BENEFIT YOGA SERIES FAMILY YOGA CLASS BEGINNER YOGA SERIES PARTNER YOGA WORKSHOP RESTORATIVE YOGA CLASSES YOGARHYTHMICS® YIN YOGA CLASSES MANTRA WORKSHOPS OFF THE MAT, INTO THE WORLD (OTM) - YOGA IN ACTION TRAINING YOGA FOR RUNNERS THAI YOGA MASSAGE WORKSHOP BENEFIT YOGA SERIES w/ BYS Yoga Community FRIDAY, February 3rd 2012 6:30-8 p.m. Benefit for: Special Olympics w/ Anna Gilbert This series of ALL LEVELS community classes, typically held on the first Friday of each month, reflects seva - or service to others. Each class is donation based allowing participants to pay what they wish to attend. 100% of the donations received for the class will go to support the charity or non-profit organization chosen by the instructor. by donation - COMMUNITY CLASS (cash or checks please!) For more information on this class please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top FAMILY YOGA CLASS w/ Cara Bessko & Paul Richards Saturday, February 4th 2012 3:30-4:45 p.m. Children are naturals for yoga and these classes will be fun for the whole family as you practice together! The practice of yoga inspires a sense of self and brings focus and concentration to children and adults alike. Yoga is a great way to improve self-esteem, concentration and relationships. Yoga can calm and strengthen the nervous system, improve motor skills, and contribute to increased patterns of balance and overall good health. Yoga classes with children are fun, interactive and full of rewards. Learning valuable skills and encouraging balance in the body from an early age creates good habits for children to carry into their teen years and beyond. This class includes postures & activities for the whole family, including appropriate age (and intensity level) variations to accommodate everyone. All families with children age 5+ are welcome! $15/family For more information on this class, please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top BEGINNER YOGA SERIES w/ Jenn Ferris-Glick (Paul Richards assisting) 5 Sundays: SUNDAY, January 29th 2012 SUNDAY, February 5th 2012 SUNDAY, February 12th 2012 SUNDAY, February 19th 2012 SUNDAY, February 26th 2012 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. This 5 week Yoga 101 series will be more workshop in nature than our regular “Basics” class - introducing the fundamentals of yoga to new students (& seasoned students who may want a refresher!). Appropriate for any age, level or body, this series is designed to give the beginner yogi a taste of the many elements of a yoga practice. This series can also be a great stepping stone for those who might be nervous about attending a regular class. The sessions will include beginner asanas (poses), pranayama (breath work), meditation, vinyasa (connecting poses in a flow), yin yoga poses, restorative yoga poses and guided relaxation. This series is a great opportunity to meet yourself right where you are and tap deeper into the strength, balance and flexibility of body, mind and spirit you already possess. $40 for 5 classes or regular class pricing per class For more information on this series please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top PARTNER YOGA WORKSHOP w/ Maggie Borza-Petrie & Terri Neese SUNDAY, February 12th 2012 2-4 p.m. PARTNER YOGA IS FOR EVERYONE! Your partner can be a spouse, friend, sibling, parent, or anyone who shares your interest in yoga and having fun. Sharing yoga with a partner can help to bring your practice to a new level as you serve each other as anchors, mirrors and sounding blocks. The sequences in the workshop will revolve around the postures most commonly associated with Hatha Yoga and basic breath work - moving towards the exploration of opening the front of the spine, stretching tense muscles, and relaxing body and mind. Sometimes doing the same pose together or practicing complementary poses that intertwine, partner yoga teaches us trust and interdependency. per person: $15 in advance $20 at the door For more information on this workshop please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top RESTORATIVE YOGA CLASSES ON-GOING WEDNESDAYS 10-11:30 a.m. w/ Kristen SUNDAY, February 12th 2012 5:30-7 p.m. w/ Kate SUNDAY, February 26th 2012 5:30-7 p.m. w/ Lori This all levels restorative practice will include "active relaxation" - supporting the body with blankets, blocks, and other props to support postures which are held for several minutes. This alternatively stimulates and relaxes the body allowing it to move towards balance. This practice is very beneficial to health, can reduce the effects of stress-related disease, and will leave you nourished and well rested. regular class pricing For more information on this class please e-mail us by clicking here return to top YOGARHYTHMICS® w/ Nicole