The Heart of Yoga An Asana, Philosophy and Therapeutics Workshop with Doug Keller
February 27th - March 1st, 2009 Early bird discount $185 if paid prior to January 26th, Late fee is $220. An $85 deposit will hold a spot for you. Friday 6pm-8pm Saturday 12:30pm-3:30pm & 4:00pm-6:30pm Sunday 12:30pm-3:30pm |
Friday 6pm-8pm:
ALL LEVEL ASANA PRACTICE
A fun and refreshing asana practice — a
warm-up for the weekend, with an introduction to the therapy and philosophy
themes. Vinyasa, Standing Poses, mild Backbending and Forward Bending; practical
insights into overcoming tight hamstrings and stubborn hips! 2 hours
Saturday 12:30pm - 3:30pm:
CULTIVATING SOMA
An all-levels asana practice focusing on therapeutic
principles for the lower back, hips, sacrum and legs — essentials for building
strength and integrity in the lower body through the nourishing energy of Prana
known as Soma. This will include an explanation of Soma in the context of Ayurveda
and Yoga, with an introduction to the Rasas — the role of the emotions in yoga.
We’ll go deeper into backbending, with a focus on the lower back and hips. 3 hours
Saturday 4:00pm- 6:30pm:
VERSIONS OF TANTRA
Practical Approaches to Pranayama and Meditation: tantric philosophy offers an approach to pranayama,
meditation and spiritual progress that can closely complement and enhance contemporary life,
and draw upon our emotional life to deepen our experience. Yet a number of views of spirituality
are contained under the heading of ‘tantra.’ This session will be an introduction to the
perspectives of tantra from a philosophical standpoint, and will focus mainly on practical
approaches to meditation and pranayama that will deepen and inspire your practice.
Much of the session will be devoted to actual practice of these techniques. This will
include an understanding of ‘Rasa Sadhana’, having to do with the role of the emotions,
as well as the practical and effective techniques of Swara pranayama. 2 1/2 hours.
Sunday 12:30pm - 3:30pm:
ASANA, WITH THERAPEUTIC INSIGHTS INTO THE BANDHAS
This asana practice will include pauses for insight into the anatomy of the bandhas —
the essential core actions in yoga poses — which provide the most fundamental therapeutic
bene ts in yoga. This will give us deeper insight into how and when to use the bandhas
properly, and to the greatest therapeutic benefit in a straightforward yoga practice.
The sequence of poses we’ll practice will include insights into therapy for the
hips, sacrum and lower back, as well as for the neck and shoulders. Some intermediate
poses will be thrown in for fun, and some inversions appropriate to the group! 3 hours

ABOUT DOUG
Doug's background reflects a lifelong commitment to studying, and sharing the vast field of knowledge
and practice known as yoga. After receiving honors and graduate degrees in philosophy from the top Jesuit universities
in the United States, Georgetown and Fordham Universities, and teaching philosophy at a college level for several years, he then pursued his ‘post-graduate’ education in the practical experience of yoga at the Siddha Meditation Ashram, Gurudev Siddha Peeth in India, for seven years, and spent a total of 14 years doing service, practicing, training in and teaching yoga in Siddha Meditation Ashrams worldwide. He received intensive training in the Iyengar system in New York City, practiced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
in India, and became one of the first certified Anusara Yoga teachers, producing three highly respected books on asana,
pranayama and yoga philosophy.
Visit Doug's website and the many books he has written.