FRIDAY
6:30p - 8:30p
An Introduction To Breath-Centered Yoga.
Yoga practice in the tradition of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar exhibits many distinctive principles and practices not found in other Hatha Yoga lineages. Details of breath sequencing, coordination with movement and spinal action are just some of the subjects we will explore in this highly interactive, experiential and informative session.
Leslie will introduce these breath-centered teachings from a historical, scholarly and anatomical perspective while leading participants into a progressively deeper understanding of the vital forces at work in the human breathing mechanism during yoga practice.
SATURDAY
12:30p - 2:30p
Demystifying The Bandhas.
The popularity of vinyasa-based yoga practice has created a wide interest in the theory and practice of Mula, Uddiyana and Jalandhara Bandha – the “yogic locks.” In this workshop, Leslie applies his unique, experiential approach to clarify and, above all, simplify the practical, anatomical basis of these powerful, yet widely misunderstood tools.
The good news is the moment you first learned to coordinate breath and body movement, you were immediately, implicitly learning bandhas. From this perspective, deepening your yoga consists of nothing more than uncovering our innate ability to find support and spaciousness through breath-centered practice.
...30-minute break...
SATURDAY
3:00p - 5:00p
Healthy Spines: Range of Motion, Support and Breath.
Are forward- and back-bending asanas about moving forward and backwards in space or are they about changing the shape of the spine? What role does the breath play in entering into and supporting us these challenging poses? How we answer these fundamental questions will determine our goals and experiences when we practice. Unfortunately, some of the most common alignment cues do not produce evenly distributed spinal movement, resulting in a perpetuation of chronic tightness in the very areas the poses seek to release.
This workshop will provide a solid grounding in details of the anterior and posterior lines of the body from both an anatomical and a yogic perspective. We will practice a variety of breath-based movements and healthy alignment strategies.
SUNDAY
12:30p - 2:30p
The Warrior Series – A Hands-Free Vinyasa Practice
If you like a strong, flowing, breath-centered yoga practice, but have done more than a few too many down dogs, up dogs and chaturangas, then this is the class for you. This practice-heavy workshop will lead you through a specially-designed vinyasa that strongly works the legs and moves the spine in all possible directions, all without putting any body weight on your hands.
We will experiment with how to individualize breath and asana cueing for groups of any size, as well as how to modify the practice for individual therapeutic objectives. The vinyasa will be practiced twice, the first time flowing through non-stop, and the second time breaking down the myriad possibilities for individual adaptation.
...30-minute break...
SUNDAY
3:00p - 5:00p
Clinical Observation and Case Studies
Building on the previous sessions, Leslie will address common challenges and physical complaints drawn from the experience of workshop participants to work one-on-one in observed case studies.
A la carte price per session is $70
Full weekend: $300
