will include an understanding of patterns developed during pregnancy and postpartum — and will include plenty for the guys to contemplate in their own case too! — as well as in postural and movement patterns.

Class will include lecture with very practical and illustrated information about pelvic and low back pain, as well as applications in practice. We’ll be doing asana, but this won’t be a sustained asana ‘workout.’ $60

 

Friday, May 25, 7:00-9:300pm

Friday Evening: Getting ‘Unstuck’ — How to Work With (And Through) Blocks in Your Practice [all-levels]

This asana session will put into practice the ideas on sacral health and stability from the afternoon session, in simple can-do terms that will be easily understood even by those who missed the afternoon session.

In this session we’ll focus on some simple actions to be incorporated into asana practice that will strengthen the muscles supporting the actions of the sacrum, increasing the stability of the sacroiliac joint as well as the health of the low back and flexibility of the hips. Attention will be given to the causes of sacroiliac and low back pain in a way that will be useful to teachers and enlightening to students. This will include consideration of typical blocks we encounter in practice — ‘stuckness’ from hamstring and hip tightness, as well as shoulder tightness and limitations — and alternative approaches to ‘getting into the pose.’ $60

 

Saturday, May 26, 9:30am-12pm

Rethinking the Shoulders [all-levels]

This practice session will reorient our approach to ‘shoulder opening,’ thinking of the action of the rotations of the arms as beginning from the spirals of the hands and wrists. We’ll incorporate wrist health and elbow awareness into the poses that challenge our shoulders (and neck!), and cover a range of poses including variations on backbending, in which there is often the complaint of a lack of strength. Shoulder strength lies ‘in the spin!’

The session will include helpful information about the shoulder — its structure and how it works in various arm positions, and how variations in the usual shoulder actions can be helpful for mobilizing the shoulders, with some remedial stretches as well! $60

 

Saturday, May 26, 1:30-4:30pm

Pranayama and the Role of Deep Relaxation/Yoga Nidra in Yoga [all-levels]

We will work with progressing toward seated pranayama (with an understanding of why it is important), with an emphasis upon the features of pranayama that most contribute to our health on every level, and ability to become centered in meditation and experience its power. This will include guided practice of the most fundamental pranayamas, focused on the connection between the sacrum, diaphragm and bandhas.

From there we’ll move to yoga Nidra, with a consideration of the role of Yoga Nidra in any yogi’s practice in light of contemporary research on sleep. Many of the deeper processes of meditative yoga having to do with reducing the power of ‘samskaras,’ undoing or rewriting emotional patterns often described in terms of ‘working on the chakras’ and so on will be more practically comprehensible when we consider how these functions are handled in sleep.

We’ll consider variations on the approach to Yoga Nidra, and will practice a fundamental form that allows us to go even deeper than seated meditation — and is a helpful aid to addressing sleep problems. $60

 

All 4 sessions $240 total

 

Classes held at Blue Sky Yoga, 3525 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63139

 

For this workshop, please bring props – a mat, two blocks, two blankets, bolster, and strap. Don't forget to bring water and a towel. If you need props, we’ll have extra on hand.

 

Continuing Education Units: Each class/session is worth 2 CEUs and considered contact hours for Yoga Alliance. The entire workshop is 8 CEUs.

 

Please note: We will be filming portions of the workshop to promote this community effort.

Doug's workshop will be held at Blue Sky Yoga, 3525 Watson Road at the corner of Oleatha, St. Louis 63139. Parking available on the street or across the street in the parking lot. Blue Sky Yoga is a 2200 square foot yoga studio in South St Louis offering classes 7 days a week. Visit any of their classes led by awesome instructors!

 

 

Nearby Hotels:

If you are coming from out of town, staying with family or friends is best. Also consider AirBnB's. The closest hotels are approximately 1.5 - 2 miles away and  require private transportation:

 

The Cheshire
6300 Clayton Rd
Richmond Heights

 

Holiday Inn St. Louis - Forest Park
5915 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis

 

Red Roof Plus+ St Louis - Forest Park/Hampton Avenue

5823 Wilson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

 

For AirBnB, look in the SoHo/South Hampton neighborhood as well as Maplewood, St. Louis Hills, and Shrewsbury.  The Loop in University City is fun for walking around, eating and listening to music but it isn't quite as close as the other areas.

 

Food:

Blue Sky Yoga is in The Hill neighborhood which is filled with restaurants including Aya Sophia Turkish restaurant, famous Ted Drewes Frozen Custard and St. Louis Bread Co [Panera]. The studio is also near both a Target and Schnucks grocery stores.