Events at Akasha Yoga
Mommy & Baby Workshop Series
September 20 - October 13; 8 sessions, every Monday & Wednesday, 9-10amwith Amy Faulkner, yoga instructor and new mommy! [Workshop Flyer]
It’s all about you, Mom, and helping you get back into your pre-pregnancy jeans while bonding with your baby and meeting other new moms!
Amy’s Mommy and Baby yoga classes have their own special rhythm: moms begin by concentrating on their breath and finding a calm meditative state, then moms flow through a gentle Vinyasa flow concentrating on rebuilding core muscles and toning thighs, gluts and arms while baby has tummy time on the blanket, plays with toys or takes a nap, then a little yoga for moms and babies together, a few exercises for baby, and class ends with a joint Savasana to a soothing lullaby. After class, moms have the opportunity to check in with each other, share mom stories and support each other. September 20 thru October 13, 8 Sessions, $100.00 for the full series
Monday & Wednesday, 9-10 am
Register online or at the studio.
Bring a blanket for your baby and wear loose, comfortable clothes. No prior yoga experience necessary. Newborns to crawlers are welcome and you may participate as gently as you like. Please note that you are totally free to pick up your baby and feed her, rock her, change her, or walk her around the room. If you have questions please contact us! Amy Faulkner is certified through Yoga BirthWell which complies with the standards used by SHARP Healthcare to employ prenatal and postnatal yoga instructors. Amy just had a baby too!
Yoga with Live Music!
Select Wednesday evenings 7-8:15pm, With Amanda Collins
Irish yoga teacher Amanda Collins offers a weekly hatha yoga class on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. On select evenings she has invited special musical guests to accompany her class. Don't miss these unique and moving live music & yoga events. This class is approropriate for all levels.
Class price is the same as the regular classes ($15 drop in or use your class pass) plus an additional $5-10 to support our guest musicians.
Upcoming live music events are listed below:
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September 8th: Cheryl Angela, Therapeutic Harp We are lucky to have Cheryl joining us again for a beautiful evening of live harp music. Since ancient times, the harp has been used as an instrument of healing and comfort. The resonant sound of the harp is used as a tool to promote health and well being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Cheryl improvises to create sounds that resonate with the energetic vibrations she senses in the space from moment to moment. Each session is a unique co-creation of yoga, music, and healing. An experience not to be missed! Visit Cheryl's website. |
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September 29th: Steve Gold With the intention to create community through group singing, Steve Gold travels and sings with his wife Anne-Émilie Gold. They have toured extensively with world-renowned yoga teacher Shiva Rea, sharing their music at her teacher trainings and retreats around the world. We are honored to host their music at Akasha Yoga as they accompany Amanda's gentle flowing yoga instruction on September 29th. Visit Steve Gold's website Regular class price (or any class pass) plus $10 for this special event. Pre-pay $10 to reserve your space. Reservations recommended. Click here to register through our integrated online system. |
Steve Gold at Akasha Yoga on May 12th
Thai Massage Workshop
with Maya Montoya Sunday, October 24, 2-4:30pm
Learn a brief history of Thai Massage and enjoy the benefits of giving and receiving compassionate touch. Thai Massage combines a wide variety of stretching movements, gentle rocking and rhythmic compressions applied very slowly. Excellent for low back and leg pain, or just to find some inner peace. Bring a friend or partner with someone in the workshop. No prior yoga or massage experience is necessary. Comfortable clothes and a yoga mat are recommended.
$30 per person early registration; $35 day of event. Register online or at the studio. Sign up early to reserve your space as space is limited.
Past Events...
Inversion Training Workshop
with Simone RessnerSunday, August 15th, 6:30-9pm
Inversions (getting your heart above your head) are a natural and fun way to invigorate your cardiovascular and endocrine systems. In this workshop you will learn a 45 minute take-home sequence to help stretch and strengthen areas of the body needed to stick challenging inversions. Simone will be reviewing safe ways to reach your edge in shoulder stand, handstand, wheel, forearm stand, and certain arm balances. This workshop will offer key strategems to not only work towards safely arriving in these postures but also deepening your awareness of core strength and self power.
