Urge Surfing
Mindfulness Training in Yin Yoga may Reduce Unskillful Behaviors
Urges are okay. We all have urges. We wouldn’t be here if our parents did have urges. But just because we have an urge doesn’t mean we have to do something about it. Some urges are harmless, but other urges, when acted upon, lead to unskillful living. Our yoga practice can help us to realize that urges do not have to lead automatically to unskillful or addictive behavior. Our Yin Yoga practice can help us develop a level of mindfulness that can create a new relationship to the urges that arise in life.
In the previous Newsletter, we talked about a scientific basis for Yin Yoga. Here is a view of the Ayurvedic basis for Yin Yoga, as described by Dr John Douillard. Dr Douillard calls this “slow yoga.” Ayurveda is the Indian health science and Dr Douillard is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner who has written and produced numerous health and fitness books, CDs, and DVDs. In this video and article, he explains why Yin Yoga and other forms of slow yoga “administer benefits that go deeper than delivering a good stretch.”
Yin is In! Yin Yoga has been with us since the beginning of Hatha Yoga centuries ago. But since the early 19th century, yoga has become more and more yang-like in nature. Everything requires balance: yin completes yang. Yin Yoga is the balancing practice for the more active, muscular yang yogas. There are more and more teachers offering Yin Yoga today, and more workshops and opportunities to learn how to become a Yin Yoga teacher. If diving deeper into the yin-side of life is on your bucket list, there are lots of opportunities for you.
Upcoming Trainings and Retreats with Bernie Clark
50-hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings July 27 – Aug 2, 2015; August 24th-30th, 2015; November 9th-15th, 2015; February 8th-14th, 2016; May 9th-15th, 2016; July 25th-31st, 2016; August 22nd-28th, 2016; November 7th-13th, 2016.
All of these will be at the Semperviva Yoga Studios, in Vancouver, Canada. The Yin Yoga Teacher Training Program offered at the Semperviva Yoga College is a unique way to deepen your yoga practice and touch tissues rarely worked in a more active yang style of yoga. For 200 hour certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification offered by Semperviva, and are eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (CEUs = Continuing Education Units and are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher).
For more details or to register, check the Semperviva web page or call them at 604-739-2009.
MEDITATION REVEALED With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller November 15th-22nd, 2015;
May 15th-22nd, 2016
This course will examine what meditation is, why we do it (its many benefits, spiritually, psychologically and physically), and how to do it, from a variety of viewpoints: From Eastern Yogic and Buddhist views to Western Psychotherapeutic understanding. The course will include personal, one-on-one training in Deep Meditation, as well as group instruction, to give the student an experiential basis for the practice of meditation. Held at the Semperviva Yoga Studios – Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Learn More
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near you, or if you are traveling to somewhere new, try checking out the Directory of Yin Yoga teachers. We have hundreds of teachers registered from all over the world. If you are a teacher and are not in the directory, just send us your information and we’ll be happy to add you.
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops all over the world. You can check out their schedules at their home web pages:
Many teachers around the world are creating Yin Yoga based workshops and retreats. Some of them are posting these activities on our Forum page. Check it out. There may be one happening near you. (If you are a teacher, feel free to add yours to the page!)
Urge Surfing
Our Yin Yoga practice can help us develop a level of mindfulness that can create a new relationship to the urges that arise in life.
An Ayurvedic Basis for Yin Yoga
Dr John Douillard offers an Ayurvedic perspective on the value of Yin Yoga and other slower forms of yoga which involve holding postures longer than 2 minutes.
Teacher Trainings & Retreats
There are several Yin Yoga teacher training courses being held by Bernie Clark in the coming year, including a special 40-hour course called Meditation Revealed.
Checking out Other Interesting Events
There are many teachers leading workshops, Yin Yoga retreats and Teacher Trainings. Click here to learn more.
