Teacher Training Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi, November 2009 Manorama Visit

Addiction
"The great way is not difficult for those who have no preferences." -3rd Chinese Patriarch Most of us spend the first part of our lives desperately trying to acquire an identity and the rest of our lives defending that identity. The definition of an adult, after all, is one who has stopped growing. Addiction is a suppression of our creativity-our natural youthful ability to grow and evolve.

We hanker after experiences that will reinforce a sense of who we are as not different from who we think we are. But the fact is that who we think we are has been decided by us; in other words it is not an absolute "something" set in stone. If we have programmed ourselves, through long-term habitual actions, to feel that we need certain stimulants in order to feel a sense of self worth, then our identity becomes inseparable from our habitual experiences. These stimulants can come from the outside, as in the case of alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, sugar, caffeine, chocolate, etc., which are referred to as exogenous chemicals. Stimulants can also come from inside the body. These internally produced chemicals are called endogenous chemicals, and they can produce a similar high as the exogenous chemicals. Some people are even said to be addicted to work, gambling, sex or other kinds of activities that can trigger the release of endogenous chemicals in the body.

The human body has receptor cells that have the ability to receive drugs like cocaine and heroin, as well as any other drug or substance that we are capable of being addicted to. It isn't that we are biologically designed to become drug addicts. The fact is that our body is equipped with its own pharmaceutical laboratory that is able to manufacture the same chemicals internally that drug addicts crave from external sources. Any external drug that has an effect in our body works because it behaves like a similar internal chemical that is natural to us. Our body is able to recognize the external drug because our body already has its own receptors that were designed for the internal natural chemicals that we are able to manufacture ourselves. One major problem with chemical addiction is that when you habitually rely on external means to feel good, your body's own ability to manufacture those chemicals decreases, and you become more and more dependent on external means. A similar thing happens in the case of addiction to external activities or behaviors, like work or exercise-your body's ability to manufacture endogenous chemicals when you are not working or exercising decreases. An addict has to go outside of him/herself to find a sense of wellbeing. Dependency is a never-ending search with debilitating results.

These kinds of addictions are counterproductive to the attainment of yoga, as they block a person from becoming truly happy, self confident, self reliant and whole. Addiction suppresses spiritual, emotional and physical development-retarding growth-keeping a person bound to staying the same. Addiction inhibits the blossoming of creativity, the potential for change and the evolution of consciousness.

When external activities are coupled with an intention to grow spiritually, however, they provide a means to consciously train your body to access your own pharmaceutical laboratory and help become free of chemical and other addictions. The practice of yoga asanas is a good example of this. Also, bhakti yogis actively cultivate what they refer to as an addiction to God, yet this "addiction" is not unhealthy, because it moves one closer to God and closer to the realization of who one truly is. Asana practice involves the stimulation of the endocrine system. Consciousness is chemical, and certain asanas stimulate specific glands in the body. These glands in turn secrete chemicals which have a profound effect upon our consciousness: Standing poses affect the adrenals; forward bends, the ovaries and testicles; twists, the pancreas and liver; backbends, the thymus; shoulderstand, the thyroid; child's pose, the pineal; and headstand, the pituitary. Even though a person may practice yoga every day, it will never become an addiction like an addiction to chemicals or to work or gambling, because those kinds of addictions keep one the same and inhibit growth and evolution, whereas yoga provides a means to evolve.

When we become free of addiction, we can then feel what it means to have a body that is an instrument for happiness, ecstasy and bliss, and our body/mind system can do what it was meant to do-take us into new heights of experience beyond our wildest dreams.

