1. Yogic Stress Management
“It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”
     ~ Hans Selye (1907-1982), pioneer endocrinologist who first demonstrated the existence of biological stress

Stress has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. Few are immune from its effects – research shows that even young children suffer from the consequences. Perhaps more alarming is the spread into hitherto undeveloped countries.
 

Stress affects people of all backgrounds, races, creeds and gender. There are three broad categories of people most affected by stress: those from large organizations—businesses and the like; those who find that simply coping with family life overwhelms them; and schoolchildren and their teachers—unfortunately the fastest growing sector.
 

This workshop is articulated around the following six-step process:
     1. Understanding stress and its function; what are the three types of stressors—natural/environmental, man-made, and mental
     2. Evaluating the three stages of stress buildup
     3. Assessing our mind-body constitution (use of self-assessment questionnaire).
     4. Developing and implementing a stress prevention strategy (time, body, mind, and food management)
     5. Developing endurance and resistance to stress
     6. Curing the effects of stress

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2. Non-Violent Communication and Conflict Resolution
“Non-violence means avoiding not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”
     ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), preacher and activist

The world increasingly suffers from profound misunderstandings and polarizations—not a day goes by without seeing its destructive repercussions in families, communities, organizations, and nations. The root cause of these dysfunctional relationships is the interference of the ego’s insecurities and selfish desires with the common welfare.

Yoga teaches the art of harmonious relationships, addressing all three levels of existence: relationship within oneself, relationship with others, and relationship with a Transcendental Reality. When all these relationships are understood and mastered, conflicts and misunderstandings cease.
 

In this workshop combining theory with practical exercises and role-play, the participants will learn:
     • the three types of communication: inter-personal, intra-personal, and trans-personal
     • what is authentic communication, and what is “noise”
     • the sources of misunderstanding
     • the sentences which “kill” communication
     • how different people perceive the world differently
     • how to become a better listener
     • how to align our values with our thoughts, our speech and our actions
     • how to use the “Angel’s advocate” technique

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3. Managing Depression and Anxiety the Yogic Way
“One who has realized the truth of his Self, transcends all grief.”
     ~ Chhandogya Upanishad, ancient Indian Scripture

In a world where it’s possible to have almost everything one desires, it is disturbing to know that clinical depression will soon be the No. 1 health issue globally. Not even Third World countries are immune, as they have embraced our lifestyle. How did things get this way? And perhaps more importantly, what can we do about it?

Anti-depressants have their place, but such a dependency rarely addresses the root causes of mental illness. We also need to learn practical ways to reduce anxiety and stress by calming the mind, resulting in greatly reduced incidences of depression. Research is starting to unveil the complexities of the mind. And so science is beginning to recognize the important healing abilities of yoga and meditation as alternatives to conventional medication.
 

This workshop will not only focus on theory but will actually guide participants through various techniques and activities, including breathing, gentle yoga postures, and how to evaluate life’s events with a more positive and empowering perspective.

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4. Education for the Whole Child
“Education... is derived from the Latin educare, literally translated as ‘to bring out of’ or ‘to lead forth’. Therefore when we educate people, if we use the word seriously, we do not stuff something new into their minds; rather we lead this something out of them; we bring it forth from the unconscious into their awareness.”
     ~ M Scott Peck

Using tools from the twin sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga, as well as drawing from the latest research in holistic education and neuroscience, this day-long workshop shows a process to develop an effective and enjoyable teaching environment. It aims at promoting better concentration, coordination, creativity, social skills, sense of humor, self-confidence in children, as well as work out their excess energy in a positive uplifting environment.
 

This experiential workshop combines theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, role-play, and FUN for teachers in a variety of fields—elementary and secondary school, university, dance academy, drama department, music school, physical education… in other words, for any type of activity-group leaders—as well as for parents. Participants will learn:
     • How to do an evaluation of their own—and the children’s—body-mind constitution (dosha): airy-visionary (vata), fiery-active (pitta), or earthy-pragmatic (kapha).
     • What is their own—and the children’s— primary learning modality: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.
     • How to develop a multi-sensory teaching environment to involve all children types.
     • How to inspire the children to participate, hold their interest and attention with playful and intriguing strategies.
     • The importance of meditation and relaxation to create and encourage an atmosphere of joy and acceptance, where children will engage in their own self-discovery while the teachers ensure that the class goals are met.
     • A series of Yoga postures, breathing exercises, balance and coordination exercises, motor development games, relaxation and meditation exercises, and songs/mantras. This sequence is designed to energize, focus, and calm down a class, and incorporate it in the class lesson.

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5. The Yoga of Creativity
“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.”
     - Ray Bradbury

Creativity is one of the most mysterious products of the human mind, and has spawned a number of contradictory views on its meaning and process over the centuries—from the religious belief that all arts are inspired (literally, “breathed upon”) by the Divine, to the rational view that creativity is nothing more than the mind’s ability to combine together perspectives, insights, and pieces of information to illuminate a subject in a new way.
 

Yet true creativity is beyond religious dogma, intellectual vanity, or even artistic talent. It is a profound expression of Self, an ability to make connections on all levels of existence—intrapersonal (within our own mind), interpersonal (between people), and transpersonal (with a Transcendental Reality).

In this workshop we will explore the roots of creativity based on a new understanding of Yoga’s modes of nature (gunas) and individual constitutions (doshas), the latest findings of neuroscience, as well as the strategies of great geniuses and creative people from different cultures and eras.
The joy of living in a permanent state of effortless creativity will enrich all aspects of our life—at home, at school, at work, and beyond!

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6. Introduction to the Yoga of Cosmic Sound (Nada Yoga)
“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
     ~ The Bible, John 1:1

Quantum physics has demonstrated that the entire cosmos, including human beings, consist of sound vibrations in motion.
 

As most spiritual traditions teach, merging with the Word or Original Sound is the key to finding union with our authentic Self, and ultimately with God. The ancient sages of India developed a systematic approach for this pursuit and called it Nada Yoga, or path of divine union (yoga) through Sound or Music (nada).
 

In this workshop, the participants will learn the basics of Indian music theory, the relationship between sound and health, as well as the art of hearing, chanting, and meditating on the inner sound.