Namaste Yoga Center - Events and Retreats
Coming Events
Uniting In Yoga: Partner Yoga for Valentine's Day
Plan to join us Saturday, February 13, from 1-3pm, for Partner Yoga! A celebration of Love!
$20
All couples/partners welcome - mother/daughter, father/son, husband/wife.
All skill levels - partners do not need to have the same skill level. The posture is where you meet!
Thai Yoga Massage
Tammy Mitchell from Heading OM in Peoria will be here for Thai Yoga Massage in March.
Exploring The Energy Systems of Yoga: Chakras, Koshas and You!
This workshop will lead you through practices designed to connect to the self, finding that place of deep inner peace. Debra will introduce the chakra system and teach us to align the 5 layers of our being (koshas) through postures, (asanas), breathing (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). ALL levels welcome!
Youth Experience Benefits of Weekly Yoga Classes At Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – (Jan. 12, 2010) – Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center has partnered with Namaste Yoga Center to offer yoga classes to patients at the center.
"This noncompetitive activity is really popular among our patients," said Tom Tassone, director of community development and coordinator of the partnership. "I wanted to bring something new and exciting to our programs and figured yoga would be perfect for the population of kids we serve."
Namaste Yoga Center's teacher, Kristal Perry-Gutierrez, leads classes at Lincoln Prairie one to two days per week with all the patients.
"I teach the youth about presence, non-judgment and self acceptance, and they are able to find that peaceful place within," Perry-Gutierrez said. "One boy came in looking very angry. About halfway through the class, he started to relax, and later exclaimed, 'I can do something about my anger.' One teen girl even told me she could stop blaming herself for a certain personal issue."
Read more about the partnership between Namaste and Lincoln Prairie...
Your Health is In Your Hands - Herbal Therapies Workshop
Rescheduled for Spring, 2010 - please check back then!
Past Events
Special Practice Classes!
Mondays 5:30-7pm, December 14, 21, & 28
We will be offering a special practice class designed for you to reconnect with your calm peaceful center. Plan to drop-in for one or all of these classes during this very busy season. Call, email or sign up on the bulletin board.
Yoga For Healthy Bones
Starts again Monday, January 4
6 weeks ~ 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Everyone is welcome and will benefit from this gentle, but energizing practice.
Restorative Yoga
Saturday, Nov.28, from 10 am- noon
Once again we are pleased to offer an alternative to the after Thanksgiving shopping madness! Join us for Restorative Yoga on Friday, Nov. 27th from 10-noon for a quiet, soothing, relaxing mini-get-away! Stay after for a special treat ~ tea and chocolate!
Yin Yang Yoga
December 5, 2009, noon - 3pm
Stretching into Stillness - Yin Yang Yoga poster
Namaste’s Fall Retreat – The Ease of Being
Oct. 29–Nov. 1,2009
Retreat at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center, Springfield, Illinois
We are so very grateful to be able to offer this, our 4th retreat at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center. Fall is the perfect time to step back from the daily routine of life and reflect, relax, refresh, renew.
There's still time to join us for this most wonderful experience of shared silence. We begin with dinner Thursday evening and end at lunchtime on Sunday.
Meals are vegetarian (some fish)
Early bird price (add $25 after October 16)
$350 for double room
$450 for single room
Satsung, meditation, body sensing, asana, pranayama, Yoga Nidra
Social silence held.
Yoga students of all levels are welcome.
Partial scholarships are available upon request.
Download or view the brochure - PDF 838kb
or poster - PDF 488kb.
Call 217-698-8177 or email info@namasteyoga.com for more information.
About the Teachers
Mary Addison-Lamb, M.A., I.Y.T., founder of Namaste Yoga Center, has been a practicing yogini for over 40 years and a teacher since 1989. She is a certified Yoga therapist. Mary is a long-time student of Richard Miller, Ph.D., a revered yoga teacher in the tradition of Kasmir Shaivism Tantra. Mary is honored to serve on the Board of Stewards for the Center of Timeless Being.
Nancy Long, M.A., H.I.T.A., R.Y.T., has been practicing yoga for over 35 years and is Director of Namaste Yoga Center. She is certified by The Himalayan Institute and has studied extensively with teachers in the traditions or nondualism, Tantra and Advaita. She teaches students of all ages guiding each to a deep awareness of Self.
Life Bliss Meditation
Wednesday, October 28, 7-9 pm
The Life Bliss Meditation (LBM) technique is a simple, natural procedure to connect to your vast inner reservoir of creativity, energy, intelligence and bliss on a daily basis.
