Willow Street Workshops

Want a siesta-like retreat from the heat? Ready for some relaxation and self-nurture? Treat yourself to two blissful hours of restorative yoga poses for a sweet afternoon retreat without all the travel! All levels welcome.

Elizabeth is a certified Anusara yoga instructor. Her study of yoga is informed by her work as a government lawyer and her commitment to citizen advocacy and volunteerism. Her classes express her belief that the practice of yoga helps to bring us in alignment with our true nature, enabling us to be more compassionate and generous to our living planet, all other beings and ourselves. She was raised in a meditative tradition and took her first yoga class over 25 years ago. She is also a Reiki master. See more about Elizabeth at her website: rosegardenyoga.com

In the summertime, it can be difficult to want to practice at a more intense level. It's hot, sticky and muggy, plus the pace is slower and more relaxed. So what's an advanced yogi to do? Practice deep, satisfying, nourishing hip-openers, of course! The great thing about these poses is that many of them can be held for longer periods of time, but without the intense effort of arm balances or backbends. Many can be practiced seated or even lying on your back. Going deeper means combining the sweetness of your intention and with your body's capacity to expand - which thankfully is a natural effect of the summer heat. So get out of the sun and join Naomi for a rich and fully nurturing hip-opening experience. Students Level II and up welcome.

Naomi Gottlieb-Miller, RYT, began her study of yoga in 1999 to take the edge off of living in NYC. A graduate of WS YTT Program, she continues her yoga study with senior Anusara teachers. Naomi brings lightness and play to all her classes, encouraging students to invite a healthy dose of laughter into their practice. She is inspired by the joy her students bring to their mats and considers teaching yoga the best gig ever.

Here's a unique opportunity for a teen girl to give herself three hours filled with yoga, relaxation and fun. In the supportive, non-competitive environment of our mini-retreat, we will cultivate trust and acceptance and do our best to learn how to let go of the pressures we feel from ourselves and others. We will have a time to be in circle and share our thoughts, practice basic yoga postures and introduce hoop dancing and Yoga Nidra meditation. Our focus is on becoming strong, aware, and confident, young women that nurture and honor ourselves and become more mindful beings.

Kate Miller is a certified Anusara yoga teacher with over 10 years of teaching experience. Kate inspires her students to radically affirm and honor all that they embody, and believes that we can only grow and transform ourselves from a place of deep recognition and acceptance. Kate poetically weaves through her classes the philosophical teachings of yoga with precise alignment instruction that invites her students straight into their hearts. To learn more about Kate, please visit www.redmoonyoga.com.

Regina believes that through deliberate movement, we collect knowledge about ourselves and the universe. With consistent practice, we intelligently become aware of the choices that we have in life, while individually expressing our unique interaction with the world around us. After receiving a BA in Physical Therapy, Regina began studying the healing art of Movement, and has completed 200-hour trainings in both Vinyasa Flow and in Anusara Yoga. She is currently an Anusara Inspired teacher in Baltimore and has been studying the art of Hooping as a form of healing in the body and the mind. Regina uses knowledge from all of her studies to create a safe, fun and healing environment for students. Learn more about Regina at www.yogaonwheels.org.

According to Ayurveda, biological existence is a dance of the three doshas (humors/mind-body type): vata (air-space), pitta (fire-water), and kapha (earth-water).

We will focus on identifying your dosha and learn what it means for your dosha to be in and out of balance. Come join Liz and learn how to guide yourself in a practice of select asanas, pranayama, and meditation to bring forth and maintain balanced energy and positive radiance!

Liz Chabra was born and brought up in India and had her initial yoga training in the birthplace of Yoga. She teaches from a place of love, healing and transformation - with some down-to-earth humor thrown in! Quite the self professed yoga junkie and Ayurvedic cook, she feels fulfilled when bringing out the true potential in the people she touches and keeps that quest alive in her own life. Under the tutelage of Yogarupa Rod Stryker and Pandit Rajmani Tagunait, Liz deepens her yoga journey and marvels at the beauty of life! Mother of 2 kids, she lives in Kensington, MD. Check her out on CBS! Or click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaovKdLgqoc

This workshop giving parents and kids ages 5-10 an opportunity to playfully explore yoga together! Learn fun partner poses, breathing techniques and enhanced concentration that help to increase strength, flexibility, coordination and posture. Even better, create a truly special bond between you and your child: a gift you give to each other! Everybody welcome; no yoga experience necessary.

