Choose Your Track:
Offering asana workshops from gentle or restorative to invigorating, as well as seated discussions throughout the day, BYC aims to suit any pace. Remember that 4 workshops is 6 hours of yoga. Choose workshops wisely to balance your day.
7:00-8:00 AM |
Registration and Dobra Tea |
8:00-8:50 |
Opening Ceremony - Empower Change From Within: Tre McCarney and Jane Jarecki At Burlington Yoga Conference, empower change from within, beginning with the opening ceremony. Throughout the day you will learn from many disciplined and experienced instructors and take home new teachings and wisdom. In the opening ceremony, we invite you to listen to yourself, your breath, your body, for YOU are your own teacher. Observe your energy level, your physical body, breath, mind, spirit and create an intention for the full day of yoga ahead. For some, this may be a seated meditation practice or breath work, for others gentle yoga, and for some yet- a full, invigorating series of postures. The idea is to encourage you to take a self practice, be your true self in a world of others as you move beyond thought and ego into the wisdom of silence and creative self expression. If you already have a self practice this is may be nothing new, however, if you are on the cusp of taking your practice to a deeper level this is your opportunity to jump start the journey into self practice and prepare you for the days ahead. You are your best teacher. This is your journey toward your true self. Take ownership for your own healing and embrace the change. |
9:00 – 10:30 - Early Morning Workshops
Choose One of the Following
| Invigorating Asana | Core Yoga: Susan Cline Lucey Start off your morning at the Burlington Yoga Conference by turning on your deepest layers of abdominal core muscles – and in doing so set yourself up for a day of practice and learning having tapped into a physical and emotional strength that will support you throughout your day. Whether you took Core Yoga with Susan at last year’s yoga conference, or are just being introduced to this dynamic teacher for the first time, this year’s Core Yoga workshop is bound to energize you, take you to your edge, and re-shape your thoughts on how to use your core muscles in all aspects of your physical yoga practice. By engaging deep core abdominal and pelvic muscles early in this workshop, you will discover more strength in standing poses, a greater sense of freedom in backbends and balancing poses, and a new depth in twists. According to one student from last year’s conference, Core Yoga “. . . was creative and fun and very light hearted. It was a great opening to the conference.” Please note: this class is open to all, whether you participated in Core Yoga last year or not. Come join the exploration! |
| Gentle Asana | Yin Yoga and Metta Meditation: Emily Garrett Yin Yoga is a quiet, gentle practice during which we hold postures in a relaxed way for three to five minutes. The combination of longer holds and relaxed positions frees up the joints and unblocks the flow of life force. Perfect preparation for meditation, Yin Yoga slows us down and prepares the body for sitting. In this workshop we will practice a sequence of Yin Yoga poses followed by a period of sitting meditation. Metta means loving kindness. In Metta meditation we repeat specific phrases that foster loving kindness towards ourselves and others. The combination of these two practices frees up mental and physical tension and allows space to bring more clarity and joy into our lives. |
| Invigorating Asana | YogaLIVE!: John McConnell Join us for an invigorating yoga workshop accompanied by live percussion music! Yoga will be taught by John McConnell, with percussion accompaniment provided by world-class percussionist Steve Ferraris. Steve has played and taught percussion across the US as well as in Europe with a diverse range of musical groups. Steve will accompany the class on a wide variety of percussion instruments – creating a groove and energy that will make a for a truly unique and fun yoga experience. Come bring your yoga to life at YogaLIVE! |
| Discussion | Perfect Health With Ayurveda: Felicia Foster We will be exploring a new model for life and health in which body, mind, and spirit are seen as interconnected aspects of one underlying field of intelligence. Move beyond the material and embrace the the importance of consciousness and healing. Through Ayurveda, we learn how the basic elements of nature are expressed in our individual constitutions and how to make conscious choices to create balance and wellbeing. |
| Invigorating Discussion |
Pranayama, take the next step in your practice: Myra Lewin In Yoga Ayurveda, the vital life element that animates all beings is known as prana. Since ancient times Yoga has included pranayama techniques for controlling and expanding this energy. Pranayama increases vitality and brings us toward a state of union of body, mind, and spirit. Yoga. A regular, balanced pranayama practice strengthens the nervous system, inviting greater mental clarity, deeper self-understanding, and transformation. It is particularly helpful in preparation for deeper states of meditation. The guidance of an experienced teacher with a dedicated personal practice is essential. Expand your practice and capacity for living! |
