1. Understanding our Mind and Body Constitution
“If you want to know what kind of mind you had in the past, look at your body today.
If you want to know what kind of body you will have in the future, look at your mind today.”
     ~ Ayurvedic saying

The reason why most educational models, diets, jobs, or ideologies fail to satisfy all people is for a simple reason: we all have a different body-mind constitution, with vastly different needs, desires, and forms of expression. To insist on a single remedy or formula to address human challenges will inevitably result in disappointments and confusion.
 

The twin sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda give us precise tools to determine the body-mind constitution (dosha) of each individual, thereby fostering better understanding of our own nature, and better communication with others and compassion towards their idiosyncrasies.
 

In this workshop we will learn the characteristics of the three basic constitutions:
     • How airy (vata) people process information mostly through their auditory sense and are stimulated by grand visions and artistic expression
     • How fiery (pitta) people process information mostly through their visual sense and are stimulated by planning and goal-oriented tasks
     • How earthy (kapha) people process information mostly through their kinesthetic sense and are stimulated by hands-on learning processes.
 

This workshop will also teach how to evaluate our birth constitution (prakriti) and our evolving constitution (vikriti), and the four tools to bring ourselves back into balance when we deviate from our innate ideal constitution: diet, exercise, lifestyle management, and meditation.
 

Armed with this new knowledge, students are able to make more intelligent choices in all aspects of their lives, while teachers find more creative ways to involve their students in the learning process.

 

2. Introduction to Spirituality and Meditation​
“Live with the feet in the street and the head in heaven.”
     ~ Yogic saying

This body is a mini-universe, or a hologram of the entire creation—whatever happens at the most infinitesimal level in our body-mind complex is reflected in creation, through a series of successively greater and greater holographic representations. An emotion of anger for instance will gradually damage our physical health, the well-being of our family, of our friends, our company, our society, our planet. And whatever happens at the greatest levels (a massive solar flare for instance), affects our planet, society, and personal life.

Spirituality simply means this—to be connected with the Infinite Cosmic Intelligence while living in a finite world.
 

In this workshop combining lectures with relaxation, chanting, concentration, and meditation exercises, the participants will explore:
     • the relationship between religion and spirituality
     • the basic unity of all world religions
     • the common pursuit of science and spirituality
     • finding our life purpose
     • the methods to find lasting peace and happiness in life
     • understanding the ego’s purpose and tricks
     • the tools to live a life of practical spirituality
     • how to meditate.

 

3. Energy Awakening
“There is one way of breathing that is shameful and constricted. Then there’s another way: a breath of love that takes you all the way to infinity.”
     ~ Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273), Persian poet and mystic

A dynamic blend of chanting, breathing, meditation, visualization, and postures to simultaneously invigorate and relax. This highly motivating class is specifically designed to prepare participants to meet the challenges of their hectic lifestyle with confidence and flexibility, thereby reducing and preventing the effects of stress.

This workshop also explores the concept of power from a physiological, emotional, and spiritual perspective. Participants will gradually come to understand why all of the world’s religions and spiritual traditions emphasize the power of breath. As leading medical research confirms it, the No. 1 key to healthy cells is oxygen, and breathing is the control button for energy and our immune system.

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4. The Spiritual Couple and Family
“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”
     ~ Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007), writer

Marriage, raising a family, and intimate relationships are the most important events in a person’s life, and yet we are never adequately prepared for it—neither at school nor university, nor in the church, at work, or through our parents or peers. We are supposed to figure it out along the way, which is increasingly difficult, as evidenced by the raising rate of divorces, domestic violence, and broken families.
 

Marriage was created as the perfect school for spiritual development. Living in close intimacy quickly reveals our most inner fears and fantasies, and compels us to face them honestly and serenely.

In this workshop, participants will learn:
     • Why and how people get into relationships—from the biological, emotional, and spiritual points of view
     • The three types of relationships—for a reason, for a season, and for life
     • The myth of the twin soul
     • How shakti (the life-force) seeks to express itself in the monastic and the householder paths
     • The different rhythms in relationships
     • The spiritual-relationship-as-a-temple-pilgrimage metaphor
     • Letting go of our excess emotional baggage through love and forgiveness
     • How to turn one’s house into a home
     • The basic principles of spiritual parenting

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5. Health through Ayurvedic Cooking
“When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.
When diet is correct medicine is of no need.”
     ~ Ayurvedic saying

We live in a world of fast food and fad diets. It’s often confusing to know how to best feed ourselves. Fortunately history is rich in examples of cooking that nourishes the mind, body and spirit. The Ayurvedic philosophy is oriented to cleansing and healing all parts of our body. Cooking is one delightful way to experience this wonderful culture.

Ayurveda is an ancient healing art which has been practiced continuously in India for more than 5,000 years. In Sanskrit ayur means “life” and veda, “knowledge.” Ayurveda literally means “the science of life.” By helping us understand the relationship between the basic forces of nature (gunas), it offers a comprehensive plan to maintain and/or restore mind-body balance based on nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle modifications, mental harmony and spiritual development, adding the support of medicinal herbs and techniques of detoxification and rejuvenation.
 

During this 5-hour theoretical and practical workshop, participants will have an opportunity to study the basic philosophy of Ayurveda, and assess their own physical and mental constitution or doshas. They will learn about treatments and specific practices, and cook a classic Ayurvedic meal. They will also learn how to make their own ghee (clarified butter) and discover its exceptional medicinal properties.

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6. Introduction to Thai Massage, for Relaxation and Healing
“To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
     ~ Buddha (563-483 BCE)

Traditional Thai massage therapy is a 2,500 year-old system of healing, passive yoga, meditation in movement, and skeletal realignment originating from North India. It was created by Dr. Jivaka Kumara Bhaccha, the Buddha’s personal physician, who observed that meditators and spiritual seekers often enjoy elevated states of consciousness, while suffering numerous bodily pains due to lack of exercise and neglect of the body. He therefore devised a system of self-healing and therapy centered in a contemplative state, incorporating the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, Yoga postures, and Buddhist teachings. With the blessings of the Buddha, he disseminated this technique all over South-East Asia. Today, only Thailand is still practicing this ancient Buddhist and Ayurvedic therapy, hence its current name, “Traditional Thai massage” (Nuad Bo-Rarn).

This introductory class will teach how to give a basic 15-minute Thai massage sequence. It will also provide a brief review of the theory of this revered meditative and healing technique, namely:
     • How the human body remains healthy when it maintains its balance of energy in relation to the energy of the universe
     • How any imbalance in the flow will result in sickness
     • How working in the energy points and lines can relieve blockages and imbalances in the energy channels
     • How Thai massage also helps to release blocked and repressed emotions
     • How the stretching movements affect the entire body by increasing flexibility and releasing both deep and superficial tension.
     • How the massage session results in achieving a balanced state of spiritual, mental and physical health—for both the practitioner and the patient.