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Catherine Looke, the author of this blog, is the SEVA intern at Burlington Yoga Conference 2013 and we’re lucky to have her!
“My personal mission to find balance in my own life drew me to teach yoga. I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training about a year ago which has blessed me with new beginnings, as well as new challenges in my practice. As a teacher I wish to share my passion for yoga in addition to sharing the grace and the beauty of the practice. Teaching yoga has granted me with the opportunity to help individuals and myself.
This past Wednesday I taught my first class at the Day Station in Burlington, Vermont, where some members of the homeless community meet weekly for discussion, activities, and dinner. My intention of teaching yoga here is to help these individuals develop greater physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to better meet the challenges of their situations.
Within new beginnings, challenges are inherent. There were many things I was not prepared for, such as teaching a gentler style of yoga than I am used to and needing to rely on my inner confidence and self-trust. Every now and then the students would display resistance, but a moment later, they would jump right back into the practice! These students were amongst the greatest students I have ever taught, particularly because they taught me so much more than I felt I was able to teach them. These people didn’t have a lot of ego. Generally speaking, each person is doing the best they can do.
I was surprised how many people freely stated how they felt! This helped me realize the various ways I could lighten up, practice patience, and understand that sometimes less is more. Teaching at the Day Station was a great opportunity. During the class I felt as though I was on the edge of the unknown because it was so different to the usual classes that I am used to teaching. I took a risk and tried something new! At the end of the class, my smile and everyone else’s there shone, helping me understand the fruitfulness of the experience!”
© 2012 Coral Brown
When Coral Brown isn’t busy traveling the world educating her students on their path to mastering the body and mind, you can find her in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Coral, a successful yoga instructor that attracts various yoga students and centers for her style of teaching, practices Prana Flow Yoga created by Shiva Rea. She received her MA, 500-eRYT in Prana Flow Yoga, and hosts 200-eRYT and 500-eRYT teacher trainings.
Coral’s teaches Prana Flow Yoga, Heated Prana Flow, and Vinyasa flow. The definition of Prana Flow Yoga, Coral’s specialty, can be broken down as “Prana” signifying life force creation, and “flow” as “the state of unified consciousness.” Prana Flow Yoga focuses on empowerment and is described as “the universal source of breath, life-energy and conscious intelligence- as navigating source of yoga practice and vital living,” by the creator of the practice, Shiva Rea.
This internationally known yoga instructor revolves her work around “uniting the body, mind, and spirit to transcend into physical asana and create space for conscious evolution.” Continue reading
Coral’s deep understanding for Prana Flow Yoga is what keeps students coming back. According to the experts, Prana Flow Yoga is good for creating strength and fluidity of the body and mind, great for finding vital energy and the relaxed being inside of you. More specifically, it is a cultivation of the art of yoga through movement, music, sound, visual arts and Vinyasa. (To learn more about the benefits of Prana Flow, visit this page!)
Coral Brown will be attending the 2013 Burlington Yoga Conference! We are very excited to have her as a returning instructor because Coral has similar ethics as we do here in Vermont. She is conscious about serious matters such as the environment, sustainability, and for supporting local businesses. Also, it will be fun to learn more about Prana Flow with Coral, you will end up leaving empowered and revitalized!
©2013, Danielle Vardakas Duszko, Honest Yoga
©2013, Scott Martin, Honest Yoga
Let Honest Yoga Be Your Guide to Becoming a Yoga Guru
Starting in the first week of February, Honest Yoga, located in South Burlington, VT, will be kick starting their new class titled: Brand New Beginners Course (BNB). The BNB course is aimed at beginner & intermediate students who want to learn and improve their skills in their practice of yoga. This 8 class series features a morning and evening class to best suit the needs of students. By taking this brilliantly planned course, students will gain a greater understanding for yoga, for they will learn more about the fundamentals of postures. More specifically, students will learn how to focus the mind, alleviate pain, and reach an optimal point of combination of relaxation and energy.
Here is a short video highlighting the BNB course in a nutshell:
Danielle & Scott are the instructors who will be guiding this course. Their goal is to help students grasp how and why postures are practiced, why yoga helps promote wellness, and help their students increase strength, stamina and flexibility through yoga. Danielle & Scott describe this course as “saturating students with practice.”
In order to further assist students along their yogic path, Honest Yoga is also allowing BNB students to have unlimited access to their center. This is great for people who want to immerse themselves in yoga and get to be taught by two fun instructors. Scott is known for producing albums and his Hip Hop Yoga Style. Danielle has a passion for dance and has taught at Liberate and Wanderlust Festivals.
If your looking to learn and improve your yoga experience, this is this class for you!
Check out this testimonial from a student!
“Completing the BNB program gave me knowledge and confidence to move forward with my yoga practice. During regular class it’s easier to feel comfortable trying new postures because I know that I have the alignments right to not get hurt and get the most out of the practice. The BNB classes made me feel really at ease to ask questions and learn how my body fits into a yoga practice.”
-Abby Bayer- BNB Graduate & Unlimited Member at Honest Yoga Center
Acro Yoga Demo at Liberate Spring Gathering
“Burlington Yoga Conference, I love you!!! What sweet connection…thank you. ♥”
- Shakti Sunfire (leader of the worldwide Hoop Dance movement)
“I have been to a lot of conferences; I have traveled the world and [Burlington Yoga Conference] is the best conference.”
- Sherry Ryan, Founder of Providence Healing Arts
Owner/Artist at Within, Laura Deveau Smith has particpated at BYC as a vendor for her closthing line within and as a student.
Laura has this to say about BYC: “You guys rock. BYC is the best. I’ve had a transformational experience at every event. Thank you, thank you for all you do. ♥” - Laura Deveau Smith
“I was unable to attend the first year’s conference because I could not afford the expense, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive a scholarship in 2010! My journey as a yogi and teacher has not always been easy, and this gift was rewarding on a very deep level.The 2010 Burlington Yoga Conference was a blessing on so many levels, and an experience I will truly treasure forever.
Having received a scholarship to attend, I spent every moment of the conference in a profound state of gratitude. I was joyfully reunited with the Burlington yoga community, including former students and teachers and friends. I was able to take a class from and even speak with Kathy McNames and Scott York [founders of Yoga Vermont], who were my first yoga instructors in 2001 and whose class forever changed my life. I also chose to take Yoga Nidra for the first time with Janet Carscadden (Evolution Yoga), and I have carried that experience with me everywhere since. Classes with Andrea O’Connor [founder of Working Well Vermont] who has long been my teacher, mentor, and friend – and Emily Garrett (Laughing River Yoga) stretched my body, my heart and my mind.”
- Haley Matthis (2010 Scholarship Winner)