There is an ocean of bliss within each of us. Connecting to this reservoir of overflowing joy can help bring out immense creativity, energy, and intelligence within each of us. The degree to which we are able to draw from this inner space of life, we grow in health, happiness, and success in our outer life.
www.lifebliss.org
Healthy Bones Workshop
Saturday, October 17, from 1-3pm
This workshop will help you strengthen muscles and bones; improve the functioning of endocrine glands; increases circulation to joints and spine; decreases joint stiffness and pain; boosts oxygen supply to nourish, repair and regenerate bone cells; and improves focus, concentration, coordination, and balance. Check the website or bulletin board for info!
Yoga for Healthy Bones poster
Viniyoga Therapy for Common Back Pain with Carol Dunaway
Almost all adults will experience back pain at some point in their
lives. This leads to missed days of work, frequent doctor visits,
and expensive medications. The good news is most back pain is
preventable!
Saturday, August 29 from 2-4 pm
Carol Dunaway, RYT500, Viniyoga Therapist, Certified Stott Pilates. Carol specializes in
working with individuals to regain their health after injury or
illness.
Carol will offer 1/2 hour private consultations for $30 per session.
Call 217-698-8177 or email info@namasteyoga.com for more information.
Celebrate Natural Beauty
with a day of Yoga and tips from BJ Grand Salon and Spa
Saturday, September 19 from 10:30-1:30
Vegetarian Lunch Included
- Schedule for the day:
- 10:30-11:45- Yoga postures/practice to promote Natural Beauty
- 12:00-12:30 – Lunch
- 12:30-1:30 – Individual Skin Analysis and Education, Foundation Matching, Hand Massage and more treats with BJ Grand Salon
Call 217-698-8177 or email info@namasteyoga.com for more information.
Traditional Thai Yoga
Saturday, July 18
2:00-4:00 pm.
Thai Yoga is very comforting, rhythmical, relaxing, meditative &
energizing. The practitioner moves about the client's fully clothed
& relaxed body with even flow creating an essence of peace &
calmness in mind, body & spirit. Thai Yoga provides deep relaxation,
improved circulation, detoxification, stress relief from over/under
stimulated mind & muscles, instilled trust & comfort with touch,
improved digestion, relief from chronic pain, and improved overall
health through healing touch.
Cost: $25 per person or $40 per couple. Register early! Limited Space!
For more information: www.headingom.com/thaiyoga
Kirtan!
Sunday, June 28 at 7pm
Ever wonder what chanting is all about? Join us for a wonder-filled evening of sacred sound opening our hearts to joy and bliss. Neha Mhaskar and friends will join us for an evening of music, chanting and meditation. The kirtan is one of the oldest sacred music traditions of the world. Originating in India, it involves a call-and-response chanting of Sanskrit mantras that carries us effortlessly to a place of quiet, stillness and deep inner peace.
Everyone can participate, regardless of age, cultural background or musical ability. The purpose of this music is to get us out of our heads and into our hearts.
There is nothing like the magic of chanting in a group! Please mark your calendars and plan to join us! This is a free event - love offerings are accepted and appreciated!
Yin Yang Yoga - Stretching into Stillness
Saturday, May 16, 2009, Noon – 3:00 pm
Linda Karl, RYT, www.metta-yoga.com, Batavia, IL
This three-hour master class will explore both practices of
- Yin (or passive) and
- Yang (or active) Yoga.
A slow flow vinyasa class will follow visiting the poses that you already love. You will relish the extra space cultivated in the yin shapes as you discover a new found sense of freedom and grace in yang movement. We will close with breath work and guided Mindfulness Meditation.
Download Brochure (PDF format)
Kirtan!
Ever wonder what chanting is all about? Join us on Saturday, April 4 at 7pm for a wonder-filled evening of sacred sound opening our hearts to joy and bliss. Neha Mhaskar and friends will join us for an evening of music, chanting and meditation. The kirtan is one of the oldest sacred music traditions of the world. Originating in India, it involves a call-and-response chanting of Sanskrit mantras that carries us effortlessly to a place of quiet, stillness and deep inner peace.
Everyone can participate, regardless of age, cultural background or musical ability. The purpose of this music is to get us out of our heads and into our hearts.
There is nothing like the magic of chanting in a group! Please mark your calendars and plan to join us! This is a free event - love offerings are accepted and appreciated!