10:45 – 12:15 – Mid Morning Workshops
Choose One of the Following:
| Invigorating Asana | Ashtanga Primary Series in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois: Kathy McNames and Scott York Called Yoga Chikitsa, or “yoga therapy” in Sanskrit, the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga is a specific sequence of postures designed to align the body and help protect and rehabilitate it from injury, while freeing the senses. The series, when committed to memory becomes a meditation in motion. By coordinating every movement with the breath, this series serves to unwind the back body from the base of the toes up to the top of the skull. Students range from beginners to advanced – as the Primary Series is a practice for a lifetime. This is a one and a half hour class. (Please note, at the Instructor’s discretion, advanced students may be permitted to practice Second Series.) |
| Invigorating Restorative Asana |
How to use props in Yoga Class - Iyengar Method: Lydia Hill Iyengar yoga has a reputation for using props to experience the ‘future’ of the pose. We can raise the floor and draw the toe closer using props such as blocks and belts. This gives the practitioner a flavor for the pose and also a sense of direction. In this workshop, we will use blocks, belts, blankets and bolsters for a variety of poses. We will practice standing poses,twists, inversions or preparatory actions for inversions, and some forward bends. In addition, there will be some time for restorative work, as these poses involve props. Those with moderate injuries will be accommodated. |
| Invigorating Asana | Anusara-Inspired Yoga - Stand in the Current of Grace: Carolyn Conner Anusara Yoga integrates a heart-oriented spiritual philosophy, biomechanical alignment of the body and balanced energetic action. This practice encourages us to be aware of all parts of ourselves – the light and the dark – and to be present with all that arises. We awaken to our true nature, which is consciousness and bliss, and serve life by bringing more understanding, beauty and love into the world. We align with Grace and stand in her current in order to know the innate goodness that lies within each of us. Using precise, elegant alignment principles this dynamic class will focus on stretching and releasing tension from the four corners of the body – the hips and shoulders – freeing the lower back and chest and enabling us to experience deeper backbends and the bliss of an open heart. |
| Invigorating Asana | Tiger’s Eye Practice Danny Morris * Please note this is an advanced asana class – experienced students only, please! An advanced Anusara practice that includes an intense warm-up and proceeds to inversions, standing poses, arm balances, deep hip openers and full backbends. Pre-requisites – ability to do full backbend with straight arms and handstand at the wall. Also a frequent or daily practice is recommended for strength, flexibility and self-knowledge. The Eye of the Tiger practice was developed by John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga, as a 9-hour practice broken out over three days. He developed the series for a student, Desiree Rumbaugh, as she sought to increase strength and flexibility. This is a two hour workshop including a 10-minute savasana and 10-minute meditation. |
| Meditation | This Very Moment – An Introduction to Mindful Living: Miv London Mindfulness is our innate ability to be fully present and accepting of each moment of our lives. We habitually forget this simple truth, and spend much of our lives lost in thoughts, fantasies, plans, worries, and anxieties. This workshop will introduce several basic practices for cultivating more mindful moments in our lives, and will provide resources and tips for developing an ongoing practice. Regular practice of mindfulness helps promote greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-management of emotions, improved concentration, and overall enhanced well-being. |
12:15-1:45 – Lunch Break
| 1:00 – 2:00 | Bonus! Lunch Workshop #1: Anatomy of Yoga Julieta Rushford Have you ever wanted to know more about what is happening on a tissue and cellular level during the practice of yoga? In this workshop we will be examining some of the basic anatomical and physiological components of yoga: muscle and nerve function. We will look at the neuromuscular junction, nerve impulse, motor and sensory neurons. We will describe in simple terms the mechanism of muscle contraction and relaxation. The different types of muscle contractions will be discussed as they relate to the practice of yoga. Participants will leave this workshop with a better understanding of what happens physiologically in our muscles during the practice of hatha yoga. This will cultivate a greater appreciation of our bodies as well as awareness for a safer yoga practice. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 | Bonus! Lunch Workshop #2: Healing Workshop w/ Reiki, Sound & Body Centered Therapy. Sukhada Repass A personalized presentation of Reiki & Sound Healing. This Workshop includes hands on demos. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 | Bonus! Lunch Workshop #3: Ayurveda, Digestion & Nutrition Carmen Maron A nourishing meal and strong digestive fire are the key ingredients to good health. In this workshop, we will begin with a brief overview of Ayurveda, while enjoying a cup of cumin, coriander, and fennel tea, the perfect digestive drink. Together we will learn how to use cooking spices as medicine, understand the importance of the 6 tastes, and learn which foods are the best medicines for you. We will also examine how to create a balanced digestion, and you will leave with some nutritious recipes. |
2:15 – 3:45 – Early Afternoon Workshops
Choose One of the Following:
| Invigorating Asana | Partner Yoga: Jennifer Harris and Matt Harris Partner Yoga brings people together through movement, play, breath, touch and trust and to deepen ones own yoga practice. Partners help each other stay balanced, focused and on track. Partners do not have to be seasoned yoga students. Partner Yoga can be practiced by any two people: strangers; friends; co-workers; parents and children; siblings and couples. Partner yoga is partially about learning surrender and realizing how much you can open physically and emotionally with the support of another. |
| Invigorating Asana | Kundalini Yoga: Sarab Kaur While many people associate the kundalini with serpentine energy and imagery, the word “kundalini” literally means the curl of the lock of hair of the beloved. It is symbolic of the higher consciousness that already exists in each human being. Kundalini energy can be understood as the evolutionary life force, which is stored at the base of the spine at the root chakra in what is referred to as the kundalini reservoir. When we do Kundalini Yoga, we encourage the kundalini energy to rise through the body’s seven major energy centers, or chakras, thus promoting spiritual awakening. As we raise our kundalini, also referred to as the energy of enlightenment, we increase our capacity for better health and greater happiness and harmony in our lives. With regular practice of Kundalini Yoga, we gradually release negative patterns stuck in the subconscious mind and attract more of our highest good. |
| Restorative Asana | Restorative Yoga – Slow Down, Tune In, and Relax Into Bliss: Anjali Budreski Come bliss out in this extra-gentle class for all levels and abilities. Learn to breathe fully into the present moment with a compassionate, loving, and open heart. Let go of deeply held tensions in the body and mind. Learn to become present, as the witness, to the full spectrum of emotions, thoughts, and sensations, in a deeply supportive atmosphere. Unravel layers of chronically held tension, as well as outdated patterns of holding in the body and mind. Breathe fully, relax, and allow yourself to relinquish the ‘doing’ mode and revel in ‘being’, with no agenda or expectations. In restorative yoga, all poses are done on the floor, while the student is supported fully by props, blankets, and pillows. Each pose is ‘held’ for about 5 minutes, although there is no physical efforting, only letting go. Light touch and aromatherapy are offered to those who wish. Cultivate radiant health, deep healing, and inner peace within, as spring blossoms around us. * Please bring two sturdy blankets, one pillow, and an eye pillow or eye covering if you have one. |
| Discussion | Yoga - The Union of Flesh and Spirit: Prem Prakash Flesh is sacred, spirit is sacred, the relationship between these two aspects of life is sacred. Yoga is the path to the realization of this divine truth by direct, personal experience. In this workshop, we will explore traditional yoga texts and practices with a focus on making yoga applicable in our spiritual lives and personal relationships. |
| Invigorating Asana | Strong on the Inside; Light on the Outside: Andrea O’Connor In this class, Andrea teaches you a short series of breakthrough core exercises. It’s not the usual gut-busting core work; but a subtle but powerful engagement of these important core muscles. Then proceed to a 60-minute flowing yoga practice designed around your new awareness and strength.Leave this class with new knowledge and confidence to move strongly from the center of the body while maintaining lightness and freedom on the outside. (It feels great and helps maintain a pain and injury-free yoga practice, especially in the hips, back and shoulders!) |
