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| Check out more of the workshops Elizabeth has taught in the past here. |
Recent Yoga Workshops
| Saturday, February 7, 2009 Jivamukti Led Practice (Mixed-Level Vinyasa) 9:00 am – 10:45 am Jivamukti Yoga was created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. It is a vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating practice leading to spiritual awareness. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by Sanskrit chanting, readings, references to scriptural texts, music, spoken word, asana sequencing and yogic breathing practices. Student-Centered Sequencing: How to Sequence Vinyasa Classes for the Students You Have Right Now 10:45 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00-3:30pm If you teach group classes that flow from one posture to the next, you know how challenging it is to observe and meet students' individual needs while keeping the class moving seamlessly. In this workshop, we'll explore how to carefully notice students' movements and how to plan future sequences based on what they need. Learn how to break down a posture to make the actions of the posture accessible, piece by piece, and then build it back up to a whole, without losing the flow of a vinyasa class. Make advanced postures approachable to more than just a few students. Take into account common injuries and conditions when sequencing in order to keep students safe. Explore ways to sequence individual and sequential classes according to the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical development model of the chakras. Look at how to encourage the gradual evolution that the chakra model describes, throughout one class and over months of classes. Join us to learn why there's no need to sacrifice precise alignment instruction and individualized modifications for the sake of flow--you can incorporate options for each student right into every vinyasa class you teach! $99 full day (9:00 am – 3:30 pm) $60 morning session (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) $55 afternoon session (1:00 pm – 3:30 pm) For more information or to register, contact: Gratitude in Motion 268 Ludlow Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio www.gratitudeinmotion.com | info@gratitudeinmotion.com | 888-899-9642 |
| Sunday, February 8, 2009 Rest Your Body, Restore Your Mind: A Workshop on Restorative Yoga 1:00pm-4:00pm Restorative yoga postures allow you to ease tension and relax tight areas of the body fully. This allows the mind to settle, focusing on the fullness of the present moment rather than past concerns or future worries. Join us for a soothing, centering respite from the rush of everyday life. These postures are particularly therapeutic for people who are highly active, balancing the intensity of other activities, both physical and mental. We’ll discuss how yoga can prevent and reduce the effects of physical ailments and explore postures that can assist with low back pain, neck and shoulder strain, digestion, sleep, anxiety, and other common concerns. $40 For more information or to register, contact: Gratitude in Motion 268 Ludlow Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio www.gratitudeinmotion.com | info@gratitudeinmotion.com | 888-899-9642 |
| Below you'll see some of the workshops that have recently run. If you are interested in attending or hosting a specific workshop in the future, let me know by clicking here. If you attended a recent workshop and are looking for notes on what we did together, click here. |
| Put the Spring Back into Your Practice! Sunday, June 7, 2009 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:30 to 5:30pm at It's Yoga in Cincinnati Elizabeth taught the popular Jivamukti Thursday night class at It's Yoga for many years. This spring she's bringing a workshop to Cincinnati to inspire students of every experience level to re-energize their yoga practices. Morning Session: Moving From Your Center In this session, we'll first focus on the anatomy of the core, finding several levels of engagement-from general to subtle-of the pelvic floor. Then we'll explore the possibilities of the lower abdominals, and move on to additional 'core' support areas that can be recruited within your yoga practice. We'll focus on letting go of habitual tension and instead consciously engaging and releasing these deep, central areas that contain so much potential strength. We'll see how each and every movement in our yoga practice can begin from the pelvic floor and the lowest, deepest abdominals, making each step lighter and freer. This is the beginning of the energetic work of the bandhas, and our physical exploration of it can heighten our awareness of the energetic benefits. Then we'll put it all into action in an intense Jivamukti vinyasa class: a sequence of postures linked by the breath and intention, complete with musical soundtrack, chanting, scripture, and meditation practices. This class will be mixed-level, with options available for students of many levels of experience, but some experience with a vinyasa style of yoga is recommended. Afternoon Session: Using PNF in Your Vinyasa Yoga Practice In this session, we'll begin with a technique from physical therapy called PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) that can assist in releasing long-held tension in muscles and connective tissues. We'll practice this technique on each other and on ourselves, using yoga postures and discussing what's going on as we do it. You'll have a chance to ask questions about this technique and explore the yoga postures that are most beneficial for your tighter and/or weaker areas. This technique can often change your range of movement within minutes! Then we'll incorporate this technique into a slow flow of yoga postures so you can practice using it in vinyasa-based classes and in your home practice. This session is open to students of all levels. These sessions will build upon one another, but each session can also stand alone. To register, contact It's Yoga in Cincinnati: (513)961-9642 346 Ludlow Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45220 www.yogagarage.com |
