Riding the Change
with Jnana Gowan

Ongoing class meets every other month

Upcoming Dates: May 22, 2010
Time: 1-5 pm
Cost: Pre-register $40 / Drop-in $50

Riding the Change – An exploration of the peri-mental-pausal years with asana, breath work/meditation and congenial commiseration.

In this workshop we will come together as a group of perimenopausal power-surging women to share the intensity of this life-changing time and celebrate the initiation into a deeper intuition and a more creative self. This workshop includes a check-in and menopause discussion and explores yoga postures (including restorative yoga poses) that help support the hormonal roller-coaster of “the change”. We will practice mindfulness and breath work as a way to connect to ourselves – and in turn, use this work to support us as we lay awake at 3:00 a.m. as our brain re-wires itself.

All women go through this amazing time and every woman has her own story. Join us and share your story as a way of staying sane and present as you enter into your seriously divine feminine. This class is for all levels from basic beginner to the seasoned practitioner.

Bio info:
Jnana Gowan is the founder and director of Powerhouse Education; a company dedicated to the health & well being of all individuals. A teacher for 10 years, she specializes in yoga for women in transitional times from prenatal and postpartum to women in their perimenopausal years. She has one foot in the corporate world with her At Your Desk Yoga program and she wrote the chapter “Yoga at the Office” for the book Executive Stamina. Acting as a consultant for the business world she educates executives on how to use yoga while at the work place. As an instructor, Jnana has the unique ability to make people of all ages & sizes feel at ease and to share their true essence. She feels that it is highly gratifying to share with each student the wonder and excitement of a body in balance.

For more info on Powerhouse Education go to: www.powerhed.com
Or contact her directly at 510-734-4122

Yoga & TRE
Releasing the Psoas, Lower Back, and Trauma through Movement
with Maria Alfaro

Date: Saturday, May 22nd
Time: 1-3:30 pm
Cost: $45

What Is TRE© (Trauma Release Evercises)
TRE is a simple, gentle and profound technique that facilitates the relaxation of the psoas muscle and the release of physical and emotional tension and stress. The TRE exercises tire the legs, triggering an involuntary shaking and trembling response,
which begins in the legs and often spreads throughout the body. This shaking is actually the nervous system’s way of discharging long-held tension or unconscious muscle contraction in order to restore the body to wholeness. TRE, developed by David Berceli, a bioenergetic therapist, has been used successfully all over the world for more than a decade.

Our body is the greatest ally for healing trauma. An hour session of gentle and all levels Yoga will precede the revolutionary Trauma Release Exercises facilitated by Maria Alfaro.

Some benefits you may expect from TRE:
• Improved sense of being “grounded”
• Release of deep chronic tension and increase of overall energy and stamina
• Discharge of buried emotional and physical trauma
• “Shake loose” unconscious involuntary muscular contractions
• Promotes deep relaxation and improves circulation
• Increase of the body’s sensitivity to pleasure
• The healing of sciatica
• Increased flexibility

For more information about Maria please visit www.yogadventure.com

The Shadow Effect

Friday, May 7th 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Awakening your Inner Lover with Agapi Stassinopoulos
Cost: $40adv or $45/day of

Join us for an uplifting seminar for men and women. Discover a happier relationship with yourself and others based on the 15 Greek Archetypes.

Explore your own archetypes and reawaken your passion. Identify your unique strengths and your love-ability. Open up the doors to your creativity, wisdom, spontaneity and joy. Learn to create happy and intimate partnerships. Embrace all your aspects and claim your gifts. Build healthy boundaries as you celebrate your oneness with all.

