As we near the time of the election, tensions are high this year no matter what side you are on. Simply seeing the signage of the opposing candidate on the side of the street or hearing in the news something that he or she said can set off a sympathetic nervous system response – fight, flight or freeze… most often “fight”. We might find ourselves at odds with friends and family who, truly, we love and care about and want the best for in life. We get caught in the “small mind” and the “small self” – anxious, angry, worried, fearful. All of this is heightened by the threat of COVID – some of us feeling more isolated than usual.
A one time yoga workshop will not fix everything, but we can come together as humans, as community, and participate in practices that quiet the mind and the body. When we do practices, particularly in community, that bring us out of the small self, that relieve physical and mental tension, we return to what is really important to us in life and in relationship. We think, feel and act from our true center rather than being caught up in the storm around us.
Come find your “eye in the storm”. Once you have experienced it, it is just a matter of training yourself to remember, return and, ultimately, remain. As you become familiar with your calm, quiet center, you become a positive force in your community and in the world.
This workshop is open to all levels and abilities. We will be combining the practices of meditation, somatic movement, restorative yoga and pranayama.
Props: We recommend a bolster, a blanket and an eye bag. If you don’t own a bolster, you can build a bolster out of two blankets or use a firm couch cushion. If you don’t own an eye bag, a washcloth or a good clean sock works well!
This workshop will take place virtually via Zoom. Once registered, you’ll receive an email with the Zoom invitation/link.
Date & Time: Friday, October 30th, 2020 at 5pm – 7pm
Cost: $45 (register by 10/23), $55 after.
About the instructor: Joanna Dunn
A yoga teacher since 2001, Joanna’s background is eclectic. She teaches a variety of styles, including beginner level alignment, a Level 2 slow paced Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative as well as somatic movement and meditation. Her teaching is influenced by Iyengar-based teachers, Judith Lasater (Restorative yoga), Kathryn Payne (Pranayama) and Theresa Elliott (alignment, sequencing, and Vinyasa). Her primary influences from her early studies also include choreographed multidimensional vinyasa of Lynn Kingston and the accessible, gentle yoga of Kripalu. Joanna is currently studying with Tias and Surya Little of Prajna Yoga. Prajna fuses traditional yoga practices (Ashtanga and Iyengar) with the energy body wisdom of yoga and Chinese Medicine, Meditation of Buddhism and somatic movement of Feldenkrais and Hanna.