Below are a few yoga and wellness events in the Bay Area and Maui, followed by online freebies, including a new podcast series by Saraswati Clere, owner of the YogaKula studio in Berkeley.
Later in April, I’ll publish some exciting news on my blog about: a campus wellness award we just received; yoga mat tips and bargains; and a “rolling joints” yoga sequence for 4/20. This is separate from the free monthly wellness newsletter that I send to subscribers via Mailchimp. Follow my wellness blog at lferris.com so you don’t miss out on the occasional bonus content.
Bay Area Events
FREE Sound Meditation with Melissa Felsenstein
Saturday April 6th, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
North Berkeley Library
1170 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707
Start your morning with a Sound Meditation and then peruse your imagination in a world of books and ideas after. North Berkeley library is a gorgeous space, come see it and enjoy this free library hosted community sound bath! No prior yoga or meditation experience needed, beginners and all ages welcome. See library details and directions.
Tune in to your Breath with Richard Rosen
Sunday, April 7th , 2 – 5 PM
YogaKulaBerkeley
For a thousand years, up until the beginning of the 20th century, the central practice of Hatha Yoga was breathing, that is, pranayama. This Sanskrit word is often rendered into English as “breath control,” but this is a bit misleading. It’s important to remember that our breath has its own innate intelligence and we should, when engaging in any breath-related practice, respect and pay close attention to that intelligence. Any attempt to “control” the breath, especially when that control is running counter to the designs of the breath, will often backfire with unhappy consequences to a greater or lesser degree.
Yoga for UC Berkeley Staff
Friday, April 12, 12:10 – 1 PM
251 Hearst Gym, UC Berkeley Campus
These are the classes I teach for UC Berkeley faculty and staff. If that’s you, click the links to register for the remaining classes: 4/12, 5/3.
Laurie’s Bio.
Body Positive Yoga at Ojas Yoga Center in El Cerrito
April 13-May 18 (6 classes)
Saturdays 11:00-12:30 PM
I just learned about this and am very excited to share it because I believe that all bodies are capable of experiencing the benefits of yoga. Here’s the program description from the Ojas website:Curvy Yoga is yoga instruction specific to people in larger bodies, but all body sizes are welcome in my classes. Through intentional sequencing, strategic uses of props, and creative variations, yoga is made accessible to people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. The guiding philosophy is that there is no “wrong” way to have a body, and that all bodies are capable of experiencing the benefits of a yoga practice. Yoga can change to suit the body you have today, and the pose can be made to fit you, not the other way around.
Curvy Yoga students are a variety of sizes, ages, abilities, cultures and gender identifications. What they have in common is a desire to gain flexibility, strength, agility, and balance, and to practice self-care in a fun environment that is body affirming and free from judgment and competition.”
Location: 707 El Cerrito Plaza
El Cerrito, CA 94530
The Tilden House in the Berkeley Hills
NEW Classes! Starting April 15
The Tilden House is a small, intentional space for gatherings, special events, yoga classes and trainings. It is nestled in the Berkeley Hills overlooking Wildcat Canyon and offers a sanctuary to retreat and reconnect.Journey to Inner Peace Hawaii
Meditation Guide Training
April 26-28, 2019
My friends from the Journey to Inner Peace tribe are leading a meditation retreat in Lahaina, Maui on the last weekend of April to kick off a 6-week training program. The Maui weekend will be led by Luang Pi Piya, a Thai monk who has transformed thousands of students around the world.
Purpose: To create a sustainable peaceful community of meditation guides and meditators who share a vision of world peace through inner peace.
Where: Lahaina, HI 96761
When: April 26-28, 2019 (April 29th optional)
Cost: $500 (includes meals)
Limited space. Register at: https://www.innerpeacehawaii.com/
Some of you might recall Luang Pi Piya, the joyful monk from the Journey to Inner Peace events at which I taught yoga sessions at last year. If you are new to meditation or need a refresher, this is a very effective “Middle Way” method. Play this video when you have 10 minutes of uninterrupted time. Sit comfortably, relax, close your eyes, and let the Buddhist monk guide you through a meditation.
His soothing voice and peaceful face always make me feel so relaxed. Subscribe to his YouTube channel to receive more free meditations.
Online Freebies
April Happiness Calendar from the Greater Good Science Center
Let these science-backed tips and tools be your guide this month. You’ll want to bookmark this calendar and refer to it often because there are links to articles and resources embedded in the PDF. Download happiness calendar for April
Yogapedia Podcast Series by Saraswati Clere
Listen to the Yogapedia Podcast, “Know Your Are Enough,” featuring Colleen Saidman Yee. In this episode, Saraswati talks with Saidman Yee about her intimate journey to yoga. She shares the tumultuous path of uncovering self-worth as a young fashion model amidst the staggering pressure to conform to expectations of the industry and those around her.
She explains that through these early challenges of self-criticism and doubt, she tried to outrun her fears until finally she was faced with no choice but surrender.
Listen to Episode 4 Now
MC Yogi – Hip-hop Artist, Author and Yogi
Amanda Giacomini – 10,000 Buddhas Mural Artist and Yoga Teacher
For thousands of years, yogis gathered together in satsang to study the teachings of yoga. The Yogapedia Podcast is a designed for that purpose, to be a place where we can gather and learn from modern yoga scholars and teachers.
That’s a wrap for April! Please let me know if you have events to consider for future newsletters.
Laurie Ferris Yoga & Wellness 