Rebecca Gitter, RYT, is delighted to share the wonders of yoga with the littlest yogis and their caregivers. After training with Itsy Bitsy Yoga founder Helen Garabedian, Rebecca became a certified instructor for Babies, Tots and Tykes. She completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2006, and recently received additional certifications in pre- and post natal yoga. She continues her study of yoga with many teachers in the area. Her classes create an environment where kids can safely discover yoga through age appropriate poses, songs and play. As the mother of 2 school aged children, her first yoga students, Rebecca understands the challenges of parenting and knows yoga can bring balance and support in raising healthy and joyful kids.

Join Regina for a playful practice that's wonderful for all ages and many special conditions. HoopAsana Yoga is a practice where we warm up with yoga postures, explore (Hula) Hoop Dancing and transition with meditation. We'll learn how to express ourselves through hooping, self-exploration and sharing, while empowering each other creatively through mental, physical and spiritual awareness. You'll strengthen your core, increase brain health, and develop your coordination, not to mention have a lot of fun. Beginners welcome!

Regina believes that through deliberate movement, we collect knowledge about ourselves and the universe. With consistent practice, we intelligently become aware of the choices that we have in life, while individually expressing our unique interaction with the world around us. After receiving a BA in Physical Therapy, Regina began studying the healing art of Movement, and has completed 200-hour trainings in both Vinyasa Flow and in Anusara Yoga. She is currently an Anusara Inspired teacher in Baltimore and has been studying the art of Hooping as a form of healing in the body and the mind. Regina uses knowledge from all of her studies to create a safe, fun and healing environment for students. Learn more about Regina at www.yogaonwheels.org.

Sages, mystics and poets tell us that we are surrounded by Love every moment of our lives. If that is so, why then do we often feel so hungry for Love and so unable to bring the Love we see is needed into the world around us? Perhaps the answer lies in a lack of skills in receiving the Love that actually abounds. This workshop will focus on bolstering our capacity to recognize and "metabolize" Love already present in our lives that can feed us and all those we touch. The core of the workshop will be a Yoga Nidra practice drawn from an ancient Tibetan tradition. We'll also be creating a collage to help ground us in Love. Participants will receive a Yoga Nidra CD recording of the practice introduced in the workshop.

Robin Carnes discovered yoga at age 18, and it has gradually become the center of her life. Robin is a certified iRest yoga nidra instructor, yoga instructor and Kripalu DansKinetics instructor. Since 2006, Robin has become fascinated by how iRest yoga nidra meditation can help people in all walks of life experience greater health and well-being. Her passion is sharing yoga and meditation with military servicemembers and families, as well as others who have experienced trauma.

Join Joe for a nuts-and-bolts approach to a greater understanding of how your amazing wrists work, and use this knowledge to ease a wide variety of wrist troubles, from carpal tunnel syndrome to general compression or misalignment. We'll look at a wide range of therapeutic actions, stretches and strengthening moves as well as get you on the road to greater weight-bearing in your asana practice. All levels welcome.

Joe Miller draws upon his 20 years of yogic exploration and study of anatomy to recognize and celebrate our endless potential to align with the rhythms of nature and truth flowing within and around us. Joe uses his deep understanding of Anusara Yoga, Tantric Philosophy, and Ayurveda to support every student in connecting to their innate wisdom and discovering their own greatness. Joe has been teaching for over 10 years, is an integral part of the WSYC Teacher Training program, and continues to deepen his own practice by studying with his principal teachers, John Friend, and his amazing family.

