Sedona Yoga Festival 2020

This is a separately ticketed pre-conference immersion. For tickets please visit this link: https://sedonayogafestival.com/syf2020-pre-post-conference-immersions/

Pranayama is one of the key practices within the Yoga discipline. In addition to Asanas and Meditation, Pranayama is gaining increasing importance in the Western world. The availability of ancient literature and modern scientific evidence is sparse on this subtopic of Yoga. Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a pioneer in the area of salivary biomarkers combining Pranayama practice. He has been researching techniques related to Pranayama from the ancient and unique Siddha tradition. He has published scientific research papers and book on Thirumanthiram, written by Saint Thirumoolar. This workshop consisting of both theoretical and practical components is unique in combining ancient wisdom with modern science based on his first hand research.
The attendees will be able to
 Get acquainted with the ancient literary excerpts on Pranayama. 
 Get to practice key exercises from both the Pranayama tradition and new exercises designed by Dr. Sundar. 
 Understand the biological mechanisms of Pranayama.  
Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a Cell Biology researcher currently studying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in resistance to cancer therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina, USA. He is also a Yoga Biology researcher, and is the Founder/Director of PranaScience Institute. Sundar’s Yoga research has provided scientific evidence how Yoga breathing practices could promote wellbeing in health and disease. His first book is “PranaScience: Decoding Yoga Breathing”, and his latest book is “Mind Your Breathing: The Yogi’s Handbook with 37 Pranayama Exercises”. His recent audio album is “Chanting Is Pranayama”. He was a speaker at TEDx Charleston 2015, and his video is among the most popular in the field (~600,000 views). This JC Bose Memorial Awardee’s work is well publicized through Discover magazine, New York Times, Huffington Post, and other popular media.

Luke will guide you through an intense breathing session to create an "altered state".  Meghan will lead you through a yoga flow to the tune of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album, then Adrienne will send you on a Yoga Nidra journey to the moon to help you find a state of deep relaxation and introspective analysis.

This Hip-Hop Yoga class is an athletically powered, inspiring vinyasa flow challenging all levels, set to your favorite Hip Hop + R&B tunes. Lean into your own originality, embrace your uniqueness, show up how you are, feel and move in ways that feel right for you. This energizing, upbeat atmosphere will inspire your body to flow and awaken through Sun Salutations and balancing postures finishing up with a closing stretch and cool down.  The music will bump, the sweat will drip, and if you feel inclined to "twerk" in a downward facing dog; that's always welcome too.  

A Closer Look at Lumbar Extension Syndrome and Lumbar Flexion Syndrome in Yoga Asana In this session we will address the anatomy and biomechanical considerations of these two opposite body patterns. We will discuss common considerations to avoid and prevent pain patterns in the body.  We will learn how to identify these common postural habits in our students and understand adaptations, modifications, and consideration for a SAFE yoga practice. This is great for all levels of students and teachers Yoga who want to create a sustainable practice for a lifetime of wellbeing. Students with back pain will gain insights into safe modifications and considerations for healing.

A Discussion/Workshop with Donny Starkins on the power of Mindfulness, this ancient practice that has profound relevance for our present day lives.

We will dive into the topics of:

• What exactly is mindfulness?
• Why do we need it? 
• How we can practice in the busyness of our daily lives, and in the workplace.

Because when we fully understand "the what" and "the why", and take big action on the "how," our lives will never be the same!

At the core of this workshop it’s about what humans really need: connection.     The first goal is to feel comfortable with touch and begin to flow with the movements presented to you.  You will be exposed to a variety of yoga and martial arts preparatory exercises which require partners and teamwork!    The second aspect of this training will incorporate yogic philosophy into every component.  There will be a lot of fun and, physically, you will find things out about yourself you’ve perhaps never encountered but the undeniable influence is in what yoga teaches us about connection and rejection.     The third goal of the workshop is that you will walk away with a deeper understating of fasting; what it is and why you would want to do it.      This may seem counterintuitive as a trauma yoga workshop but I believe touch to be healing and necessary for many of us who have been traumatized to learn how to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.     When is the time to connect and when is the time to withdraw?  

Participants will learn the "Wim Hof Breathing" method to start the practice with intensive pranayama.  Wim Hof breathing creates an "altered state" by tapping into the natural production of DMT that we can create in our own brains.  This helps to create a deeply tuned in experience and an increased ability to visualize when we head in to our meditation. After several rounds of breath, students will recline for an hour long Yoga Nidra "Journey to the Moon" where they will systematically be led through the koshas to land deeply into the sub and unconscious layers of the mind where  healing can take place.  Singing Bowls will be played throughout this practice to amplify this healing through vibration and sound.

