News

Curriculum for Body Path Yoga, Dance and Nature weekend workshop on Cortes Island

DAY 1
Opening Circle and Restorative Yoga Class 8-9:30pm
Using props and long held poses, we will unwind from the journey to the island by taking time to ground and breathe. Come prepared with a journal that you can write in for the weekend. Group and personal intentions are set as we settle into our weekend together. Remember to wear layers.

DAY 2
Morning Deep and Dynamic Flow Asana Yoga Class 9:30-11:30am
Dance on your mat! Explore postures that move in squence like a dance. Moving with grace with flow our asanas become strong in body, breathe, and mind. Inspiration is taken from Ashtanga and Iyengar practices. Honor your body by meeting your personal boundries without going too far. Sweat, breath, relax.

ten minute water and bathroom break in silence as to not disturb our state.

Third Eye Seated Meditation 11:40am-12noon
Asanas prepare us to sit. By sitting post-class, we will notice how much easier it is to be still after opening the nadis (energy channels) with asana first.

Noon - 3 Catered LUNCH served at Moonhill kitchen : sattvic, vegetarian, local, wild and organic where possible
(eat, time to digest, relax, go for a walk, go to the lake for a swim and explore Cortes)

Afternoon Contact Improvisation Class 3-6pm
At Mansons Hall we will have lots of room to move! Come ready to touch and be touched while asserting and respecting each other's boundries. Moving from the floor, to crawling, then to standing and walking, and finally to dancing, this basic contact improvisation class will let the absolute beginner as will as the experienced dancer move deeper into their practice. Technical skills will be offered as well as lots of time for explorative dancing.
--
6pm Dinner (eat, reflect on the day with classmates, explore the island, write in your journal)

8-9:30pm Yoga Philosophy discussion lead by Mark Braaten.

DAY 3
Optional Morning Sit: Third Eye Seated Meditation 9:30-10am
Ground and centre with the group and feel the calm energy that a morning sit can bring.

Kirtan @ Kula 10:30-12noon
Car pool, walk, ride one of the Cortes Bike Collective bikes to the other yoga studio on the island KULA. Lead by Hannu Huuskonen on mandolin and banjo and accompied by Ali Lennox on tabla, we will chant sacred mantras and bhajans in call and response format. No prior experience necessary. This uplifting and joyous Nada (sound) Yoga is a Cortes jem. Bhakti (devotional) Yoga opens our hearts and lifts our spirits as we give thanks for all the masters who have come before us.

Noon-3 LUNCH served at Moonhill

3-5 Afternoon Asana Lab- Inversions: Another way to see the world
Sometimes going upside down can be scary. In this two hour posture lab, we will find a way to make inversions accessible for everyone. Whether it's using props, the wall, or free standing, we will work on arm balances, head stands and hand stands. We will start with a thorough warm up and end with a deep savasana to recalibrate all the doshas (body humors).

5pm DINNER

8-11pm
CONTACT and OPEN IMPROV JAM AT MANSONS HALL WITH THE LOCAL CORTES COMMUNITY and DJ ANDABEAT
8-9pm- Facilitated improv warm up to get the group on the same page and warm our bodies into dancing.
9-11pm- UN-facilitated jamming. *please note: there will be no late arrivals. If you would like to attend the jam, the opening class in mandatory or everyone; to keep the space integral, safe and sacred.

Day 4
9:30-11:30am Deep and Dynamic Asana Class
We will sweat together one last time! Ten minutes of free writing at the end of class will close the class.
11:30am-12noon Closing Circle. Reflections from the weekend as well as sharing from our journals.

Departures

3pm Optional Old Growth Tree Walk led by forest activist Fred Savage for those who don't need to hurry home

Tanya Krahn has confirmed that she will be the raw vegan chef at the workshop. her incredible food will blow your mind. you will forget that any of it is raw and just call is delicious. she will be preparing dinner on friday evening, breakfast and lunch on saturday, breakfast and lunch on sunday, and breakfast on monday. please message me when any food sensitivities so that we can let her know. I am so EXCITED to have her on board. this weekend is going to make us all feel so healthy and grounded and joyful. let yoga and food be our medicine!