The Inner Lover
By Agapi Stassinopoulos

I could walk on water so you’ll know I love you * I could give you wings and you can come flying with me * And you’ll know I love you * I could do arabesques and pirouettes * Dance the polka or drop a million stars at your feet * And you’ll know I love you * Or I could have every blade of grass * Sing “I love you”, in harmony till * Every cell of your billion cells * Will hear it loud and clear * But your mind somehow still won’t believe it * So I wait in the corner for you to turn around * Letting you search for me * Going through your ups and downs * Take the million mile journey * Do sidda yoga postures until the cows come home * Wail and cry, “Where are you!?” * Feel hurt, betrayed, rejected, alone and abandoned * I’ll let you do all that * Because when you find me * You’ll feel it’s worthwhile * So I’m not going to take the journey away from you *I won’t deny you the right to know * That you now deserve to know me * I, however, never put conditions in my love * You did * I threw a million daisy petals at your feet * So you can play the game * “He loves me, he loves me not” * But you somehow managed to always end it * In the Not * So I will let you be in your search for me * Til one moment you’ll exhale, let go, turn around * And you will fall in my embrace * And know the immensity of my Love * And that you and I are One

“Agapi is an authentic inspirational speaker who knows how to connect with and move her audience. She brings out the beauty, power and independence of the Greek Gods and Goddesses and the archetypes in all of us to help us create the life we want”
- Deepak Chopra

Agapi Stassinopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She graduated the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Doing the preparatory research with her sister Arianna Huffington, on a book about the Gods and Goddesses of Greece ignited Agapi’s passion to do more work with the gods From there, she developed a TV series called The Gods of Greece for PBS. Her book “Gods and Goddesses in Love: Making the Myth a Reality for You,” was published by Pocket Books of Simon and Schuster and has been translated into six languages. It deals with love and how the understanding of the Greek archetypes can help us in our personal relationships. Agapi lectures and conducts seminars worldwide for both men and women helping them become more connected to their inner wisdom and with her passion inspires them to live an empowered life.

Day 1-3 Cahuita National Park, Aviarios Wildlife Refuge
Highlights: Jungle Beach, Canoeing on Virgin Wetlands, Rainforest hiking, Sloth Refuge, Bird and Wildlife Watching, Orchid garden.
Wildlife: Sloths, white-faced monkeys, anteaters, otters, caiman, morpho butterflies, poison-arrow frogs, and over 300 species of exotic tropical birds.

     Start your adventure sharing a crowd-free rainforest beach with monkeys, sloths, toucans and more. Enjoy hiking relaxing, wildlife viewing and more at an easygoing pace. Stay at a Sloth Wildlife Refuge and Bird Aviary. Canoe through virgin wetlands in search of exotic colorful birds such as the Purple Gallenule and Rosette Spoonbill. Enjoy an orchid garden.

Day 3-5 La Selva Biological Reserve, Sarapiqui River, Puerto Viejo River
Highlights: Whitewater rafting, flatwater wildlife expedition on a rainforest river, hiking in a Biological Station with biologists studying the rainforest.
Wildlife: Extreme biodiversity including 400 species of birds, rare rainforest frogs, river otter, agouti, coati, monkeys, anteaters and more.
     The Sarapiqui is one of the highlights of every paddler’s “dream trip.” Passing directly through La Selva Biological Reserve, the river is surrounded by old-growth rainforest and exotic birds. The next day we’ll run the Puerto Viejo river, a remote river that rarely sees any humans besides us!

     InnerQuest Exclusive: Choose from rafts, inflatable kayaks or canoes for both whitewater and flatwater segments. More small boats spread out along the river means more eyes spread out along the river, which means we see more wildlife! And in the flat-water sections we can stop and observe wildlife for a more intimate experience of the rainforest and wildlife than any other conventional tour.

Eve 5 La Fortuna, Volcano Arenal, Hot Springs
     Relax in a rejuvinating hot springs near the foothills of of Volcano Arenal. Then enjoy a night-time view of the volcano spouting lava.

Day 6-8 Monteverde Cloud Forest
Highlights: Cloud forest, Canopy Tour. Naturalist-guided Hiking and Birding.
Wildlife: Resplendent Quetzals, trogans, rare hummingbirds and hundreds of birds unique to the Cloud forest. Howler monkeys and other small mammals.
      The Bio-diversity and exuberance of life in the cloudforest is a result of clouds drifting in and dripping constant moisture on the dense canopy tops. A naturalist guide points out a stunning array of plant and birdlife, perhaps even the endangered Resplendent Quetzal. Later, a series of suspended bridges and platforms offers an unforgettable glimpse of life high amongst the canopy and the transcendent sensation of walking amongst the clouds.