| Meditation | The Science of Meditation – A Contemplative and Neuroscience exploration of the mind: Danny Morris Take the seat of a scientific observer as we explore the nature of our minds. Learn what modern neuroscience can tell us about meditations ability to change the brain by training the mind. Topics will include: Neuroplasticity, Attention and concentration, Brain integration, Brain wave frequencies, Internal attunement, Happiness, Stress, Quantum physics and the nature of reality. Discover what is happening in your brain when you practice focused attention (shamatha) and open monitoring (vipassana) meditation. How does meditation actually facilitate our ability to be in the present moment, make positive change, reduce stress, increase happiness and develop equanimity ? Directly see your “Default Mode”. Empower your self to stop reacting to life and start acting mindfully. This workshop will include discussion as well as direct experience to ground the conceptual information in subjective wisdom and insight. Come with an open mind and heart and leave enlightened. |
4:00 – 5:30 – Late Afternoon Workshops
Choose One of the Following:
| Restorative Asana | Spacious Breath Restorative Yoga: Martha Whitney Restorative Yoga uses props to sustain and support your body in poses that both enliven and deeply relax you.”This workshop is designed to enhance your breath, the gateway to greater connection to yourself and your life. You will leave this practice feeling rejuvenated and balanced. Whether an experienced practitioner or new to yoga come enjoy the simple magic of restorative yoga. |
| Restorative Discussion |
Energy Management and Tools for Daily Living: Myra Lewin Myra offers simple tools for managing your energy in all areas of life. Explore working with the chakras, the aura and your healing energy, expanding awareness of the subtle realms and your environment. Learn to ground, maintain your center during times of stress, replenish your energy, and create balance through connection to your innermost self. Explore your existing beliefs, how they affect your day-to-day life, and how to make lasting changes to feel better. |
| Gentle Asana | Gentle Yoga: Leslie Ambika Gibbs This class is open to anyone, regardless of prior yoga experience, age, physical mobility or previous injury. The series of postures has its roots in classical eight limbed yoga as described in Patanjali’s yoga sutra.. It is designed to encourage relaxation and circulation, to foster range of motion in the major joints, and to build strength, flexibility and balance. Yoga postures, breathing practices and brief periods of seated meditation are explored, and a guided relaxation meditation concludes the class. Each posture will be presented with the encouragement to “find one’s own yoga,” that is, to find a place in the stretch in between too much and too little. To accommodate individual needs or restrictions in movement, suggestions for modifications will be presented as the need arises. |
| Gentle Restorative | Yoga Nidra: Janet Carscadden Yoga nidra is the practice of deep, conscious relaxation. Janet Carscadden will lead you through a guided relaxation lying down. As you focus on her words, you are taken into a deeper level of relaxation and complete the workshop feeling rejuvinated. Yoga nidra is great for learning tools to deal with insomnia and stress. |
| Invigorating Asana | Embodyoga: Annelies Smith Embodyoga cultivates a continual awareness and integration that involves the space of the entire body and it’s relationship beyond. In this workshop, we will explore movement and alignment principles of yoga as they were developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, founder of Body-Mind Centering and Patty Townsend, founder of Embodyoga. Each student is led to discover their personal alignment from the inside out, the free flow of organic energy is uninterrupted in all postures. Through direct and intimate experience of the nature of the body-mind relationship, we perceive and come to develop wisdom. This gives birth to inner clarity, direction and calmness. By realizing that everything is already okay and that there is nothing to prove or gain, studying your moving experience becomes endlessly delightful! The result radiates with radical self-acceptance, compassion and awe. |
5:30 – 6:45 - Dinner Break
| 5:30 – 6:45 | Dinner Break: Pack snacks, lunch, and dinner- or order one or both of your meals- all catered food is local, vegan, vegetarian. Enjoy your rest and nourish yourself well! Enjoy the Mindful Marketplace, healing arts, henna, and talk to your friends.Choose from a variety of Vegetarian and Vegan options provided by local farmers and produce suppliers. |
7:00 – 9:00 - Kirtan
| Community Yoga | Kirtan: Prem Prakash Kirtan is community-based yoga practice of chanting. The purpose is to evoke and invoke the deeper aspects of life and being. This will not be a concert performance, everyone will be welcome to participateto the extent they desire. Bring your own instruments. |
9:00 – 11:00 – Trance Dance
| Late Night Yoga |
Trance Dance: Roger Mckeever Yoga Trance Dance; discover what moves you! Step into your unlimited potential, and express the unspoken hunger to move. Use the ancient wisdom of yoga and breath to liberate your mind and body. Allow world beats, psychedelic rhythms, and electronic grooves help free your body and guide you into ecstatic dance. Unleash the tribal rhythm of your spirit. This experience is for all levels. No mats required! |
| TBA Soon: More Info Coming Soon |
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