PUBLIC programS

Finding the Strength to Change

23rd annual Yoga Retreat

with Lillah Schwartz, E.R.Y.T. 500

Look Inward, Renew Yourself, 
Find your Strength and Make a Change

Join Lillah for 16 hrs of guided yoga studies at Prama Institute in Asheville, NC. The beauty of this mountain top retreat will support your renewal of Bramacharya, clear intention before action, as well as provide exploration of the 5 koshas (levels of consciousness) as reflected both on and off your yoga mat. Practices include asana, pranayama, meditation, with self-reflection and goal setting. Anatomy Studies of the shoulder, and the application of classic and adaptive yoga poses for carpel tunnel, post computer and travel concerns will be included. 

“Lillah has both the knowledge and the passion to fulfill her mission of helping others on the path towards Dharma, the very reason for the practice of yoga. I recommend Lillah with all my heart.”
—Aadil Palkhivala, Purna Yoga founder and author of Fire of Love.

“Lillah’s students are taken beyond their own mental limitations of what they and their bodies are capable of. She offers an amazing gift: to teach people to trust themselves and their bodies again.”
— Kimberly Drye, yoga teacher

* 16 hrs for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education
* 500 hr Core Teacher Training Weekend
* All inclusive, meals and housing.
* Times:  Friday class at 3:00 pm thru Sunday at 1:00 pm
* Cost: $275 or $260 when pre-registered by July 23, 2010 • Tent for $245 • Commuters fee $220
* What To Bring: Yoga mat, 3 blankets, strap, 2 blocks or you may purchase your own gear and books at the retreat.

Lillah Schwartz, E.R.Y.T.500. Known by appreciative students across the country as the "queen of alignment", Lillah brings the benefits of her 30 years' training with yoga experts, like BKS Iyengar, Aadil Palkhivala, Eric Small and others to the Southeast region and thru her workshops to studios across the eastern and central US. Tapping her extensive knowledge of yoga as a healing art, Lillah empowers her students to integrate and dynamically apply the principles of yoga, bringing a new sense of clarity, vitality, and self-reliance into their daily lives.

She established Lighten Up Yoga in Asheville in 1981, and offers a 200 & 500 Hr Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher Training. Her popular DVDs, “Yoga: Your Freedom from Back Pain” and “Yoga: Relief from Neck and Shoulder Pain” are recommended by Dr. Andrew Weil, Prevention Magazine, Booklist, and Yoga Journal.

Visit her blog for videos and yoga tips at LillahSchwartz.com; or contact her at Lillah@lightenupyoga.com or 828.254.7756.

Conscious Movement and Aging:
An Integral Approach to Teaching Yoga,
Tai Chi and Qigong 

The Conscious Movement and Aging Workshop is designed to teach yoga, tai chi and qigong instructors how to offer integrated and age-conscious instruction. This workshop will cost $350 for accomodations and program. Participants can earn Yoga Alliance-approved CEUs for 25 hours.

Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong are increasingly recognized for their positive impact on health and quality of life. With the reality of an aging population, increased incidence of chronic disease & fall-related injuries and an influx of conscious movement providers, now is the time to create a more integrated and age-conscious approach. 

The presentations will look at competency based outcomes that:
- Inform older clients of the preventive and therapeutic benefits of  yoga and tai chi based on evidence by students and/or teacher’s knowledge of current initiatives and organizations promoting self care in aging.
- Obtain accurate and relevant health information regarding health and lifestyle strengths and risks.
- Assess older clients standing balance, walking balance, upper and lower body strength, vision, hearing, and attentiveness.
- Plan class sequences in yoga including alternate and modified poses to help students participate fully and safely.
- Modify tai chi warm-up exercises and form movements so that students with health risks can participate fully and safely.
- Evaluate effectiveness of yoga postures at intervals through client self monitoring, journaling, and brief questionnaires (client and observer ratings).

Presenters:

Rebecca Chaplin, MA, LS - Aging Program Specialist, Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s Area Agency on Aging
-  Integrative Self Care: How Yoga and Tai Chi fit into the current academic, political, health, service and    social climate of aging in the United States

Cindy Dollar - Owner/Senior Instructor, One Center Yoga
- Evaluating Effectiveness of Yoga Poses on the Physical Self

Jan Gillespie- Instructor, Dancing Chi
- Qigong Self-Massage Techniques, Sitting and Laughing Yoga 

Sid Jordan, Ph.D. - Director/Instructor, Prama Institute
- Mind/Body/Spirit benefits of meditation/prayer and yoga postures

Carol Ann Mitchell Ed.D., GNP - Yoga and Tai Chi Instructor
- Physical Disability, Disease, Chronic Conditions Commonly Experienced in Aging 

Lillah Schwartz - Owner/Instructor, Lighten Up Yoga
- Adaptive Yoga for older adults and persons living with MS/ disabilities. 

Accem Scott - Tai Chi and Qi Gong Instructor
- Functional Health History & Benefits of Meditation/Visualization

Kristine Kaoverii Weber - Owner/Instructor, Subtle Yoga
- Approaching Wellness – A yogic exploration of being, thinking and doing

Early Bird Special! Register by August 9 and receive 10% off!

Registration: Early bird (before August 9th): $315 : Regular fee: $350

For more info and registration, contact the Prama Institute: (828) 649-9408 or info@pramainstitute.org

Yoga of Silence Retreat

We are happy to announce the return of our popular Yoga of Silence Retreat this fall!

Join us on a journey beyond the everyday chatter of the mind, and discover the inner power of your own silence.

Take a break from the hectic noise of modern life and discover what the yogis have realized for thousand of years—the peace and contentment that lies within.