-Sharon Gannon

please search Ram Dass on Addiction video on u-tube.com

Manorama from Sanskrit Studies in New York comes to Corpus Christi November 13th, 14th and 15th

Manorama
The director of the School of Sanskrit Studies in NYC, Manorama leads workshops on the Path of Luminous Shabda, a path that combines Sanskrit, Meditation and Yoga philosophy. She leads workshops nationally, as well as internationally. Manorama's mix of earthy charm, deep scholarship and humorous teaching style were born from years of close study with her Guru, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati. She is a graduate of Columbia University. In 2005, Sanskrit Studies released the acclaimed Learn to Pronounce Yoga Poses, an invaluable tool for yoga teachers & students. Manorama is committed to affecting the world in a positive way through Sanskrit, language of awareness and love. www.sanskritstudies.org

SANSKRIT Level 1: LUMINOUS SHABDA SERIES
THE PATH OF LUMINOUS SHABDA
SANSKRIT ALPHABET
Luminous Shabda Series Level 1
“Level 1 is An Introduction to Sanskrit and teaches students how sound can become a doorway to freedom, through light and awareness.” ~ Manorama

Description: This course is an immersion into the Path of Luminous Shabda (“sound as light and awareness”) through study of the Sanskrit alphabet, Meditation, Yogic life principles and Mantras.
In this course students learn to:
Develop insight into the unique relationship between breath and sound, which is energy and consciousness.
Practice Yoga meditation and the Yoga of Sound to soothe the mind and return it to a natural energized state of tranquility.
Understand how and why Sanskrit sounds are energetically healing.
Experience the harmonious circularity of Sanskrit sounds.

Elements of the course include:

• Learning proper pronunciation of Sanskrit through study of the five mouth positions.
  
• Developing understanding of breath patterns and how to work with them in mantras.
  
• Develop a practice of silent conscious listening.
  
• Introduction to select Mantras, practice of Yoga Meditation, and discovery of key elements in the Yoga of sound.
  
• Reading the Devanagari and Transliteration script.
  
• Light homework exercises support the course material.
  
  Level: Appropriate for all students, Yoga teachers and anyone interested to deepen their practice of Self Knowledge through chanting, Sanskrit & Yoga.
  Please bring: notebook, pencil/pen, meditation shawl

Please contact us by calling 361-883-1052 or yogastudioofcc@yahoo.com or emailing Manorama at classes@sanskritstudies.org to learn more about Sanskrit studies programs. Manorama is currently the director of Sanskrit Studies at Jivamuki's Omega Teacher's Training program 2009. For details go to www.jivamuktiyoga.com

This is part of The Teacher Training Program with Christina Sell at The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi. We will be allowing students not enrolled in the TT program to this very special weekend. There will be limited space. Registration is open now.

When: November 13-15th, 2009

Where: Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi 513 Clifford Street, Corpus Christi Texas 78404

What: SANSKRIT Level 1: LUMINOUS SHABDA SERIES THE PATH OF LUMINOUS SHAB DA SANSKRIT ALPHABET Luminous Shabda Series Level 1

Cost of entire program $300

Jules Febre
Jules Febre was born and raised in a section of New York City known as the Lower East Side. He grew up in the L.E.S. during a very rough period surrounded by violence, drugs and a general atmosphere of anger. At the age of 13, Jules spent three months in India; two of which were spent in Mysore studying Ashtanga Yoga with Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois. During that time he was invited to share satsang with Swami Nirmalananda and Shyam Das, two radical yogis that have each helped to add to the progression of yoga in the West. At the age of 16 Jules began working at the Jivamukti Yoga School helping to clean, by 21 had become the general manager of two Jivamukti Yoga Schools and eventually became the C.O.O of Jivamukti Inc. in New York City. After years of working behind a desk Jules realized his need was to be with others in a more hands on relationship and took the 350 hour Jivamukti Yoga Teacher training. After completing the extensive one month training, he chose to work for an additional 350 hour advanced certification program. Jules decided it was time to give back to the neighborhood he grew up in and started Hip Hop Asana with two other Jivamukti Yoga teachers. Combining hip hop music and his street smarts, he teaches classes geared toward those interested in the hip hop culture and yoga; especially those who cannot always afford to pay for classes. So far, Hip Hop Asana has been taught by Jules in New York City in Homeless Shelters, High Schools and Recreational Centers for inner city youth. Teaching yoga is Jules' passion. He is grateful to his teachers, Sharonji, Davidji & Yogeswari for igniting his devotion to the Jivamukti Yoga practice and inspire countless students.
Sessions $50 each
$40 per class if you register for 3 or more classes
All Classes and Workshops $300

