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Yoga Conference

Contemplative Track
Yoga is more than the physical postures. Include these meditation and philosophy classes in your weekend to plumb the depths of this ancient practice.



Introduction to Sanskrit and Chanting of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra
Kate Holcombe - Course ID: M1HOLC

Saturday, January 19 — 8:00am - 10:00am
Main Conference - Session 1
Contemplative / Mixed Levels

The study of the Yoga Sutra was originally transmitted from teacher to student by first learning to chant the sutras from memory. Come discover how chanting the Yoga Sutra can bring about a deeper and richer relationship to the text and a fuller experience of the sutras in your practice and your life. We'll learn the rules and guidelines for chanting, how to pronounce each of the Sanskrit letters, and practice chanting the Yoga Sutra from the Sanskrit Devanagari, as well as English transliteration.

Lecture and chanting.


The Reimagination of Yoga by Women: A History
Eric Shaw - Course ID: M3SHAW

Saturday, January 19 — 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Main Conference - Session 3
Contemplative / Mixed Levels

Discover how women have redirected the course of yoga's global evolution. Women were ancient Tantric gurus, early adapters of yoga in the 1890s and intial supporters of Swami Vivekananda when he brought yoga to the West. Other female workers in the field created flow yoga flow in the early 20th century and made care for community a main pillar of yoga's current philosophy. Come learn about women's powerful imprint on yoga, from ancient to modern times.

Lecture.


Extreme Maha Raja: The Foundation is Being Receptive to Grace
Dharma Mittra - Course ID: M4MITT

Sunday, January 20 — 8:00am - 10:00am
Main Conference - Session 4
Contemplative / Mixed Levels

Everything of this world starts as a thought, and then comes to be. Sri Dharma Mittra will begin with his renowned purification techniques series and continue into practical and spiritual lessons to help change your life today. Through these teachings you'll gain clarity, which leads to freedom (vairagya), removes toxins from the body noninvasively, and opens the chakra centers. Positive thinking becomes the foundation that leads one to travel the road of being receptive to Grace.

Lecture; includes spiritual techniques, cleansing practices, and spiritual discourses.


Relationship Revelations
Eric Paskel - Course ID: M5PASK

Sunday, January 20 — 11:00am - 1:00pm
Main Conference - Session 5
Contemplative / Mixed Levels

Yoga ShelterPerfect relationship, according to the Vedas, is no relationship at all. The moment there is a "you" and "I" there is a sense of "otherness" and the moment there is otherness the relationship is spoiled. Come learn the four golden rules to perfecting your relationships. A pose can't help you stretch beyond your ignorance; only knowledge can. In this interactive lecture, there will be no place to hide.

Interactive lecture.


The Spirit of Ayurveda & Yoga
Mas Vidal - Course ID: M5VIDA

Sunday, January 20 — 11:00am - 1:00pm
Main Conference - Session 5
Therapeutic / Contemplative / Mixed Levels

Experience what makes Ayurveda a spiritual healing system, and how it can bring great power and healing to your yoga practice. We'll embrace the theme of transcendence through a creative yogic practice that combines asanas as sacred gestures to the forces of nature for healing the body and mind. Special energy mantras and pranayama will also be combined to guide us into the heart, the spirit of both Ayurveda and yoga. Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, practice, and healing are woven into the class through some discussion and metaphors to make yoga and Veda...One, for You!

Discussion and asana.


Meditation, Contemplation, and Transformation
Gary Kraftsow - Course ID: M6KRAF

Sunday, January 20 — 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Main Conference - Session 6
Beginners / Contemplative / Mixed Levels

Meditation begins as we master the fluctuation of attention and can begin to direct our minds. Self-reflection helps us bring our unconscious patterns, motivations, and tendencies into conscious awareness. Once we begin to gain this control, we can set a new direction for our lives, rather than being pushed and pulled along. Mantra japa and contemplation help us gain insight and understanding into the deeper mystery of ourselves and the broader meaning of life. We'll use self-reflective meditation, mantra japa, and contemplation to support our inner journey. **This class has been approved by American Council on Exercise (ACE) for 0.2 CECs.**

Discussion and meditation.


Why the Buddha Burns: Actions and Anatomies of the Yoga Subtle Body
Eric Shaw - Course ID: M6SHAW

Sunday, January 20 — 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Main Conference - Session 6
Contemplative / Mixed Levels

From the earliest times, yogis explored altered states to discover anatomies hidden from normal eyes. They saw auras, subtle breaths, and energy wheels, and called them koshas, pranas, and chakras. As yogis built regimens for health and realization, they learned to transform neediness into openness and love. Leveraging the inner anatomy, they burned through desire with the agnis: the flames of an open heart. Come discover how your inner world is structured and how it is used for transformation on the yoga path.

Lecture.