Eve 8 Carara Biological Preserve
Highlights: Evening Scarlet Macaw migration, rare wildlife, giant exotic hardwoods.
Wildlife: Crocodiles, scarlet macaws, anteater, ocelot, peccaries, white-faced and spider monkeys, poison-arrow frog.
      An old growth forest of striking complexity and density, Carara’s giant trees include 10 of the rarest hardwoods in Costa Rica. The unique combination of ecosystems is habitat for many rare and endangered animals, including one of the largest populations of scarlet macaws in the country, which migrate twice daily from the inland rainforest to the coastal mangrove swamps.

Day 9-10 Manuel Antonio Park (14 day itineraries only)
Highlights: Spectacular world-class beaches
Wildlife: White-faced and squirrel monkeys right on the beach!
      The most popular national park in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio offers dense rainforests spilling down onto brilliant white sand beaches populated with friendly white-faced and squirel monkeys.

Day 11 -14 Osa Peninsula/Corcovado:
Highlights: This is THE place you dream of when you think Costa Rica! The most remote, most biodiverse, most wildlife (including many rare and indigenous species) and NO mosquitoes! Osa also holds the largest remaining stand of virgin rainforest in Central America. One of the last truly unspoiled and wild places in the world.
Wildlife: Osa is the absolute best place to see all 4 types of Costa Rican monkeys, (including rare squirrel monkeys) peccaries and other exotic wildlife, in greater numbers than anywhere else, and your best chance to spot jaguar and other big cats. It is one of the last stands for many extremely rare and endangered species including the Harpy Eagle and King Vulture. Over 400 species of birds including the largest population of scarlet macaws in the country.

      INNERQUEST EXCLUSIVE! Explore Golfito Bay Enjoy sunset kayaking with dolphins and a unique night-time excursion to snorkel at night and see the water come alive with blue sparkles of bioluminescence. Hike private wildlife reserves with wildlife expertsand Corcovado National Park. Enjoy pristine beaches teeming with scarlet macaws, rare and endangered wildlife and stay at a world-class jungle lodge recently featured in Conde Naste Traveler!

Trip Extensions:
Tortuguero
     A natural network of scenic jungle canal navigable only by boat, Tortuguero protects over 350 species of birds and mammals, including endangered great green macaws and jaguars. It is one of the most important nesting sites for green sea turtles. Enjoy boating, canoeing and wildlife watching from your waterfront lodge. Call for different price options.
Drake Bay
     Explore Osa’s wild northern end. Hike Corcovado National Park with local naturalist guides, boat to Cano Island for a day of snorkeling, or just relax at one of Costa Rica’s best jungle lodges. Call for different price options.

Sunday Events Schedule:

Morning Meditation

9-9:45 AM

An opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and to introduce your friends or family to the benefits of Nyingma meditation. Each session includes brief meditation instruction followed by silent sitting. You are welcome to attend any Sunday session. No pre-registration or prior experience necessary.
Cost: $5.

Kum Nye Relaxation

10 AM to Noon

Discover the gentle movement exercises of Kum Nye: effective techniques for relaxation, healing, relieving tension, and revitalizing body and mind. Both experienced and beginning students are welcome to attend this drop-in class.
Cost: $15.

Tibetan Chanting

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Every Sunday we invite the public to join us for an hour of Tibetan chanting and meditation.
Free.

Sunday Talks

6:00 – 7:00 PM

At 6 PM a talk on Nyingma teachings is presented by a Nyingma Institute faculty member or visiting scholar.
Free. See topics below.

Upcoming Free Sunday Talks

Calm and Clear Lecture Series, March-April, 2010

A regular meditation practice allows us to become calm and to stay clear. We discover in meditation a foundation for self-development. As we continue to practice, almost imperceptibly the quality of everyday life begins to change. We find that we act with more creativity and care, truly engaged in our own lives and more responsive to others. In each talk in this two-month lecture series, you will learn about a particular aspect of Tibetan Buddhist meditation and be introduced to some of the many meditative practices that lead to ease and clarity.

April 4, 6-7 PM: Bob Byrne on “Developing Joyous Ease”

Meditation uncovers a natural serenity that opens the mind and senses to joy. Nyingma Institute instructor Bob Byrne will lead participants in meditation practices that activate joyous ease.

