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photo by Susan McLaughlin
Opening the Groin, Hips, and Hamstrings
Earth, Wind & Sky - Learning to Ground, Connect & Elongate
Saturday, September 10, 2011, 1 - 4:30 pmIn this session we will explore ways to cultivate freedom and strength in the pelvis. This can be achieved by learning to relax and strengthen the inner and outer muscles of the thighs and stretch the hamstrings, as well as learning ways to soften and loosen the hips, groin, ankle joints and feet. The fruit of such practice can prepare one for deep forward bending and back bending poses, as well as sitting comfortably for pranayama and meditation.
Clear articulation and regular practice of optimal alignment of the lower body can alleviate back pain as well as create a firm earthly foundation from which the spine can elongate easefully towards the sky.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
photo by Susan McLaughlinEntering the heart is like coming into the center of the sun ... when you are in the center of the sun, there is no way to block it’s light... so, by entering your own heart, you make the whole world a better paradise. - Swami Shantananda
Being Radiant in the Heart Center
Opening the Upper Back and Shoulders
Sunday, September 18, 2011 9:30 AM-1:00 PMLearn new ways to express your fullness of spirit by exploring the inner landscape of your body, mind, and heart to unlock the boundless potential within you. In this workshop we will explore movements that strengthen and bring flexibility to the shoulders, chest, neck, thoracic spine, arms, and wrists. By cultivating freedom in the torso, backbends, inverted poses, and arm balances can be experienced with more ease. As the upper body grows into healthy alignment, breathing will be freer and deeper, allowing the mind to become clear and quiet, and the heart peaceful. We will conclude with meditation to align with our highest purpose and innermost luminous nature.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Learning the Ropes
Sunday, October 2nd, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost is $90This class is limited to 6 students, so you will get ample attention!
Rope work, or yoga korunta, is a very dynamic and playful part of the Iyengar tradition of yoga. Ropes help tremendously in building agility and strength of body and mind. In this workshop we will focus on learning how to incorporate the ropes in your yoga practice. By transforming our relationship with gravity, the ropes assist us in focusing on specific parts of the body, refining the dynamics within a pose, and going beyond our habitual limits. We will explore standing postures, forward bends, backbends, twists, and inversions. Be prepared to enjoy and be challenged. This workshop is open to all levels and teachers who may want to teach rope work.
Optional: bring cycling or weight lifting gloves.
Early Registration Advised
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation............................................................................................................
photo by Susan McLaughlin
Rejuvenate and Nourish Yourself With Twists
Saturday, October 22nd, 10 - 1:30 pmTwisting poses, when performed skillfully, infuse the body and mind with vitality and well being, and assist in releasing enormous amounts of tension. They are traditionally associated with tonifying and rejuvenating the abdominal and pelvic organs. When these organs are squeezed, blood flow is stimulated and toxins are released - a natural internal massage. With regular practice the entire spine becomes more flexible, the upper back, neck, and hips move more freely, and these areas are nourished and strengthened by increased circulation.
In this session we will explore supine, standing, seated and inverted twists. Twisting poses assist in cultivating introspection: they can be seen as a spiral movement, ascending or descending, towards freedom from within. They are an excellent prelude to meditation, enabling you to feel more in tune with yourself, energized in a restful way, and sit quietly with more ease.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Halloween Special: Poses That Scare Us!
Sunday, October 30, 9:30 am - 1 pm
In this special workshop we will explore and get to know more intimately our fears in asasna practice. Which poses are scary for us and why? What are we really afraid of? What is our habitual reaction to fear and how can we feel safe? There will be a short conversation offering the opportunity to share our stories for support and insight. Then, through practice of the chosen asanas we can cross the curtain of fear to embrace courage humility and freedom. Also there will be selected readings from spiritual texts to contemplate ways of becoming comfortable with uncertainty.
Upon registering please let me know a couple of poses that are scary for you!
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
The Poetic Melody of Restorative Poses and Pranayama
Saturday, November 19, 1 - 4:30 pm
and
Sunday December 11, 9:30 am - 1:00 pmRestorative Yoga is an opportunity to deeply relax, renew and journey inward. The body is supported by props in each pose, so each pose can be held for some time effortlessly, which encourages a gradual dissolution of holding patterns of stress and tension in the inner body. All these passive postures are an excellent prelude to pranayama, since they open and gently stretch the respiratory muscles, quiet the mind, and cultivate stillness and ease in the body.
During the workshop, Betty will serenade you with selected, inspired poems and vocalese, and play chants from her CD “La Lumiere du Son”. The vibration of the sounds of harmonious words and melodies ushered by the human voice is the breath that touches the heart of the listener. This experience allows for a deeper absorption into our essence.
