Namaste Yoga Center, Springfield Illinois: Yoga Events and Retreats

Namaste Yoga Center - Events and Retreats

Coming Events

Come to India! for Kumbha Mela 2013

The Himalayan Institute’s Pilgrimage to the Kumbha Mela, led by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Spiritual Head. Including practices from Living Tantra and an invitation to join in the Year-Long Group Meditation.

Every 12 years for millennia, the time returns when the planets, constellations, and other celestial bodies are perfectly aligned, creating a powerful vortex of spiritual energy at the confluence of three holy rivers in Allahabad, India. This energy is further intensified by the collective consciousness of saints and sages, and pilgrims, who gather here with a single shared intention: inner healing and lasting positive change.

Find more here:
www.KM2013.com
www.HimalayanInstitute.org

Download the flyer...

Past Events

Laughter Yoga Leader Training with Caryl Derenfeld, CLYL, CLYT
November 5 & 6, 2011
Springfield, IL (exact location identified with your registration)
$295

What will I learn and receive at training?

How to help yourself and others rediscover joy through laughter
Scientific studies and health benefits of laughter
A variety of laughter techniques
History of Laughter Yoga
A powerful activity to help reduce stress
Certification via Laughter Yoga International and LY founder, Madan Kataria, M.D.

For more info, to register, or to sample a FREE Laughter Yoga class, contact Caryl at 847-420-4930 or Caryl@learnedconversations.com
Download the flyer... Download the registration form...

SHAKE YOUR SHAKTI!
Saturday, October 29, 1:00-4:00 pm
$40 pre-registered or $50 at the door

Meet each new moment on the mat with joy! Shakti is the divine feminine creative force and we all have a spark of her in us regardless of gender. We just need to shake her up and wake her up to be renewed.

The opening yin practice will enliven our kidney chi and will focus on the 2nd Chakra (Svadisthana), the seat of our creativity and passion. A heart opening slow flow vinyasa practice will follow focusing on authentic expression and creative movement. You will be encouraged to feel and be your yoga rather than just doing your yoga. Mudra, mantra, and specific meditations and pranayama will also be used in class, ending with loving-kindness (metta) meditation.

MINDFUL YOGA: A YIN-YANG YOGA EXPERIENCE
Friday, October 28, 6:00-8:00 pm
$20 pre-registered or $25 at the door

Mindful Yoga is the Yoga of Awareness. Everyone who explores the stillness of meditation must deeply enter the experience of the body. We will practice the eclectic blend of slow yet strong vinyasa flow and yin yoga, flowing wherever our intuition leads us. You will be encouraged to mindfully explore your edge as you strengthen your body, expand your heart, free your mind, and cultivate equanimity. Only by becoming intimate with the physical body can we access the profound peace that Patanjali and the Buddha believed was our True Nature. All levels of Yoga practitioners welcome!

Come to India! for Kumbha Mela 2013
An informal interactive evening with Shelly Craigo

Thursday, August 11, 6pm

Discussing: The Himalayan Institute’s Pilgrimage to the Kumbha Mela, led by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Spiritual Head. Including practices from Living Tantra and an invitation to join in the Year-Long Group Meditation.

While the interplay of the forces of light and darkness brings about change – both within and outside us – our intentions, when put into practice at the right time and in the right manner, are a powerful influence or antidote. Hear more about how we can use the Kumbha Mela as an opportunity to change the course of our destiny and the destiny of the planet – and how you can take part.

Find more here:
www.KM2013.com
www.HimalayanInstitute.org

Download the flyer...

Rhythms, Songs and Chants of the Drum
with percussionist Dennis Maberry
September 25th, 3-5pm
Namaste Yoga Center
907 Clocktower Drive, Springfield, IL
$20
Presented by Rhythmspirit Percussion and Namaste Yoga Center

Linda Karl is Back!

Linda weaves Buddhist philosophy together with yoga’s ancient teachings to create classes that are a tapestry of breath-body-mind-spirit. Breath work, mindful observation of energy flow, and insight meditation are always part of her classes. She endeavors to bring her passion for the teachings and her belief that yoga is the vehicle for self-transformation into the lives of her students, truly believing that yoga is lived off the mat.

For more information about Linda see www.metta-yoga.com

Yoga for Trauma and PTSD

Yoga for Trauma and PTSD: A Workshop for Professionals
Counselors, Therapists, Practitioners...
Learn techniques to help your clients find healing through Yoga.

