Workshops

dots2

Yoga Scoliosis And The Nervous System with Deborah Wolk
In-Studio and Online!

March 8-10 2024
Friday 6pm – 8:30pm
Saturday 9am – 12 & 2pm – 6:00pm
Sunday 9am – 12pm & 1:30 – 4pm
Full Weekend: $330
Friday Only: $60
Saturday All-Day: $165
Sunday All Day: $130
Saturday or Sunday Morning Only: $70
Saturday Afternoon Only: $95
Sunday Afternoon Only: $60

The scoliotic spine affects not only the bones and muscles but also the nerves—the feedback from the right and left sides of the curves is not the same. The eyes are not level and the sense of internal and external space is distorted. Some of the most powerful asana directions for students with scoliosis are ones directing and re-training the nervous system. In this workshop, students with scoliosis will learn to practice so the spine follows the eyes and is re-directed by props, walls and other external stimuli. By the end, students will find more extension, alignment, and balance as a result of practice than ever before. The  sense of the body and particular nervous system issues will be felt in a new way and students will learn how to unravel the disorientation they may feel when practicing yoga or when receiving adjustments and modifications in the asanas.  Teachers will learn to guide their students with scoliosis with a different set of directions.

FRIDAY

An experiential exploration of the anatomy of the nervous system in relationship to the anatomy and physiology of the scoliotic body.

SATURDAY

In the morning poses and breathwork will be introduced which stimulate the concave aspects of the scoliotic pattern awakening these areas and balancing the nervous system.
In the afternoon through yoga asana, students will use the eyes to re-pattern the spine and head; use the wall and props to bring awareness to the back of the body and other areas where it may be difficult to feel.

SUNDAY 

In the morning practicing even limb use in the asanas will help help strengthen and balance the spine. Moving sensory feedback away from the joints and into the muscle ie: avoiding hyperextension and other common scoliotic misalignments.
In the final, afternoon session students will use props and other cues in the restorative poses to move from sympathetic to parasympathetic in the often agitated scoliotic nervous system.

This workshop is appropriate for all levels and the asanas will be modified for all abilities and range of motion issues.

6 months minimum asana practice is recommended before taking this workshop.

Deborah Wolk is Founder and current Program Director of Samamkaya Back Care & Scoliosis Collective.

dots2

HYBRID Relieve Jaw Tension with Yoga & Mindfulness with Cator Shachoy

April 13-14
Saturday 2:30–5:30pm ET
Sunday 9:30am–12:30pm and 2:30–5:30pm ET
One Session only: $55*/$60
Full Workshop: $155*/$165
*early bird if registered by April 1

Did you know your jaw is connected to your shoulders? Your hips?? And even your feet???

But most significant is the intimate connection between your brain and jaw. From an evolutionary view, the oral cavity and TMJs are so essential to your survival — as well as your ability to thrive — that nearly half of the sensory and motor aspects of your brain are devoted to the dental area. This means your brain is hardwired to keep close tabs on your mouth. Whatever is — or is not — happening in your mouth is continually impacting the rest of your body through brain functioning. 

Join us as we explore how to relieve jaw tension with yoga & mindfulness. Class time includes a lecture/ discussion of the causes and repercussions of jaw tension that can manifest throughout your body. This understanding lays a foundation for our mindful awareness and yoga practice. Through experiential anatomy, mapping your personal tension pattern, applying core actions, yoga poses, facial self-massage, and guided meditations you will gain a well-rounded tool bag for working with jaw tension and pain. If you clench or grind, this workshop is for you!

Classes can be taken independently, though Day 2 will build on information shared during Day 1, so participating in the full weekend is recommended!

**Jaw Tension can be a factor in many conditions including headaches, sinusitis, sciatica, digestive and hormonal disorders. Come and learn why this is so, and how to bring relief.

TMJ 1: Understanding Jaw Tension—Saturday afternoon

Learn about cause & effect within your body & your life

  • Lecture with powerpoint on what causes jaw tension and its repercussions  
  • Core actions & asana sequence to bring relief
  • Guided Meditations

TMJ 2: Mapping Your Personal Tension Pattern—Sunday morning

No one has a perfectly balanced jaw – or body. We can still find symmetry within

  • Refining awareness of body structure & midline
  • Creating a personal body map
  • Core actions, asana & mindfulness

TMJ 3: Rewiring Your Nervous System to Relieve Jaw Tension—Sunday afternoon

Your jaw and your nervous system are intimate partners. De-escalation = Restoration

  • Gentle, safe self-massage techniques to relax the face and jaw 
  • Restorative yoga to soothe frayed nerves
  • Pranayama & Breath Awareness

Cator Shachoy began the practices of yoga, Buddhist meditation, and energy healing in 1990 to heal chronic illness. Through the regular practice of these disciplines, she regained her strength and vitality. For Cator, spiritual growth and development is a healing path inviting us to become more intimate with everything. Her practices of Buddhism, Energy Healing, Yoga and conscious body movement are deeply integrated. Cator is a CIAYT yoga therapist, MBSR Mindfulness teacher and Visionary Craniosacral Work practitioner. She completed teacher training at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and Kripalu, and studied extensively with Bay area senior Iyengar teachers for 25 years. Cator lived in Buddhist and spiritual communities for three years, and has spent a cumulative total of over five years in intensive silent meditation retreat. Her primary meditation teachers are Ajahn Pasanno, Mingyur Rinpoche and Ruth Denison. Cator has a certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy from the Sati Center. She began teaching in 1996. Currently she has a private practice incorporating craniosacral, therapeutic yoga and mindfulness and teaches internationally. Her book, The TMJ Handbook: A Therapeutic Guide for Relieving Jaw Tension and Pain with Yoga & Mindfulness will be available from Shambhala publications Summer 2024.    www.catorshachoy.com / www.youthyogadharma.org

dots2

WORKSHOP PRE-REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION POLICY

It is strongly recommended that you pre-register for workshops. If you pre-register for a workshop, you must cancel either 1 week or 48 hours in advance (depending on the workshop), in order to be refunded for that workshop less a 20% administrative fee. Cancellation deadlines can be found below the workshop descriptions above.

Please cancel via email (info@samamkayabackcare.com) or call 646.964.5772. Even if we receive the message later, we will go by the time stamp and refund your money if appropriate. If you are ill or there is an immediate family medical emergency, we will of course waive the fee. However, please email us as early as possible, and before the workshop begins, to waive the fee or arrange a credit.

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required