Special Events
March 2012
Click an event for a detailed description.
The Vesica Practice is an evolutionary thread of postures supported by technique-oriented instruction. A typical class begins with Surya Namaskar variations. What follows is an innovative sequence of postures that includes foot standing, hand standing, and seated asanas. The pace of the class ranges from fluid and dynamic, to still, measured, and organic.
The Vesica Practice combines techniques from multiple Vinyasa styles and movement modalities with Kundalini and Nevine Michaan yoga. Students learn to be skillful and efficient in movement, and well adjusted in postures. The Vesica Practice employs archetypal alignment principles that reveal the proportion, balance, integration, pattern, and structure inherent within each posture. The goal of the Vesica Practice is to offer a sustainable method of yoga that turns students into teachers, by developing their ability to self adjust, uplift, ground, gain clarity, insight, and become powerful and graceful practitioners.
About David Regelin
I have been practicing yoga for ten years. Through practice and observation, patterns have emerged. The function of yoga as I see it now is quite different from when my practice began. As my experience of yoga continues to evolve and reveal, I have learned not to underestimate its potential, depth, and complexity. I keep a finger on the pulse of my personal practice, and of those to whom I teach, to ensure potency, sustainability, and relevancy.
This immersion will focus on inversions, in particular the handstand. The handstand requires flexibility, coordination, strength, stability, and concentration to be performed efficiently and beneficially.
This workshop will include:
- External alignment principles: fingers, hands, wrists, shoulders, spine, abdomen, hips, legs, feet, toes, will all be put in their place.
- Internal mechanisms: bhandas, drishti, visualization
- Conditioning: practical exercises to build the power, stamina, coordination, and stability necessary for inversions. Prehab and rehab routines included.
About David Regelin
I have been practicing yoga for ten years. Through practice and observation, patterns have emerged. The function of yoga as I see it now is quite different from when my practice began. As my experience of yoga continues to evolve and reveal, I have learned not to underestimate its potential, depth, and complexity. I keep a finger on the pulse of my personal practice, and of those to whom I teach, to ensure potency, sustainability, and relevancy.
Shadow Yoga, founded by Zhander Remete, is a Hatha Yoga system designed to integrate the common principles of yoga asana, martial arts, dance, and Ayurvedic/Siddha medicine. The starting point consists of 3 standing prelude forms, all devised to prepare the body for asana-vinyasa. The full practice format consists of prelude forms, asanas, inversions, bandhas, kriyas, mudras, pranayama and pratyahara.
In Sanskrit, 'chaya' is defined as ‘shadow' or ‘reflection.' The word ‘reflect' means to ‘cast back (light, heat, sound) from a surface'; to ponder or meditate. From a yogic perspective, the term "shadow" refers to the many layers of our being (5 koshas/sheaths) – physical, energetic, mental/emotional, wisdom and spirit bodies. As an enlightened yogi once stated, "the appearance of this body is nothing but frozen layers of shadows." The art of Hatha Yoga is the ability to harmonize these distinctly different sheaths in order to live a healthy and balanced life.
About Matt Pesendian
Matt Pesendian has been practicing and studying the art of Hatha Yoga since 1989, dedicating his studies to the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and Zhander Remete, the founder of Shadow Yoga. He received a B.A. degree at U.C. Santa Cruz, a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica and is a California board licensed acupuncturist. Matt also developed a Medical Qigong program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and teaches yoga/qigong workshops and retreats. This workshop will focus on the basic yogic principles and postures which stand at the heart of this unique Hatha Yoga practice.
Over the last decade Matt has had the opportunity to instruct and share the art of qigong. He has enhanced his teaching approach through his study and licensure in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many have come to learn these therapeutic exercises not only to relieve some general stress and stiffness, but because they were facing chronic life-threatening illnesses/conditions.
Slow, gentle, yet energizing, these forms are based on ancient Chinese yoga postures, movements, self-massage, and breathing techniques. Therapeutic by nature, these qigong forms provide simple techniques which help strengthen the immune system by promoting optimal blood flow, lymphatic circulation, oxygen intake, and the toning of the organic body. Ultimately, they are designed to safely and effectively guide one's body, mind and spirit into state of balance.
In 2005 Matt developed a Medical Qigong program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. Classes are free – open to cancer patients and caregivers.
About Matt Pesendian
Matt Pesendian has been practicing and studying the art of Hatha Yoga since 1989, dedicating his studies to the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and Zhander Remete, the founder of Shadow Yoga. He received a B.A. degree at U.C. Santa Cruz, a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica and is a California board licensed acupuncturist. Matt also developed a Medical Qigong program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and teaches yoga/qigong workshops and retreats. This workshop will focus on the basic yogic principles and postures which stand at the heart of this unique Hatha Yoga practice.