June 18, 1-4 pm
$50

Yoga Increases:

Attention span/concentration
Cognitive/academic performance
Interpersonal skills/relationships
Coping with medical problems
Body and sensory awareness
Self-control/discipline
Respect for others, self, body
Ethical behavior/awareness
Peacefulness/conflict resolution
Blood pressure
Digestion/assimilation/elimination
Energy/mood fluctuations

Yoga Decreases:

Anxiety/depression
Stress/tension
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
Posttraumatic stress
Anger
Physiological arousal
Chronic pain
Headaches
Disruptive behavior
Phobic reactions
Nightmares/sleeping problems

Yoga is not a replacement for psychotherapy but can greatly benefit clients through:

Exercise
Relaxation
Deep Breathing
Support of spiritual practices and beliefs
Community

Register online now:
Yoga for Trauma and PTSD: A Workshop for Professionals
Click on EVENTS / RETREATS, then on "A Workshop for Practitioners with Kristal Perry-Gutierrez"; you will need to log in to register.
Download the flyer...

Class starts Friday, May 13, 2011, 5:30-6:30 pm
$135

This eight-week class is a practice to reduce the effects of trauma and PTSD for adults. Yoga is not a replacement for psychotherapy but can greatly benefit clients through:

Exercise
Relaxation
Deep Breathing
Support of spiritual practices and beliefs
Community

Register online now:
Healing Through Yoga-Yoga for Trauma and PTSD
Click on EVENTS / RETREATS, then on "Healing Through Yoga-Yoga for Truama and PTSD with Kristal Perry-Gutierrez"; you will need to log in to register.

Nourishing Your Inner Warrior - A Yin/Yang Experience
Offered by Chicago teacher Linda Karl, RYT

Saturday, March 26th 1:00-4:00 pm
$40 pre-registered or $50 at the door

Join us for a yin-yang yoga practice that will enliven the 3rd chakra (Manipura) located in the solar plexus. This chakra governs our will, self-esteem and sense of personal power. When energy flows freely through this chakra, we're confident about our ability to manifest our intentions and desires -- when blocked, we feel powerless and frustrated. You will learn to relax into this seat of personal power so that you can relax into the NOW in order to meet your life wholeheartdly. Taoist yogic theory holds that it is our purpose to heal the Self so that we can heal the world -- to open the heart we must create a strong and balanced belly center: strength receives softness, softness supported by strength. The grounding yin practice will emphasize the expanding energy of the liver chi. The slow flow vinyasa practice will visit strong standing poses to renourish and balance our earth energy. Mudra, mantra, and specific meditations and pranayama will also be used for this enlivening class.

All levels of Yoga practitioners welcome!

Four ways to register:

Call 217-698-8177
Email info@namasteyoga.com
Stop by 907 Clocktower Drive
Register for Namaste Events online...

Check out Linda's website: http://lindakarl.net

download flyer...

Mindful Yoga - A Yin/Yang Experience
Offered by Chicago teacher Linda Karl, RYT

Friday, March 25th 6:00-8:00 pm
$20 pre-registered or $25 at the door

Mindful Yoga is the Yoga of Awareness. It is an eclectic blend of slow movement, vinyasa, and yin yoga, flowing wherever our intuition leads us. You will be encouraged to mindfully explore your edge as you strengthen your body, expand your heart, free your mind, and cultivate equanimity. You will be challenged and supported, but most importantly, you will enter into the stillness at the heart of movement and experience the energy that moves in the stillness of meditation.

All levels of Yoga practitioners welcome!

Four ways to register:

Call 217-698-8177
Email info@namasteyoga.com
Stop by 907 Clocktower Drive
Register for Namaste Events online...

Check out Linda's website: http://lindakarl.net

download flyer...

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, please join us for our alternative to the after Thanksgiving shopping madness! Restorative Yoga from 10:00-noon offers a quiet, soothing relaxing getaway! Let us help you breathe your way into luxurious supported poses that restore, rejuvenate, re-energize body, mind and spirit.

Saturday, Oct. 9, Linda Karl will return for the Yin/Yang Yoga: Stretching into Stillness workshop!
This combination of both passive (yin) and active (yang) yoga practices allows you to explore your boundaries, experience the present moment, and gently expand yourself beyond what was previously known. Plan to join us from 1-4 pm.
download flyer...

Saturday, October 16th, 1-4 pm - Tantra 101 with Josan Lelaq Scarpion Shiviah Ya-Din Zoe
This meditation class will focus on body sensing and healing with our collective energy.
Everyone welcome! Free! (Love Offerings Accepted)

Coming next to Living Presence: "True Meditation"
October 20, November 3 & 17 from 7 to 8:30 pm
On these 3 CD's, celebrated spiritual teacher, Adyashanti offers an "opportunity to reclaim the original purpose of meditation - as a gateway to objectless freedom of being."
Check out Adyashanti online at www.soundstrue.com or www.adyashanti.org
EVERYONE WELCOME!
No need to register, simply join us at 907 Clocktower Drive!

"Season of Change" Celebration! - October 23 - 2-6pm
Learn about the exciting future plans for Namaste & Heartland Healing Arts Centers. Music, food, Namaste students’ artwork, henna tattoos, massage, drumming circle, kids’ activities, and more. More information soon!
Attention Namaste Student Artisans: We would like to feature artwork, pottery, etc. created by past or present students of Namaste. The theme for this party is Season of Change and we would like to focus on items for mind, body and spirit. If you would like to be a vendor at this event and sell your creations please let us know by September 15 by phone or email.

Living Presence: The Poems of Rumi!
Next 2 Wednesdays: September 29 & October 6 from 7 to 8:30 pm
Join us as we listen to nearly 100 of Rumi's most memorable poems reflecting the universal themes of:

the search for the highest truth,
the mystery of surrender, &
the longing to overcome ego imprisonment.

EVERYONE WELCOME!
No need to register, simply join us at 907 Clocktower Drive!

Naad Yoga, the Yoga of Sound
Sept. 24 7-8:30pm
Tracy Pitts, certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, is offering a workshop. Naad Yoga, the Yoga of Sound, includes a light Kudalini practice, deep relaxation with gong, chanting and meditation. Join us for this lovely peaceful time! Sunday morning, Sept. 26, Tracy will teach a Kundalini Yoga class from 10:30-12:00. Give this energizing practice a try!
download flyer...

Namaste's Annual Silent 4-Day Retreat
Sept. 16-19, 2010
Thank you to all who came to our fall retreat. It was a great success! Thank you also to those whose normal weekend practice was interrupted. We appreciate your understanding. Our teachers were able to have a wonderful weekend to relax, renew and re-energize.

Allow yourself the luxury of time for yourSelf! Join us at Villa Maria Catholic life Center, September 16-19th for our annual retreat, "The Ease of Being!" Fall is the perfect time to step back from the daily routine of life and reflect, relax, refresh, renew. Early Bird prices through August 20th!

Saturday, Aug. 28, 1-3 pm, join Nancy for Yoga Therapy for Chronic Back Pain
In this two-hour workshop you will learn very simple poses and breathing techniques to allow the body to find ease and balance. Learn how to bring prana (the breath, life force) and deep awareness into the spine to strengthen and heal the body.

Living Presence - The Amazing Poetry of David Whyte
7:00-8:30 pm - Wednesdays:
July 7 ~ July 21 ~ Aug 4 ~ Aug 18
An unforgettable journey through poetry, imaginative insight, and transformative wisdom.
"What to Remember When Waking"
On these 6 CD's, celebrated poet & teacher David Whyte offers wisdom for building the essential disciplines that will see us through the difficulties of our human journey. From David Whyte's Everything is Waiting for You ~ "Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation."
Experience his poetry online at www.davidwhyte.com
EVERYONE WELCOME!
No need to register, simply join us at 907 Clocktower Drive!
no class charge for this group!

July 24 Workshops
Tammi Mitchell of Heading Om Yoga in Peoria will offer:

Thai Yoga Partners Workshop
July 24, 2-4 pm $30/single or $50/partners
Namaste welcomes back Tamo from Heading OM Yoga in West Peoria, IL for a two hour hands-on workshop incorporating the giving and receiving practice of Traditional Thai Yoga. Thai Yoga practice pairs passive yoga postures and hand and foot pressure to relieve tension in the body, mind & spirit. No Experience Necessary!
Perfect for yoga practitioners, teachers, body workers, physical therapists & YOU!
Download flyer...

Sound & Silence
with TAMO of Heading OM Yoga & PETER ADRIEL
July 24th 5-6:30 pm investment: $20
Sound & Silence is a collaborative sound experience created by Tamo & Peter with the intent to raise yOUR vibration & awareness with the practice of creating sound, listening & observing silence. Experience a practice of gentle movement, chanting ancient seed sounds & mantra, experience the healing resonance of singing bowls, integrate the sweet sound of NOW inspired Midwest singer/songwriter Peter Adriel & observe moments of silence with meditation practice. This sound experience is designed for beginner mind ... just as you listen to music, listen to what comes up in silence from with-in.
Download flyer...

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."

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!