April 14, 21, 28 – To breathe, or not to breathe – that is the question! Inspire your movement explorations with an understanding of breath science and anatomy study, as you use the breath to promote joint stability and tremendous strength – as concept traditionally alluded to through the term bandha. You’ll come away from this workshop series with the confidence to trust your inner-teacher and embrace the depth of personal practice.
Join Michael Dynie for this 3-Part workshop series on developing a deep understanding of the breath alongside a graceful, fluid vinyasa practice. Due to the complex nature of breathing exercises, you will explore them from a simple sitting position, then learn how to incorporate them into a flowing yoga sequence based off sun salutations (surya namaskara B), along with a variety of basic and advanced postures. Vinyasa is the skilled linking of breath with movement. When done with full attention, this can awaken deep core connections (bandha) that are key to preventing and healing injuries, and progressing in the practice of asanas, from basic to advanced.
Just as the quality of our thoughts effects our prana (breath and internal energy flows), we can learn to manipulate the prana to open the mind to the wonders of present-moment experience, reality as it is.
These workshops start with 3D Anatomy presentations. Handouts will also be provided looking at selected verses from traditional texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Sutras of Patanjali, and lesser-known scriptures, to inspire a deep appreciation for yoga’s potential to replace habitual ways of seeing with a fresh and clearer perspective on living in the moment, with compassion and gratitude, strength and grace.
Dates and Times:
APRIL 14
Foundations of Bandhas and Vinyasa Systems:
Mechanics of Breathing; Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation B), Tantric Hatha
APRIL 21
Spinal Waves and Fluid movement; Mahamudra and the Central Channel (susumna nadi);
Neutral Spine, Intra-abdominal Pressure; Principles of Gas Exchange; Modern perspective on Bandha
APRIL 28
Backbends and Handbalancing, from Basic to Advanced,
Breathing for Core Strength vs Meditative Awareness; Playing with Chemistry;
{ Scroll down for detailed outline… }
Format for each night:
7:00-7:30pm Lecture, Theory, Demonstration, Q&A Period
7:30-9:00pm Practice of Postures (Asana) and Breathing Exercises (Kriya / Pranayama)
Please eat a light dinner an hour before and arrive early. Studio is open 6:30pm onwards. I recommend having a heavy lunch, and a light dinner of fruits and vegetables + vegan protein shake. Food occupies space in the abdomen, making it difficult for the diaphragm to work efficiently in exercise / yoga practice,
Your Investment:
$100+HST for full course before April 7th, 2020
Enroll in the Course:
Topics Explored:
• Anatomy of the Breath
• Mechanics of Diaphragmatic Breathing
• Accessories of Respiration
• Shoulder / Hip Stability and their relationship to the Spine
• Simple ways to Activate Key Muscle Patterns
• Spinal Bandhas (Neck, abdominal and pelvic diaphragms) – Mulah, Uddiyana and Jalandhara Bandha
• Nauli Kriya – The Abdominal Roll
• Pranayama (breathing techniques): Ujjayi, Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Nadi Shodhana, Brahmari
• Modern Breath Training and Seated Breath Retention Exercises
• Pranayama Sequence to cultivate meditative stillness
Asana Based Explorations – From Basic to Advanced
• Foundations of Vinyasa
• Breath Awareness as an Alignment Tool
• Surya Namaskara B and other essential asanas
• Backbends and Arm Balances
• Introduction to Floating in Vinyasa practice (the jump back)
• Breathing to Protect the Spine in Backbends and Weight-Bearing Positions (Inversions)
• Release Hip and Lower Back tension through Breath Retention in movement
• Exploring Seated Postures and other Forward bends
• Maha Mudra (the three bandhas) into Asana Practice
Practical Yoga Philosophy, inspired by Classic Texts
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Prana and Apana, Nadis and the origin of Bandhas
• Meditation aims and methodology in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra