APRIL EVENT   

 Devanagari:   

Introduction to Written Sanskrit

As always, FREE to members!

Saturday, April 3, 2011

2:30-4:30 pm

Sanskrit is a powerful language that enlivens our postures and awakes our inner body. 

As teachers and students of Yoga become acquainted with the sounds of Sanskrit, the next step is to taste Devanagari. Devanagari (city of the gods) is the script used for the Sanskrit language.

We will explore how the letters are constructed and how they combine into words. 

Enhance your understanding of Sanskrit and join us in this fun filled presentation. Participants should bring a writing instrument of their choice.

Presenter:

Karin Bustamante, E-RYT 500, teaches Yoga to the public at several studios and recreation centers in the Denver and Littleton area.  She also leads several Yoga Teacher Training programs, courses in Yoga Nidra and Sanskrit.  You can visit www.karinyoga.com for details and schedule details.  

Karin also is offering a similar workshop on Friday evening, April 2nd for anyone who wants additional practice. 

Udaya Yoga Studio

2001 Youngfield #G

Golden, CO  80401

303.238-4959

www.udayayoga.com  

map to studio 

Udaya Yoga Studio is located near the community of Applewood in Golden, Colorado.   Opened by Terri Mairley and her brother Jay in February, 2007, Terri's goal was to build a strong yoga community in her hometown.

Udaya Yoga Studio provides a peaceful, friendly atmosphere for anyone who is interested in practicing yoga. Yoga classes are offered for students of all levels, including kids' yoga classes, and teens are also welcome.

A wide variety of yoga styles are taught, including vinyasa/power, hot yoga, hot/flow, gentle yoga and yoga for beginners. 

YTOC Website 

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

LIFE IN BALANCE

As students entered the yoga space this past Monday

morning, I offered a cheery, "Happy Spring!" to each. One wonderful wise soul replied, "I have an egg standing on its end at home. I do it every equinox. It reminds me that balance in life actually IS possible!"

Thus ensued, of course, a wonderful discussion about the concept and the practice of balance--on the mat, in relationships, in life.  Oh, how we all yearn for it and so often struggle to reclaim it!

As householder yogins, isn't our experience in life much like a juggler's act--one of discovering, time and time again, how to to maintain that precarious balance  between fulfilling the activities and demands of our lives outside of our yoga (although, you might rightly ask, 'what might that possibly be?') and our deepening desire to devote more time and energy to our spiritual journey, study and practice?  

Very rarely does the experience remain static--"in balance"--for long.  Life is constantly changing and we are like devoted jugglers, keeping several balls in the air at any given moment, trying not to drop any of them--all the while standing on one foot in the Great Tree Pose of Life.

In a May/June 2004 YOGA JOURNAL article, senior

Iyengar teacher Roger Cole wrote, "The price of balance is constant attention". 

Attention.  Not striving or efforting. There's a difference.   In describing the body's response inbalancing asana,  Cole said that our nervous systems are constantly answering the questions, "Which way is up?" and "Where am I?"

I often find myself asking those very questions, but within the broader context of my life.   

And you?

Someone once said, "The key to keeping your balance is in knowing when you've lost it."  Amen.

And so we practice, on the mat and off, this attention to  finding and experiencing balance.

In the words of Linda Brakeall, "Life is like riding a bicycle: it's impossible to maintain balance while standing still".   

So keep on peddling, my friends.  Keep practicing, keep living your yoga and remember:

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails."

                                               --William A. Ward

Yours In Service and with Great Respect,

Jeanne

Jeanne Thornton, President YTOC

Please feel free to contact Jeanne with any questions or concerns at president@ytoc.org

FOCUS ON:   

Yoga for Cancer Survivors

It is devastating news to find out you or someone you know has cancer.  Then often the "cure" leads to nausea, hair loss, fatigue, and other energy-draining symptoms.

We know yoga is therapy for many things, but for cancer?

Laura Kupperman has a very personal interest in helping cancer survivors. Her mother died of cancer when Laura was 10 years old.  There were no yellow bracelets or pink ribbons, and cancer was spoken of in hushed tones, if at all.  At that time there were minimal resources available for those with cancer. 

Then, at age 37, Laura was diagnosed with cancer.  The culture had completely shifted and she entered a world of walk-a-thons and support groups.  Many integrative therapies were available to ease her way through surgery and chemotherapy. 

Laura had already been teaching yoga for a couple years at the time of her diagnosis, and practicing yoga became a staple in her healing and recovery.  Laura discovered intuitively, through practice, what scientific research is now affirming:  yoga can help cancer survivors feel better, improve sleep, decrease pain, and mitigate many of the side-effects of treatment. 

After finishing her cancer treatment, Laura embarked upon a 1,000-hour Professional Yoga Therapist certification to gain more skills and knowledge, and began sharing her dream of teaching yoga to other cancer survivors.  Thus was born Yoga for Survivors® and Laura began teaching at hospitals, cancer centers, clinics, and yoga studios.

Helping Cancer Survivors

Yoga survivors are testing their bodies and often their faith, after a cancer diagnosis.  After more than six years of teaching cancer survivors, Laura can attest to the unbelievable power of yoga and sangha (community) to heal on all levels. 

Something as simple as breathing deeply can help quell anxiety while awaiting test results from the doctor.  Legs up the wall will often mitigate nausea and digestive distress.  It's the overall benefit of a complete yoga practice, and the camaraderie that the class provides, however, that seems to make the biggest difference. 

Would you like to make a difference in the lives of some very special people?  Consider teaching yoga to cancer survivors!  As yoga becomes increasingly available throughout the United States, there are still many segments of the population for whom there aren't many - if any - appropriate yoga opportunities.  Cancer survivors are one such "underserved" yoga community.

Laura currently teaches two yoga classes a week to survivors of any type of cancer, as well as working with students privately.  No one is turned away for lack of funds and some "angels" help to financially support those who need the aid.  

Laura also meets the growing interest in serving this population by offering trainings for other yoga teachers who want to learn how to work with cancer survivors.  See below for her upcoming training. 

For more information to help or to learn more about Laura's commitment to cancer survivors, visit www.yogaforsurvivors.com 

April

April 2, 2011:  Ayurvedic and Yogic Cleansing Practices. Do you want to learn how to get rid of toxins stored in your body for a long time? Would you like to know how to cleanse your whole being? Ayurveda is the ancient, holistic, Indian medical tradition. As Ayurveda and Yoga are sister sciences, some practices are interwoven. Join Dr. Helgrid Randolph for an introduction to the North Indian Ayurvedic cleansing practices. At Harmony Yoga in Denver

April 2, 2011:  Kundalini Yoga Intensive:  Experience the science of angles, meridians, pressure on the glandular systems and major organs of the body to set a firm foundation for your meditative practice. Kundalini Yoga is a technology based on an understanding of the ecology of the human body.  An evening of Bhangra Dancing and Kundalini Yoga for the Aquarian Age. Introduction to Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training with Sue Beck. following workshop.  At Asana Yoga Studio in Olde Town Arvada

April 2, 2011:  A Taste of:  Sanskrit.  The deeper your yoga practice becomes, the more important Sanskrit can be to expand your realms of knowledge.  Learn the basics of Sanskrit and one day you can be reading the Yoga Sutras in the original language.  At Prana Yoga  in Denver

Apr 2, 9, 16, 30 and May 14, 2011:  Off the Mat and Into the World:  Yoga in Action.  Contact Meghan Stockdale at Soul Tree Yoga in Lafayette.

April 3, 2011:  Relax and Restore.  Restorative yoga is a receptive practice in which your body is passive throughout the experience, weightlessly supported by props as your muscles extend and relax into subtle postures. We are very fortunate to have special guest Instructor Nick Paraskevopoulos is a popular, well-known teacher throughout Europe. He is an affiliate teacher of the Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai and has developed his own easy-to-understand technique. He has been studying and teaching for 11 years, making regular visits to Thailand.  At YogaVeda in Denver      

April 3, 2011:  108 sun Salutations to Celebrate.   Join Green Mountain Yoga in Arvada as we celebrate of 6 years of serving our community! You'll feel energized and revitalized with 108 Sun Salutations. We honor the sun's healing rays and making them one with our own, embracing the outer light and bringing it in, radiating.  All donations will go to Japan Tsunami survivors

April 3, 2011:  A Taste of:  Yoga with Weights.  Adding weights to yoga poses can bring your practice up to a whole new level.  Join us for a sampling of how weights and yoga can form a positive, interactive relationship with each other.  At  Prana Yoga in Denver.

April 3, 2011:  The Joy Breath. Experience a truly powerful body-centered therapy.  Activate the Inner Healing Response with Breathwork and self-empowerment techniques. At Soul Tree Studio in Lafayette

April 7-28, 2011:  Prenatal Yoga Series.  Support your ability to connect deeply with your baby, as well as strengthen focus, breath & flexibility. Learn ways to reduce some of your discomforts & concerns. As you approach your birth you will gain more & more trust in your body's innate ability to give birth. At Yoga Center of Steamboat in Steamboat Springs

April 7, OR April 9, 2011:  Introduction to Viniyoga. This free class is designed for all experience levels because Viniyoga meets you where you are. Personalized instruction is provided in small classes so your individual needs are met. Yoga is not a competitive event and there is no "one size fits all" or "perfect" yoga pose in Viniyoga.  Call 303-818-4181 or email joanne@YogaForSelf.net

April 7 & 14, 2011:  Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse. Spring is the natural time to clean out the accumulated fats, weight and toxins of winter!  We wash our windows, clean out rooms...it's the perfect time to cleanse the body, lose weight and increase energy!  At Rishi's Crossing in Lakewood

April 8-10, 2011:  Calming Kids:  Creating a Non-Violent World Teacher Training Certification.  Dee Marie, MA, CYT, in collaboration with the American Medical Association Alliance, presents a step-by-step curriculum that teaches how to implement an award-winning, non-violence program into the school curriculum. It has been scientifically proven to increase anger-management by 93% & concentration levels by 87%.   At Harmony Yoga in Denver, or check the website at www.calmingkidsyoga.org   

April 9, 2011:  Face Yoga: A Natural Face Lift! Learn how to lift and rejuvenate facial skin and muscle. These exercises target muscles to improve overall appearance, employing a natural, non-invasive, low-cost, no-risk method. While improving our facial tone, we will practice the yoga of being okay right where you are. At Asana Yoga Studio in Olde Town Arvada

April 9, 2011:  Iyengar Workshop for Neck and Shoulders. Gary Reitze personally recovered from five shoulder surgeries and has helped many students with the details of how to gain mobility, strength and stability in both the neck and shoulder areas. He will customize asanas for each individual for their specific needs.  At Rishi's Crossing in Lakewood.

April 10, 2011:  Around the Bend:  Backbending Exploration. Learn how the anatomy of the spine informs the principles of a safe and stable backbend. You will receive individualized attention to bring you into the deepest, safe backbend possible for your body. We will work up to courageous, beautiful, full-body backbends: wheel, dropbacks and beyond.  At Asana Yoga Studio in Olde Town Arvada.

April 11-May 2, 2011:  Beginner Plus Yoga Series. Learn how to move your body to stay healthy & balanced, experience the psychological benefits of physical poses "asanas." Learn simple breath control (pranayama), meditation tools, & relaxation techniques.   At Harmony Yoga in Denver

April 12-May 3, 2011:  Yoga for Grief:  Grief is our mind, body and spirit's response to loss and resides in our bodies.   If we attend to the sadness and sorrow within our physical body, we can move through our pain instead of around it. Grace Grief Yoga offers a safe place to move through your grief, without judgment or expectation, and reconnect your mind, body and spirit.  Held in Centennial.  Contact Tara at 720-232-6514 or gracegriefyoga@gmail.com 

April 15, 2011:  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.  Join us for an extraordinary evening of wisdom, meditation and music with renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sri Sri will speak about the power of the breath in managing one's mind and emotions, lead a guided meditation, and respond to questions. This is a celebration of life not to be missed with soul-stirring music in Sanskrit and English.  Sponsored by Art of Living Foundation.

April 15-17, 2011:  Bhaktifest:  Spring Ommersion.  Caravan with owners of the Yoga for the Peaceful studio in Crested Butte as they head to Joshua Tree, California for a Yoga and Music Festival they help sponsor.

April 16, 2011:  Sustainable Spring Cleanse.  If you have ever thought about cleansing but have no idea where to start, or if you just need a jump-start into spring, this is for you! This cleanse will offer a sense of empowerment that leads you to healthy body, mind and spirit. At Asana Yoga Studio in Olde Town Arvada

April 16, 2011:  Align with the Divine: Bringing the 8 Limbs to Life. The Ancient philosophy of yoga enables us to cultivate peacefulness from within and lets us to become more authentic people who live in harmony with each other. Discover the deeper meanings of yoga practice and apply these principles on and off the mat.  At Amala Yoga Community in Denver   

April 16-30, 2011:  Wise Warrior Women.  This three-week series will lead you through the Wise Woman Tradition on finding your inner goddess & following her innate wisdom to heal. Through the art of ritual and circle we will use aromatherapy, warm oils, meditations and slow flowing yoga sequences and restorative postures to find our inner wisdom, truth, and grace. At Harmony Yoga Studio in Denver

April 17, 2011:  Intro to Thai Yoga Massage. Thai Yoga Massage allows you to relax while someone else eases you through yoga-like stretches combined with acupressure. The stretching will leave you moving freely and the acupressure will release muscle tension and energize you. You will spend half the workshop relaxing and receiving this amazing bodywork, and the other half learning how to give a simple Thai massage. At Mountain Moon Yoga  in Winter Park

April 17, 2011:  Soul Unique Mini Retreat.  Soul Tree Studio, along with Lefthand Acupuncture  and Uniquely Natural are offering this wonderful mini escape...Yoga, Meditation, Nourishing light lunch, and choice of Acupuncture or Facial. Contact Soul Tree Yoga Studio in Lafayette

April 17, 2011:  Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra.Create a deep state of relaxation safely using props. Prepare to slow down to heal & nurture the body/mind. We practice most of the poses on the floor while being mindful of our thoughts and emotions.  In Yoga Nidra, you are in a state of "conscious sleep;" a practice of self inquiry derived from ancient yoga teachings.  Contact Karin Bustamante or email at info@karinyoga.com

April 23, 2011:  Connect to the Earth-Jivamukti Yoga.  Vinyasa-style classes incorporate the five tenets of the Jivamukti method -- nonviolence, devotion, inner-awareness, music and holy texts -- to create a multidimensional experience that expands consciousness.  At Mountain Moon Yoga in Winter Park.

April 23-May 14, 2011:  Yoga 101-Series for Beginners. For those new to yoga or anyone wishing to review the basics, we will explore the fundamental physical postures (or asanas), aligning our movement with the breath & touching into the mind's ability to focus & rest in awareness.  At Yoga Center of Steamboat in Steamboat Springs

April 29-May 1, 2011: COLORAMA, the Colorado Ayurvedic Medical Association, is excited to announce that Dr. Vasant Lad, the director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM, one of the foremost experts in Ayurveda, is coming to Colorado.  Vasant Lad is one of the greatest ayurvedic physicians of this time. He is giving some great lectures and workshops including a talk on the Reunion of Yoga and Ayurveda  For more info, see the COLORAMA website http://www.coloradoayurveda.org

April 30, 2011:  Upside Down is Alright! Inversions. Whether a beginner or a longtime yogi, we'll help you deepen your skill and awareness of inversions and explore a variety of poses. Inversions can boost immune and endocrine systems, mental alertness, and much more.  At  Pearl Street Yoga in Denver   

May

May 5-19, 2011:  Building Asana From the Inside Out-Mentoring the Inner Teacher.  An in-depth exploration of PranaVayu and bandha with Hansa Knox will deepen your experience and understanding of asana.  Explore how to unfold the postures by working with the breath, the body locks and the movement and containment of prana.  Through this work, your muscles will "find their way home.  At Amala Yoga Community in Denver.

May 7-11, 2011:  Zen Buddhism: Tools and Concepts for Your Daily Life  Join Zenki Christian Dillo of the Crestone Zen Center to learn more about Zen Buddhism.  Talk, question and answers, and meditation will be part of this special event.  At Yoga for the Peaceful in Crested Butte

May 12-June 23, 2011:  Yoga for Grief:  Grief is our mind, body and spirit's response to loss and resides in our bodies. If we attend to the sadness and sorrow within our physical body, we can move through our pain instead of around it. Grace Grief Yoga offers a safe place to move through your grief, without judgment or expectation, and reconnect your mind, body and spirit.  Held in Wheat Ridge.  Contact Tara at gracegriefyoga@gmail.com or call 720-232-6514.

May 13, 2011: Taste of Yoga - Hasta Mudras.  Join Hansa for an introduction to mudras done with the hands.  At Prana Yoga in Denver

May 14, 2011:  Upside Down and Inside Out - Together - A Partner Investion and Backbending Workshop. This lively and entertaining AcroYoga workshop focuses on partner inversion and backbending poses as well as a combination of both. Being upside down is another way to find your core, balance, and peace. We will also move "inside out" by opening shoulders, chest and heart. No need to bring a partner. At YogaVeda near the Denver Tech Center

YOGA TEACHER TRAININGS:  2011

April 8-10, 15-17, 2011:  Ayurvedic Bodywork II:  Garshan, Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and Udhvartina.  Instruction in the application of garshan and three major methods of Ayurvedic oleation (30 hrs), plus an additional 15 hours of internship, to be arranged individually with the instructor. Students will receive valuable information on incorporating these Ayurvedic practices into into both clinical and spa settings. Prerequisite: Ayurvedic medicine II. Through Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda      

April 9-10, 2011: Marmani.  The weekend program offers insights into the use of marma points for Ayurveda Educators, massage therapists, and yoga teachers.  Marma stimulation can assist in bringing harmony and balance to the body.  The course will review the marma points and how to stimulate them through Ayurveda massage techniques, yogasana, drsti, pranayama, and meditation. At Prana Yoga in Denver

April 15,2011: Contemplative Hatha Yoga Training Program.  The Contemplative Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, led by Karin Bustamante, is a 265-hour program taught in the Kripalu tradition; one session a week and one weekend a month for ten months. At Prana Yoga in Denver    

April 17, 2011 and/or May 1, 2011:  Yoga Teacher Training Open House.  Interested in joining our Teacher Training program, but have questions and want to get a better feel for it?  Please join us at Samadhi Yoga Studio to learn more about our life-changing program, meet some of your teachers in the program as well as other potential students.

May 4-8, 2011:  Thai Yoga Massage:  Essential Level 1 Certification.  Get certified to give a 90-minute massage.  Learn how to safely and efficiently adjust your students in class.  At Soul Tree Yoga Studio in Lafayette

May 15, 2011: Restorative Yoga Training  The day course will offer teaching techniques to teachers integrating Restorative Yoga in their yoga classes.  Teachers will learn to adapt asana using pillows, blankets and supportive props which actively stimulates and supports the body simultaneously, allowing active relaxation to harmonize the body.  Restorative yoga is a powerful tool when feeling fatigued, under stress or weak and when recovering from medical treatments.  At Prana Yoga in Denver

May 20-22, 2011:  Yoga for Kids Teacher Training.  Level 1 of 4.  Are you interested in sharing the benefits of yoga & mindfulness with children?  Contact the Yoga Center of Steamboat in Steamboat Springs.

May 20-22, 2011: Rasayana: the Art of Rejuvenation Rasayana, or Ayurvedic rejuvenation practices, are done after panchakarma seasonal cleansings, after treatment of disease, after injury, in cases of debility, and to combat aging and foster a long, healthy, productive life. Rejuvenation can be simple or can include regimens of special diets, seclusion, mantra, meditation, and other yoga practices. The course will explore anti-aging and immuno-stimulant plants and their effects, types of rasayana preprations and important rasayan formulas, lifestyle and diet supportive of rejuvenation, kayakalpa and other seclusion practices. prerequisite: Ayurvedic Medicine I.  Contact Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda

Early summer:  Children's Yoga Teacher Training:  This 108-hour, six-month program will assist in understanding the fundamentals of teaching yoga to children. Teachers will be given an opportunity to focus on their favorite age group and yet learn foundation information for the full spectrum of children at any age.The foundation of the program is the anatomical development of the body and the development of the brain and cognitive processes for the age groups of birth-2, 3-5, 6-10, 11-14, and 15-18. At  Prana Yoga in Denver

June 17, 2011:  Yoga Therapy Certification Program, held June 17-July 2 and Aug 2-20, 2011, offers unique opportunity for in-depth study with a distinguished faculty of leading Yoga Therapists with years of experience. You must be a 200-hr or 500-hr certified Yoga teacher to attend. Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda, Contact Dona Smith, P.O.Box 1091, Boulder  80306 or email to info@rmiya.org

July 7-11, 2011: Yoga for Survivors Teacher Intensive.  Using the Pancha Maya model, learn how to skillfully and confidently work with students at any stage of survivorship, diagnosed with any type of cancer.  Course includes six-day intensive plus one full year of mentoring as you begin teaching survivors in your community.  Contact Laura Kuppermanfor more info 

OR, as a member,you can simply email
your special event or workshop to:

s.kline@yahoo.com 

                      WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

                                   John Aguilar, Jr.

                                   Nicole Roberts

                                   Kristen Scott

       NEW STUDIO MEMBER:     Yoga for the Peaceful

                                                         (Crested Butte)

       NEW MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:  AFFILIATE PARTNERS

                                   Our first Affiliate Partners:

                                           OPEN SKY EVENTS

                             (Presenter of Yoga Rocks the Park)

                                                 COLORAMA

                        (Colorado Ayurvedic Medical Association)