Simone loves seeing the world upside down and sideways and ows thank sto the many teachers (especially Kathryn Budig and Mara Harris) who have inspirerd playful ways to see the world. She is excited to share this light with those curious about the many benefits and joys of inversions.
Yoga with Live Music!
Other musical guests we have hosted:
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March 24th: Misha & Amadou MISHA & AMADOU perform a unique blend of African and eclectic styles. Amadou hails from Senegal, Africa and comes from a lineage of famous kora players. Misha comes from Ukraine with a background in classical music in violin. |
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March 31st: Cliff Oliver, Didgeridoo While Amanda guides you through a flowing sequence of yoga postures and movements, Cliff will play the didgeridoo throughout the room and directly around you. Didgeridoo harmonics produce sound waves that affect the "whole” body, coupled with movement brings your body and mind to a state of deep state of peace and self-healing. Dr. Cliff Oliver is a gifted sound healer who uses sound to access regions that are beyond physical reach. The sounds that he makes heals the soul. He uses the live sounds from ancient musical traditions to open, balance and harmonize your body, mind and spirit. Learn more at www.thecenterforbalance.net and www.DrCliffOliver.com |
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April 28th: Rusty Jones Rusty Jones melds the soul of the blues, the passion of r&b, the melody of pop, the lyricism of folk, and the visceral joys of rock. "We do melodic roots music with a twist." A veteran songwriter/singer/guitarist, Rusty began his professional career as a founding member of eighties one hit wonders, "The Monroes", who had a national hit with "What Do All The People Know". Rusty will be accompanying Amanda's class with a blend of soothing, soulful tunes. Check out Rusty's music. |
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May 12th: Steve Gold With the intention to create community through group singing, Steve Gold travels and sings with his wife Anne-Émilie Gold. They have toured extensively with world-renowned yoga teacher Shiva Rea, sharing their music at her teacher trainings and retreats around the world. We are honored to host their music at Akasha Yoga as they accompany Amanda's gentle flowing yoga instruction on May 12th. Visit Steve Gold's website Regular class price (or any class pass) plus $10 for this special event. Pre-pay $10 to reserve your space. Reservations recommended. Click here to register through our integrated online system, or click "Buy Now" below. |
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June 23rd: Cheryl Angela on Therapeutic Harp We are lucky to have Cheryl joining us again for a beautiful evening of live harp music. Amanda will be teaching a gentle vinyasa flow class and Cheryl will be playing the harp live. Since ancient times, the harp has been used as an instrument of healing and comfort. The resonant sound of the harp is used as a tool to promote health and well being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. An experience not to be missed! Visit Cheryl's website. |
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July 14th: Jason & Pia Jason and his beautiful wife Pia from Krishan’s Kirtan are the heart of our local kirtan community. Jason and Pia will open the class with some chanting and will sing throughout the class. "Rare is the purity of a male voice such as this, both the highs and lows, and the depths and shallows of volume and texture. Combined with Jason's wide open heart, One is invited into their own song from this place to share in resonance. Trust me, to sing with Jason's exuberance is a pleasure that moves my soul." Andrew Jones, yoga instructor and singer/songwriter Preview their music: here |
Monday, July 12th, 7:45-8:45pm
During this restorative class, Dr. Oliver will play the healing instruments such as flutes and didgeridoo throughout the room and directly around you. Didgeridoo harmonics produce sound waves that affect the "whole” body, coupled with movement brings your body and mind to a state of deep state of peace and self-healing. Dr. Cliff Oliver is a gifted sound healer who uses sound to access regions that are beyond physical reach. The sounds that he makes heals the soul. He uses the live sounds from ancient musical traditions to open, balance and harmonize your body, mind and spirit. Regular class price, no additional fee. Learn more at www.thecenterforbalance.net and www.DrCliffOliver.com.