| Lighten Up for Spring! Saturday, March 20, 2010 Troy Hayner Cultural Center Troy, Ohio 12.00-2.30: Lighten Up…from Inside Out We’ll start with a gentle flow of breath and postures to warm up the body and mind, opening hips and shoulders. Then we’ll focus on the core and how it can lighten our movements from the inside out, exploring how this happens in a variety of postures and movements. But this isn’t all about core—it’s often our tension, mental and muscular, that binds us and makes us feel heavy. So we’ll explore new ways to release tension in YOUR tight spots. We’ll see how we can tune ourselves like instruments—not too tight, not too loose. We get stronger and lighter as we release tension. There will be time for questions and discussion of these concepts and how to integrate them into your own yoga practice as well as other physical activities...golf, riding, cycling, running, driving, everyday movements...so you can keep the benefits of yoga building and the light shining. This practice will be appropriate for all levels, from new beginners to experienced yogis. If you’ve never done any yoga or core work before, we’ll show you why you want to and give you a place to start. If you’re experienced, you’ll get a chance to delve into the more subtle aspects of how to apply effort, let go, and experience the benefits. 3.00-5.00: Put It All Together—A Mixed-Level Vinyasa Class A mixed-level flowing vinyasa practice in the Jivamukti style...rockin’! To take this class, you don’t need to be super flexible—you just need to be aware of your body and mind so you can feel which options you should take. We’ll integrate the principles we explored in the first session into a nonstop flow of movement, linked by breath and set to a soundtrack of inspiring music. There will be options for many levels, and you’ll get to choose your own adventure and rest whenever you need to. We’ll lighten up in many ways...not taking ourselves too seriously on the mat (and elsewhere!)...brightening our outlook on what can and will happen...and gradually opening up to the light of fuller awareness. Breathwork and meditation will be included. Come fully hydrated so you do not need to break focus for water, and bring a mat and a small towel. Tuition is $50 for the day or $30 for one session. Email yoga@elizabethsilas.com to sign up for the workshop. Make sure to include your full name, address, phone number, email address, and which session(s) you’ll attend. No deposit is necessary—we’ll take your word that you’ll be there, and you can pay in cash or with a check as you arrive that day. Questions? Call 513.255.0166 to speak to Elizabeth directly, or check www.elizabethsilas. com. |
| What is Yoga? A Larger View of What We Do and Where it Comes From Friday, March 6, 7:15-9:45pm In the Indus Valley, carved images of yogis have been found from over 5000 years ago. Records of ashrams, “forest academies,” in India date from 3000 years ago, showing us that the earliest techniques for yoga were developed apart from mainstream society and the institutions of the time. How do we get from these radical forest dwellers to the vinyasa yoga and hatha yoga classes we find around the world today? We’ll discuss the intentions, theories, and practices of several strands of yoga as they sprang up in India and their relationship to Buddhism other traditions of meditation and mysticism around the world. Movement Yoga and Pilates 12 S. Market St., 2nd Floor, Troy, Ohio $15; $10 if attending that night’s 6-7pm class (or currently holding a valid Movement class pass) |
| Anatomy for Your Yoga Practice: Breathing Saturday, June 13, 11am-1:15pm A hands-on inquiry into how you currently breathe and how you can change those patterns to breathe easier, stay calmer, and focus your mind! Discover general anatomical principles of breathing and how to get beyond common habits that restrain and inhibit healthy breathing. Movement Yoga and Pilates 12 S. Market St., 2nd Floor, Troy, Ohio $15 per session; $10 per session if attending that day’s 9:30-10:30am class (or currently holding a valid Movement class pass) |
| Partner Yoga Saturday, July 25, 11:00am-1:00pm 12 S. Market St, 2nd Floor, Troy, Ohio If you think yoga is fun on your own, wait until you try it with a partner! We will explore standing postures, seated postures, and even a few “lifts” with partners. You’ll notice new things about your alignment in the postures as you work on them with another person, while you expand your range of motion and awareness. You do not need to bring a friend—you’ll find one at the workshop! If you do bring someone, s/he can be brand- new to yoga or a seasoned yogi. We’ll provide variations for all levels of experience, flexibility, and strength! Regular rate: $15 per person Special Earlybird Twofer Rate: Register with a friend and pay by July 20 and it’s $25 total for the two of you! If you’re not going to be in the studio by July 20 to drop off a check or cash, email yoga@elizabethsilas.com to inquire about payment options. |
| The Yoga Sutras Friday, June 26, 7:20-9:20pm Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are the ancient yogic text that is most quoted and cited by American teachers and students of yoga. They provide a concise description of raja yoga, the royal path to union. They describe succinctly what it is, how to practice it, what will happen if you do, what will happen if you don’t, and how to recognize the landmarks on the path. We’ll discuss some common and not-so-common interpretations by eastern and western yogis and the relationship of the sutras to our own yoga practices. Movement Yoga and Pilates 12 S. Market St., 2nd Floor, Troy, Ohio $15 per session; $10 per session if attending that night’s 6-7pm class (or currently holding a valid Movement class pass) |