2011 Offerings
Acro-Yoga and Beyond with Tyler Blank and Jane Hansen
June 29th- July 4th, 2011
Join Back to Earth and AcroYoga Teachers
Tyler Ryan Blank & Jane Hansen for 5 days of play in the majestic
Yosemite high country. We'll escape city life together and have nightly
campfires, sleep under the stars, and share organic meals (of any diet)
prepared lovingly for us.
We have three healthy hiking days across the most epic rim of Yosemite
Valley, separated by two full rest days in between to do as we please. We'll
practice morning Qigong and Partner Flow under an open sky, flying
upside down amongst the clouds in the afternoon, with plenty of time for
reflection, stories, games, laughter, and freshwater swimming
holes.
Limited to 11 participants and 4 guides, this intimate adventure will encourage all to remember the pure delight of life and the joy, depth, and simplicity of being.
Tyler Ryan Blank is an AcroYoga teacher, Qigong practitioner, Massage therapist, and self confessed energy junkie. He enjoys life most with plenty of humor, sacred play, and sharing embodied wisdom practices together.
Jane Hansen
is a psychologist, Acro-Yoga teacher, Thai massage practitioner, and
birth doula. She unites all forces in pursuit of truth, healing, and joy.
Yoga, Arts, and Ecology Backpack in Yosemite with Kathren Murrell Stevenson, Ph.D.
July 28-31, 2011
Adventure
awaits
as we return to the senses through direct experience of nature and
ourselves. Following in the footsteps of John Muir and other earth
ecstatics,
we will commune with nature and the Earth on a 3 day, 3 night amazing
leave-no-trace backpack through the Yosemite high country.
We
will begin each day stretching our bodies through a playful and invigorating yoga
practice, preparing the body for the day’s hike and bringing forth the
curiosity and mindful awareness necessary to wake up to the intrinsic beauty of
the natural world.
The day will organically unfold as we
feel our feet upon the earth and drink in the fresh mountain air. Kathren will
invite us into relationship with the plants, animals and natural communities we
encounter on our path. You may find yourself in conversation with a shooting
star or in contemplation of a yellow-bellied marmot in moments of stillness
along the way.
As our packs come off in the
afternoons, we will once again return to the practice of yoga as our inner and
outer worlds merge, and the separation between self and nature dissolves into a
magical union of connectivity. Breath
and sound will find their way into the asana practice as we celebrate the
delight of embodied existence.
Lovingly-prepared, organic food, the
company of like-minded beings, and the magic of Yosemite will make this an
unforgettable journey you won’t want to miss.
With over fifteen years of practice and ten years of
teaching experience, Kathren shares from a deep well of yogic knowledge.
Trained in Tibetan and Tantra yogic traditions, she weaves breath and sound
through a varied asana practice. She completed teacher training courses in
Ana Hatha yoga with Satya Marga (2001) and Tantra-Flow yoga with Diego del Sol
(2006), and a Ph.D. in Plant Ecology at UC Davis (2004). In 2010 she completed
a six month study of all aspects of yoga, with an emphasis in advanced
breathing and meditation practices, at Mount Madonna.
Kathren’s love of the natural world has
led her into a journey of endless discovery. Along the way she has deepened her
understanding of and relationship to self, the plant kingdom, and our home
planet Earth. For Kathren, yoga is a
vehicle for personal healing and transformation, as well as creative play. Teaching
yoga and ecology with equal enthusiasm, her personal practice inspires her
continued contributions towards planetary renewal through work in ecological
conservation, restoration, and education. Connect @ www.facebook.com/
shiningstaryoga,
or visit her blog at www.yogaartsandecology.
blogspot.com.
Yoga Yosemite with Tia Ukpe
August 4th-7th, 2011
Connect
with yourself and the Earth while renewing your heart and spirit this
summer by practicing yoga while immersed in the beauty of Yosemite
National Park. Join yogis and yoginis during this 4 day, 3 night outdoor
adventure to deepen your practice and nourish your
soul.
Our morning yoga practices will consist of Yoga Tune Up® as well as an Ashtanga Vinyasa based class that will allow you to focus
on leaving the city behind and arriving present here in the summer
glory of one of the most beautiful and renowned parks on Earth.
While
you let go of whatever stresses may have followed you out here, Tia will
gently lead you through several practices that will invigorate and
strengthen your body, leaving you feeling refreshed, revitalized and
ready to enjoy Yosemite's other breathtaking offerings; swimming in
crystal clear waterfalls with panoramic views, hiking in the fresh air
and solitude of the forests, or just relaxing and soaking in the beauty
all around
you.
As we transition into the the evening practices, there will be a
focus on tuning in, reflecting and connecting with ourselves and others
through the practice of Yin Yoga, Thai Yoga and Yoga Nidra before
falling asleep under the stars. Come enjoy this extended weekend of yoga
adventures, renewal and fun!
Limited to 12 participants, this intimate adventure will encourage all to explore and enjoy in a breathtaking natural setting.
