Friday evening: 6:30 to 9:00
Relax, Receive and Restore – Imbibing Sacred Chant in Restorative Postures
You will be guided through a slow and gentle restorative asana sequence. Resting in each posture, your heart and mind become quiet, open and receptive. Nicolai will then recite ancient and powerful Sanskrit chants. Sound directly affects the subtle body via the nervous system. Your body, breath and mind will imbibe the sacred vibrations as if drinking nectar.
Saturday early afternoon: 12:30 to 3:00
Triguna: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas – Samkhya Principles that Underly Yoga
The Samkhya view of creation is based upon a conscious witness (the seer) which pervades the unconscious manifest world (the seeable). Ayurveda, the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita all originate from Samkhya , which also defines three energetics that are present in every aspect of the material world. How do these principles apply to the mind, action and nutrition? Understanding these gunas sheds light on the yogic world-view. Original Sanskrit verses will be chanted, translated and discussed.
Saturday late afternoon: 3:30 to 6:00
Ayurveda – Subdoshas, Digestion and Disease
Ayurveda is a profound system of wholistic medicine from India dating back at least 5000 years. Treating every person as a unique blend of qualities, Ayurveda emphasizes the prevention of disease through a diet and lifestyle appropriate to each individual’s unique physical and mental constitution. We’ll look at subdosha locations, functions, etc.; the seven tissues (dhatu-s), how they form from food; process of digestion; stages of disease. A basic understanding of Ayurveda foundations is useful for this segment.
Sunday afternoon: 12:30 to 3:00
Yoga and Ayurveda Parallels – Integrating Two Powerful Healing Sciences
The natural principles of Ayurveda are integrated into certain systems of yoga. This synergistic combination provides powerful tools for radiant health and personal self-development. Just as diet and lifestyle can be tailored to one's individual constitution, so too asana and pranayama can be adapted to one's unique body, breath and mind. Through lecture, discussion and yoga practicum, students will learn and experience how to ascertain their current state of health, consciously set intentions and then make appropriate choices. Ayurvedic nutrition and lifestyle as well as principles for adapting yoga practice to the individual will be covered, drawing from Sanskrit texts such as the Ashtanga Hridayam, Yoga Sutras and Yoga Rahasya.
Cost: $200 for full weekend; $55 per session for a la carte registration