Wonder if you might be ready for Pilates I/II? If you've been curious, yet a bit apprehensive, come experience this introduction to the next level of practice. Challenge your powerhouse that much more, stretch that much deeper and delight in moving on to the next level. We will explore some of the exercises and modifications introduced in I/II and take the mystery (and perhaps anxiety) out of graduating up. For students with at least 2 sessions of Pilates I.

Jessica's many years of training, performing and teaching ballet and modern dance led her to Pilates and Willow Street. She is certified in Classical Pilates technique and continues to study the method with teachers trained in Authentic Pilates. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for Pilates with her students and seeing their joy in what the method brings.

"I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me." -Dawna Markova As the kids head back to school and activities shift, join us to pause, reflect and reorient to the changing season. We draw on the simple effectiveness of writing as structured meditative practice, the unique power of Yoga Nidra to restore the nervous system, and the stillness of sitting meditation to cut through the mental clatter and dullness of late August and reconnect with our innate vitality. There will be instruction in using all 3 techniques. We've got the blankets-you bring a notebook or journal, and a favorite sitting cushion if you use one. (Chairs available if you prefer not to sit on the floor.)

Joy came to Yoga Nidra after 15 years of teaching earth-based awareness practices and 9 years as a full-time life and holistic spirituality coach (in her pre-Willow Street days). She has been leading Yoga Nidra practices since 2003, is a Certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher, and created the popular Yoga Nidra CD, Birthing the Phoenix. www.joylifecoach.com

Come learn new ways the Triad Ball can add strength, stretch, and balance to your Pilates workout. For Pilates students I/II and up: balls are provided, but please bring your own if you have one!

Roberta Stiehm is a dancer, singer, teacher, and student of Yoga living in Takoma Park. She has danced and taught modern, ballet, and movement for Actors professionally, for over 25 yrs. She has had an extensive performance career in the US and abroad including Broadway. She is certified in True Pilates since 2000, with Romana Kryzanowska, and as well as teaching group mat classes, teaches privately in her own studio, fully equipped with all Pilates apparatus.

One of yoga's essential lessons is this: in order to step fully into our power, we must venture deep within. When we learn to live connected to the vital strength inherent in our core, we take all our practices - of yoga, of relationship, of life - to new depths and heights. Physically and energetically, the root of this strength lies at the root of our bodies: the pelvic floor. In this workshop, we'll learn myriad ways to access and enhance this inherent root strength. On the physical level, we'll deconstruct Kegels (making them more effective AND more interesting) and then learn to consciously exercise pelvic floor power in various yoga postures and flows. On a more subtle plane, we'll explore the relationship between underutilized pelvic floor strength and "energetic incontinence," as well as consider the pelvic floor's relationship to Muladhara, the root chakra. For yogis of all levels eager to access more profound, authentic core strength. Beginners are welcome, as well as folks dealing with weak/injured pelvic floor muscles and postpartum recovery.

Natalie Miller endeavors to offer her students what Anusara yoga boundlessly gifts to her: a loving and supportive community, a reverence for the inherent wisdom of body, and ever-new revelations of the beauty within and around us. Natalie's classes eloquently inspire students to love who they are and to be in awe of who they're becoming.

Join Joe and Natalie for an afternoon offering to the National Foundation for Cancer Research's "Stretch to the Cure" campaign, in which yoga studios across the country celebrate the efficacy of yoga practice for cancer survivors by donating class proceeds to the NFCR. Research shows that yoga practice results not only in improved physical fitness, but also lower levels of stress and increased feelings of relaxation and well-being. This makes yoga an ideal way for cancer survivors to build strength and support healing of both body and mind. In this afternoon practice, we'll begin with an all-levels yoga flow to celebrate our amazing bodies, then transition into a sweet restoratives and meditation practice to nurture peace in ourselves and our community. All proceeds will be donated to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, which supports research for cures to all kinds of cancer. Everybody welcome.

