VPS YOGA RETREAT 2008           Saturday, February 2nd, 2008                                                 8:30am-6:30pm                                           Clifford Marshall School                          200 Moody Street Extension, Quincy, MA 02169   A day full of laughter, relaxation, and balance, this retreat provides us the opportunity to experience so many of the 8 limbs of Yoga, as well as several balancing and restorative activities.  Come and enjoy!     Below you'll find our current listing of programs, as well as information about many of our instructors.  This event will be open to all ages.  As the retreat will be offered free of charge, we look forward to any donations of time and/or resources to help bring this day to fruition.   Registering for the yoga retreat is as easy as 1..2..3 Please click here to register       The YOGA RETREAT includes sessions in Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath/life force), Meditation, Mantra (repetition of Sacred words), Kirtan (ecstatic chanting and dancing), Seniors Wisdom, Expressive Movement, T'ai Chi and Chi Gong, Laughter Yoga, Massage, Reiki and Theta (energy work), Dance performances, a Variety of Children's Activities, and of course, wonderful Prasadam (offered healthy vegetarian food prepared with Love and Devotion)!!! See below for more details!   YOGA ASANA SESSIONS:  Gentle Chair Yoga with Robin Killeen: Suitable for seniors and all ages.  Gentle Chair Yoga will include gentle stretching, range of motion exercises, and traditional Hatha postures adapted for the chair. Session will conclude with deep relaxation. Yoga Asana with Carolyn Little: Carolyn Little, MA RYT, has been practicing yoga for 6 years and during this time moved and traveled extensively both nationally and internationally.  No matter where she finds herself in this world, when she comes to her mat to practice yoga, she is at home.  Yoga is the grounding force in her life; a unification of mind, body, and spirit.  She hopes to share this inner peace and strength that she has found through yoga with her students. Carolyn will be leading our Adult Yoga Asana session, including traditional Hatha postures and a wonderful Savasana. Yoga Adjustments by Vicki: Vicki graduated from PYTT, Open Doors Power Yoga training program.  She teaches yoga at the Canton Open Doors Power Yoga Studio. Vicki will be adjusting participants' yoga postures during the adult yoga sessions. This service is a treat, but optional, and if you prefer not to be adjusted, you may let her know at the beginning of the session. Yoga Adjustments by Janice: Janice will be adjusting participants' yoga postures during the adult yoga sessions. This service is a treat, but optional, and if you prefer not to be adjusted, you may let her know at the beginning of the session. Children's Yoga with Joy Tarr: Joy has been a practitioner of Power and Hatha yoga for five years.  She earned her Associates of Sciences degree in Occupational Therapy and is currently working toward her Masters degree in OT.  She holds certificates in power yoga through Open Doors Power Yoga School and Meridian Yoga through the Meridian Yoa Institute.  She has recognized the powerful healing benefits yoga has on the body and integrates this knowledge in her practice as an occupational therapy assistant in rehabilitative hospitals and schools.  She believes that the "joy is in the journey" and loves to guide yogis on their yoga trail.  Joy teaches power and prenatal yoga at Open Doors, kid's yoga at the YMCA, and runs private Hatha yoga classes. Come play!  Kids' yoga is a wonderful way to have fun while improving flexibility, discovering balance while soaring like an eagle or flying through the air as an airplane, building strength and endurance in warrior poses and flowing through sun salutations.  Yoga helps kids calm their bodies, to focus their busy minds and discover stillness while floating on a cloud or pretending to be a hibernating bear.  Come enjoy the benefits of a playful, fun, and imaginative yoga practice. Children's Yoga with Liz Collins: Liz is a children's yoga intructor at Open Doors Power Yoga Studios in Hanover. She will be leading an active, playful, yoga session for children! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BREATHWORK SESSIONS: Pranayama with Uday Setty: Uday's pranayama practice began long ago, back in India, where he learned fromhis elder brother who practices pranayam each and every day, early in the morning--5:30am. Four years ago Uday learned additional prayanama techniques from Ajay Gupta, here in the United States, at Vaisnava Academy. Uday now follows Guru Ramdev Ji's methods for pranayama, following much of his work through videos and the internet. Uday has been teaching Yoga and Pranayama at VPS's Vaisnava Academy in Quincy, MA for the past 3 years. Pranayama is an aspect of Yoga that deals with breathing. It is a method of controlling prana, or life force, through breathing. Pranayama is the breathing process or the control of the motions of inhalation, exhalation, and retention of vital energy.--Swami Ramdev's. This Pranayama session will include instruction and practice in 6 Pranayam techniques: Bhastrika, Kapal Bhati, Baharya, Anulom Vilom, Bhramri, and Udgeeth Pranayam. This session is an amazing experience, not to be missed! Breath Awakening with Tara Nieves: Tara's life purpose is to create a loving and safe place for individuals and groups to go within and discover the love that they are.  She is a certified Power of Breath breathwork facilitator with a private practice, Breath Awakenings, serving the South Shore, MA.  For more information and class schedule, visit www.breathawakening.com. This Breath Awakening Session involves awakening the body, heart, mind, and spirit with the Power of Breath.  Awaken your full breathing capacity!  Through discussion, movement, and a breath awareness session, she will guide you to use your breath to reduce your stress and bring more energy, peace, health, and well-being into your life and body. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXPRESSIVE MOVEMENT: Expressive Movement with Joyce Zimmerman Joyce is an expressive artist who developed the "Nurture Your Creativity" series for the DeCordova Museum School in Lincoln, MA and the Munroe Arts Center in Lexington, MA where she was an artist in residence.  Through art and movement Joyce has been recognized in many public settings and her work has been collected throughout the United States and Europe.  Much of her personal focus has been on religious icons. Having studied with notable teachers from California to NH she brings each of you an experience which can enable you to find a space within that is both nurtured and nurturing. Come and celebrate your spirit, through breath and movement.  This authentic experience is sure to inspire your whole being!  Move at your own pace.  Feel supported and yet free to express yourself.  Gentle introduction to expressive movement.  Music and breath will carry you through. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ T'AI CHI CH'UAN  and CHI GONG: Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Gong with Keith Buckley: As president and founder of Balanced Chi International, Keith has been involved in the martial/ healing arts for over 20 years.  Since 1993, his concentration has been on Asian Bodywork Therapy, Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan and various forms of Chi Gong. During this session, we will be exploring Chi (energy) through the practices of Chi Gong and T'ai Chi Ch'uan.  Focused on four key meridians (pathways), Keith will lead us through a series of chi gong movements and postures to help promote the flow and cultivation of energy throughout the body.  Through these practices, we can gain a deeper understanding of how to better heal ourselves as well as those around us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MASSAGE and other BODYWORK THERAPIES:  Acupressure/Shiatsu/Craniosacral Treatments with Keith Buckley: As president and founder of Balanced Chi Internationial, Keith has been involved in the martial/ healing arts for over 20 years.  Since 1993, his concentration has been on Asian Bodywork Therapy, Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan and various forms of Chi Gong.  He is licensed and Ceritified in the practice of Acupresure/Shiatsu and is certified in the practice of several Chi Gong therapies including Pan Gu Shengong. Keith has studied and received training in Craniosacral Therapy, Somato Emotional Release, Tui Na, Tong Ren, and Zero Balancing and combines these in his overall practice. Keith will be offering complimentary individual Acupressure/Shiatsu/Craniosacral treatments alongside Nancy Conroy, who will be administering Reiki energy healing. You may sign up when you enter the retreat! Massage and Reiki with Jodi Rehm: Jodi has been a professional massage therapist for 4 years.  Her focus is on Therapeutic and Holistic massage.  