Yoga in Action with Deidra Demens

Adeline Yoga is pleased to welcome Deidra Demens, CIYT from New York City!

Saturday and Sunday Feb 1 – 2

Yoga in Action: Asana and Conversation with Deidra Demens

Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action

– B.K.S. Iyengar

Yoga in Action is a workshop inspired by Deidra’s Black History and Yoga photo Series. The series shows Deidra in yoga poses alongside notable Black Americans.

Deidra started this series as way to celebrate Black History Month by honoring Black leaders in history including Josephine Baker, Malcolm X, John Coltrane, Shirley Chisholm, Fred Hampton etc. Every year the series continues with a new focus, showcasing Black leaders of today, Black women in history and paying respect to Black men that were victims of police brutality, violence, and racism. The February 2020 Black History & Yoga Series will honor the unsung heroes in the Black Community. It’s amazing to learn about these incredible people and how their work benefits society, and paved the way for other people of color to do great work.

In this workshop we will practice poses featured in Deidra’s Black History series, paying close attention to the the structural alignment, and to the ways that “conscious movement” takes us deeper on a muscular- skeletal level, and takes us deeper into the psychology of the of the asana, allowing us to better see ourselves inside and out.

Saturday:
1 – 3:30 – Asana practice: Open to students at all levels of practice. 6 months of consistent yoga experience is advised.

3:45 – onward:  Talk about the photography project Deidra will show pictures from her previous projects and talk about the process of researching, selecting the photos and asanas and putting the project together. She will speak about the people that she honored in her series, why she chose to include them, how their stories/ work influenced others and what we can all learn from them. Free and open to the public.

Sunday:
1 – 3:15:  Restorative Yoga Workshop + Conversation for & with People of Color. An asana practice + open discussion for people of color, offering a safe space for people to say what’s on their minds and express how they feel.  Beginners with little yoga experience are most welcome.

Deidra explains more about the workshop in this Facebook live video.

Tuition

Full weekend
$100 regular rate

Saturday only: Asana for All + Talk about the Photography Project
$60 for the workshop
Talk – free. Donations accepted

Sunday only: For & with People of Color: Restorative Yoga Workshop + Conversation
Recommended: $50 for the workshop
You can register now and pay $50 – or register now and then pay a meaningful donation at the door. Nobody will be turned away from Sunday’s event for lack of funds.

Five full and partial scholarships will be offered to people of color for the entire weekend. Please email info@adelineyoga.com for more details or fill out the application here.

About Deidra:

Deidra Demens is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher – Junior Intermediate 1 – based in New York City.

She was first introduced to Yoga in 2004. While studying at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago Illinois, Deidra explored various styles of Yoga, movement and breathing exercises as creative ways of expression.

Upon graduating, Deidra moved to New York to follow her dream of becoming a theatre artist. Between shows Deidra continued studying Yoga and began teaching in 2011.

After taking her first Iyengar class, Deidra was amazed at how much she learned in just one class. “I needed a foundation for my practice and teaching, I found it in Iyengar Yoga. The instructions were clear and precise. My interest in Yoga was elevated. My practice transformed, and so my journey began.” – Deidra Demens

Deidra graduated from the  Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York and became a certified CIYT in 2017. She is on the teaching faculty at the New York Institute.  Deidra’s approach to teaching is comprehensive and fun, her classes are dynamic and engaging. Through demonstration and detailed alignment Deidra seeks to both challenge and inspire her students.  You can do some yoga poses with her in this youtube video.