We are so very excited to welcome Nicki Doane to Vancouver Island for the first time!
Nicki hails from Maui where she has her own studio in paradise. She has been teaching and practicing yoga in India for over 25 years and has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar. Her unique approach to Vinyasa yoga strengthens all aspects of your being through dynamic structural alignment, conscious breathing, and practical yogic philosophy; helping students find the deeper life of yoga.
She will be leading 4 workshops available separately or as a full intensive. Pick what works for you but be sure to find your way into a class as she will rock your world.
Drop in and Let Go | Friday, February 7 | 7 - 9 pm
Life is so busy these days and in spite of all the technological gadgets we all have to help us manage our lives, we all experience some level of stress at some point. We often do not take the time to rest and reset our nervous systems and our brains and this can lead to even more stress. Our nervous system has two parts; sympathetic and parasympathetic. Sympathetic is the flight or fight response (the active side) and the Parasympathetic is the more calming quieting side. It is vital to nourish both sides and this class is for the support of the parasympathetic.
Please make the time for this class and let Nicki guide you into an experience where you learn to drop in, get quiet inside, and let go into deep relaxation. It is truly an art to be able to make the space and time for self care and you deserve it. This class is restorative in nature with bolsters and props and Nicki’s reading of the ancient Yoga myths.
$50
Passport to Your Core - A Yoga Practice to Guide You into Yourself While Turning Yourself Upside Down | Saturday February 8 | 8 - 11 am
What is Yoga? If we look at the literal meaning of the Sanskrit word, it means to yoke or to bring together. Real yoga is about calming the mind with all its fluctuations and agitations. Most of our suffering and fears as human beings is between our ears, right in the middle of our consciousness. Of course there is also plenty of suffering and pain that we experience in our physical and emotional bodies as well. The poses of yoga are great because they not only lengthen and strengthen the muscles in our body but they offer us key insights into the workings of our minds. The poses reveal what is already there. It is a beautiful mystery how the poses become keys that unlock deep hidden parts of ourselves, parts that we have kept locked way and that we repress. It is the dark areas of our consciousness that have so much to teach us about ourselves. Maya Yoga teaches a way of practicing yoga that is as much about aligning the physical body as it is about learning how to love yourself more everyday.
This class will use asana and pranayama to examine the mind body connection more deeply. The focus will be on the group of poses known as the Inversions - the upside down poses. Through an intelligent sequence of poses we will practice handstands at the wall whether you are a pro already or a complete novice. Forearm balance will be done at the wall as well and headstand and shoulderstand will be introduced and shared as well. We will complete the class with the most restful pose, Viparita karani, legs up against the wall.
This class will be taught in a supportive compassionate environment with the focus on the process of yoga and not necessarily on the final pose. All are welcome!
$65
Free Your Hips, Free Your Life | Saturday, February 8 | 1 - 3 pm
It is now an acknowledged fact that tight hips can be a serious risk to your health. The AMA, American Medical Association, has publicly declared that sitting is the new smoking. Yogis of course have known this for a long time and there are many poses to help open the hips safely and effectively. There are four sides to the hips, the front, back, inner and outer which are made up of the quadriceps and psoas ( hip flexors), the hamstrings, external rotators and the inner groins. This class will cover all four sides and share poses to help you maintain your open hips throughout your life. We will also do some poses to open the feet as they are important too.
$50
Maya Yoga Vinyasa Fusion Flow | Sunday, February 9 | 8:30 - 11:30 am
This is a strong dynamic yoga class that incorporates all aspects of Maya Yoga including asana, pranayama, chanting, meditation, prayer, and deep relaxation, to leave you feeling recharged and inspired about your practice. Nicki likes to start the class slowly with poses that support the parasympathetic nervous system and then move slowly into seated chanting and pranayama. From there we will wake the body from the ground up, starting at the feet and moving through the legs, trunk, arms, and head. Sun salutations will be practiced to build internal heat and establish the harmonious flow of breath and movement known as “Vinyasa”. Standing poses are linked with the sun salutations to create the dynamic flow that is both detoxifying and rejuvenating. What happens from there is organic and may include backbends, forward bends, arm balances, inversions or hip openers depending on the students and the energy of the day. The end of the class will bring you back to yourself and leave you feeling more centered and grounded, especially after a long savasana with Nicki reading poetry to you.
$65
Full Weekend Intensive $195