The Art of Relaxation: A Experiential Workshop
Wednesday July 7th, 7-9pm
"Just Relax!" Learning to relax can actually be a complex process, so the common suggestion to "just relax" is often not very helpful. You will be much more successful in de-stressing if you learn clear steps to guide the mind and body down a pathway toward ease and relaxation. Studio owner and psychologist, Natalie Masson, will be teaching a variety of techniques for relaxation during these two workshops. Each session will include different techniques drawn from the following styles:
- Restorative yoga is a sophisticated system for teaching the body how to let go. Using props to support the body, the body is gently coaxed into unwinding, letting go, and drifting into a deep state of relaxation.
- Mindfulness practice draws on zen principles of non-judgment, acceptance, compassion, and focusing on the present moment. Mindfulness meditation can help with mental clarity, peace of mind, personal insight, emotional balance, and concentration.
- Guided imagery can be used to enhance desirable states of mind such as contentment, joy, confidence...well, just about any emotion or attitude that you would like to experience. As powerfully as our nighttime dreams can influence our feeling states, our guided daydreams can also deeply impact how we feel. Take a trip to your ideal vacation setting--all inclusive, no packing, no travel time, no expenses. Your mind will take you there for free!
- Restorative Breathing blends yoga, mindfulness, and breath to help reinstate relaxed, optimal breathing which naturally calms and soothes the nervous system. Great for lowering stress and anxiety. No prescription required, no side effects.
Registration $25.
Newcomer's Yoga Workshop
Yoga Fundmentals with Marisa Zink & Rennie LevineSunday, May 23rd 1-3:30pm
Gain skills to de-stress
Learn Yogic breathing
Set a foundation for a lifetime of practice
This 2.5 hour workshop provides a simple yet powerful introduction to a yoga practice that is appropriate for everyone. Have you ever been in yoga class and wanted to ask questions but felt uncomfortable in the quiet class setting?
Here's your chance to ask two experienced yoga therapists about how to:
- Modify poses to meet your individual needs
- Sync your breath with the poses to make yoga a more fluid experience
- Create a solid foundation for your yoga practice to help you live a balanced, healthy and happy life
Join Marisa and Rennie for this Newcomer's Yoga Workshop where you will explore the fundamentals of yoga. You will be gently guided through a series of basic asanas (postures) while learning how to modify them to meet your individual needs. We will then explore yogic breathing, a powerful and ancient tool to de-stress and to get more out of your yoga practice.
We will also teach you how to practice Restorative Yoga in your home or office whenever you need a little rejuvenation! This facet of yoga gives you an opportunity to connect to the peace and quiet within.
$35 per person early registration; $40 after May 16th. Register online or at the studio. Sign up early to reserve your space.
Restoring Abdominal Breathing
Saturday, May 22nd, 12-1pm
FREE mini-workshop!
Abdominal (or diaphragmatic) breathing helps restore energy and promote relaxation. Psychologist Natalie Masson, Ph.D, who specializes in anxiety, chronic pain, and the mind-body connection, will teach tips and tricks on how to restore the natural abdominal breath. If you tend to take shallow breaths or breathe high up into your chest, you can discover ways to naturally shift your breathing patterns to a style that is more efficient and balanced. If you experience chronic stress or anxiety, you can learn how to use abdominal breathing to calm your nervous system. This approach to breathing incorporates zen mindfulness principles, somatic psychology, and basic anatomy and physiology principles. Bring a yoga mat (or rent one), wear comfortable non-restricting clothing. Vist Dr. Masson's website.