Joe Miller draws upon his 20 years of yogic exploration and study of anatomy to recognize and celebrate our endless potential to align with the rhythms of nature and truth flowing within and around us. Joe uses his deep understanding of Anusara Yoga, Tantric Philosophy, and Ayurveda to support every student in connecting to their innate wisdom and discovering their own greatness. Joe has been teaching for over 10 years, is an integral part of the WSYC Teacher Training program, and continues to deepen his own practice by studying with his principal teachers, John Friend, and his amazing family.

Natalie Miller endeavors to offer her students what Anusara yoga boundlessly gifts to her: a loving and supportive community, a reverence for the inherent wisdom of body, and ever-new revelations of the beauty within and around us. Natalie's classes eloquently inspire students to love who they are and to be in awe of who they're becoming.

We all yearn for the external manifestations of abundance: great health, strong relationships, and of course, wealth. And yet, over time, we have learned to tune out the stored wisdom in our bodies which can help us find the internal source of longed-for plenty. In this guided meditation workshop, we’ll rediscover how to open to our inner awareness as we create an individual heartfelt intention around abundance in our lives. By cultivating our inner abundance, we'll be able to send the energetic fruits and veggies of the practice out to those in our community who need support at this time. All proceeds from this workshop will go to the National Foundation for Cancer Research as part of the ‘Stretch To the Cure’ initiative. Beginners welcome.

Eliza King is a poet and teacher who believes that words spoken with heartfelt integrity can uplift people and help them open to their inner beauty and strength. In her classes, Eliza shares her passion for yoga nidra as a doorway which offers students a clear path to an experience of sacred silence and joy in life. She is deeply grateful to her primary teachers Robin Carnes and Maria Hamburger, as well as her many other teachers. She has recently completed a Yoga Teacher Training, is an RYT, and has advanced training with Richard Miller in iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation.

The heart of a fulfilled life is the recognition that our experience of the world, even our destiny, is shaped and determined by our inner life. There may be no teaching more fundamental to the mastery of our inner universe than the wisdom of the Gunas - the three essential attributes that rule the manifest world. Teachings on the Gunas appear as early as the writings of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita and play a vital role in the traditions of yoga, Tantra, and Ayurveda. Join master teacher and founder of ParaYoga, Rod Stryker, for his 2010 return to Willow Street as he leads a three-day workshop based on the Gunas - one of yoga's most essential themes - and leads a master class (suitable for all dedicated students). In each session, Rod will shed light on how different yogic methodologies influence the subtle forces of the Gunas. His focus will be on practice and how it can be used to systematically address our individual needs, unfold higher potentials, and, in the process, how we fulfill the potential of practice. In each session Rod will share his wisdom on the ancient teachings and lead a deepening practice.
Master Class
Through theory and practice, we explore the insight of the Koshas on embodying spirit and the whole person. Rod will discuss the specific practices that reach each individual Kosha and how to apply this knowledge for greater balance, wisdom, capacity, and liberation.
Introduction
Through lecture and practice, Rod will introduce the principles of the Gunas and provide an overview of the classical and Tantric approaches to working with them using the tools of asana, breath, meditation, diet, and lifestyle. Class will include practice.
Rajas Guna
We discuss the role of rajas and its relationship to evolution and expansion. Specific postures, sequencing, breath and Bhavana awaken the force that fuels growth and transformation.
Tamas
Steadiness in the midst of change and confidence in the midst of uncertainty are the hallmarks of self-mastery and the culmination of asana. Practice will emphasize yogic techniques that lead to being still, grounded, stable, and calm.
Sattwa
Sattwa is the balance that leads to clarity, calm, and the recognition of spirit's effulgent light. Our focus is on the practices that unlock awareness and the power of soul, that allow us to fully shine internally and externally.
ParaYoga: Spanda Vinyasa and Asana
According to Tantra, spanda is the ecstatic pulse of the unmanifest, the source of creative energy, the soul of the material world as well as the yogis' bridge to spirit. In this class you will be led through a dynamic sequence of asanas (with an emphasis on twists), pranayama, mantra, and kriya meditation. All levels of dedicated students welcome for the entire workshop or individual classes.

