Sanskrit Basics For Yogis: Fundamentals of Pronunciation
Friday evening 6:30pm to 9:00pm, $55
The science of yoga is filled with Sanskrit vocabulary. Teachers and practitioners of yoga, Ayurveda, or meditation can benefit from learning how to pronounce Sanskrit with correct breath, resonance, rhythm and tongue position. We will talk about Sanskrit as a language, learn pronunciation basics, and practice reading many common yoga terms and posture names.

Asana Names and Stories
Saturday afternoon 2:00pm to 4:30pm, $55
The Sanskrit names for yoga postures provide a standard reference that can be used anywhere in the world, so for teachers of yoga it is important to know them. When the asana names are vocalized with correct pronunciation and rhythm, it adds a whole new dimension to the postures. We will also explore the story behind each name.

Origins of Yoga: History and Classical Texts of Yoga
with Vedic Fire Ceremony at sunset!
Saturday late afternoon 5:30pm to 8:00pm, $55
Where did yoga come from? What is the larger context of yoga? Yoga originally derives from the shruti (“heard”) wisdom elucidated in the Vedas and Upanishads. The multifarious aspects of yoga are related and ultimately stem from the four Vedas. Where do Sanskrit, mantra, tantra, Samkhya, and Ayurveda fit in? Exploring the structure and basic content of primary yoga texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, and Shiva Samhita can give us a broader view of yoga. We will conclude this session with a Vedic Fire Ceremony (Homa and Agni Hotra), in which everyone can offer something into the fire while chanting a mantra.

The Elemental Chakras
Sunday afternoon 12:30pm to 3:00pm, $55
After an explanation of terms like nadi, chakra, and kundalini shakti, we will cover each chakra's primary characteristics as stated in the ancient Sanskrit text titled "Shat Chakra Nirupana." These include the chakra's element and what it represents, colors of each part of the chakra, the element's shape and primary syllable, and all secondary syllables that support it. Using verses from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika we will discuss the theory of awakening the dormant kundalini and how it flows upwards through the sushumna nadi. We then apply the theory by chanting and resonating the seed (bija) and petal sounds from the root chakra through the crown, focusing our attention and breath at the location of each cakra.

Each segment $55.
Full weekend $200.