A variety of restorative poses will be practiced - forward bends, twists, inversions, and backbends. Then, we will explore some simple yogic breathing techniques designed to expand ("yama") our lifeforce ("prana"). Pranayama strengthens the mind and is a doorway to meditation. As we move beneath the exterior boundaries, we will experience a feeling of inner spaciousness and revealing clarity that can help us realize our fullest spiritual potential.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost:$75
Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation
PAST WORKSHOPS
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photo by Susan McLaughlinOpening the Gates to the Bliss of Backbends
Sunday April 10th, 2011, from 9:30 – 1:00 pm.
Backbends move us from the known to the unknown and demand complete physical and mental awareness. They are liberating and exhilarating. Backbending brings life to the spine, opens the chest, and stretches the entire front body. One can experience an energetic shift that can lay the ground for a new path, one which uncovers the unearthed parts of our body, mind, and heart.
In this session we will explore the essential keys that open the gates of the pelvis and the upper back and shoulders to move freely into backbending. We will practice a variety of backbends, along with poses for cooling down. Come and experience the freeing and rejuvenating power of these rewarding poses. They will light up your spirit!
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation............................................................................................................
Spring Awakening and the Art of Twisting
Sunday, March 20, 2011 9:30 AM-1:00 PMTwisting poses, when performed skillfully, infuse the body and mind with vitality and well being, and assist in releasing enormous amounts of tension. They are traditionally associated with tonifying and rejuvenating the abdominal and pelvic organs. When these organs are squeezed, blood flow is stimulated and toxins are released - a natural internal massage. With regular practice the entire spine becomes more flexible, the upper back, neck, and hips move more freely, and these areas are nourished and strengthened by increased circulation.
In this session we will explore supine, standing, seated and inverted twists. Twisting poses assist in cultivating introspection: they can be seen as a spiral movement, ascending or descending, towards freedom from within. They are an excellent prelude to meditation, enabling you to feel more in tune with yourself, energized in a restful way, and sit quietly with more ease.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Many Blessings and Peace to All
Asana and Meditation for a Contemplative Holiday
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 9:30 am-1:00 pmThe great love and sacred light that the season celebrates are found within our own awakened hearts.
In this workshop, we will emphasize centering ourselves at the time of the holiday, quieting our minds, grounding in our bodies, and listening deeply to what is in our heart.The Asana practice will explore ways to cultivate freedom in the pelvis, as well as open the upper back and chest. The fruit of such practice can prepare one to sit comfortably for meditation with an elongated spine and ease in breathing. This time spent together will be an opportunity to experience mindfulness of body, mind and spirit in movement and stillness.
We can then reflect and radiate from our own light source, and become a light unto others.Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation..........................................................................................................
photo by Susan McLaughlin
Entering the heart is like coming into the center of the sun ... when you are in the center of the sun, there is no way to block it’s light... so, by entering your own heart, you make the whole world a better paradise. - Swami Shantananda
Being Radiant in the Heart Center: Opening the Upper Back and Shoulders
Sunday, October 17, 2010 9:30 AM-1:00 PMLearn new ways to express your fullness of spirit by exploring the inner landscape of your body, mind, and heart to unlock the boundless potential within you. In this workshop we will explore movements that strengthen and bring flexibility to the shoulders, chest, neck, thoracic spine, arms, and wrists. By cultivating freedom in the torso, backbends, inverted poses, and arm balances can be experienced with more ease. As the upper body grows into healthy alignment, breathing will be freer and deeper, allowing the mind to become clear and quiet, and the heart peaceful. We will conclude with meditation to align with our highest purpose and innermost luminous nature.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Learning the Ropes Workshop
We will explore standing postures, forward bends, back bends, twists, and inversions. This workshop is open to all levels and teachers who may want to teach rope work.
Rope work assists in
• Alignment awareness
• Refining a deeper understanding of body mechanics
• Facilitating dynamic movement of joints
• Supporting the body weight
• Creating traction of the spine
• Stretching and strengthening the entire body beyond habitual limits
Benefits include
• Increased health of all vital organs
• Agility of mind and concentration
• Freedom of breath
• Release of accumulated tensions
• Augmented flexibility and strength
• Relief from the incessant pull of gravity
• Developing a sense of playfulness and curiosity
• Providing therapeutic applications
Optional: bring cycling or weight lifting gloves.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75
Register: Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation
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photo by Susan McLaughlin
Awakening To Our Roots: The Healing Power Of Hands & Feet
Sunday, September 26th, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00 PMOur relationship to the earth through our foundation is a dynamic, living relationship, serving in much the same way as the roots of a tree, to draw nourishment for growth. The distribution of weight through our feet affects the function and flow of energy through our knees, hips, back and shoulders. Similarly, how we displace our weight through our hands creates a powerful cascade effect into the wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck.
