Yogaday

and the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit (YAGD) present the third annual fall “Yogaday” Nov. 13 at The Community House. Yoga Day is for yoga students of all levels and abilities.

Session One: 9.30-10-45: ‘A Fresh Look at the Familiar’ - Chris Briney

This class will show you that advanced yoga practice is not based in the difficulty or complexity of the posture. Instead, it is based in our ability to discover the profound and transformative inner experience that can be found in the familiar. YAGD member Chris Briney is one of only four certified Iyengar Yoga instructors in the Metro Detroit region. He has been a passionate student of yoga since 1997, studying with a number of Senior-level Iyengar Yoga instructors - including Geeta Iyengar herself.

Session Two: 11-12.15:  ‘Opening the Heart, with Gratitude’ - Katherine Schaefer

Backbends create strength and freedom in the spine. They can also help to uplift our mood and even relieve depression. Offering a step-by-step flow of postures this class will guide you, safely, into a variety of heart-opening backbends. YAGD member Katherine Schaefer has been teaching since 1996. Her focus is alignment and safety - as well as having fun. Katherine teaches Yoga Therapy (for people with injuries or limitations), as well as Beginning to Advanced classes in the Detroit metro area.

Lunch break: 12.15-1.30: Bring your own or visit a nearby restaurant or coffee shop

Session Three: 1.30-2.45:  ‘Stilling the Body, Stilling the Mind’ - Richard Smith

A practical guide to meditation, its value and application in daily life. Among topics covered will be a guide to the yoga asanas that best prepare the body for meditation. YAGD member Richard Smith has been practicing Vipassana (Insight) and Samatha (Concentration) meditation for over 20 years. His primary teacher is a renowned Meditation Master, the Buddhist monk Ajahn Sumedho, with whom Richard spends 1-2 months a year practicing and traveling (most recently in Portugal and Morocco).

Session Four: 3-4.15: ‘The Rewards of Opening the Hips’ - Barbara Swaab

Hip openers can be incredibly beneficial and rewarding, both physically and emotionally. The hips can store a lot of emotional energy. In this class, we will focus on hip opening poses, linking them with breath work to release tension and stress. A certified teacher and YAGD member, Barbara has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. She is currently writing a book on aquatic yoga.  For the past nine years Barbara has been teaching yoga to cancer survivors at Henry Ford Hospital.

Session Five: 4.30-5 pm: Savasana - Peggy Bradley

Savasana (Final Relaxation) is the important ending of every yoga practice.  It conditions the whole psycho-physiological system, bringing relaxation to the body and focus to the mind. Every major yoga tradition emphasizes its importance. YAGD member Peggy Bradley (who has been practicing yoga since 1991 and teaching for eleven years) will lead you through this deceptively simple, deceptively challenging and oh-so-refreshing final relaxation. A perfect ending to Fall Yogaday.

Check-in: 8.45-9.15 am. Bring a yoga mat and a blanket. Space is Limited. Early registration is advised. To register, contact The Community House at 248/644-5832 or online at www.communityhouse.com.