PAST EVENTS

Integrated Spirituality: Meditation to Release the Knots That Bind Us

According to yogic science, the granthis are psychic knots located along the central pathway of the spine. These knots hold the mother-nature force (Shakti) in the body as a means to help us navigate through this plane of existence, but can also tighten due to belief patterns and life experiences. The granthis are located at the base of the spine, the center of the chest, and at the midbrain region.

The entire practice of yoga is meant to cultivate the ascension of Shakti back to Shiva at the crown, where unbound intelligence, bliss, and inspiration lie. The practice will start with premeditative asana to target the regions of the body where the granthis get choked. Followed by a powerful meditation to unlock the binds that inhibit us, creating liberation and pure potential.

No previous experience required.

Bring a yoga mat and wear clothes you can sit and move comfortably in.

Integrated Spirituality: Sankalpa Intention Setting Meditation

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

The start of the new year is when we often make resolutions to change something about ourselves or our behaviors. They are typically something our mind has told us we need to do in order to “fix” some aspect of our lives. But, our unconscious thoughts and conditioning keep us playing out the same old patterns and continuing the same actions.

A Sankalpa from the yogic tradition, translates as an intention you make to your higher nature. This profound meditation practice helps clears away patterning in your subconscious and unconscious. It allows for an intention to surface from deep within you at a soul level. It then implant this intention into the energy centers of your body to infuse it into your unconscious.

The practice will include yoga asana to release tension in the hips and backs of the legs. This is where the yogis tell us your unconscious is stored in the physical body. A guided meditation will follow, including the use of mantra (sound), mudras (hand positions with energetic effects), and visualizations to balance the energy in the chakras, and let your Sankalpa surface and implant itself on a cellular level.

The practice will leave you with a greater sense of clarity and balance. It will tune you to the energy you need most, leading you through the year with ease, peace and grace.

No prior experience needed. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

Chairs will be available for anyone with limited mobility.

Integrated Spirituality: The Basics of Meditation

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

Learn the fundamentals of yogic meditation, the practices to use for a deeper experience, what to do when feeling antsy and tips to make it a regular part of your daily routine. Class will include a discussion and practice of the following:

Best yoga asana and kriya techniques to prepare the body for meditation

How to sit and prop YOUR body comfortably

Pranayama (breathing practices) to deepen the meditation experience

Mantras to keep the mind relaxed and focused

Regrounding practices

No prior experience required. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in and bring a yoga mat. Chairs will also be available for anyone with limited mobility or who finds it more comfortable than sitting on the floor.

Integrated Spirituality: Yoga Nidra

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

Yoga Nidra or "Yogic Sleep" is a meditative practice you do lying down. Guided visualization is used to deeply relax the physical body and release patterning from the subconscious and unconscious mind. It is said 20 minutes of a yoga nidra practice can be equivalent to 4 hours of regular sleep to the body. Come join us as we discuss how this practice works, experience a gentle restorative asana practice followed by a yoga nidra meditation for deep relaxation. This class is appropriate for all levels of experience. Bring a yoga mat and warm clothing as the body tends to cool as it relaxes. You may also choose to bring an eye pillow or small cloth to cover your eyes with to deepen the experience.

Integrated Sprituality: Kriya Yoga to Recenter

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

Kriyas (kree-ya) are cleansing techniques used to purify the mind and body of this patterning. Kriya uses visualization, pranayama (breathing), mantra and meditation to unblock the energy meridians (nadis) of the body. It detoxifies the pathways of our consciousness, opening us to deeper meditation, joyous living, divine inspiration and endless possibilities.

Class will include an asana practice (the physical postures of yoga) along with a guided seated meditation using Kriya techniques.

*No prior experience in yoga or meditation is required. Modifications can be provided if you are working with injuries or limitations in the body as long as you have clearance to practice from a doctor. Please bring your own mat and comfortable clothes that you can move in. The meditation can be practiced from a chair instead of seated on the floor if need be.

Integrated Sprituality: Chakra Balancing Meditation

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

The yogis believe we have a physical and energetic body. The chakras are the main energy vortexes that reside along the length of your spine and serve as the headquarters of each of the elements in your energetic body. They have profound effects on your physical, emotional and energetic states. In this workshop we will explore

How each of the chakras relate to your physical body

The way they manifest and influence different aspects of your life.

The shapes (yantras), sounds (mantras) and colors that balance each of them

A seated meditation incorporating these tools to tune and harmonize the chakras, bringing more ease, wisdom and grace to each moment of your life.

No experience required. Bring your own yoga mat and wear clothing you can comfortably move and sit in. There will be a brief period of yoga asana (physical poses) before the seated mediation. If there are physical limitations in the body, the class can be experienced seated from a chair.

Integrated Spirituality: Meditation to Balance Emotions

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

6:30 - 8:00 PM EST

Brookside Community Church

When you get caught up in your mind and hold on to emotions, the energy of your heart becomes blocked. This prevents you from experiencing your true nature, connection to spirit and the source of unconditional love, inspiration and wisdom.

In this class, we will work to re-establish that connection by clearing out the emotions weighing you down, using gentle, pre-meditative, asana “physical postures”, kriya yoga “visualizations”, pranayama “breathing exercises”, meditation techniques and essential oils.

This class will leave you feeling more centered and in tune with your true self.

Wear comfortable clothes that stretch and move with you. Bring a note pad and pen if you would like to take notes, yoga mat and a small blanket or large towel.

No previous experience with yoga or meditation required. All are welcome!

INTEGRATIVE SPIRTUALITY

I am excited to be leading the yoga and meditation classes on 2/20 and 2/27 as part of the Integrative Spirituality series at Brookside Church. These classes are open to everyone and donation based. No experience required. Just bring a mat! The full schedule is below.

Kriya Yoga for Consciousness and Connection

The energy of our recurring thoughts, emotions and life experiences remain held in our bodies, which over time can condition and limit us. It can leave us feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, stuck, uninspired or simply like we are going through the motions of life.
Kriyas (kree-ya) are techniques used to purify the mind and body of this patterning.
Kriya uses visualization, pranayama (breathing), mantra and meditation to unblock the energy meridians (nadis) of the body. It detoxifies the pathways of our consciousness, opening us to deeper meditation, joyous living, divine inspiration and endless possibilities.

MEDITATION 101 - Thursdays 6:30-7:45pm January 11th - February 1st

Learn the fundamentals of yogic meditation in this 4 week series. Classes will include a discussion and practice. Each class will provide the opportunity to experience the following while the focus of the discussion will vary each week.

Health benefits of meditation

Best yoga asana and kriya techniques to prepare the body for meditation

How to sit and prop YOUR body comfortably

Pranayama (breathing practices) to deepen the meditation experience

Mantras to keep the mind relaxed and focused

Regrounding practices