Wednesday, June 10th 5:00 Basic
Wednesday, June 10th 6:45 Open
Thursday, June 11th 5:00 Basic
Thursday, June 11th 6:45 Open
Friday, June 12th 5:00 Basic
Friday, June 12th 6:45 Open
Saturday, June 13th Forward Bending Workshop 9:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14th Hip Hop Asana Workshop 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

BEGINNER BASICS COURSE If you're a beginner struggling with downward dog or a more advanced student perfecting your shoulder stand, give the Basics course a try. Take advantage of a more intimate environment and focus on the fundamentals. Each week of the month features a concentration: standing poses, forward bends, back bends, and finally, combinations and inversions. The classes are popular and fill up quickly, so reservations are encouraged
OPEN Whether you're a beginner, deciphering the difference between a halasana (plough pose) and sirshasana (headstand) or an advanced yogi, the Open class encompasses all levels at Jivamukti. You work at your own pace, following the teacher's constant guidance. A typical Open class consists of flowing vinyasa sequences partnered with Sanskrit chanting, traditional Vedic and contemporary teachings and commentary, breath awareness, meditation, hands-on alignment, and relaxation. We do sitting, standing, and inverted postures, and suggest challenging variations for more advanced students. Exuberant, eclectic music plays an integral role; in a typical Open class you might practice to a shifting soundtrack of ragas, global trance, Bob Dylan, the chanting of Krishna Das, Miles Davis, Gregorian chants, and Dido
Limited Space available. Registration open Now. Contact The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi to register by phone (361)883-1052 or by e-mailing michelle.acebo@yogastudioofcc.com.

Jivamukti Yoga Focus of The Month~April '09

The Seat Of Isis

sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namo’stu te (from Durga Saptashati, Chapter 11) I salute the three-eyed goddess, who fulfills the desire for liberation. Realization arises with Her blessing. She is the world itself. Only through the experiences of life can the soul be perfected. Honor this gift, your life.

To the ancient Egyptians, the Goddess Isis was the divine personification of the perfection that comes through the ability to connect perfectly. It was Isis, after all, who, through her power of love, reintegrated the dismembered body of her brother/husband, Osiris. She knew how to put it all back together because she held the key that connects: love.
Interestingly, the Egyptian hieroglyph for Isis, the Divine Mother Goddess, looks like a chair. Her hieroglyph looks like a seat, and its phonetic sound is st, like the Sanskrit sound sthit, which represents stability (the English word “steady” is related).
Obviously, the Egyptians did not mean that Isis should be referred to as “Your Chairness.” They were worshiping a quality of connectedness and relationship to the Earth that is inherent in the power aspect of the goddess.
Ram Dass, the great American spiritual teacher, put a chair on the cover of his classic 1971 book Be Here Now. Not a symbolic chair like the Egyptian hieroglyph for Isis, but an early American ladder-back, rattan seat chair, entangled in a network of interconnected lines that form a wheel. How appropriate for such an innovative book, one of the first books on yoga written by an American to reveal that yoga is about so much more than physical exercise.
Yoga is about being kind and good and connected well to the Earth. When you are, the Earth will support and sustain you. She as the Mother Goddess will also provide you with the means to go beyond mere sustainability, allowing you to rise out of all that has previously bound you to the mundane and impermanent. Through the experiences of life, opportunities to purify our karmas arise, leading to enlightenment or liberation from the world of suffering. Asana can be a means to overcome the limitations of the body revealing the more subtle sources of physical form.
Asana practice is a form of goddess worship. The Earth is another way of referring to the Divine Mother. Mother Earth is the Goddess. To practice asana means to practice perfecting one’s relationships with all aspects of the Earth and all beings that inhabit the Earth.
The Goddess supports those who are not greedy. Selflessness is the key to living happy in the world. It is the key to successful asana practice. It is the key to the attainment of Yoga. It is the way of the jivanmukta, the liberated being. A yogi walks in peace upon the earth, embracing each day, each experience, as providing opportunities for giving back more than he or she has taken.
The root of every asana is this steady connection to the earth. When your connection to the earth is stable, you feel ease in body and mind. Through this ease of being you begin to feel whole and with that wholeness, disconnection subsides, revealing your holiness -your own divine nature.
Practice: Seat of Isis Sequence found on pages 110-111 of the Jivamukti Yoga Book -Sharon Gannon (text adapted from the JY book)