Rod Stryker is the founder of ParaYoga and widely considered one of the country's leading yoga and meditation teachers. He has taught for nearly thirty years, and leads retreats, workshops, and trainings worldwide. Rod is one of few American teachers today transmitting an ancient tradition, one that has been handed from teacher to student for literally thousands of years.

Willow Street is thrilled to welcome back Shantala - bhakti yogis Benj and Heather Wertheimer - for an evening of devotional chant and extraordinary music.

Award-winning international artists Heather and Benjy Wertheimer as Shantala open hearts around the world with their passionate music. Shantala creates a sublime soundscape of musical harmony between East and West with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics, and exotic instrumentation. The music carries the audience through a journey of etheric beauty, ecstatic percussion, and singing with the devotion of the heart. Call and response chanting with Shantala is fun, uplifting, and inspiring. For more info please see shantalamusic.com.

Join Benj and Heather for an exploration of the world of sacred sound through voice, mantra, rhythm, movement, and meditation. We'll open the voice by voyaging through vocal practices from both Eastern and Western musical traditions, and explore rhythm through heart-opening rhythmic body movements, allowing ourselves to experience the body as instrument. From this foundation, the chanting of sacred names and mantras will flow with new depth and new freedom. There will be time in this workshop to be silent in meditation, to share personal experiences from bhakti practice, and to build our sense of spiritual community through the combined fruits of all of these practices. This workshop is offered with the intention of cultivating more beauty and more love inside ourselves, our communities, and throughout our world. Everybody welcome.

Award-winning international artists Heather and Benjy Wertheimer as Shantala open hearts around the world with their passionate music. Shantala creates a sublime soundscape of musical harmony between East and West with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics, and exotic instrumentation. The music carries the audience through a journey of etheric beauty, ecstatic percussion, and singing with the devotion of the heart. Call and response chanting with Shantala is fun, uplifting, and inspiring. For more info please see shantalamusic.com.

Millions of Americans have sleep problems. Whether you can't fall asleep easily, wake up and can't get back to sleep, or wake up feeling tired, your mental, emotional and physical health is impaired. In this workshop, we'll explore and practice simple, relaxing yoga postures and breathing exercises that promote rest. And we'll have a long, yoga nidra guided meditation oriented toward improving sleep. Participants will walk away with ways to feel more satisfied with this essential part of human life. Appropriate for both experienced and beginning yoga and yoga nidra practitioners.

Robin Carnes discovered yoga at age 18, and it has gradually become the center of her life. Robin is a certified iRest yoga nidra instructor, yoga instructor and Kripalu DansKinetics instructor. Since 2006, Robin has become fascinated by how iRest yoga nidra meditation can help people in all walks of life experience greater health and well-being. Her passion is sharing yoga and meditation with military servicemembers and families, as well as others who have experienced trauma.

Learn to use simple yoga poses, breath work and meditation to unleash your power as a student. In this workshop, Rick and Mary will give you tools for deep relaxation and energy restoration – "apps" that will help you manage your time, clarify your priorities, reduce stress, and increase your ability to focus. You'll come away with on-the-go techniques to fit into your full life, and plenty of time to integrate them before finals are here! All levels welcome.

Mary B. Bauer practices yoga nidra to calm and quiet her mind and thereby enable her to bring out the best in herself by bringing out the best in others. She has studied yoga nidra under Robin Carnes for 3 years and has completed Richard Miller's Level 1 Teacher Training.

After years of struggling with back pain, Rick found Willow Street; since beginning his studies of Anusara Yoga, he remains pain free. This new-found freedom inspires Rick to help people find their own freedom, no matter what form it takes. Rick is a graduate of Willow Street's YTT program and continues to be inspired and seriously impressed by his fellow students and teachers.

Are there poses which make you cringe or yearn to have a break from class? One of the great fruits of yoga is "thinning the kleshas," learning to feel aversions less powerfully and to better experience our intrinsically joyous light no matter what the world presents us. Enjoy an afternoon of exploring and delighting in a full-spectrum of standing poses, arm balances, and hip openers that might lead you to - dare we say it - a greater appreciation, if not downright enjoyment, of hanumanasana and will definitely bring you a delighted gratitude for vipariti karani (legs up the wall). For students Level I/II and up.