Saturday, 3/10 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Introduction to Shadow Yoga with Matt Pesendian
Shadow Yoga, founded by Zhander Remete, is a Hatha Yoga system designed to integrate the common principles of yoga asana, martial arts, dance, and Ayurvedic/Siddha medicine. The starting point consists of 3 standing prelude forms, all devised to prepare the body for asana-vinyasa. The full practice format consists of prelude forms, asanas, inversions, bandhas, kriyas, mudras, pranayama and pratyahara.
In Sanskrit, 'chaya' is defined as ‘shadow' or ‘reflection.' The word ‘reflect' means to ‘cast back (light, heat, sound) from a surface'; to ponder or meditate. From a yogic perspective, the term "shadow" refers to the many layers of our being (5 koshas/sheaths) – physical, energetic, mental/emotional, wisdom and spirit bodies. As an enlightened yogi once stated, “the appearance of this body is nothing but frozen layers of shadows.” The art of Hatha Yoga is the ability to harmonize these distinctly different sheaths in order to live a healthy and balanced life.
About Matt Pesendian
Matt Pesendian has been practicing and studying the art of Hatha Yoga since 1989, dedicating his studies to the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and Zhander Remete, the founder of Shadow Yoga. He received a B.A. degree at U.C. Santa Cruz, a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica and is a California board licensed acupuncturist. Matt also developed a Medical Qigong program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and teaches yoga/qigong workshops and retreats. This workshop will focus on the basic yogic principles and postures which stand at the heart of this unique Hatha Yoga practice.
Sunday, 3/11 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Introduction to Shadow Yoga with Matt Pesendian
Shadow Yoga, founded by Zhander Remete, is a Hatha Yoga system designed to integrate the common principles of yoga asana, martial arts, dance, and Ayurvedic/Siddha medicine. The starting point consists of 3 standing prelude forms, all devised to prepare the body for asana-vinyasa. The full practice format consists of prelude forms, asanas, inversions, bandhas, kriyas, mudras, pranayama and pratyahara.
In Sanskrit, 'chaya' is defined as ‘shadow' or ‘reflection.' The word ‘reflect' means to ‘cast back (light, heat, sound) from a surface'; to ponder or meditate. From a yogic perspective, the term "shadow" refers to the many layers of our being (5 koshas/sheaths) – physical, energetic, mental/emotional, wisdom and spirit bodies. As an enlightened yogi once stated, “the appearance of this body is nothing but frozen layers of shadows.” The art of Hatha Yoga is the ability to harmonize these distinctly different sheaths in order to live a healthy and balanced life.
About Matt Pesendian
Matt Pesendian has been practicing and studying the art of Hatha Yoga since 1989, dedicating his studies to the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and Zhander Remete, the founder of Shadow Yoga. He received a B.A. degree at U.C. Santa Cruz, a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica and is a California board licensed acupuncturist. Matt also developed a Medical Qigong program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and teaches yoga/qigong workshops and retreats. This workshop will focus on the basic yogic principles and postures which stand at the heart of this unique Hatha Yoga practice.
Saturday, 3/17 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Therapeutic Yoga Series: Hip and Hamstring Opening with Peter Crowley
About the Therapeutic Yoga Series
Peter began practicing yoga to address ongoing general core strength issues. He was also dealing with ongoing back problems which were a product of stress, uneven muscle development, and poor posture. Through a practice of Ashtanga, Vinyasa and ultimately Forrest Yoga, he was able to develop strength and move out lingering tightness and chronic pain.
Yoga as a fitness system is ideal in that it addresses stretching and strengthening the body holistically. For instance, back problems are addressed through core strength. Shoulder and neck tightness can be relieved as one learns to breathe deeper. Hamstring, hip flexor, and quad tightness is reversed by using the legs and decompressing the hips.
In his Therapeutic Yoga Series, Peter will guide you into a carefully constructed and safely sequenced yoga practice to address particular areas of tightness, those that commonly lack strength, and common injuries facing today's practitioner. These all-levels sequences are designed for practitioners of all yoga systems.
Hip and Hamstring Opening
Are you a runner with chronic tightness in your hips and thighs? Are you often reminded not to round your back as you fold forward? Do you feel a sense of disconnect when in your legs? Through a series of restorative and more active postures, you will learn to ignite strength in your legs to reduce holding and tension in your hips and hamstrings.