Jivamukti Yoga Focus of the Month~March 09

Guru Mantra
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnur, Gurur devo Maheshwarah,Guruh sakshat, param Brahma, tasmai shri guravay namah -Guru Stotram
Our creation is that guru (Brahma-the force of creation); the duration of our lives is that guru (Vishnu-the force of preservation); our trials, tribulations, illnesses, calamities and the death of the body is that guru (devo Maheshwara-the force ofdestruction or transformation). There is a guru nearby (Guru Sakshat) and a guru that is beyond the beyond (param Brahma). I make my offering (tasmai) to the beautiful (shri) remover of my darkness, my ignorance (Guru); it is to you I bow and lay down my life (namah).
Guru is the remover of darkness: Gu means darkness, and Ru means remover. Darkness refers to what obscures the light of awareness. Guru is the enlightenment principal that aids one in the realization of the true Self, the whole Self, the holy Self. The guru removes avidya, or ignorance, which is a case of mistaken identity. It is when you think you are your personality, mistaking your body/mind container for who you are and ignore who you really are. It is when you feel separate from the whole.
By reciting this mantra with a sincere heart, you will see that the power that enlightens is all around you at all times. The mantra asks for the ability to see the guru in all names and forms, and even to acknowledge, love and serve the guru who you cannot see, who is beyond all visible forms. The guru is your own self, the inner guiding light.
Your own birth, the creation principle, holds within it the potential for enlightenment. This would include your parents, your day and the place of your birth and all the circumstances surrounding your birth. Many people find it difficult to recognize the guru in their parents. Many of us spend a lot of time complaining about the bodies we have been given by our parents and blame our parents for the difficulties in our lives.
The situation we are living in right now at this time is where guru Vishnu manifests. If we could see our present circumstances-who we work with, who we live with, who our friends are-as embodying the guru principle, we might stop perceiving them as in the way of our happiness and begin to realize that they might be providing us with the way for our enlightenment to unfold.
The most difficult circumstances to accept in a positive way are the calamities, the injuries and illnesses that befall us physically or mentally. Guru devo Maheshwara manifests as the big challenges in our lives, which actually provide us with the greatest opportunities for clearing away avidya and embracing all that happens to us as a gift from God. Destruction always opens the door for transformation.
To see the guru in the teacher who is right in front of you, giving you the teachings of enlightenment, may be very difficult for us due to preconceived idealistic notions about what a guru is suppose to look like. This prejudice may disable us from seeing past the outer form or personality of the teacher.
To acknowledge that the guru is beyond name and form, beyond what we could imagine with the limited vision of the thinking mind, is to begin to open to the mystery of cosmic awareness.
The most potent prayer is the last line of the mantra in which we ask to have the good sense to be humble enough not to miss our chance to recognize the guru when they do appear. Only if we can let go of our self-cherishing, our pride, our need to be recognized and our yearning to be given credit for the things we do, can we ever hope to encounter the guru, that which brings enlightenment to our soul.
-Sharon Gannon

Studio Web Site UP and RUNNING www.yogastudioofcc.com

Our new web site is up and running! Please check it out at www.yogastudioofcc.com
You may also e-mail me for more information at
michelle.acebo@yogastudioofcc.com
Thank you for your support! Take some time to let us know how we are doing! We love to hear from YOU!

Note: We have posted the focus of the month for February, March and April 2009 in our website http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/.