Journey to the Soul
A sound healing concert with Richard Learmont
Saturday May 8th, 7-8:30pm
Richard Learmont is a Master Sound Healer and musician, with a passion for helping people cultivate inner balance and harmony. He uses ancient sacred instruments such as Tibetan gongs and bowls, tingshaws, bells, didgeridoo, and drums to create healing vibrations. You will be bathed in sounds as Richard circulates throughout the room with drums, bowls, bells, and more, allowing you to sense the resonance of these instruments deep within your soul. In sound healing, musical vibrations are believed to have the power to release emotional energy that is held in the body, creating opportunity for healing, freedom, and joyful being. This is a deeply transformational experience that is unique to each participant's personal journey. Please join us on this special live music exploration. Bring a mat to lie on and wear comfortable clothing. You will be lying down for over 1 hour, so bringing blankets for extra padding can be helpful.
$25 in advance, $30 day of event. Register online or at the studio. Sign up early to reserve your space.
Deconstructing the Flow
Sun Salutation Workshop with Laura MunkholmSunday, May 2nd, 1:30-4pm
Join Laura on Sunday May 2nd to deconstruct Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation sequence), the foundation of Vinyasa Yoga, was a part of the daily
ritual of our ancients. This sequence is at the heart of exercising and balancing the mind, body and spirit in the vinyasa style of yoga practice. [Illustration of sun salutation sequence]
Vinyasa flow means connecting one's breath to movement. This workshop "breaks down" sun salutations with an emphasis on alignment and mindfully flowing from one pose to another. It will help you get the most out of your vinyasa flow yoga practice. Laura will break down each pose of the traditional Surya Namaskar, offering adjustments, modifications and variations. We will also have some fun with unique variations to spice up your home practice. Incorporating a strong flow practice into your daily life can have many benefits. Flowing from pose to pose will help heat the body. This heat or "tapas" is a cleansing and detoxing mechanism. It will help release tension, build strength, and generally lighten your spirit. You will leave this workshop feeling comfortable enough to practice any variation at home!
$30 per person early registration; $35 after April 30th. Register online or at the studio. Sign up early to reserve your space.
Thai Massage Workshop
Sunday, April 18th, 12:30-3pm
with Maya Montoya
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
~The Dalai Lama
The Valentine's Day Thai Massage workshop was so well-received that we are offering a followup workshop. New material will be covered. It is suitable for those who attended the first workshop or those with no prior experience.
Learn a brief history of Thai Massage and enjoy the benefits of giving and receiving compassionate touch. Thai Massage combines a wide variety of stretching movements, gentle rocking and rhythmic compressions applied very slowly. Excellent for low back and leg pain, or just to find some inner peace.
Bring a friend or partner with someone in the workshop.
No prior yoga or massage experience is necessary. Comfortable clothes and a yoga mat are recommended.
$30 per person early registration; $35 after April 11th. Register online or at the studio. Sign up early to reserve your space as space is limited.
Liberate Your Breath: A workshop to bring mindful breathing into your yoga practice
Saturday, March 20th, 2-5pmLocation: Red Lotus Society, downtown San Diego, 546 3rd Avenue (near Market St)
$25 Donation; no one will be turned away for lack of funds
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Akasha Yoga instructors Natalie Masson & Renee Gauthier will be combining their expertise to offer this special workshop at The Red Lotus Society meditation center in downtown San Diego. Learn how physical tension can inhibit optimal breathing, and learn how to utilize yoga postures to release these tensions and create room for expansive, nourishing breathing. No yoga experience is needed. |  |
| Natalie is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety, chronic pain, breathing, and the mind-body connection. |  |
Renee is a yoga instructor and massage therapist; she has training in Iyengar, Vinyasa, Anusara and Restorative Yoga. |
Restorative Breathing:
A 4-Session Workshop to Liberate Your Breath
with Natalie Masson, Ph.D.Wednesdays 7-9pm, February 3, 10, 17, 24
Is your breathing shallow, constricted or high in your chest? Do you have trouble breathing deeply into your abdomen? Do you fully understand how to breathe optimally? Habitual shallow breathing can lead to chronic hyperventilation which can cause a range of problems including anxiety, tension, headaches, poor digestion, fatigue and more. With properly balanced breathing, the body can function effectively and the mind can become more clear, alert, and calm.