Zellie Lann FRIDAY, February 17th 2012 Benefit for: The Midwife Center 6:30-8 p.m. Ever find yourself rocking out to music in your car? Or start dancing up a storm in your room to your favorite song? Then you understand the powerful nature of music and how it unleashes all different forms of movement in your body. Here’s your chance to transform those movements in a safe and sacred place combining yoga postures, breathwork, free-form movement, and creative play all wrapped into one exhilarating class - YogaRhythmics®. It has long been studied that music awakens and revives our chakras - the 7 energy centers in our bodies. Each one is responsible for a particular part of our emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Through a structured sequence of natural movement patterns the principles of yoga come alive - love, acceptance, compassion, contentment, and integrity are at the heart of YogaRhythmics®. Join us as we take you on a musical and movement journey through your chakras to energize and align these energy centers. You will leave feeling refreshed - awakening your inner child at times - with a big smile on your face. No dance experience required - just a willingness to move and BE MOVED! by donation - COMMUNITY CLASS (cash or checks please!) (at least 50% of monetary donations are given to the benefit organization, chosen by the previous class, in the name of "BYS Yoga Students") For more information on this class please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top YIN YOGA CLASSES ON-GOING WEDNESDAYS 7:30-9 p.m. w/ Valerie SUNDAY, February 19th 2012 5:30-7 p.m. w/ Valerie Suitable for almost all levels of students, Yin Yoga generally targets the connective tissues (ligaments, bones, and joints) of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine through relaxation and meditation in seated postures. Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize internal heat and the lengthening/contracting of our muscles. Because yin and yang tissues respond quite differently to being exercised, you may realize after taking a Yin Yoga class that you have been doing only half of the asana practice. While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, a Yin Yoga practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration that the poses are held - anywhere from one to twenty minutes! The time spent in the postures is designed to nourish the natural range of motion of the joints. A Yin Yoga practice invites you to go deeper into yourself and challenges you to stay in the experience. This practice is also an excellent way to help you improve your comfort in seated meditation. regular class pricing For more information on this class please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top MANTRA WORKSHOPS w/ Kendell Romanelli FRIDAY, February 24th 2012 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. GURU RAM DAS (self love and healing) This is the most healing of all the Kundalini mantras. It works on the heart chakra and chanting this mantra helps you to heal your own heart. It is a wonderful mantra for anxiety and grief ~ healing past and present wounds. We will use the lullaby like version by Mirabai Ceiba. FRIDAY, March 30th 2012 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ONG NAMO (welcoming the light) Spring has arrived and we will welcome the light with the Adi Mantra! This mantra means "I bow to all the teachers who live within me and around me to guide me from darkness into light." A wonderful mantra for guidance and illumination. We will use Snatam Kaur's version from her album "Grace." These workshops are designed for mantra meditation. It is not a call and response kirtan, but rather a gathering of voices that will raise the level of consciousness of the group. The workshop will begin with a brief discussion on the pronunciation and meaning of the mantra being chanted followed by a few easy exercises to warm the body and prepare it for sitting. Please feel free to bring personal meditation pillows, but studio props will be available (including chairs for those who would prefer not to sit on the floor). We will chant the mantra for 31 minutes. When we chant for 31 minutes the meditation begins to affect your whole mind, your aura, and all your body's internal organs. After chanting we will meditate on the vibrations we created and close with a long deep relaxation with the healing sounds of crystal bowls/live guitar. $20 in advance $25 at the door For more information on this workshop please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top OFF THE MAT, INTO THE WORLD (OTM) YOGA IN ACTION TRAINING w/ Cortney Seltman & Terri Neese 7 SESSIONS: SATURDAY, February 25th 2012 - 3:30-7 p.m. SUNDAY, February 26th 2012 - 1:30-5 p.m. SUNDAY, March 