Satya and Veganism
satya-pratishthayam kriya-phalashrayatvam (PYS II.36)When one does not defile one's speech with lies, the words one says are listened to and acted upon in a positive and immediate manner. The speaker will be able to say what they mean. What one says comes true.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali gives us five recommendations, called yamas, for how we should treat others if we want to attain liberation. The second yama is satya, which means "truthfulness." Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati explains that truthfulness means "not to speak untruth, physically, vocally, or mentally.... Speech should not be deceitful, mistaken, or barren of information. It should be used for the service of all, not for injury to any creature."
As yoga practitioners, we come to a time in our lives when we question whether what we have been told is true, including assumptions we hold about ourselves and the world around us. If we don't want to be taken in by the lies people tell us, we can begin to examine our own speech and ask ourselves if we are really saying what we mean. Part of the process of transitioning into living more honestly is to hold yourself accountable for the things you do. Most of us say we want peace, equality, and freedom for all, but our actions say something entirely different as we bite into a hamburger or order an ice-cream cone, wear a fur coat to an anti-war demonstration or serve hot dogs to our children. Once you become more aware, there's simply no way to not notice these everyday hypocrisies, these gaps in awareness justified by group behavior and the culture of dis-ease.
As consumers, we are not told the truth about where food comes from. When advertising is employed to sell meat, milk, and eggs, pictures of happy animals are used. Images like these are false advertising. The truth is that factory farms, and farms in general, are facilities where animals are exploited and manipulated for the benefit of the farm owners. Although in our hearts we know the truth about how food animals are being used, we lie to ourselves. We perpetuate this untruth when we lie to our children and to others and fail to encourage them to investigate the truth. The more we lie to others, the more others will lie to us. Eventually, it becomes quite normal to communicate through lying, never really saying what we mean or doing what we say.
Some meat eaters say they are peaceful people and would never hurt anyone-they didn't kill the animal; they're just eating what is convenient. This type of thinking is an example of how disempowered and disconnected most of the carnivorous members of our culture feel. They have been convinced that what they do doesn't really matter in the larger scheme of things. After all, it is only my lunch-just a piece of ham between two slices of bread; what harm could that do? The fact is that when we buy the meat of an animal, we are the ones who have signed his or her death sentence. If we are buying and eating meat and dairy products, then the slaughterhouse workers, meat packers, and factory farm workers are all working for us. To live by violence and then to deny that you do is to live a lie. Living a lie causes a deep fissure in the human psyche. Yoga seeks to heal that fissure.
One of the ways that you can tell if you are making progress in yoga is by observing your own voice. Through regular practice, you will find that you will be able to say what you mean and mean what you say. When this happens, it is an indication that the disease of disconnection is beginning to be healed. You will experience for yourself what is true, and all the lies you have been told, even those that you have told, will fade away in the light of the greater truth of your true potential.
-Adapted from Yoga and Vegetarianism, by Sharon Gannon

February Special

February – Share Yoga Month
Bring a loved one (friend, relative, partner) for free during the entire month of February!

When you purchase a one month of unlimited yoga Pass ($80) you will be eligible to bring as many people as often as you would like for the entire month.*

* One guest per visit. Guests must be new to the studio. Special valid for Purchases made in February, 2009 only. Special cannot be combined with any other offer.

Chakra and Tantra Yoga Workshop with Marco Mandrino, E-R.Y.T. 500
February 28-March 1, 2009

The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi proudly announces a Chakra and Tantra Yoga Workshop with Marco Mandrino! Many of you have expressed interest in this subject so Marco has taken the time to come back to Corpus Christi from Italy.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: This is a rare opportunity to be introduced to an in-depth Tantric perspective of the seven chakras in a format both theoretical and experiential. The two day workshop begins with an explanation of the concept of Sukshma Sharira (energetic subtle body), followed by an exploration of each chakras meaning, position, element, symbolism (number of lotus petals, animal and Divine qualities), sense and action organ, imbalance diagnostics, rajasic, tamasic and sattvic aspects and practice suggestions to re balance and purify chakra energy. Participants will also learn a Kundalini Shakti awakening techniques. Both Days will start with a component consisting of about 3 hours of Asana, pranayama and Dharana (concentration) techniques specific to each chakra. The practice is followed by theoretical component complemented by Kriya Yoga, Mantras or pranayama practice.

Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1, 2009 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Participants are asked to bring a light lunch and/or snack. Please plan on attendance both days.
Workshop $250.00 Limited Space available. No registrations taken after February 25th, 2009. NON REFUNDABLE AFTER JANUARY 20TH

ABOUT MARCO MANDRINO: Marco is registered as E-R.Y.T. 500, Experienced Yoga Teacher above 500 hours by Yoga Alliance. He studied and practiced different kinds of Yoga both in Tantric Tradition and others. He leads Yoga Teacher Training Programs, workshops and retreats for the development of the potential within and for personal growth through Yoga in Italy, Australia, India and The United States. Marco is also an Ayurveda practitioner, classic and Ayurveda Aromatherapy expert. He is author of several publications and collaborator of different Italian Yoga Magazines (similar to our Yoga Journal here). Through workshops and retreats he teaches an integral way to Yoga in Tantric Tradition with a consistent Hatha Yoga practice with Asana, Pranayama, Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation). He is a strong supporter of Ayurveda to purify and cleanse the body. He gives practical advice that allows you to bring Yoga into your daily life routine through Karma Yoga teaching, Jnana Yoga approach in the Advatita Vedanta Philosophy which will allow you to burn out the veils of ignorance, Bhakti Yoga practices to bring love, joy and light into the present moment.

Registration and/or questions please contact us by Phone: 361-883-1052

or you may visit The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi at 513 Clifford Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78404. Located off Alameda @ Six Points area.

Correction of Centering Mind and Body Article for Yoga U.S.A.

Yoga Day U.S.A. (Correction to article in The Corpus Christi Caller-Times).

Please note at least three corrections to this wonderful article from the Health section dated Monday, January 19th.
Yoga has existed for more than 5,000 years
Hot Yoga Room will be in a room between 98-100 degrees
A person who has a regular yoga practice will become much more centered

Centering mind and body

Venues offer free, low-cost classes in yoga Saturday

By Elaine Marsilio (Contact)
Monday, January 19, 2009

Yoga in action

» View Photo Gallery

Timi Abney can't get enough of yoga. The 40-year-old former bodybuilder likes that it works the body through breathing, stretching and individual spirituality.

Abney and some members of her yoga class at Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi have a running joke that the exercise is an ideal therapy.

"It's a wonderful therapy," she said. "It doesn't cost very much to take it."

On Saturday several studios will offer free or discounted classes to new attendees to celebrate Yoga Day 2009.

The day prompts hundreds of yoga studio owners across the country to offer free or reduced course rates on that day. This year marks the event's 10th anniversary, according to the Yoga Alliance, the national yoga governing body heading up the day's festivities.

R. Mark Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Yoga Alliance, said the event's goal is to raise awareness about yoga.

"Yoga Day USA is a day for the yoga community to come together to embrace those who want to learn more about the practice of yoga and the transformative effects it can have on one's life," he said.

Evy Coppola, who owns Pathways to Wellness off Everhart Road, said yoga allows people to ease stress, increase flexibility, provide an intense workout and clear the mind.

"They find that it's more than the physical exercise," said Coppola, who trains and certifies yoga instructors.

She said a beneficial yoga class consists of four parts: knowledge, warmup, work and connection to self. Classes across the city offer different styles of yoga for various demographics, including youth yoga.

People become drawn to the Indian tradition because they often want to change their lifestyles, Coppola said.

Michelle Acebo, owner of the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi, said the tradition is an important element of any yoga class.

Yoga has existed for more than 3,500 years. Once in class, participants learn the history behind various chants during each of Acebo's classes to honor the instructors who came before them, she said.

The tradition's spiritual side helps people look within themselves for guidance and comfort, she said.

"It kind of centers you," she said.

THE MAKINGS OF BENEFICIAL YOGA CLASSES

Jnana: Knowledge. Each yoga class allows participants to gain knowledge about the exercise.