This workshop series will help you develop both mental and physical practices to restore natural, optimal breathing. Sessions will include meditative inquiries, gentle movement and stretching, discussion of anatomy and physiology, exploration of the mind-body connection, and application of practices to everyday life. This series will offer valuable guidance for those who have difficulties breathing fully and those who would like to discover optimal breathing to enhance sports performance, mental focus and overall vitality.
"It would not be an exaggeration at all to say that this workshop changed my life -- because it inspired and continues to inspire a change in my way of life. It made me curious and willing to work with my body, not against it, and introduced a practice I've incorporated into my daily life--physically and mentally." --September '09 workshop participant
Natalie Masson, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who is fascinated with the connections between the mind and body. Drawing from mindfulness meditation philosophy, cognitive-behavioral psychology, and various yoga practices, she has developed an approach for using breathing practices to facilitate mental and physical well-being. She has a private psychology practice in La Jolla, in which she blends Eastern and Western approaches to guide people toward natural healing and optimal living.
Workshop Overview:
Date |
Physical Focus |
Mental Focus / Attitudes |
February 3 |
Abdomen |
Awareness Present Moment |
February 10 |
Chest & Sides |
Acceptance Nonjudgment Validation |
February 17 |
Upper Back |
Tolerance Compassion |
February 24 |
Lower Back |
Patience Invitation Practice |
$120 pre-registration for all 4 sessions; $140 after
Register in advance to guarantee your space. Class size is limited to 15 participants.
Register Online or at the studio.
Please email us if you would like to be notified of future breathing workshops.
Valentine's Day Thai Massage (Partner Yoga) Workshop
Sunday, February 14th, 12:30-3pm
with Maya Montoya
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
~The Dalai Lama
Maya will guide you through a hands-on experience of Thai Massage, with an emphasis on creating a caring, restoring, and relaxing experience for both partners. Enjoy the benefits of giving and receiving compassionate touch throughout the workshop, and leave with a simple sequence you can replicate at home. Thai Massage incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, yogic stretches, and rhythmic compressions to promote a harmonious state of being.
No prior yoga or massage experience is necessary. No oils or lotions needed. Comfortable clothes and a yoga mat are recommended.
$30 per person; $50 for 2 people. Register Online or at the studio. (If you register online for 2 people, email us to let us know of the other person you are signing up with.)
Unveil Your Dreams!
An Interactive Dream Interpretation Workshop
with Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. Wednesday, January 27th, 7-8:30pm
Dreams have the power to inspire, inform and facilitate deep insight to one's true self. Learn specific tools and techniques to help you understand dreams more fully. Dr. Rochelle Perper, clinical psychologist and dream specialist, will be our guide through the process of unveiling the mysterious and fascinating world of dreams in this interactive experiential workshop. Register Online or at the studio. $20 per person.
Khalil Gibran, The Prophet 1932
Bliss Yoga Workshop
With Shivani Jane
Sunday January 24, 2010; 1-3pm
Bliss Yoga supports the personal and conscious growth of your true transcendent nature, ‘Being-Bliss.' Experience the ancient practices of yoga as a pathway to Self-discovery, enhanced vitality and equanimity.
Bliss yoga works with your body compassionately promoting healing and relaxation while providing you with inner resources that will restore and rejuvenate your entire Being. Based on the principles of Svaroopa® Yoga each class follows a theme that will release core tensions through a sequence of supported poses that begins at the tailbone and includes the entire spine. In this class Shivani Jane will offer a guided relaxation through Shavasana with a powerful breath experiential, supportive poses and easy to do home practices that will support your discovery of Bliss through life. This unique restorative style cultivates Awareness through Yoga while quieting your mind, opening your heart and giving you a transformative experience in your body.
$30 registration fee. $25 early registration (by Jan 17)
$25 registration; sign up in advance to reserve your space
Register Online or at the studio.
