Workshop Dates:
Sept 22 - Earth
Oct 27 - Water
Nov 10 - Fire
Dec 1 - Air
Time: 1 to 4pm
Cost $30 if paid two weeks in advance and $35 on the day of the class...pre-registration is required. All levels welcome!

Consciousness precipitates into matter via a series of five quantum steps or energies of nature. Each class in this series will focus on one of the elements as you move from the gross (earth) to the subtle (space).

Prithivi, the fist element, earth Patanjali's Yoga Sutras state the qualities of a good yoga asana are sukha and sthira. These Sanskrit words can be translated as happy and grounded or stable. Grounding is the foundation of all yoga practice. It creates a rebound feeling of buoyancy that moves upward, bringing a sense of lightness to the body and energy to the poses. It is established through the part of the body that is in contact with the floor. This, of course, changes as we move from standing postures to inverted ones and finally to sitting poses. During this workshop we will focus on creating a solid foundation to each pose to help draw more energy from the earth, creating a greater sense of dynamic ease in our practice.

Apas, the second element, water More than seventy percent of the earth's surface is water. We live on watery planet and we are water creatures; born into this world nearly seventy percent fluid. This workshop will focus on the important role of water in our practice. Vyana Vayu is responsible for the distribution of prana throughout the body. The qualities of water are fluidity, adaptability, softness and power.

Tejas, the third element, fire. This workshop will explore the inner fire of Agni. This fire is not the heat of a thermostat-controlled room or even the internal warmth that comes with exercise. It is much subtler than that. The inner fire's source is the Solar Plexus and it is stoked by the bandas, especially Uddiyana Banda. Fire governs the other elements and drives the assimilation of Prana. Its quality is transformation. It is the internal glow of Agni that brings radiance to our practice.

Vayu, the fourth element, air This workshop will explore the Prana Vayu, the expression of the air element in our practice. It's seat is located in the core of the heart at the Anahata Chakra,(fourth chakra). This important chakra is the bridge between the lower chakras that deal with survival and the upper chakra of higher consciousness. This workshop will focus on the shoulder girdle, chest area, and the backdoor of the heart as we move through several heart-opening poses. The qualities of air are expansion and lightness. Breath awareness is key to cultivating these qualities in our practice. The best barometer for measuring the quality of any yoga pose is the freedom of the breath.

Akasha, the fifth element, space Akasha or space is the subtlest of the five elements and the container of the other four. It is associated with the Fifth or Vishuddha Chakra and its seat in the body is the throat. Akasha is brought into our practice through awareness. It is consciousness and there for formless but as the primary element, is necessary for the unification of earth, water, fire and air. It relates to the sense of hearing and is directed through the gaze. This workshop will focus on proper alignment through the shoulders, neck and head to allow poses to be more clearly expressed from the core body as we explore how the gaze can help or hinder this process.

About Dennis:
Dennis has spent most of his life in the great outdoors mingling with the elements. A fascination with the energy of our planet drew him into wilderness travel. Stumbling and drifting through the wilds, occasionally being blown off course; he was eventually led into the adventure of exploring the inner landscape through the practice of yoga. A student of yoga for twenty years and a graduate of the Advanced Studies Program at the Piedmont Yoga Studio with Rodney Yee, he has been teaching yoga for nine years. He feels that a deep connection to the earth provides a sound foundation for a yoga practice. Dennis offers workshops, teacher training's and leads adventurous retreats that combine yoga with the wilderness experience. For more information contact Dennis at (530) 626-6353 or visit www.wildyoga.com or The Yoga Place at 530-333-2625