In Holistic massage she performs polarity as well as reiki. In Therapeutic massage she works with releasing congestion and re-aligning body through muscle release therapy, repetitive use injury release, trigger point, myofascial release and various forms of streching (sports massage).  Most treatments involve all of the above, as the body's muscular structure and energetic blockages are all related. Jodi will be offering complimentary individual Reiki and Therapeutic Massage sessions in a chair, combined for a nurturing treatment.  You may sign up when you enter the retreat! Massage with Matthew Mullen: Matthew has been a Massage Therapist for 15 years.  He thinks of himself as a facilitator for healing the body as well as the spirit.  When people ask if he does "energy work," he replies that we all do energy work, consciously or unconsciously.  His intention, whether in teaching Yoga or performing a Massage, is to create an opening for his clients to access their higher selves and receive the healing light of love. Matthew will be offering individual Massage treatments-- you may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! Massage Instruction with Pat Robertson: Pat is a passionate yogi with training in both massage and yoga instruction. Pat will be teaching us basic methodology for giving others gentle massage.  He will lead us through proper placement of hands, amount of pressure needed, and providing simple tension releasing/balancing techniques.  We will pair up and enjoy both giving and receiving massage.  What a wonderfully reciprocal treat! Massage with Martha Flaherty: Martha is a student massage therapist at John Winslow Institute in Quincy, MA. She will be offering complimentary individual massage sessions.  You may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! Stress Relief Treatment with Suman Tarway: Stress Relief Treatment is a particular form of massage which focuses on the neck, shoulder, and scalp. Suman will be offering complimentary individual treatments. You may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! Stress Relief Treatment with Suman Tarway:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIRTAN with Mary McKinnon and Keshav Shukla: Kirtan: Kirtan is a beautiful form of Bhakti Yoga, a devotional practice that can take you to a wonderful, joyful place, deep within your heart.  Together we will engage in ecstatic chanting, singing, and dancing as our hearts open and we are uplifted! Connecting with Divinity in this way will feel so deep and so blissful! Mary McKinnon will begin our Kirtan as she calls forth many beautiful melodies with a harmonium and her pure heart.  Keshav Shukla will keep our rhythm and enchant us with his heart-opening chanting and ecstatic drumming with a Mradanga. SRI RADHE.........SHYAM! YUGHAL MAHA MANTRA: Radhe Krishna Radhe Krishna Krishna Krishna Radhe Radhe Radhe Shyam Radhe Shyam Shyam Shyam Radhe Radhe   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REIKI, THETA, & PYRAMID ENERGY: Reiki with Linnell Reed: Reiki Master/Teacher, Linnell Reed, trained Maureen Spencer of Finding Inner Peace. Linnell is also certified in Reflexology by the New England Institute of Reflexology and Universal Studies.  In addition to offering these holistic modalities, she encourages her clients by providing resources to empower them for their own self-healing.  Her practice is at On the Path Wellness Center in Pembroke, where she also offers community Reiki Shares on the second Sunday of each month.  All are welcome. Reiki is a method of healing, originating in the late 19th century.  Based on the teachings of Mikao Usui, Reiki is practiced by the laying of hands to channel healing energy through the practitioner into the receiver.  The word Reiki is Japanese and translates as "Spirit guided life force energy."  Rei translates as "God or Light" and Ki is the Japanese word for "life force energy."  This energy surrounds everything in the universe and flows through all living things. Linnell will be offering complimentary individual reiki treatments. You may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! Reiki and Theta with Nancy Conroy: Nancy will be offering complimentary reiki treatments in combination with Keith Buckley's Acupressure/Shiatsu/Craniosacral treatment.  Nancy will also be offering complimentary individual Theta healing sessions. You may sign up for either as you enter on the day of the retreat! Reiki with Carmel DiPaola: Carmel will be offering complimentary individual reiki and pyramid energy treatments. You may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! Reiki with Carolyn Little: Carolyn will be offering complimentary individual reiki treatments.  