Upward Flying: The Bandhas
The Bandhas are essential to yoga and are what distinguish asana practice from other forms of exercise. They constitute the core physical and energetic strength necessary for sustaining rigorous yoga practices, stimulate the awakening of kundalini shakti for Kindalini yoga, and, are the organic result of alignment practiced in Anusara yoga. This workshop focuses on the proper use of bandhas (energetic and muscular locks) as means for sustaining and deepening yoga practice.

Trance Dance Ritual
Since the beginning of recorded history, civilizations around the world have used trance dance as a form of prayer, as an active way for communing with nature, spirit, or deities. It was, and is, a participatory means for healing, for visions, or for finding answers to challenges facing an individual or the collective. Trance Dance has endured the test of time because of its power, offering us the same benefits today and it did in ancient times. Trance Dances are danced blind folded, for long periods of time. Although they appear to be social in nature, they are ultimately for the individual to journey deeper into, and with, oneself in the company of others. Trance Dance is a powerful and energetic way of gathering insights. David was certified in TD through his studies with the Natalie Institute in Austin, Texas and has lead this rituals internationally.

Shifting Gravity
Inversions revitalize the whole system, reversing the effects of gravity – mentally and physically – by bathing the brain with nourishment. Inversions cleanse, nourish, clear the mind, and improve thinking. They improve circulation and assist the lymphatic system.

They relieve strain and fatigue in the legs and feet. Inversions can stimulate sluggish digestion and elimination and practiced with regularity can aid in good sleep. What’s not to like? This workshop takes on many inverted asanas from the most basic to the most challenging. Focus on neck strengthening, shoulder stabilization core abdominals and the fears associated with being upside down.

Bali	USA	Italy	Laos

The Yoga & The Ramayana

The Ramayana is an epic tale set in India during prehistorical times.  It is one of India’s enduring legends, and represents historical fact to the devoted followers of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and incarnation of the God Vishnu.  Although the plot is fairly simple and taken at face value for much of the world, it holds within in esoteric yogic teaching on the energy body and is full of many of yoga’s most loved poses and characters.  This text in best studied as a yoga/travel trip through Bali - since the culture is based on this myth, but is also taught as part of teacher trainings or as workshop. 

The Wheels of Yoga:
A Workshop for Cyclists
This two-day workshop for cyclist includes a combination of cycling, yoga, and lecture.  The course gives practical yogic and Ayurveda tips for pre and post cycling, with a strong focus on asanas practice tailored for cyclist and their rehab. Diet along with appropriate breathing practices (pranayama) are also included.  Participants are responsible for bringing their own cycling gear and all rides are weather dependent.  This workshop is co-taught with a local cyclist instructor and is fun, informative and challenging.

Partners Yoga
Partner yoga is a natural response when one’s own yogic practice has matured. It is both fun and informative, challenging and intimate. The workshop includes asana, pranayama, meditation, and mantra practices done in pairs. It is taught in a vinayasa style, moving sequentially from standing to seated postures, from backbends to inversions. Participants should be somewhat familiar and competent with these types of poses. Partners Yoga is a fun and effective way to approach traditional yoga practices, while developing greater intimacy with yourself and others.

Partners Yoga can be deeply beneficial for couples, but it is not required that you come with your significant other.At the same time many of these poses and sequences require a certain amount of intimacy, so come with someone you feel physicallycomfortable with or an openness to explore.Certain poses may require instructor to mix and match partners according to height and weight. This workshop is especially beneficial for intermediate level students.

Yoga & Ayurveda
Both yoga and Ayurveda are life sciences that attempt to align us more fully with nature, so that, we can live more harmoniously with ourselves, and our environment. This course introduces the founding principles of Ayurveda including its daily practices, “dosha” awareness, overview of the five elements, the importance of “agni” and how these principles directly relate to all our choices in life, including relationships, work, eating, meditation, and asana etc.  Asana sequences for the varies “doshas” and participatory games and exercises for better understanding our “dosha” are all part of this playfully informative lecture and practice course. 

Yoga & The Five Elements
Experiencing the qualities (gunas) of earth, water, fire, wind, and space (ether), and understanding how they interact and create reality, enhances our view on yoga and life. Learning how to balance the elements in practice and in lifestyle brings many benefits and is the core of yoga, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine. The elements will be introduced through lecture, and practice, including asana, pranayama, mudra, and meditation.

Men & Yoga:From Shiva to Swenson

From Shiva’s creation of yoga, to the inspired teaching of Krishnamacharya, to its synthesis by contemporary Western teachers— the masculine role in yoga is indisputable. This is an opportunity for men to experience their inherent connection to this living tradition in the company of men together - a tradition passed down from man to man since its inception. Workshop includes a multi media presentation on the overview of men and yoga, daily healthcare practices, kriyas, and sadhanas relative to men.  

The Myths of Yoga:
“The world is like the impression left by the telling of a story.”  Yogavâsistha 2.3.11

Myths attempt to describe the indescribable, yet, intuitively known mysteries of life.  They are signposts for cosmological forces given shape, color, texture, and sound by culture.  As such, myths exist outside of time and space, reappearing over and over again in a variety of shapes, forms, and names.  Understanding – through yogic embodiment – the myths associated with various asanas can transform these asanas from the mundane to the cosmological.  Workshop includes multimedia presentation, lecture and practice of many intermediate / advance asanas. 

Introduction To The Shatkarmas
The shatkarmas (shat – six – karmas – actions) consist of six groups of purification practices with the objective of harmonizing the two significant pranic paths of “ida” and “pingala” or lunar and solar energies.  They also affect the three humors or “doshas” discussed in Ayurveda of Vata, Pitta, & Kapha.  Since these practices should only be studied with a qualified teacher and not through books or fashion, few contemporary yogis have an understanding of these kriyas.  This workshop will look at the most basic approaches and cautions of these practices while shedding some light on their importance and the preparation and instruction needed to go deeper.