Who: Raymond Lucas was trained in the arts of Yoga Therapy, Ashtanga Vinyasa, and Pranayama. He provides Body-Mind Therapy through prana-activating breathwork as well as Training in all limbs of yoga. Besides yoga, he has a background in Tai Chi, Massage, Athletics, Dance, Indian & Chinese Healing traditions.
“’Returning to Breath’ is the beginning of a new stage in life, a journey of experience, the path toward center: a time to go within, a time for self to heal self. How can we heal this world? Together, from within, one person at a time.” -RJL
What: “Come and experience a new depth to your yoga practice, in the Yogabhyasa traditions of the great Krishnamacharya. Combining movement, breathing, and meditation techniques, regular practice brings health benefits such as improved circulation, lung capacity, bowel movement, mind-body connection, mental calmness and/or focus, etc.
“The hallmark of Krishnamacharya’s yoga is that there IS a yoga for everyone. Anyone can do yoga! If you can breathe, you can do yoga! Adapt yoga to the individual, don’t adapt the individual to yoga. Don’t create external destinations and then push students to try to achieve that destination regardless of their starting point. The yoga state is already inside each of us, and each practitioner’s return path to this centering is unique. A teacher’s job is merely to be open to the current state of the practitioner, and share techniques that can help them take the next step on their own yoga journey.” -a paraphrasing of various quotes from Whitwell, Desikachar, and my Viniyoga teachers.
Each week we will perform Asanas (Postures), Pranayama (Breathwork), and Pratyahara (inward looking meditations), with detailed guidance into the wordless sensations and experiences these practices were created for. These refined experiences will aid you on your own Yoga Journey of eventually developing a self practice. The main focus of Yogabhyasa is the use of Breath/Prana (whether in asana, pranayama, or meditation) to heal and reconnect both the body and the mind. When the body and mind are cleansed, the self rests in its true nature.
This series is an ‘in-studio’ version of “The Journey of Breath – Yoga of Self Healing” , a 1-on-1 Yoga Therapy style of transferring the techniques and sensory experiences required to safely walk the self healing path of Yogabhyasa. Besides the core techniques and contraindications, ‘in-studio’ means that classes will focus on performing the various practices and turning inward, not on theory or discussion.
When: Saturdays, Jan. 30, Feb. 6th & 13th; Healing Body 9:30-10:45. Healing Breath 11:15-12:30
Where: Camélia House Sunroom