Elizabeth is a certified Anusara yoga instructor. Her study of yoga is informed by her work as a government lawyer and her commitment to citizen advocacy and volunteerism. Her classes express her belief that the practice of yoga helps to bring us in alignment with our true nature, enabling us to be more compassionate and generous to our living planet, all other beings and ourselves. She was raised in a meditative tradition and took her first yoga class over 25 years ago. She is also a Reiki master. See more about Elizabeth at her website: rosegardenyoga.com

Take your backbends to the next delicious level with this special heart-opening extravaganza! In this workshop, we'll build on the foundations of Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel), Dhanurasana (Bow), and Ustrasana (Camel), learning new, creative variations on poses you know and love (or have learned to love). We'll work our way up to Natarajasana (Dancer) and dive playfully into the balance between the strength that creates a beautiful backbend and the ease that makes it look so effortlessly elegant. Come to dance more fully in the light of your supreme, radiant and powerful heart! For students Level II and up; must be able to push up into Urdhva Dhanurasana unassisted.

Naomi Gottlieb-Miller, RYT, began her study of yoga in 1999 to take the edge off of living in NYC. A graduate of WS YTT Program, she continues her yoga study with senior Anusara teachers. Naomi brings lightness and play to all her classes, encouraging students to invite a healthy dose of laughter into their practice. She is inspired by the joy her students bring to their mats and considers teaching yoga the best gig ever.

"We need to come home to the temple of our senses. Our bodies know that they belong; it is our minds that make our lives so homeless." — John O'Donohue. Our senses are the primary way we interact with the world around us-an endless banquet of experiences. Too often, we crave overstimulation because we have become dulled to the nuances of experience. When we no longer contemplate life through all our senses, we can lose meaning, move too fast, and end up feeling stressed or slightly numb. Using body/sense-based contemplation techniques (easily integrated into busy daily lives) and Yoga Nidra Meditation, we explore the ongoing feast unfolding within and around us. Everyone welcome-no previous experience necessary.

Joy came to Yoga Nidra after 15 years of teaching earth-based awareness practices and 9 years as a full-time life and holistic spirituality coach (in her pre-Willow Street days). She has been leading Yoga Nidra practices since 2003, is a Certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher, and created the popular Yoga Nidra CD, Birthing the Phoenix. www.joylifecoach.com

Are you ready to make some changes in your life? Do you want to shift your energy, attitude, or let go of a pattern or habit that no longer serves you? Before the stressful holiday season is in full swing, support changes you've begun or wish to begin by learning some of the life-changing practices of Yoga. In this workshop we will practice yoga asanas that clear and balance the first 3 Chakras. We'll practice a selection of Pranayama, Meditation, and Kriya (purifying techniques) designed to purify, balance, remove obstacles and strengthen your resolve. Fee includes materials. Open to students with at least 6 months of regular yoga practice.

Sheree believes strongly in the power of yoga to transform the mind, the body and the spirit. Her fun, enthusiastic and playful teaching style is balanced by her knowledge of alignment, meditation, breathwork and the therapeutic benefits of the practice; all offered with clarity and inspiration. She is a Certified Anusara teacher, RYT, and continues her studies with John Friend, Rod Stryker, and others. She has a Masters in health education, is the mother of three daughters, a dog and cat, and has trouble matching her socks.

Practicing yoga with skill involves finding the magical balance between effort and surrender. Transformation requires effort, and yet if we overwork or become obsessed with particular results, we can suffer as a result. In this evening class we will practice hip openers and forward bends, followed by pranayama. We will see how intelligent discipline and sweet surrender open us up to our own inner depth. Open to all. $40 after 11/1.

A Certified Anusara teacher since 2000, Ellen finds in Anusara yoga an elegant and subtle interplay of the physical and the spiritual. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, encouraging them to find their own source of joy and expressive freedom. She is known for her clarity and depth of knowledge.