About Peter Crowley
Peter has practiced yoga since 2002 when he took his first class at the newly opened Back Bay Yoga Studio. His classes incorporate ten years of yoga training in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Forrest yoga systems.
Peter has a reputation for teaching dynamic, powerful yoga sequences that include inversions and arm balances and techniques for accessing the inert strength to achieve these poses. On the flipside, Peter offers an opportunity to slow down and feel the effect of an embodied practice that pursues safety and alignment as much as strength and sweat. While his classes are a physical workout, Peter encourages inquiry into deeper aspects of a meditative practice that nurtures introspection and self-discovery in a non-competitive environment. Peter’s classes address practitioners of all-levels. His sequences cultivate strength and flexibility yet set strong roots for a safe and lifelong practice.
As a child and young adult Peter led a fairly sedentary life and struggled with eating disorders as well as other addictive behavior. Having built up these coping mechanisms to endure severe depression and the abusive and fearful environment in which he was growing up, Peter entered his twenties with emotional and physical pain.
Peter believes that his yoga practice began years before he ever stepped on the mat when he discovered the power of ecstatic movement through dance. Immersed in club culture throughout his college years, Peter found physical and emotional FREEDOM when surrounded by high-energy music and crowds of dancing bodies. This FREEDOM to move and transcend the stuck and sedentary provided a path of healing where Peter could strip away layers of physical and emotional shielding and discover the first glimpses of profound JOY.
A few years later, Peter attended his first Vinyasa yoga class at the recommendation of a dear friend. Peter grew physically strong and spent a year practicing Baptiste Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga Primary Series. In 2003, he moved to San Francisco to participate in a 200-hour Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with Larry Schultz of It’s Yoga and began teaching later that year.
Following a neck and shoulder injury brought on by habitual patterns of holding stress and tension, Peter discovered Forrest Yoga in 2004. He embarked on a four year process of physical and emotional healing that helped him confront both his shoulder injury as well as his compulsive and addictive behavior. Ultimately, this led to his participation in the Forrest Yoga Foundational and Advanced Teacher Trainings with Ana Forrest. In 2008, Peter left the field of architecture to pursue a full-time career teaching Forrest Yoga and Core Vinyasa.
In 2009, Peter fused elements of an embodied and celebratory yoga practice with the ecstatic dance and music that inspired him ten years earlier to create Freedom Joy Yoga (FJY). FJY promotes the serious pursuit of fun and is the “ultimate exercise in letting go”. Peter offers FJY on Friday nights at Back Bay Yoga to help others let loose and discover, through fluid yoga and non-choreographed dance, true FREEDOM and profound JOY.
Grateful for the authenticity and discipline of his mentors, Peter’s approach has been non-linear. He encourages exploration, practices humility, teaches authentically and dances the stress away every week at Back Bay Yoga. Apart from yoga, Peter is training with the Upledger Institute and offers Cranio-Sacral Therapy to his private clients.
Friday, 3/23 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Surfing the Vinyasa Wave with Simon Park
Register Online: $25
or Join Simon Park for his full weekend of workshops for only $100!
Experience the latest evolution of Prana Flow Yoga, the unique Vinyasa style of Shiva Rea. Dynamic asana, creative flows, and integrated pranayama as a moving meditation that will tune and tone you from the inside out while giving you the tools for navigating life's changes with grace, power, and confidence. We will explore several waves of multi-dimensional sequences- fluid sun salutations, backbends, arm balances and hip opening to understand the underlying flow of Prana.
About Simon Park
Born in the rural mountains of Kwangju, Korea to parents Kun Ho and his lovely young wife Kwang Hae. The 2nd of 3 boys, Simon had an idyllic childhood surrounded by pets and adventures to the nearby mountains and rivers. Childhood takes a drastic change in a move of the family to America to suburban Philadelphia in 1978. Raised to assimilate with other American children, Simon grew up playing sports that changed with the seasons; football, baseball, and basketball. His wanderlust for travel takes hold during college, flying west to UCLA. A new world of Asian influence took hold, as well as many California adventures. In the World Arts and Cultures Department at UCLA he meets Shiva Rea, who changes his life forever. He studies Ashtanga Yoga with her and soon begins Yoga studies at YogaWorks in Santa Monica. Under the guidance of founder Maty Ezraty, he continues to study Ashtanga and begins practicing Iyengar Yoga. In 1998, Simon moves back to Philadelphia in order to support the family business, "The Natural Shoe Store".
