Candlelight Yin and Yoga Nidra

Friday, April 26th 6-8pm, Soulshine Yoga, 100 Church St Floor 3

Join Cilla at our favorite location and former home to Sukha Yoga School, Soulshine Yoga Downtown!

Class begins with Yin postures and breath work to create a sense of ease and relaxation in the mind and body. After our yin practice we will move into the deeper, and even more restful, practice of Yoga Nidra.

Yin Yoga is a slow, still style of yoga that encourages us to find our individual edge by exploring sensation in different postures. These postures are done on your mat or a blanket, sometimes w/ props, and held for a few minutes. Yin targets connective tissues, and promotes a strengthening and lengthening of this complex network. Not only does the practice tend to the body, but the stillness, concentration and introspection help us prepare for meditation.

Yoga Nidra is a method that utilizes the restorative powers of sleep, relaxation & ancient yoga techniques to explore our body, breath, and mind; including our memories, emotions and more. With practice we are able to move through the layers of who we are and experience our self, free of restrictions and conditioning. Nidra means “sleep” in Sanskrit, although in Yoga Nidra, we are not really sleeping, but striving to reach a relaxed state of consciousness that is different from being awake or asleep. This ancient Tantric method induces physical, mental and emotional relaxation, while the “self” remains awake and aware- and all we need to do is lie down, close our eyes and listen!

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Lunar Flow and Yoga Nidra w/ Cilla @ Soulshine Yoga Downtown
May 17th, 6-7:45pm

Soul Shine Power Yoga - Downtown
100 Church Street, 3rd Floor

In the Hatha Yoga tradition we strive for balance between the warming/invigorating energy of the sun, and the cooling/calming energy of the moon. This evening class combines Lunar focused Asana, Pranayama and Yoga Nidra to help us feel rested, recharged and refreshed atthe end of our day. Lunar ﬂow is a slow, grounding and introspective Hatha practice, honoringthe soothing energy of the Moon. We will begin with breathing and Restorative/Yin postures toopen the hips, heart and spine. Our standing series involves smooth transitions, balance, andstability as we move through moon salutations (Chandra Namaskar), incorporating deep hip,leg and side body openers. This class has fewer vinyasas than a traditional ﬂow class withlonger holds and slower transitions, including circular sequences, like the phases of the moon.With attentive breathing and conscious awareness, we can let go of stored tension, bothphysically and mentally. As we cultivate this intuitive calming energy of the moon, we preparethe nervous system for Yoga Nidra. In yoga Nidra, we are able to rest deeply. It’s nourishingand relaxes the entire body, while allowing us to explore the deeper dimensions of who we arethrough memory, emotions and more. All that is required is ﬁnding a comfortable position(usually lying on the ﬂoor in shavasana) and making an effort to stay awake and listen. In thisYoga Nidra session will continue to explore the Moon and its nourishing and healing Lunarenergy. *In Yoga Nidra we want to be completely comfortable on the ﬂoor. Feel free to bringany extra items from home (neck roll, eye pillow, blanket etc) that will allow you to becomfortable and relaxed during a 30-35 minute practice.

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Ball Rollout Class

TBA

This class is a self massage and myofascial release class that uses the Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls (or similar make; two rubber therapy balls, 2.5 inches diameter in a mesh tote). We will use the therapy balls, as well as yoga postures and breathing techniques, to release stored tension throughout the tissues of our body. This class encourages gentle exploration of the body and mind by utilizing postures, breath, awareness, and relaxation techniques from the Yoga tradition.

Myofascial Release (MFR) is a manual therapy technique that focuses on our fascial tissues, which are like a wrapping that connect and support our muscles and organs and allow surfaces to glide and move with each other in the body (ie. shoulder blade gliding on the back when we move our arm). We have three main types of fascia: Superficial Fascia (associated with skin), Deep Fascia (muscles, bones, blood vessels) and Visceral Fascia (internal organs).

Since our fascia is covering the whole body, one area that has adhesions or dryness, can twist and bind, pulling the “wrapping” of fascia and affecting other parts of the body, perhaps causing discomfort and limiting our movement. So we may work one part of the body, and have a release in a completely different area. Myofascial release helps bring hydration to tissues that may have adhesions or dryness from repetitive use, aging, injury/surgery, skeletal misalignment, exercise, or something else. Regular massage and body work can not only enhance our other forms of movement and exercise, but can also help us ease discomfort, soreness and pain during recovery.

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You’ll Need:

Yoga Mat

Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls

2 Yoga Blocks

a thick blanket, or towel

If possible, set up near a wall or column as some techniques may be modified/enhanced against it

*optional

Yoga strap/belt, bolsters, extra blankets, hand towel to soften therapy balls

Yoga Nidra Series with Cilla

Yoga Nidra is a powerful guided technique that utilizes the restorative powers of sleep with a deeper awareness in order to explore, understand, and expand our awareness of the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. Nidra means “sleep” in sanskrit, but in Yoga Nidra, or “psychic sleep”, we are not really sleeping, but rather reaching a relaxed state of consciousness that different than wakefulness or sleep. This ancient Tantric method induces physical, mental and emotional relaxation, while the “self” remains awake and aware- and all we need to do is lie down, close our eyes and listen! Join Cilla from the comfort of your home for a 4 week Yoga Nidra series on zoom. Each session will explore a different theme.

Session 1 - Healing & Restoration: This Yoga Nidra session will focus on relaxing and healing our body and resting our mind. We will use prana vidya techniques to direct attention & prana to areas that may be in need of healing & restoration.

Session 2 - Deep Sleep: This Yoga Nidra session will focus on relaxing and preparing for deep sleep. During YN, we often try to remain awake and aware, while the mind/body rest. However; when we need sleep this must come first and YN can be a very important tool. Whether you are having trouble sleeping due to insomnia, jet lag or stress, practicing a restful Yoga Nidra before you doze off can be very helpful for deeper, more restful sleep.

Session 3 - Exploring Emotions: Yoga Nidra allows us to explore all aspects of who we are and release different types of physical, mental, and emotional tensions that we accumulate throughout our life. In this session we will spend more time feeling and exploring emotions, and try to witness & feel these emotions in a relaxed state.

Session 4 -Expanding Imagination: Yoga Nidra gives us techniques to relax, expand our awareness and flow of prana, and can help slow a constantly fluctuating mind. The Tantric Tradition uses visualization techniques as a way to expand beyond the constraints of the mind, for deep exploration of the self.

more info please