Tia Ukpe has been a devoted student of yoga since
2001 when she began her practice studying
and practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa. She received her 200 hour teacher certification from It’s Yoga in 2007. She is also a RYT through Yoga Alliance, and is certified to teach Childrens’, Pre- and Post-natal, Restorative and Yin Yoga. More recently, Tia has delved into the world of yoga therapy.
Her fun, yet challenging, classes focus on breath as an integral part
of movement and exploring full ranges of movement through targeted areas
of the body. She is an Integrated Yoga Tune Up® instructor and
practices Thai Yoga Therapy. Tia received her initial and advanced
certification from Saul David Raye in Thai Yoga Therapy and continues to
look for new ways that she can integrate holistic living in all aspects
of life.
Tia has found her yogic journey to be challenging, humbling, eye-opening, and exhilarating. Ever wanting to ground her practice in life she strives to bring the lessons she has learned over the years to the mat for the benefit of all. Get to know Tia and all that she brings to Back to Earth; check out her website!
Flow and Yoga with Emily Galvin and Rebecca Blake
August 18th-21st, 2011
Join
Back to Earth and Yoga Teachers Rebecca Blake & Emily Galvin for 3
days of practice and connection among the waters of Yosemite national
park. We will take an adventurous hike into Yosemite creek just above
Yosemite falls. Along the flowing waters we will hike and practice yoga,
allowing us to explore the wilderness around us and within. By night we
will be enjoying the warmth of the campfire, nourishing ourselves with
organic meals, and tucking in to our sleeping bags under the stars.
After
our hike we will set our camp in the fresh air among the sounds of the
roaring creek . We'll play, reflect, and laugh while taking refuge under
the branches of untouched ceder trees. There will always be time for
stories, games, and splashing around in the creek.
Limited
to 12 participants and 3 guides, this intimate adventure will encourage
all to remember the pure delight of life and the joy, depth, and
simplicity of being.
Rebecca Blake is a Certified Adult, Pre/Postnatal & Kids Yoga Instructor and a Certified Infant Massage Teacher.
She is dedicated to supporting healthy communities and families through
yoga, massage, energy work, music, dancing, playfulness, laughter and
love.
She
works with people of all ages & populations in venues ranging from major corporations such as You Tube, Genentech
and Lucasfilm – to schools, libraries, yoga studios, hotels &
private homes. She loves leading classes in Golden Gate Park and
outdoors whenever she can. Rebecca is a founding member of
the Green Yoga Association, which was formed to remind us yogis to
practice lightly on the earth and to honor our connection to it all.
Emily
Galvin RYT has been developing her yoga practice since 2001 and is a
graduate from the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica with an
Interdisciplinary Hatha Yoga Certification. For over 10 years her
passion for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of yoga lead her
to study with some of the leading teachers in the Bay area, Costa
Rica, and throughout South America. Her hope and intention as a teacher is
to help others to learn and explore from the inside out. Emily hopes to
offer her students a door and guided path through this beautiful
adventure of life and to flow in our bodies and in the
beauty that surrounds us. For the past year she has been leading guided
yoga hikes in Woodside and San Francisco. Yoga hikes combine the cardio, the
adventure of hiking outdoors, and the centering qualities of yoga. Her yoga classes encourage students to tap into their own
creativity and to stay present, focus, and rejoice in the NOW.
Yoga Yosemite with Britt Fohrman
You're invited to join yoga teacher and outdoor
enthusiast, Britt Fohrman, for an unforgettable adventure to Yosemite
National Park. This 3 day immersion in nature will be an excellent opportunity to deepen
your yoga practice while unwinding within the quiet of the wilderness.
The earth, sky and trees of Yosemite will be our studio, as well as our
teachers, as we hike, stretch, meditate and breathe our way to balance,
joy and ease.
Having climbed her first of many 14er's at age 9, Britt's a lifelong outdoors-woman with a passion for relaxation, mindfulness, and physical awareness as they relate to life on and off the yoga mat.
Along with her steadfast belief in the healing power of yoga, Britt brings resourcefulness and warmth to her classes, which are known to be dynamic, nurturing and fun. Her
unique style of teaching places a strong emphasis on alignment,
sequencing, meditative focus and breath guided movement, with
an approach that is imbued with natural warmth and honesty. She encourages you to step out of your head, into your body and on a unique journey designed just for you.
Yogis
of all ages, levels and body types will appreciate Britt's clear
instruction, relaxed pace, attention to detail and accessible approach
to yoga.
A
teacher since 1997, Britt has gone beyond her foundation in Iyengar
Yoga to interweave her practice with Restorative, Viniyoga and the
teachings of the Buddha. Having
studied therapeutic yoga and movement with many of the leaders in the
field, Britt still believes it's her own healing journey, as well as
that of her students, that has taught her the most.
One
of Britt's specialties lies in working with pregnant women and new
mothers, where she also employs her talents as a photographer, birth
doula, childbirth educator and bodyworker. When
she's not teaching yoga or helping women consciously welcome their
babies into the world, Britt can be found traveling, surfing, hiking
with her dog and taking photos of it all. Find out more about Britt and her practice at www.brittfohrman.com.