Restorative Yoga Workshops (3 Sessions)
With Natalie Masson, Ph.D.Wednesdays, January 6, 13, 20; 7-8:45pm
Learn the art of relaxation for the body, mind, and soul. Restorative Yoga draws on physiological principles to systematically guide the mind and body to unwind and let go. Research suggests that occasional stress can actually be healthy as long as we also make time to de-stress. But in this fast-paced culture, many of us have forgotten how to relax. Psychologist and relaxation specialist, Dr. Natalie Masson, will provide detailed guidance for developing your own restorative practice. Based on Judith Lasater's style of restorative yoga.
January 6th, Part I - Savasana, Reclining Savasana, Child's Pose.
January 13th, Part II - Supported twist, Chest Opener.
January 20th, Part III - Supported Back Bend, Inversion/Legs Up the Wall.
$50 for all 3 workshops or $20 each. (Each class stands alone; you do not need to attend all three, but you will be glad if you do!)
Peace & Joy Deep Relaxation Classes - Donation-based, supporting San Diego foster youth yoga programs
with Natalie Masson
- Wednesdays, December 16, 23, 30, 7-8:30pm
- No experience needed. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat if you have one.
- Classes will incorporate mindfulness practice, gentle yoga and stretching, restorative yoga, and blissful guided imagery.
- All classes are donation-based. Anything you contribute will go directly to The Healing Project at New Alternatives to help bring yoga and other healing practices to foster childern in San Diego. $5, $10, $100? Any amount is helpful. [Read more about The Healing Project]
If you would like to contribute to the Healing Project but can't make it to the classes, you can make donations through our website here. Every dollar you contribute helps a child build life-long skills for happiness and contentment. We believe that every child deserves to have these opportunities.
Mindfulness Meditation & Restorative Yoga Workshop
Wednesday December 2, 7-8:30pm
Natalie Masson, Ph.D.
$15
Learn meditative techniques for centering the mind, and restorative yoga postures for relaxing the body. This mind-body combination of approaches is designed to train your nervous system to shift into parasympathetic responding, which helps us to restore our energy naturally.
Register Online
or at the studio. Sign up in advance to reserve your space. Limited to 20 participants. Bring a yoga mat (or rent a mat, $1) and wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing.
Restorative Yoga Workshop with Natalie Masson
Wednesday Sept 2, 7-8:45pm
We are so eager to share the practice of Restorative Yoga that we are offering this introductory workshop for only $10. Restorative Yoga trains the nervous system to calm down by using props to support the body and allowing time for the body to rest. When the body is fully supported, the body lets go, and then the mind gradually settles. This kind of calming practice is essential to counter our often fast-paced high-stress lifestyles. Relaxation practices have been shown to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decrease anxiety, and improve immune functioning. The techniques in this class are based on the work of Judith Lasater.
Register Online or at the studio. Sign up in advance to reserve your space. Limited to 15 participants.
End-of-Summer Open House & Potluck
Friday, August 28th, 7-8pm...?Please join us for our end-of-Summer celebration. We will be wishing Melissa well as she leaves San Diego, and we'll be welcoming our newest instructors. We will also be giving away prizes and clearing out all of our retail clothing at greatly reduced prices. If you have friends who might be interested in yoga but are hesitant to come to their first class, this is a perfect way to introduce them to our space.
Yoga for Lindy Hoppers
Saturday, May 16th, 12-1:15pm
With Alison Plys$12 per person (online or at the door)
This class is designed to open areas of tension in the body that are most commonly acquired through social dancing. We will also focus on ways to strengthen and stabilize to bring balance to the body. No yoga or dance experience required.
Alison Plys combines her training in yoga with her extensive experience as a swing dance competitor and instructor to create a unique workshop approariate for dancers and non-dancers alike.
Class size will be limited to 20 participants. Pre-pay online to reserve your space.
Partner Yoga Mini-Workshop
Saturday, March 28th, 12-1 pm
With Susan MarcusNo Partner Needed
$15 drop in, or use your class pass