He begins teaching in the Philadelphia area and helps to introduce the hybrid West coast style known as Vinyasa to urban Philadelphia. After a fruitful period of teaching and studying with senior Iyengar teacher Joan White, Simon relocates to New York City in 2002 to be a part of the blossoming Yoga scene. He becomes co-creator of “Body Enlightening”, the signature therapy at the newly launched Exhale Spa. Teaching alongside a roster of NYC's top yoga teacher's from many traditions, he is featured in the New York Times, W Magazine, and Yoga Journal. He begins to assist Shiva Rea nationally and begins a close mentorship that continues today. Simon also begins to travel nationally to present his own workshops.
Saturday, 3/24 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Jai Hanuman! Inversions and Arm-Balances with Simon Park
Register Online: $30
or Join Simon Park for his full weekend of workshops for only $100!
Handstands and inversions are empowering mudras that embody the best qualities of Hanuman, the archetypal heroic monkey: courage, fearless flying, pranic body of power, agility and light. Learn a pathway of flows within a powerful Vinyasa Flow workshop so that you can evolve to enjoying handstand in the center of the room with creative energy and empowered vitality.
About Simon Park
Born in the rural mountains of Kwangju, Korea to parents Kun Ho and his lovely young wife Kwang Hae. The 2nd of 3 boys, Simon had an idyllic childhood surrounded by pets and adventures to the nearby mountains and rivers. Childhood takes a drastic change in a move of the family to America to suburban Philadelphia in 1978. Raised to assimilate with other American children, Simon grew up playing sports that changed with the seasons; football, baseball, and basketball. His wanderlust for travel takes hold during college, flying west to UCLA. A new world of Asian influence took hold, as well as many California adventures. In the World Arts and Cultures Department at UCLA he meets Shiva Rea, who changes his life forever. He studies Ashtanga Yoga with her and soon begins Yoga studies at YogaWorks in Santa Monica. Under the guidance of founder Maty Ezraty, he continues to study Ashtanga and begins practicing Iyengar Yoga. In 1998, Simon moves back to Philadelphia in order to support the family business, "The Natural Shoe Store".
He begins teaching in the Philadelphia area and helps to introduce the hybrid West coast style known as Vinyasa to urban Philadelphia. After a fruitful period of teaching and studying with senior Iyengar teacher Joan White, Simon relocates to New York City in 2002 to be a part of the blossoming Yoga scene. He becomes co-creator of “Body Enlightening”, the signature therapy at the newly launched Exhale Spa. Teaching alongside a roster of NYC's top yoga teacher's from many traditions, he is featured in the New York Times, W Magazine, and Yoga Journal. He begins to assist Shiva Rea nationally and begins a close mentorship that continues today. Simon also begins to travel nationally to present his own workshops.
Saturday, 3/24 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Liquid Flow Yoga; Restore Your Prana with Simon Park
Register Online: $30
or Join Simon Park for his full weekend of workshops for only $100!
Enjoy a slowly developing, flowing sequence of postures that are restorative in nature, yet heart-opening as well. Practice in a way that creates space in the joints and spine, and calms the nervous system. The movements are similar to the way tai-chi is practiced; slow, methodical and meditative. We will fluidly work toward deep hip-openers, liberating backbends, and calming forward bends moving toward deep relaxation.
About Simon Park
Born in the rural mountains of Kwangju, Korea to parents Kun Ho and his lovely young wife Kwang Hae. The 2nd of 3 boys, Simon had an idyllic childhood surrounded by pets and adventures to the nearby mountains and rivers. Childhood takes a drastic change in a move of the family to America to suburban Philadelphia in 1978. Raised to assimilate with other American children, Simon grew up playing sports that changed with the seasons; football, baseball, and basketball. His wanderlust for travel takes hold during college, flying west to UCLA. A new world of Asian influence took hold, as well as many California adventures. In the World Arts and Cultures Department at UCLA he meets Shiva Rea, who changes his life forever. He studies Ashtanga Yoga with her and soon begins Yoga studies at YogaWorks in Santa Monica. Under the guidance of founder Maty Ezraty, he continues to study Ashtanga and begins practicing Iyengar Yoga. In 1998, Simon moves back to Philadelphia in order to support the family business, "The Natural Shoe Store".
He begins teaching in the Philadelphia area and helps to introduce the hybrid West coast style known as Vinyasa to urban Philadelphia. After a fruitful period of teaching and studying with senior Iyengar teacher Joan White, Simon relocates to New York City in 2002 to be a part of the blossoming Yoga scene. He becomes co-creator of “Body Enlightening”, the signature therapy at the newly launched Exhale Spa. Teaching alongside a roster of NYC's top yoga teacher's from many traditions, he is featured in the New York Times, W Magazine, and Yoga Journal. He begins to assist Shiva Rea nationally and begins a close mentorship that continues today. Simon also begins to travel nationally to present his own workshops.