4th 2012 - 1:30-5 p.m. SATURDAY, March 10th 2012 - 3:30-7 p.m. SUNDAY, March 11th 2012 - 1:30-5 p.m. SATURDAY, March 24th 2012 - 3:30-7 p.m. SUNDAY, March 25th 2012 - 1:30-5 p.m. What is Yoga in Action? Yoga in Action is a project of Off the Mat, Into the World (OTM). OTM uses the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and to ignite grass roots social change. These 7-session groups are an opportunity to build community around yoga and service, develop relationships with other yogis and activists in your area and collaborate on creating real change. In this workshop you will: • Awaken your authentic purpose through the process of yoga • Develop tools and practices to put purpose into action in a sustainable way • Cultivate long term community and support to live your purpose and make a difference in the world We will use asana, meditation, visualization, experiential exercises, discussion, process work, music, and ritual to access and activate these tools while building a close community for on-going support. Join Us! The Yoga in Action Training will be offered in Pittsburgh for the first time in 2012 at BYS Yoga. PRE-REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: www.yogainactionpgh.org $300 until 2/15/12 $350 after 2/15/12 For more information on this training being held at BYS Yoga please visit www.yogainactionpgh.org. return to top YOGA FOR RUNNERS WORKSHOP w/ Lori Grable spring dates TBA Lori Grable, BYS Yoga Instructor & completer of the 2009, 2010 & 2011 Pittsburgh Half Marathons, presents a yoga workshop specifically for runners. Runners tend to work their bodies very hard and it is important to balance that with stretching and relaxation. This workshop will focus on feet, hamstrings, quads, and hips. But of course, those poor tight shoulders won’t be forgotten! In addition to learning injury preventing asanas (yoga postures), you will also learn breathing techniques that may make you more efficient as you train. This workshop is for all levels and no previous yoga experience is required. $15 in advance $20 at the door For more information on this workshop please e-mail us by clicking here. return to top THAI YOGA MASSAGE WORKSHOP Seated Postures w/ Sunny Klaber Saturday, June 9th 2012 Sunday, June 10th 2012 1:30-5 p.m. each day Thai Yoga massage is an ancient healing art with origins in Ayurvedic Medicine, Yoga and Buddhism. It has evolved into a unique and magical combination of gentle rocking, deep stretching, rhythmic compression, soft-tissue manipulation, energy balancing, and acupressure. A Thai Yoga massage session differs from a Therapeutic Massage in that it is conducted on a thick pad on the floor, and the client remains fully clothed in loose pants and a comfortable shirt. It is often referred to as "lazy man's yoga" because it offers the same benefits as a yoga practice, but requires little or no effort from the clients. A traditional session lasts 2-hours and consists of dynamic and fluid combinations of techniques that move, stretch and twist the client while they are positioned on their back, front, side and sitting cross-legged on the floor. This introductory-level workshop will be facilitated by internationally-recognized Thai Yoga Massage instructor Sunny Klaber. Sunny’s contagious passions for yoga, dance, Buddhist philosophy and massage strongly influence her unique approach to practicing and teaching this ancient healing art. Her extensive knowledge of, and respect for, these disciplines creates an environment which honors the sacred roots of Thai Yoga Massage, while gracefully infusing it with fresh applications and innovations. Over the past seven years Sunny has enjoyed developing and teaching the Thai Yoga massage curriculum at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Cortiva Institute, The Center for Massage and Natural Health (Asheville, NC) and the Costa Rica School of massage Therapy (Samara, Costa Rica). She currently owns and operates a private massage therapy practice in Boulder, CO (www.bodyandsolmassage.com), and facilitates integrated healing arts journeys to Thailand, Spain, Scotland, Brazil and the Dominican Republic (www.integraltravel.com). No massage therapy experience necessary - appropriate for all levels. Advanced practitioners will learn techniques that they can easily integrate into their current Thai Yoga Massage practice, and beginners will walk away with skills that will make them very popular with friends and family who suffer from typical complaints like neck pain, back pain, and sore feet. 7 NCBTMB Approved Continuing Education Hours are available for Massage Therapists attending the full workshop. $108 full weekend $60 Saturday only For more information on this workshop please e-mail us by clicking here return to top