In this workshop we will discover how cultivating awareness within the feet and hands awakens us to the vibrancy of the present moment and connects us to our center. The practice will start with an in-depth exploration of movements designed to open, strengthen, condition and heal the extremities. This will be followed by one-legged as well as simple arm balances. We will experience how our hands and feet are powerful symbols for our potential to expand, to give and receive, and to manifest more balance and creativity in our lives.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Yoga Retreat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Sunday February 21st to Saturday February 27th, 2010Join us to bask in the beauty and warmth of Mexico-Cabo San Lucas, for an unforgettable, magical week of yoga, meditation, walks by the beach, and the incredible joy of whale watching.
This is a unique opportunity to practice with a small group (you get plenty of attention) and share the exquisite environment of the luxurious Capella Pedregal.
The first yoga class will start on Sunday at 4:30 pm and the retreat will end after lunch on Sat. the 27th.
There will be about 5 hours a day of practice and ample time for relaxation, swimming, contemplation, and fun. Massages and other treatments are available in the beautiful spa at your own expense.
The retreat is limited to 10 students. The magnificent rooms are double occupancy.
Early registration is advised.
The cost is $1188, two spots are available for $958 - ask Betty for details.
Includes breakfast, lunch, accommodations, all yoga classes and a sunset whale watching cruise. Airfare insurance is recommended.Airfare, taxi from the airport, and dinners are not included.
A non-refundable deposit of $400 is due by the deadline registration date of Jan. 15 to hold your space. The balance of $788 is due on Jan. 24, 2010.
CANCELLATION POLICY: In the event of cancellation the entire payment will be refunded, less the $400 deposit, if the cancellation is made before Jan, 24, 2010.
Payments are NON-REFUNDABLE after this date, unless we are able to fill your space.Please make checks payable to Elisabeth Roi.
For more info call Betty at 415 861-3055 or email at bettyroi@yahoo.com
To see photos of this spectacular place visit www.capellapedregal.com..........................................................................................................
Core Awakening in Inverted Poses
Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:30 AM-1:00 PMThis workshop is an opportunity for students who lack experience and confidence in practicing these essential poses to break through their resistances, and make friends with the world being upside down. The fundamentals will be covered, and more seasoned students can explore more challenging variations.
We will start the practice by examining how to access our internal power of steadfastness, stability and strength. From the deep connection to our core, optimal alignment and innate intelligence of the body will be established. A feeling of inner toning, openness and serenity will unfold, allowing us to savor the wonder of these poses.
Then we will explore headstand and shoulder stand, as well as forearm and full arm balance. Using props and modifications we will work on poses and actions which stabilize and strengthen the shoulder girdle and arms, and increase the mobility of the upper back while understanding how to align the neck and head in a safe, pain-free way.
Headstand and shoulder stand are the Father and Mother of all asanas. Regular practice of these two poses nourishes all the vital organs, strengthens the nervous system, and clears the mind, creating radiant well-being from the inside out. Inversions are an essential aspect of a balanced yoga practice.
Not recommended for women on their menstrual cycle.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Opening The Gates to the Bliss of Backbends
Sunday, May 31st, 2008, 9:30 AM-1:00 PMBackbends move us from the known to the unknown and demand complete physical and mental awareness. They are liberating and exhilarating. Backbending brings life to the spine, opens the chest, and stretches the entire front body. One can experience an energetic shift that can lay the ground for a new path, one which uncovers the unearthed parts of our body, mind, and heart.
In this session we will explore the essential keys that open the gates of the pelvis and the upper back and shoulders to move freely into backbending. We will practice a variety of backbends, along with poses for cooling down. Come and experience the freeing and rejuvenating power of these rewarding poses. They will light up your spirit!
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost:$75 if paid by Wednesday, May 27th, $85 thereafter
Call Betty at 415-861-305
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation............................................................................................................
The Journey to Arm Balancing
Sunday, April 26th, 2009, 9:30 - 1:00 pmArm balancing poses cultivate the intelligence of the body. They expand our inner sense of equilibrium and integration. With regular practice they develop lightness, strength, courage and agility, freeing the mind and body of habitual patterns. This workshop will emphasize the process of arm balancing. Preparation will include hip openers, twists, wrist and shoulder openers and strengtheners. We will learn to struggle less with the muscular strength of the arms by using the alignment of the bones for optimal leverage, while connecting to the power of our core. The essence of balancing on our hands is in creating a steady foundation that allows us to equally root into the earth while taking flight.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost:$75 if paid by Wednesday, April 22nd, $85 thereafter
Call Betty at 415-861-305
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation............................................................................................................