Ellen's early involvement in massage and dance set the groundwork for her ongoing passion for anatomy and the therapeutic applications of yoga. She has extensive experience working with issues such as arthritis, menopause, fertility, lower back pain, and repetitive strain injuries. She recently co-authored two books on yoga: Yoga for Arthritis and Yoga for Osteoporosis. She is currently working on an anatomy book for Anusara yoga practitioners with Martin and Jordan Kirk. Please visit her website at www.mohiniyoga.com

Students with osteoarthritis are welcome in this class, which will present variations of poses adapted to increase flexibility and help rebuild healthy cartilage. There will be a section of the class for each of the body areas that are frequent sites of arthritic pain. In addition to yoga postures, we will practice a relaxing bodywork technique known as Kinetic Awareness, in which rubber balls of various sizes and textures provide a massage-like pressure, easing stiff joints. This class is oriented toward students with arthritis, but teachers are welcome as participants. $55 after 11/1.

A Certified Anusara teacher since 2000, Ellen finds in Anusara yoga an elegant and subtle interplay of the physical and the spiritual. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, encouraging them to find their own source of joy and expressive freedom. She is known for her clarity and depth of knowledge.

Ellen's early involvement in massage and dance set the groundwork for her ongoing passion for anatomy and the therapeutic applications of yoga. She has extensive experience working with issues such as arthritis, menopause, fertility, lower back pain, and repetitive strain injuries. She recently co-authored two books on yoga: Yoga for Arthritis and Yoga for Osteoporosis. She is currently working on an anatomy book for Anusara yoga practitioners with Martin and Jordan Kirk. Please visit her website at www.mohiniyoga.com

In this class we will discuss the practicalities of teaching older students with movement restrictions due to the common conditions of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. There will be ample time for practicing hands-on adjustments and discussing issues relevant to these students. $55 after 11/1.

A Certified Anusara teacher since 2000, Ellen finds in Anusara yoga an elegant and subtle interplay of the physical and the spiritual. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, encouraging them to find their own source of joy and expressive freedom. She is known for her clarity and depth of knowledge.

Ellen's early involvement in massage and dance set the groundwork for her ongoing passion for anatomy and the therapeutic applications of yoga. She has extensive experience working with issues such as arthritis, menopause, fertility, lower back pain, and repetitive strain injuries. She recently co-authored two books on yoga: Yoga for Arthritis and Yoga for Osteoporosis. She is currently working on an anatomy book for Anusara yoga practitioners with Martin and Jordan Kirk. Please visit her website at www.mohiniyoga.com

Therapeutic exercise doesn’t need to be tedious and repetitive. Yoga strengthens bone effectively, by putting beneficial pressure on the bones in a variety of ways. As a complementary therapy (possibly in combination with other exercise and medication) yoga has proven its power to build bone density and improve balance, especially when practiced with the Universal Principles of Alignment of Anusara yoga. This class is oriented toward students with osteopenia or osteoporosis, but teachers are welcome as participants. $55 after 11/1.

A Certified Anusara teacher since 2000, Ellen finds in Anusara yoga an elegant and subtle interplay of the physical and the spiritual. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, encouraging them to find their own source of joy and expressive freedom. She is known for her clarity and depth of knowledge.

Ellen's early involvement in massage and dance set the groundwork for her ongoing passion for anatomy and the therapeutic applications of yoga. She has extensive experience working with issues such as arthritis, menopause, fertility, lower back pain, and repetitive strain injuries. She recently co-authored two books on yoga: Yoga for Arthritis and Yoga for Osteoporosis. She is currently working on an anatomy book for Anusara yoga practitioners with Martin and Jordan Kirk. Please visit her website at www.mohiniyoga.com

On Thanksgiving Day, join Elizabeth Goodman for an all-levels fundraising class to benefit Oxfam. (Oxfam is a confederation of like-minded organizations that work to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.) Stretch your body and embrace your own generous spirit as we give thanks for our families, friends, and bounty. Friends, family, and out-of-town guests of all levels of yoga experience, including first-timers, are welcome.

