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YOGA IN THE DOME

Spring 2007, with Qusai Kathawala

January 16—April 13 2007 ~ 3 classes per week ~ register for 2 or all 3 {the tuesday class must be included} ~

Tuesday 6:45am {a mix of asanas}

Thursday 6:45am {including inverted poses / prananyama}

Friday 6:00pm {focus on standing poses}

{the Tuesday / Friday sequence is recommended for those new to yoga ~ if there is enough demand, another evening class will be added}

Classes will be in a progression forming either a 24-class or 36-class sequence (includes a provision for 3 cancellations by the teacher), and will require a commitment from the students to attend most, if not all, of the classes. This is for the benefit of the individual student's understanding as well as for the dynamic of the entire group.

About the class:
Yoga is a classical art in that it takes more than a lifetime to master. This course aims at introducing the basic principles of yoga as elucidated by sage Pattanjali in the Yoga Sutras some 2500 years ago. These principles will be applied in the practice of asana (postures), pranayama (breath control) and simple meditation techniques.

What kind of yoga is it?
The last 20 years has seen an exponential growth in the popularity of yoga, a reaction to the increasing need for a stress-relieving and holistic approach to exercise. New schools have re-appropriated names from the sutras- Ashtanga, Raja, Hatha, Viniyasa, etc- to carve out their niche in the yoga market. Steering clear of particular labels, I will try and introduce (or reintroduce, as the case might be) yoga from its roots: the meaning of yoga and its fundamental purpose, the connection between mind and body, and the development of a practice that is not rigid but based on present needs. Instructions will be precise and detailed, attentive to alignment, symmetry, and the amount of time an asana can be comfortably and accurately held. The course will equally emphasize the physical - strength and flexibility - and the mental - equinimity and awareness.

About the teacher:
My first experiences with yoga were when I was in grade school in Bombay. I became serious about the practice when I moved from New York city back to Bombay in 1999; I started teaching in 2002. My Guruji is BKS Iyengar: more information about him and his teaching can be found at http://www.bksiyengar.com . I also practice vipassana, a technique for mediation originally discovered and taught by Gautama the Buddha. More information about this practice can be found at http://www.dhamma.org . I currently live in Los Angeles and am attending the Graduate Media Design Program at Art Center College of Design. I am interested in the application of media/ technology in the context of a yoga/ meditation practice.

Fees:
The 12 week spring yoga sequence is $240 for 2 days a week or $350 for 3 days a week. {9 people maximum per session}