Spring Cleaning: Rejuvenate and Nourish Yourself with Twists
Saturday, March 28, 2008, 9:30 AM-1:00 PMTwisting poses, when performed skillfully, infuse the body and mind with vitality and well being, and assist in releasing enormous amounts of tension. They are traditionally associated with tonifying and rejuvenating the abdominal and pelvic organs. When these organs are squeezed, blood flow is stimulated and toxins are released - a natural internal massage. With regular practice the entire spine becomes more flexible, the upper back, neck, and hips move more freely, and these areas are nourished and strengthened by increased circulation.
In this session we will explore supine, standing, seated and inverted twists. Twisting poses assist in cultivating introspection: they can be seen as a spiral movement, ascending or descending, towards freedom from within. They are an excellent prelude to meditation, enabling you to feel more in tune with yourself, energized in a restful way, and sit quietly with more ease.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost:$75 if paid by Wednesday, March 25th, $85 thereafter
Call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
Opening The Gates to the Bliss of Backbends
Saturday, October 18th, 2008, 9:30 AM-12:45 PMBackbends move us from the known to the unknown and demand complete physical and mental awareness. They are liberating and exhilarating. Backbending brings life to the spine, opens the chest, and stretches the entire front body. One can experience an energetic shift that can lay the ground for a new path, one which uncovers the unearthed parts of our body, mind, and heart.
In this session we will explore the essential keys that open the gates of the pelvis and the upper back and shoulders to move freely into backbending. We will practice a variety of backbends, along with poses for cooling down. Come and experience the freeing and rejuvenating power of these rewarding poses. They will light up your spirit!
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation............................................................................................................
Asana & Meditation: Uniting the Sun and Moon Thru Mindfulness
Sunday, June 15, 2008 1:45-5:00 PMYoga reunites all polarities and reconciles opposites; sun meets moon, heaven meets earth, and this sacred union manifests in the heart. Together, asana and meditation strengthen our capacity to be present, see clearly, and directly sense the body as a doorway to the boundless.
Through a short discussion, we will explore into the individual nature of our own patterns, how they effect our lives physically and psychologically. The practice of upper back and hip openers will enable us to explore the interplay of the different currents of energy, while preparing us for seated meditation. Using action and intention, we will engender dynamic self-inquiry and discovery, so we may begin to experience our deep interconnectedness with all life.Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
To see photos from the 2007 Brazil retreat, click HERE
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Yoga & Meditation for a Contemplative Holiday
December 8th, 2007, 10:00am-2:00pm (followed by a catered lunch!)Winter is a time of turning inward, when much of the natural world goes into hibernation. We are intimately tied to the seasonal rhythms around us. As the year comes to a close, now is the time for reflection and contemplation.
Join Mark and Betty, as they skillfully guide you into the inner spaces of your body, mind and heart. The asana practice will stimulate and soothe you through a delightful combination of standing poses, backbends, inversions, twists, and forward bends. With an emphasis on cultivating breath awareness throughout, you will be able to attune to the subtle flow of prana, the light and vibration that makes up the entirety of the cosmos. This awareness will be used to practice pranayama (literally, breath, expansion), to further settle the mind, and enter into communion with the most subtle energetic realms of your body. In this state, you will be led through a meditation in which you will navigate the ocean of your heart, to dissolve into the unwavering pulsation of the great heart of consciousness, your timeless essence of being.
The practice will be followed by a delicious meal, catered by SF chef extraordinaire Lisa Knispel, so we may share in the flavors of the winter season: gratitude, community, and light.Please bring your own mat. All other props (when needed) will be provided.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $115 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
The Inward Journey of Forward Bends
Saturday, October 21, 2006, 9:30 am-12:45 pmForward bends form an essential part of a balanced asana practice. Physically they stretch the legs, open the hips, and lengthen the entire back body. Psychologically, they teach us surrender, which is well expressed in the fact that we cannot see above or behind. In the acceptance of this situation lies humility. Therapeutically, they can be prescribed for issues such as migraines, insomnia, and hypertension, as well as forming a major component of the menstrual cycle sequence. These poses also teach us patience and trust, they help cultivate deep listening, turning our attention inward.
In this workshop we will explore how to skillfully unite both halves of the body at the hips, the point of bending. Harmonious flow of the breath, and correct action of the legs and pelvis, will be addressed to create maximum mobility, traction, and freedom of the spine. Standing and seated forward bends will be practiced, and the meditative, introspective qualities of these poses will be emphasized. As we expand and soften from deep inside, we become more fully alive and peaceful in the present moment.
Where: Yoga du Soleil located at 224 Divisadero St.
Cost: $75 Pre-registration call Betty at 415-861-3055
No refunds with less than 24 hour cancellation...........................................................................................................