April 11, 6-7 PM: Olivia Hurd on “Meditations to Open the Heart”

Specific practices from the Tibetan tradition help you to cultivate an open-hearted, loving attitude in all that you do. Nyingma Institute instructor Olivia Hurd will lead you through some of these practices and talk about how to deepen compassion for yourself and for others.

 April 18, 6-7 PM: Erika Rosenberg on “Seeing Through Self-Images”

Erika Rosenberg, research psychologist in human emotions and Nyingma Institute instructor, will discuss ways to recognize the complex images we hold of ourselves, how they operate, and how our attachment to them creates suffering for us and those around us. Taking the opportunity to liberate ourselves from these concepts can bring great freedom.

Nyingma Institute Open House

Upcoming Dates

June 6
August 29
September 26
December 5

Sunday afternoon from 3-5 PM.

Quarterly open houses introduce Kum Nye, and meditation, and provide the opportunity to meet Institute faculty and staff. The open house program runs from 3-5 PM with light refreshments, followed by our regular Sunday chant and talk from 5-7 PM. Come for some or all of the actvities.

3 PM-5 PM

• Prayer wheel and meditation garden tour
• Tibetan Relaxation (Kum Nye yoga) demonstration
• Talk on the Nyingma Institute, its programs and activities
• Class and program counseling
• Reception with light refreshments

Following the open house is a regularly scheduled Tibetan chant at 5:00, followed by a Dharma talk at 6:00.

All open house events are free.

ECSTATIC BREATHWORK With Scott Schwenk
Last Sunday of The Month 4:30pm-6;30pm – $50

These workshops use an ancient form of rhythmic breathwork (pranayama) to open you to the place of Clear Awareness, a place where blocks can be healed, purpose revealed, self-love awakened, and freedom deeply tasted.

The Focus for the Year with each workshop will be: Deepening Self-Love and Freedom

Session 1: Sunday, February 28th – Clearing the Clutter ~ Where’s the clutter in your life? What are the distractions that take energy away from your intentions, your Purpose? Using the power of breath and Awareness we’ll work deeply into clearing any clutter or pulls on your life-force to free up more of your energy for what matters most to you.

Introductory Course with Christine Burke
Sunday April 11th and 18th 2-4pm
$50 – includes 1 week of FREE classes

Come and experience a basics class with attention to alignment and breath. The class includes a brief history of yoga and it’s health benefits.

This is the perfect way to wet your feet whether you are a brand new beginner or just coming back after a “yoga break”!

Chakra Restorative With Constance Hart
A meditative journey…A metaphysical healing
Sunday, April 4th/ 6:00-8:15pm
Call to Pre-register & Save $5!~
$35 in advance $40 at the door~Chakra Restorative Yoga with Constance Hart

THIS MONTH’S FOCUS: The Nabhi Chakra, The Navel Chakra & Gold Color Energy.

Come dressed inGOLD to deepen into the color consciousness!

CHAKRA YOGA TEACHER’S TRAINING
Saturday & Sunday, April 10th & 11th, 9:00am – 5:30pm

Become a Certified* Chakra Restorative Yoga Instructor! For yoga instructors or yogis/yoginis interested in deepening their awareness of the esoteric yoga practices that awaken the Chakras & the subtle energy system. Get fully trained in the program Instructor Constance Hart developed 10 years ago. This is energy balancing yoga at its best! Chakra Restorative Yoga is a unique niche in yoga. Enjoy sharing this specialty with your students.

YOU WILL LEARN THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT:

The Chakra System
The Subtle Energy Body
Energy Pathways
The Metaphysics of Yoga
Nadis, Marmas, Bandhas, Mudras & Mantras specific to the Chakras
Specific yoga asanas for the 7 Major Chakras + 5 Minor Chakras
How/Why Color has always been connected to the study & practice of Chakra Balancing and More!

* To Receive Certification, you must already have completed a Yoga Teacher’s Training at a registered studio

Cal 805-305-0046 for More Info

Liberation Yoga Teacher Training 2010
Summer 2010 -July 16th – August 29th

If you are interested in finding out more information about our next training please download the teacher training flyer or email: christine@liberationyoga.com