Centered Yoga Workshop
with Paul Dallaghan
April 7 & 8, 2018
Ground yourself, look within, build strength, open your heart, be centered
through methods of Pranayama, Meditation, Dynamic Asana and Restorative sessions, and discussion on Yoga with Q&A
PROGRAM
SATURDAY, APRIL 7th
7:30 – 8:20 Mind- & Heart-Centered: Meditation practice – techniques of contemplation, mantra, pranava and inner awareness
8:20 – 10:20 Breath-Centered: Pranayama practice with kriyas – highlighting many of the key points and building practice
10 min snack and mental break (in silence)
10:30 – 12:30 Body-Centered: Dynamic core vinyasa – Strength and Balancing Mix
Starting with various asana preparations and core exercises to a detail flow through various asanas that engage strength and learn to balance. For those familiar with ashtanga vinyasa there will be a similarity to a first and third series mix.
14:00 – 15:30 Yoga discussion and Q&A – all questions welcome for a lively discussion
15:30 – 16:00 Body-Centered: Restorative asanas
16:00 – 16:30 Breath- & Mind-Centered: Pranayama and meditation close
SUNDAY, APRIL 8th
7:30 – 8:20 Mind- & Heart-Centered: Meditation practice – techniques of contemplation, mantra, pranava and inner awareness
8:20 – 10:20 Breath-Centered: Pranayama practice with kriyas – moving ahead and checking individual’s practice and kumbhakas
10 min snack and mental break (in silence)
10:30 – 12:30 Body-Centered: Dynamic core vinyasa – Hips and Heart Opening Mix
Starting with various asana preparations and core exercises to a detail flow through various asanas that focus on the hip and pelvic space as well as through many backbends for heart-opening. For those familiar with ashtanga vinyasa there will be a similarity to a second and partial first series mix.
14:00 – 15:30 Yoga discussion and Q&A – all questions welcome for a lively discussion
15:30 – 16:00 Body-Centered: Restorative asanas
16:00 – 16:30 Breath- & Mind-Centered: Pranayama and meditation close
PRICING
Early Bird (registered before January 1st)
Whole Workshop €240, Morning Session €90, Afternoon Session €45
Normal (registered after January 1st)
Whole Workshop €255, Morning Session €95, Afternoon Session €50
REGISTER
Regular registration: Fill and sign the registration form & join 50% deposit.
Please send by (snail) mail, e-mail, or bring at the studio directly if you’re coming to a class.
Payment by check, cash, or bank transfer.
Download the Registration Form
Online registration: only available for signing up to the whole workshop.
Secure payment by credit card
LOCATION
Ashtanga Yoga Paris
Room: Patanjali
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ABOUT
Yoga IS the Meditative Process – Pranayama a chief method of it
A careful study of the practices of yoga from numerous approaches, which are often called separate traditions, revealed very clearly through one uniting source by the teachings of Maharishi Patanjali, explains that yoga can only be considered yoga when the effort and focus is on the inner space, the internal. This is not merely about noticing inner feelings but a particular connection with inner processes whereby one is actually moved or touched, but not by sensual input alone, or in some cases not even at all. Pranayama has been recommended as a key technique to touch the inner space, if done correctly, also affirmed by Patanjali in the sutras. Additionally, completely honest and open self-reflection, self-awareness, and the willingness to catch our behavior and change it, is essential to what yoga is. Pranayama, with asanas and kriyas, can cultivate such a process but equally the practitioner must be willing to engage, to look in, and to make any necessary change, which usually culminates in letting go, undoing, less rather than more. It is not more practice that is needed but well understood and insightful practice. At first all the practitioner sees are the elements of each practice. It takes time for them to all come together. And with that dedication, willingness, and love. In time the technical separate qualities of one technique, be it asana or pranayama, become richly embedded in a meditative process ‘soupy-mix’. How delicious. But who is willing to continue the practice, and not just continue the doing but the reflection and undoing over time? It is hoped that some of this can be shared through pranayama methods and asana approach (all practice) in our morning session and a healthy discussion with your questions about all this in the afternoon session (Talk & Q+A).
Unpacking asana out of the ashtanga vinyasa method
A closer look at yoga’s popularity today reveals it is based on asana sensationalism. Many of the same asanas pop up in different classes, books, so-called traditions but really asana brand names. What matters is how you connect with the asanas and that you can deepen that connection through a greater understanding and repeated doing. Here is also how asana becomes an integral part of the meditative process, often unfairly viewed as mere physical moves and nothing to do with the internal. Such biased opinions are fundamentally incorrect but somewhat accurate when looking at the current state of asana practice around the world today. Naturally it is physical as that is the nature of the body, but how to do that physical and go within is the true gem of practice. Poses from the ashtanga series and their transitions with breath focus can aid in this process. We hope to unpack their value a little more than just merely repeat and do.
Paul is a long term devoted, yet easygoing, practitioner of yoga. He is reputed as a well-known world-class yogi, scientist and teacher with 30 years of experience in the practice and study of yoga, the breath, and the meditative techniques while being a happy father to two sons.
He has witnessed his own growth through many techniques and years of practice, watching how the practices evolve over time as the student develops over time. His dedication to the path of yoga has come from a combination of intense practices, meditative experiences, silent retreats and numerous pilgrimages in India, Tibet and Thailand.
He has had the good fortune to spend many rich years with his main teacher in pranayama and the meditative process, Sri O.P. Tiwari, now placed to carry forth these teachings and the tradition of Kuvalayananda. He was one of the dedicated few to put in many joyful years living in Mysore with Pattabhi Jois in the old days of ashtanga vinyasa, certified by him, with an expertise in asana.
Living in Thailand for many years Paul has also been involved in Buddhist culture and practices, many retreats in forest monasteries which are curiously appropriate for all these yogic practices.
He is highly interested in the inner journey of yoga and continues to study, not just the practices and their traditional textual statements, but also what modern science offers this. To that end, he was accepted into one of the top PhD programs in the U.S., at Emory University, Atlanta, to conduct scientific research on yoga and its effects. He is still a student and loves to share and learn. In this sense, his interest lies in achieving balance, which Paul terms as “centered", and where his focus in academic scientific research hopes to contribute to what is the beautiful ongoing legacy of yoga and its practices: the internal life, the inner space, pure joy, sukha, centered.
He has led workshops and trainings all over the world, and founded the retreat center, Samahita, in Thailand, that teaches students from all backgrounds and all levels of physical and mental readiness in Centered Yoga as an open-minded method to encourage inner awareness. He believes in the mission of spreading health and wellbeing through engaged participation in practices and that the fields of yoga and meditation are one, not separate techniques, commonly united on the internal path of both an open heart and sincere self-examination.
Spiritual growth and practice involves a spectrum of approaches that includes physical fitness for the body, asana for neuro-physiological cultivation and refinement, pranayama as a key to the internal, and meditative techniques of many forms to enhance the inner experience further. Music, lightness, fun, dance, sharing and caring, and a sustainable approach to this world, are all integral to this process. Such focus and openness is all part of Centered Yoga.