Medical Qigong on California's Lost Coast with Patrick BremserSeptember 15th-18th, 2011
Warm sunshine, the sound of ocean waves and the
grounding presence of ancient mountains; California's Lost Coast feels
at once wild and serene. Years ago when building the coastal highway, it
was decided that this particular section of the coast was simply too
rugged to build road on, leaving us with a pristine and undeveloped 60
mile stretch of California coastline. We'll be starting in the middle at
the only town that touches this stretch of coast, Shelter Cove.
From here we'll spend 4 days and 3 nights hiking on the beach,
stepping away from the hustle of city life and spending a couple days and nights at Miller
Flat, also known as Big Flat.
Here, with the abundant wildlife and the powerful pacific ocean, we'll
dive deep into our Qigong practice, enjoy sunrise over the mountains in
the morning and sunset over the ocean in the evenings.
During our time together you'll learn a series of Qigong forms and
meditations to bring more awareness to your organs and your connection
to the elements of your surroundings. We so often take for granted our
deep connections with our surroundings when we are looking at our health
and wellness. During this weekend of re-connecting, you will be led
through Medical Qigong theory and practices, the Dao Yin principles of
alignment, The 5 Element Organ tonifying forms and healing sounds, and
Taoist Culinary Alchemy and philosophy. There will be a morning and
evening practice reinforcing the new patterns of awareness and movement
you will be during the days.
There'll be
plenty of time for hiking, swimming, relaxing by the beach, and playing
in between the Qigong sessions led by Patrick. Your meals will be
prepared by staff and the menu will feature meals specifically designed
by Patrick to support your spirit, mind, and body. Please come with us on this journey of exploration into the magical Lost Coast, Taoist movement, and healing.
Since he was very young Patrick has felt a great passion for
and interest in the 5 elements and intentional movement. He grew up in the waves and wilderness of California’s
central coast where life was characterized by the dynamic interplay of the
elements. In his search for greater connection with his surroundings, the
martial and healing arts of ancient China and India called to him. Those
traditions have been at the core of his studies and practices in conscious
living for the last 10 years.
Through the intentional movement practices of
Qigong and Taichi, Patrick teaches principles of awareness that help us reconnect
with the natural rhythms of ourselves through the rhythms of our surroundings.
During this trip Patrick will lead us into California’s mysterious and beautiful
Lost Coast and into the wilderness of our selves through grounded meditation and
enlivening movement. This unique trip is limited to 12 participants and
promises to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore inner and outer
mystery in one of the last truly wild places on the California coast. Learn more about Patrick on his website www.qichef.com.
A Yoga Sojourn in Point Reyes National Seashore with Danae Robinett
September 22th-25th, 2011
Point Reyes will serve as the spectacular setting for this 4 day, 3 night
retreat. Immerse yourself in the lush green of the forests around Mount Wittenberg, the golden light reflecting off the warm sands down on the beach, and the pure blue-green of the Pacific ocean. With the feel of a far away place this Bay Area jewel will help you leave your cares behind. Settle into the vast spaciousness you've been craving.
In the morning practices you'll sweat, smile, and shine as you harness the
power of your breath and move through asana with grace. Surya Namaskara
(Sun Salutation) will ignite the spirit while Danae's creative
sequencing will challenge both the body and mind. We'll explore partner yoga, Pranayama and meditation practices as well.
In the evening you'll wind down with a softer practice of surrender and
release. Each evening concludes with Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep), a guided
visualization which supports deep relaxation. Yoga Nidra is reputed to improve the quality of sleep and aid in relieving stress.
Practice being rather than doing for a little while. Be with your breath
and be with your thoughts, there's plenty of time to wander around in the
natural environment and simply witness the beauty that exists within you and
all around you. Savor fresh and organic meals prepared
just for you with love. Sleep under the stars
at night if you like. Come with an open heart
and a beginner's mind and you will
experience Sukha (bliss/sweetness) as we cultivate a community of learning. Danae and we at Back to Earth are honored and excited to share this fabulous adventure with you.
Yoga Teacher Danae Robinett is based in both San Francisco and Phoenix. She has also taught internationally
in Italy, Ecuador and Bali. Danae has a
radiant and playful spirit and draws inspiration from many sources. Her Yoga classes incorporate elements of Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin, Yoga
Nidra, Partner, and Restorative styles.
Danae strives to foster a nurturing environment in which students are encouraged to act from their own body wisdom and while also exploring their limits. Even the simple act of smiling while holding a difficult pose can help
us ground into our sense of humility, love, and inner peace while letting go of self-judgments. She believes that what we learn on our mats deeply impacts the other areas
of our lives and that yoga has the potential to transform people and their lives.Thus Danae sees her work as more than yoga, but as a place to support her students in practicing living from their authentic selves; both on and off the Yoga mat.
Yoga Yosemite Pictures
