Join Joan Hyman at Yogakula for an Urban Retreat which will consist of deep morning practices aimed to elevate and awaken prana and energetic intelligence. The afternoons will focus on cultivating inner stillness and integrating yogic philosophy. Each day will progress and help to refine your understanding of yoga, pranayama, and meditation.
Daily Schedule:
9 - 11:30am Morning practice
1- 4pm Theory & discussion
- Day One – Grounding & Attention
Atha Yoganushasanam
With humility, we embrace the sacred art of Yoga.
The first day establishes inner stability as we explore our asana practice and emphasize alignment, transitions, and sustained holds to cultivate sensitivity to breath and sensation.
The afternoon practice will integrate self-reflection, allowing insight to settle through the quieting practices of pranayama and meditation. We will start by staying with our breath and cultivating Sama – Evenness of body, mind, and breath.
- Day Two – Refinement and Energetic Flow
Abhyasa – Practice becomes firmly grounded when it is cultivated without interruption, with refined attention, and over a long time.
The second day deepens engagements with the subtle body, emphasizing fluidity and a deeper understanding of the prana vayus. The morning practice will integrate a flow leading to inversions and backbends, while experiencing the heighten effects gained through moving with breath and cultivating a meditative space.
We will go deeper into our exploration of pranayama in the afternoon, exploring the five vayus and different pranayama techniques. We will also discuss the importance of daily practice.
- Day Three – Integration and Presence
Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam
Then the Seer abides in its own true nature.
The final day integrates physical, energetic, and subtle awareness into unified presence. The morning practice will consist of longer holds, deeper inversions, and hip openers to still the body and prepare for meditation.
The afternoon will consist of exploring the purpose of restrain, known as “nirodha” When we retain our breath, Samadhi is reached, when the mind is absorbed in the body. We will conclude the retreat with a closing practice of meditation and how we can integrate these practices into our daily lives.