Read more...
Nithya Yoga Introduction Class - Sat., February 7, 2009
2-4pm at Namaste Yoga Center, 907 Clocktower Drive, Springfield, IL 62704
Call 217-698-8177 or email info@namasteyoga.com.
For more information, please see the event flyer.
Life Bliss Meditation (Nithya Dhyaan) - January 17 2pm - FREE!
Life Bliss is a unique meditation ideal for expanding yourself spiritually and professionally.
On Saturday, January 17th, please join us at 2pm for “Life Bliss Meditation” with Akhila Balaram from the Mahatma Ghandi Center in St. Louis. For more information, please see
the event flyer, the Life Bliss website, www.LifeBliss.org,
or Life Bliss videos on YouTube.
Thanksgiving Restorative Yoga
On November 28, we offered an alternative to hectic shopping with a Restorative Yoga class. Supportive, relaxing poses and yoga nidra ~ a great way to care for ourselves and to stay peaceful, calm and in the moment.
Namaste Fall 2008 Retreat ~ "In the Heart of Being"
October 23-26, 2008
Our fall retreat will begin with dinner on Thursday evening, October 23 and end with lunch on Sunday at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center.
Satsung, meditation, body sensing, asana, pranayama, Yoga Nidra
Social silence held.
Yoga students of all levels are welcome. Partial scholarships are available on request.
Please check back for more information.
Download 
Early Bird Poster PDF 153kb.
Mother's Day Restorative Yoga
On May 10, we celebrated all mothers with a Restorative Yoga class. We experienced a lovely morning of relaxation ~ soothing, quieting poses ~ connecting body, mind and spirit!
April 18-20, 2008 Retreat "Abiding as Presence"
Photos from the retreatOur spring retreat at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center began with dinner Friday evening and ended with lunch on Sunday. Through the ancient practices of pranayama, meditation, body sensing, yoga nidra and satsung there we experienced the opportunity to know ourselves as we truly are - perfect just as we are. Social silence was held during this meditative retreat.
Download brochure PDF 815kb.
Spring Cleaning March 2, 2008
It’s a tradition! Volunteers helped with a top to bottom cleaning frenzy & renewal of our sacred space on Saturday, March 29, 2008 after Gentle Practice. A big THANK YOU to all our hardworking volunteers!
Poetry
An Evening of Ecstatic Poetry 2/29/2008
Luxurious, Sensual Couple’s Yoga!
Couple's Valentine Yoga 2/16/2008 PDF 59kb
Saturday, February 16, 2008
3:00-6:00 pm
$25/couple
In this loving practice, each lover moves toward the other in turn:
Allowing,
Relinquishing Control,
Submitting…
Back and forth until there is complete surrender…
For love is surrender of the individual self to the Divine Self.
Only 1 partner needs to be a Yoga practitioner. Reserve your place today!
Call 217-698-8177 or email info@namasteyoga.com
Open House Celebration with Mary and Nancy
Saturday, December 15, 2007
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
- “60” years
- “60” Sun Salutations
- “60” Chants of the Gayatri
- “60” Blessings for Namaste
We chanted, did 60 Sun Salutations, created a dreamcatcher of 60 blessings for Namaste and enjoyed light refreshments!
Fall 2007 Namaste Retreat - Perfect Just As You Are
September 28-30, 2007Villa Maria Catholic Life Center, Lake Springfield
In the early fall 2007, the Namaste community and friends enjoyed a meditative, silent retreat on Lake Springfield at Villa Maria. Our annual fall retreat is a very special time set aside for us to "greet each moment just as it is." It is not an enforced silence, but rather a "social silence." Participants embraced the luxury of being in present awareness -- of being at ease in their quiet harts. The theme of the retreat, "perfect just as you are," encouraged anything to arise and pass through. Rather than striving or straining to silence our minds, we simply relaxed into pure awareness, the ground of our being that contains the mind.
A thought from William Butler Yeats describes this quiet stillness with yet another image: “We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us to see their own images and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even fiercer life because of our silence.”
We found being together in silence revealed a presence that transmits itself loud and clear, if we attune to it. This awareness that exists beyond words allows our experience to be completely fresh.
If you are drawn to the
idea of being in retreat with other Yoga practitioners, engaging in hatha Yoga, body sensing, pranayama,
meditation, Yoga Nidra, and satsung, make plans to join us for future retreats
soon to be announced for 2008.