Learn and experience an empowering way to achieve the king of yoga poses, the Headstand. Learn firsthand the powerful sequence of poses you need to execute to lessen the chance of injury while achieving success quickly. Headstands are vital to your practice and will increase the blood flow to your brain, rip your abs, strengthen your arms, back and shoulders. Everyone can do it and it just might become your favorite pose. It’s the ageless secret.   So, come join me in a fun and inspiring journey to turn your world on its head.  

The vagus nerve connects each of your vital organs to one another, sensing and shaping your overall health. Did you know you can (and should) tune up and “tone” your vagus nerve? Low vagal tone is associated with chronic disease and inflammation. High vagal tone makes your body better at regulating blood glucose levels by resetting your immune system and switching off components that provoke stress and inflammation. Learn various bio hacks and techniques to retune, co-regulate and reboot your vagus nerve.  Close with a healing yoga nidra session to lock in learning and refresh your nervous system. Bring yoga mats, pillows, blankets, water bottle, and journal.

This is a one of a kind experience written especially for SYF. Kathryn uses sound healing instruments and binaural beat music to gently guide you to a deep meditative state of total relaxation, unconditional love and inner peace. Bring mats, blankets and comfy socks and prepare for a one hour savasana like never before. Combining this meditative experience with the vortex energy of Sedona, is a special event you want to sign up for.

Experience yoga from the inside out, traveling through the myofascial, anatomical and energetic sheaths of the body in a mindful and relaxed environment.  Jo Ann has been trained in this method by Tias Little.

During this guided meditation you will be prompted to get out of your own way and go with the flow of the universe.  This is a useful experience for the micro-manager and control freak part of ourselves that needs to chill out.  This deeply relaxing meditation is set to binaural beat music, accompanied by sound healing instruments from around the globe. Lie down for a beautiful journey to your true nature where flowing towards change is easy. Balance mind/body and spirit and release what no longer serves you in the most effective and gentlest way possible. Let that shit go! Bring mats, blankets and comfy socks and prepare for a one hour savasana like never before. Combining this meditative experience with the vortex energy of Sedona, is a special event you want to sign up for.

According to the yoga tradition, every one of us has five bodies, each made of increasingly finer grades of energy. Using the energy anatomical model of the Koshas, this yoga workshop explores the Five Energy Sheaths through basic Hatha yoga poses, yin yoga and meditation. As you witness your koshas in action, you will experience the whole of who you are. Exploring and integrating each layer helps to find optimal health and well-being.

Experience the harmonizing earth elements of plants in the yoga practice with essential oils. Let the unique aromas and powerful healing powers of each plant support you to go within.        The approach combines yoga with the use of essential oils to deepen and enhance the yoga practice. Students have the opportunity to experience the power of aromatherapy as a way to stay with intentional breath and focus and to facilitate releasing and softening into their practice. When we add natural, harmonizing earth element of plants into our practice with essential oils, we enhance the experience by bringing in the powerful healing energy each plant provides.     Have you ever been affected by scents and odors?  Scents that perhaps evoke emotions or past experiences?  Baked bread goods, citrus scents etc.?   When we inhale these scents, they connect to the nasal receptors that are also connected to the limbic system, the part of our brain that is related to our emotions.  Beyond the ways that essential oils can support our immune system and protect us from environmental and seasonal threats, they can directly affect our emotional body.  Within Yoga Philosophy, this part of our being is called “Manomaya Kosha”.  Manomaya Kosha takes in information from the senses and processes it.    Come to this class to accelerate the ability to overcome the mind through the body. We will experience the power of essential oils to deepen our practice through our sense of smell and to accelerate the ability to overcome the mind through the body.  We will smell the fresh Earth coming alive and feel our bodies remember this ancient wisdom of nature.   

Heaven, Man and Earth Qi Gong is a simple but very powerful practice.  All experience levels are welcome.
All living things on earth rely on their Heaven and Earth connection to stay strong, aligned and healthy.  Heaven, Man and Earth Qi Gong sets up a strong flow of energy similar to the pattern found within galaxies, atoms and gyroscopes. This field creates a protective buffer around our bodies, keeping us physically and mentally resilient.  Activating the energy meridians allows us to connect to the power of Heaven and the power of Earth, allowing their energy to flow through us, refreshing and cleansing our energy field.

Qi Gong movements help to improve and maintain health by recharging your Qi. About 70% of the human body is water. A healthy river must flow freely. If your fluids are not moving properly, your body becomes stagnant. The circulation of the lymphatic fluid, blood, spinal fluid, and all energies in the body are encouraged by this practice. 
Qigong can help you:to:• Release stress by reaching Wuji or balance. • Improve the circulation of your cardio and lymphatic systems. • Breathe and move correctly • Activate your core energies. • Cultivate your Qi (increase energy). • Strengthen digestive functions; ease constipation. 
• Reduce your waistline. • Improve your sleep. • Strengthen your bones, joints, and tendons. 
• Reduce the risk of accidental falls with better balance.