Karma: Work, good or bad. In yoga, karma is the work involved in the exercise.

Hatha: Sun and Moon combined. This is the warm-up leading into the physical part of a class.

Bhaka: The connection to one’s self. This can be 75 to 90 minutes in which the body relaxes.

Source: Evy Coppola, Pathways to Wellness

YOGA DAY CLASSES ON SATURDAY

What: Yoga classes for first-time students

When: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Where: Pathways to Wellness, 617 Everhart Road

Cost: Free

Information: 985-9642 or www.path2wellness.com

What: Yoga classes

When: 8:00 a.m., Hatha Flow; 9:15 a.m., mixed level Hatha; 11 a.m., back bend workshop; 12:30 p.m., open class; 2:30 p.m., Tai Chi; 4 p.m., restorative yoga. All classes are Saturday.

Where: Crossroads Yoga, 5830 McArdle Road

Cost: Free

Information: 992-1111 or www.crossroadsyoga.com

What: Yoga classes

When: 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Hatha Flow; 11:15 a.m., Yogiños youth yoga; 1 p.m. Hot yoga (a class in which the room temperature is increased to 90 degrees).

Where: Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi, 513 Clifford St.

Cost: Free

Information: 883-1052 or www.yogastudioofcc.com

What: Yoga classes

When: 10:30 a.m. beginner and advanced levels

Where: Corpus Christi Athletic Club, 2101 Airline Road

Cost: Free; membership not required

Information: 992-7100, Ext. 148

Contact Elaine Marsilio at 886-3794 or marsilioe@caller.com

Yoga Day, U.S.A.

The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi is proud to be a sponsor of Yoga Day, U.S.A.
Join us so you can get a first hand look at what yoga can do for you. We offer a variety of classes. Everyone can do yoga. We will help you find the best type of class for you.

We will premier Corpus Christi's first Hot Yoga Class Ever! Hot yoga will continue to be a part of our regularly scheduled classes.

We will offer:

9:30-11:00 Hatha Flow Yoga with Armando Ramirez
11:15-12:00 Yoginos Family Yoga with Beth Reese
1:00-2:15 Hot Yoga Premier! with Elizabeth Hofmann
3:00-4:15 Hatha Flow with Jan Freeman

Click on the link below for information regarding free yoga classes in Corpus Christi! Yoga Day, U.S.A. January 24th ~Full day of free yoga in Corpus Christi All classes done at The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi will be done on a donation basis. Give what you can. No worries if you are unable to donate at this time. Just enjoy the classes. Proceeds will be used to purchase supplies for The Women's shelter of South Texas.

Living the Yoga Tradition Workshop with Christina Sell and Craig Williams

February Immersion Workshop with Christina Sell

The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi is pleased to present:

Living the Yoga Tradition:
A weekend of study and practice with Craig Williams and Christina Sell
February 20-22, 2009

The emergence of yoga in the West is a relatively recent phenomenon. Various schools or branches of yoga abound each touting a unique method, viewpoint or goal. Far from being a relaxation technique or exercise fad, the original yoga tradition developed out of a larger multi-dimensional Indic heritage: the Vedic Tradition. Unfortunately in the West few yoga teachers or practitioners are aware of the Vedic roots of the yoga tradition or the dharmic cultural milieu from which yoga blossomed. This weekend will explore the Vedic tradition through scriptural study, asana practice, mantra practice, meditation and contemplation. The workshop will be taught progressively and will be highly experiential. Students are encouraged to participate in all sessions.
Please join us for an inspiring weekend of study, practice, and good company!