Facilitated by experienced yoga and meditation teachers Sid Jordan, Howard Nemon, Jessica Brown, and Ramesh Bjonnes.

Price: Early registration by Sept 1: $150 (after Sept. 1 ($175)
10 % off if you bring one more person.

No previous experience necessary.

To register: Early Bird - $150 ; Regular Registration - $175  

 Comments from participants at our first Yoga of Silence Retreat:

“The schedule allowed plenty of time for personal reflection. The food was excellent, the yoga teacher had great teaching skills, and the price was very reasonable.”
--W. Bodie, NC

“I enjoyed all the facilitators very much, and the setting is perfect.”
--M. Antonazzo, NC

“I enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding environment and the talks given by the teachers. Much warmer atmosphere than the other silent retreats I have attended. Honestly, everything was perfect.”
--J. Weston, NC

“Great stories and anecdotes shared by the teachers. Great group exercises—sweet way to begin. The food was phenomenal.”
--C. Burger, NC

Mantra: A Path to Abundance and Spiritual Evolution

with Namadeva

organized by
West Asheville Yoga Center

We are incredibly honored to be the first in this region to host Namadeva (Thomas Ashley Farrand) for a powerful weekend immersion in the path of chanting sanskrit mantras. The weekend will auspiciously begin on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, the first night of Navaratri, the 9 nights festival to honor the Goddess, and Namadeva will be performing a special puja ceremony chanting 1008 names of the Goddess and invoking her into our energy fields. This is indeed an extraordinary event! 

 The weekend: The mystical Sanskrit language works directly through the chakras. Directing energy into the subtle body, Sanskrit mantras prepare us to receive higher amounts of kundalini energy into the spine. This energy solves problems, eradicates karma, and aids us in fulfilling our desires. During this workshop, Namadeva will teach mantra methods for addressing life’s problems in the areas of health, relationship, abundance, employment, family issues and others. In addition to solving problems, most us want to advance spiritually. Mantra methods for quickening spiritual evolution will be presented. Group Mantra practice will take place at all sessions.

Highlights: Participants will

• Learn details for constructing your mantra practice, and methods for reaching Mantra Siddhi, or the beginning of upper levels of attainment with a given mantra.
• Hear mythical stories that are combined with powerful mantras for manifestation in the subtle and physical realms. Some mantras will be presented that appear in none of his books.
• Understand the mystical underpinnings of creation of Ganesha by Parvati and the interdiction of Shiva.
• Learn mantras for removal of various classes of obstacles.
• Understand how the creation of Subramanya and mantras lead one to become a spiritual adept.
• Understand the Eastern teaching that the very nature of power is feminine. Whether from the Shiva Sutras or the Lakshmi Tantra, the message is the same: The Nature of Power is Feminine. Various feminine mantras and their results will be taught including advanced mantra for Saraswati, Lalita, Kali and others.
• The creation of the Cosmos and its evolution into our physical universe will be discussed from the Eastern point of view.
• Learn about great rishis created long before their appearance on our physical plane. These great beings have interacted with our plane of existence since its inception. Why? Surprising answers will be given as well as explanation of the work of the Avatars of Vishnu and human evolution. Saints, sages, gurus, sadgurus, siddhas and masters and others will be discussed.
• Learn the great master mantra for enlightenment, the Gayatri Mantra.
• Hear a discussion of the great work done by the Buddha and learn a selection of Buddhist mantras and archetypes.
• Participate in a healing session of Dr. Wright’s Cleaning Out Technique.
• Have the opportunity to ask Namadeva (Thomas Ashley-Farrand) questions.

With accompaniment from his tamboura, Namadeva will lead Kirtan, devotional singing, in Sanskrit.

PLEASE READ THIS NOTE ABOUT THE COST: The cost for the retreat with Namadeva is $250 and there is an additional cost of $150 for dormitory lodging and all vegetarian meals included. If you do not intend to stay at the Prama Institute you will still need to pay $100 for your meals (gourmet vegetarian meals will be provided the entire weekend) and the facility cost. Thank you for your understanding. Please register at www.westashevilleyoga.com/events/

Information about the Puja:

Navaratri Puja Ceremony with Namadeva (Thomas Ashley-Farrand)

Navaratri is the Nine Nights Festival of the Goddess in India. There, the Goddess is celebrated in her three major forms of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati with each Goddess form celebrated all day and night for three nights. The Mantra immersion weekend with Namadeva begins on the first night of Navaratri so he will be offering a very special puja to the Goddess on this night for us. We will chant the 1008 names of the Goddess and do a special fire ceremony to bring her into our own hearts. If you are participating in the weekend immersion with us, you DO NOT have to register for the puja as it is included in your tuition. If you would like only to participate in the puja, the cost is $25 which is payable in advance by registering with West Asheville Yoga at www.westashevilleyoga.com/events/ or payable that evening.   The puja will include a fire ceremony, offerings to the Goddess, and chanting her names.

Inner Peace Yoga Therapy

2010-2011 Certification Program

Looking to take your yoga training to the next level? Our 300-hour yoga therapy certification program offers yoga teachers and health care professionals the tools needed to help individuals with health challenges manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality, and improve attitude.

You’ll learn directly from top instructors in the fields of yoga therapy and Ayurveda, including: Shar Lee, Marc Halpern, Nischala Joy Devi, Neil Pearson, Antonio Sausys, Amy Weintraub, and Durga.

Session 1 will take place from November 6 - 19 and Session 2 will take place from January 30 - February 12, 2011. For more information and registration, visit the website of Inner Peace Yoga Therapy - http://www.innerpeaceyogatherapy.com/.