Elizabeth is a certified Anusara yoga instructor. Her study of yoga is informed by her work as a government lawyer and her commitment to citizen advocacy and volunteerism. Her classes express her belief that the practice of yoga helps to bring us in alignment with our true nature, enabling us to be more compassionate and generous to our living planet, all other beings and ourselves. She was raised in a meditative tradition and took her first yoga class over 25 years ago. She is also a Reiki master. See more about Elizabeth at her website: rosegardenyoga.com

Certified Anusara yoga teachers Sommer and Paul Sobin return from the wilds of North Carolina for this annual Willow Street Thanksgiving tradition! Give thanks to yourself on the mat and celebrate the abundance of life with this invigorating asana class. This full-spectrum practice will be a smorgasbord of all the delicious flavors that yoga has to offer. Be prepared to sweat and laugh. This workshop is best suited for Levels I/II and up; this workshop fills quickly, so sign up now! Please note: Cancellation requests for this workshop must be received by the Registrar in writing by November 23.

Sommer and Paul Sobin, Certified Anusara Yoga instructors, are devoted to sharing the elegant teachings of yoga through the sophisticated lens of Anusara Yoga's philosophy, alignment and life affirming vision. They live and teach local classes, Immersion programs, and Anusara Yoga Teacher Training programs in the beautiful community of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Sommer and Paul also teach on the road across the country and internationally.

"Have an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life." -Swami Satchidananda. Opening the hips releases lower back tension, improves circulation to the pelvis and spine, and removes undue pressure from the knees. The hips also contain tremendous creative and emotional energy, which can become stuck and pressurized in the midst of our fast lives. Take some well-deserved time to create physical and energetic space in the hip joints and low back through the universal principles of alignment of Anusara Yoga, which will allow you safely to deepen your practice. Open to all levels; will include optional intermediate and advanced poses; and will conclude with yoga nidra.

Tyagan Scott Attaway is a Certified Anusara teacher and loves the spiritual teachings of Swami Satchidananda. He believes that a good yoga class leaves students feeling better about themselves. Tyagan, his spiritual name, means unconditional love and is a helpful reminder that the key to happiness is to serve and love all life.

For many yogis, there comes a time when downward-facing dog feels not-quite-right, when we sense that our potential in the pose is greater than our current experience of it. If your dog's been feeling tethered & tied - with an achy neck, or a stiff low back, or your own breed of trouble - then this is the workshop for you! We'll spend the afternoon exploring downward-facing dog from fresh perspectives, learning to find a sweet balance of strength and freedom in our necks & shoulders, legs & low backs, heads & hearts. All levels welcome.

Natalie Miller endeavors to offer her students what Anusara yoga boundlessly gifts to her: a loving and supportive community, a reverence for the inherent wisdom of body, and ever-new revelations of the beauty within and around us. Natalie's classes eloquently inspire students to love who they are and to be in awe of who they're becoming.

Join us for an evening of kirtan (devotional call and response chanting). Kirtan is a participatory experience, using ancient mantras and names for the Divine to awaken and celebrate our own hearts. It's powerful and fun. If you can talk, you can chant. Suggested donation: $10-20-you decide where you slide. No one turned away for lack of funds. Kids under 12 are free with an attentive adult.

Joy came to Yoga Nidra after 15 years of teaching earth-based awareness practices and 9 years as a full-time life and holistic spirituality coach (in her pre-Willow Street days). She has been leading Yoga Nidra practices since 2003, is a Certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher, and created the popular Yoga Nidra CD, Birthing the Phoenix. www.joylifecoach.com

Robin Carnes discovered yoga at age 18, and it has gradually become the center of her life. Robin is a certified iRest yoga nidra instructor, yoga instructor and Kripalu DansKinetics instructor. Since 2006, Robin has become fascinated by how iRest yoga nidra meditation can help people in all walks of life experience greater health and well-being. Her passion is sharing yoga and meditation with military servicemembers and families, as well as others who have experienced trauma.