Friday, February 20 6:00-8:00 Introduction to Scriptural Study

Talk with Craig Williams

Pranayama and Meditation Led by Christina Sell
Saturday, February 21 9:00-12:30 Vedic Wisdom and The Upanishads

Talk with Craig Williams

Drawing Nearer to the Self Asana Class with Christina Sell
Saturday, February 21 2:00-6:00 Bringing The Bhagavad Gita Alive

Talk with Craig Williams
Devotion, Knowledge and Action Asana Class with Christina Sell

Sunday, February 22 9:00-12:30 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Talk with Craig Williams

The Splendor of the Self Asana Class with Christina Sell

Sunday, February 22 2:00-6:00 Vedanta- Experiencing Oneness

Talk with Craig Williams

The Yogic Heart Asana Class with Christina Sell

Limited registration. Be sure to sign up NOW!!
$200.00 before January 20; $225 after January 20
Individual Sessions are $50 each.
For Information and Registration please contact
Michelle Acebo at 361-883-1052.

Craig Williams (Shambhu-Das ) is a Clinical Herbalist and Acupuncturist in private practice specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga. He holds a Master’ Degree in Oriental Medicine and is a Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild and a Professional member of the National Ayurvedic Mecical Association (NAMA). Craig is the recipient of the prestigious “Veda Kovid” title awarded by David Frawley and the American Institute of Vedic Studies which recognizes extensive training in the Vedic Sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra and Vedanta. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies with a focus on Hindu Studies and has studied Mantra Therapy with Ashley Thomas- Farrand. For information about Craig Williams, visit http://www.ayurvedaaustin.com/.

Christina Sell has been practicing yoga since 1991. She is a certified Anusara Yoga® instructor and author of the book Yoga From the Inside Out: Making Peace with your Body Through Yoga. Christina has been training yoga teachers for over 5 years and is known for her clarity, insight and passion. Dedicated to the practices and principles of Anusara Yoga she serves on the Anusara Yoga® Teacher Assessment committee, the Anusara Yoga® Ethics Committee and the Anusara Yoga® Teacher Training Curriculum Development committee. For more information about her or her work, please visit http://www.christinasell.com/.

Anyone up for Hot Yoga???

Corpus Christi, You asked for it so here it is!!

We will debut the first Hot Yoga Class in Corpus Christi January 24th, 2009

Join the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi for a FREE Hot Yoga Class as part of Yoga Day, U.S.A.

Classes will be regularly scheduled following the debut class

General Information about Hot Yoga
Hot Yoga offers classes in Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa or flow yoga is one of the emerging forms of yoga in the West arising from Krishnamacharya's lineage of Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga. Vinyasa yoga is sequenced to bring balance between ease (sukha) and effort (sthira) while synchronizing the movement with the breath. The sequences of the yoga postures are both physically challenging and spiritually rejuvenating. Each posture, also referred to as an asana, is designed to prepare the body for the one that follows. Hot Yoga classes last for 60-80 minutes in a room heated to approximately 97.8 degrees, which is our body temperature. Practicing yoga in a hot environment opens both the chakras and the muscular/skeletal system, it stimulates the glandular system, and helps eliminate toxins to rebuild the body from old injuries. With continued Hot Yoga practice, what once seemed purely physical slowly transforms the practitioner towards a metaphysical state of being. In Hot Yoga, our goal is to empower each student to discover the teacher within. We hope that the classes you take at our studio will help you transform your thoughts, actions and body from the inside out.

Classes will be held by Elizabeth Hofman, R.Y.T. 200

Education wise - Elizabeth "Liz" has a BA in Biology from Occidental College (1992) and a Master's in Environmental Science from TAMU-CC (2001). She is a secondary science teacher, but has put her teaching career on hold to be home with her two boys. Elizabeths Story: I started yoga in 2001 when I was 4 months pregnant with my first child and dragged by a dear friend to a power yoga class in Okinawa, Japan. I loved it from the get go as it was the only thing that felt good while pregnant. I kept up my practice until the day before I went into labor. I quickly returned to my practice and developed a passion for Power Yoga. I received my NESTA certification in 2003 and started teaching in Okinawa for MCCS (Marine Corps Community Services)while pregnant with #2. We moved in June of 2005 to Chesapeake, Virginia where I taught at a local gym (Wellness One) from 2005-2008. I received my 200 Hr RYT in multi-style in April 2007 from Chesapeake Hot Yoga. I became addicted to Hot Yoga after my 2nd class and taught Hot Yoga from March 2007 - June 2008