Sunday, 3/25 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Chakra Vinyasa: Focus on Backbends with Simon Park
Register Online: $30
or Join Simon Park for his full weekend of workshops for only $100!
Practice an accessible and universal approach to the chakra system within vinyasa that accesses the essential truths of our energetic body to live in greater alignment with our authentic flow. Experience a full spectrum practice dedicated to the elements and chakras, and how backbends such as Naturajasana, King Pigeon, and Scorpion are the perfect way to ignite the Chakras. Also, we will explore the effectiveness of sound and mantra to tune into these amazing energy center in our energy bodies.
About Simon Park
Born in the rural mountains of Kwangju, Korea to parents Kun Ho and his lovely young wife Kwang Hae. The 2nd of 3 boys, Simon had an idyllic childhood surrounded by pets and adventures to the nearby mountains and rivers. Childhood takes a drastic change in a move of the family to America to suburban Philadelphia in 1978. Raised to assimilate with other American children, Simon grew up playing sports that changed with the seasons; football, baseball, and basketball. His wanderlust for travel takes hold during college, flying west to UCLA. A new world of Asian influence took hold, as well as many California adventures. In the World Arts and Cultures Department at UCLA he meets Shiva Rea, who changes his life forever. He studies Ashtanga Yoga with her and soon begins Yoga studies at YogaWorks in Santa Monica. Under the guidance of founder Maty Ezraty, he continues to study Ashtanga and begins practicing Iyengar Yoga. In 1998, Simon moves back to Philadelphia in order to support the family business, "The Natural Shoe Store".
He begins teaching in the Philadelphia area and helps to introduce the hybrid West coast style known as Vinyasa to urban Philadelphia. After a fruitful period of teaching and studying with senior Iyengar teacher Joan White, Simon relocates to New York City in 2002 to be a part of the blossoming Yoga scene. He becomes co-creator of “Body Enlightening”, the signature therapy at the newly launched Exhale Spa. Teaching alongside a roster of NYC's top yoga teacher's from many traditions, he is featured in the New York Times, W Magazine, and Yoga Journal. He begins to assist Shiva Rea nationally and begins a close mentorship that continues today. Simon also begins to travel nationally to present his own workshops.
Dana's signature Gospel class is designed to LIFT YOU UP! We will merge wild, whirling movement, sacred body mudras, and ecstatic music to create a mystical Lotus Flow-ing experience, of intense devotion and self-discovery. Get ready to flow and dance your bodies to commune with spirit and smak right into Cosmic Bliss! In this Gospel, you are invited to move like yourself, meet yourself and FREE your SELF.
About Dana Trixie Flynn
Dana Flynn is the Co-Creator and Director of the Center and School at Laughing Lotus Yoga Centers in NYC and SF. Together with Jasmine Tarkeshi, they created their signature Lotus Flow style of vinyasa yoga. Dana is known as the "teacher's teacher," and is celebrated for her wildly poetic sequencing and her raw and generous energy. She approaches her practice and life with fresh insight, exploring the movement as medicine, the romance of the breath, and the freedom of the soul as a mind-blowing, heart-expanding daily blessing. She bows to the amazing teachers that have inspired her along her cosmic way, especially Sharon Gannon, Rodney Yee and Shri Geetha. She is blessed to share what she loves ALL over the world.
Saturday, 3/31 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Lotus Flow: Dancing Ganesh with Dana Trixie Flynn
Let's Party with Ganesh by dancing, singing and celebrating the sweetness of Life. With Ganesh's blessings, we will shape-shift the poses and our perspective so that our challenges become an opportunity to face ourselves and Be Free. Get ready to jump, lift and backbend in this ecstatic Lotus Flow. We will call on our favorite mystical elephant with mantras, mudras and a slamming playlist! Jai Ganesha!
About Dana Trixie Flynn
Dana Flynn is the Co-Creator and Director of the Center and School at Laughing Lotus Yoga Centers in NYC and SF. Together with Jasmine Tarkeshi, they created their signature Lotus Flow style of vinyasa yoga. Dana is known as the "teacher's teacher," and is celebrated for her wildly poetic sequencing and her raw and generous energy. She approaches her practice and life with fresh insight, exploring the movement as medicine, the romance of the breath, and the freedom of the soul as a mind-blowing, heart-expanding daily blessing. She bows to the amazing teachers that have inspired her along her cosmic way, especially Sharon Gannon, Rodney Yee and Shri Geetha. She is blessed to share what she loves ALL over the world.