You may sign up as you enter on the day of the retreat! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SENIORS WISDOM Seniors Wisdom with Karen Lofgren: For Karen, Love and Spirituality is a beautiful theme to be involved with due to her heart's determination to honor her late brother, Chuck, in his deep desire for her to find her true Self through peace, harmony, and love of Creator.  The beauty of nature has taught Karen to open her heart to the knowledge that much that is unseen is the director of our lives.  The wisdom of elders is something to behold and honor, for they have done the work of their path in life to experience the true essence of Love and the blessings of Spirit.  Karen feels honored to introduce such people. In this session, seniors will open their hearts and share their thoughts and feelings on Spirituality and Love.  Together we'll honor them by listening and learning from their collective wisdom. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  MANTRA Mantra Yoga with Jill Jardine: Jill will lead our Adult Mantra session, including an introduction to mantra and an active mantra practice. Mantra refers to Divinity encased within a sound-structure/vibration. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ADDITIONAL CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES Dance Performance by Vaisnava Academy, led by Hima Sharma: Hima choreographs unique Indian dances and teaches boys' dance classes at Vaisnava Academy in Quincy, MA.  Energetic and vibrant, Hima's performances feature great rhythm, spiritual Indian themes, and eye-catching moves! Dance Performance by Vaisnava Academy Students, led by Suman Tarway: Suman choreographs and teaches dance to the girls at Vaisnava Academy in Quincy, MA.  Traditional Indian dance is combined with contemporary moes for a spirited performance! Children's Games with Arun Chaudhri: Arun has been leading children's activities and games at Vaisnava Academy in Quincy, MA. Fun, active games will be organized around theme of  balancing cooperation with gentle competition. Children's Activities with Ashok Jakati: Additional children's games will be organized by Ashok, another leader of the children's program at Vaisnava Academy in Quincy, MA.  Come join the fun! Children's Activities with Joanne Buchanon: Joanne will be leading several fun activities during the morning children's session. Cooperative storytelling and creative play are among her treasure trove of fun! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  MEDITATION: Meditation with Kim Saunders: Kim will be leading our meditation session.  Come explore this inward journey, with the assistance of her loving guidance.    LAUGHTER YOGA: Laughter Yoga with: TO BE ANNOUNCED   Next Retreat Planning Meeting: Saturday, January 5th, 3pm If you'd like to get involved, please join us! We'll be meeting in Laura McFarland's home: 265 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339.  (on the corner of Barstow and Washington Streets, not to be confused with rte.53) For directions, please call (781)826-8462 Kirtan will follow for anyone who wishes to join in!   RADHE RADHE!! Namaste, Laura :) laura@vps-international.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura McFarland - Coordinator       Volunteers: Abhay Shukla – Photography Damodar Sharan (Dinesh Joshi) -Registration and Promotion Gary Sottile- Promotion Keshav Shukla – Set-up and Clean-up        Registering for the yoga retreat is as easy as 1..2..3 Please click here to register       MANY THANKS GO TO THOSE WHO ARE SERVING THROUGH                SPONSORSHIP/DONATIONS:   Retreat Raffle Donations: Lululemon Athletica: Yoga Product! Trader Joe's: TJ's Canvas Bag Filled With Vegetarian Groceries! Staples: $50 Gift Card!   Click here for sponsorship letter/form. Please click here to donate to VPS   If you'd like to volunteer for this event, please send your contact information (name, phone, email, and best times to reach you) and which part(s) of the service you'd like to be involved in. Possibilities include: Laughter Yoga Seniors Sharing Wisdom Kirtan/Bhakti Yoga Adult/General Yoga Children's Yoga Prasadam (healthy vegetarian food without garlic, onion, or mushrooms) Reflexology Massage Reiki Registration help on day of event Healthy Eating, Healthy Lifestyle Set-up/clean-up Event Promotion (flier distribution, etc.) Secure Sponsors Meditation Guides Pranayama Guides Sponsorship (see sponsor link to left)   Your contact information can be emailed to laura@vps-international.org.