The ancient map of the chakras and yogic sadhana With Gitte Bechsgaard (PhD) (CIYT) October 13 - 15, 2017 hosted by Adeline Yoga Studio in Berkeley According to the texts of Hatha Yoga and Tantra our subtle body, the suksma shariram, is made up of a tapestry of subtle channels (nadis) and energetic wheels, or…

Thursday—Sunday November 9 - 12, 2017 Ratna Ling Retreat Center, Northern California with Heather Haxo Phillips and Cynthia Bates   Retreat is an integral part of all spiritual practices. A true retreat provides the support for the practitioner to let go of their identities in the outside world and go more deeply into their practice.…

Backbends open the body and create joy. Yet, beginners struggle to understand the dynamics of these poses and how to do them when you are stiff. In this workshop, we will explore the poses that prepare you for backbends. You will learn the important steps that lead to backbends, modifications for different body types, and…

Join Francesca and Friends for a community kirtan to celebration and honor the life and legacy of BKS Iyengar. This community kirtan will bring us together for a holiday gathering with chanting and chai in celebration of the 100th anniversary of BKS Iyengar’s birthday! We will gather at 7pm for a short opening and story…

"From contentment and benevolence of consciousness comes supreme happiness" -B.K.S. Iyengar, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali II.42 Emotional well-being comes from a sense that we have the skills and resources to face life's inevitable ups and downs. When we don't have this resilience, we can feel like we are drowning or being buffeted on a stormy…

3-Week Introduction to Developing a Home Practice Wednesdays January 10, 17, 24 from 7:30 – 9:00 pm   Are you interested in starting a home practice? Have you attempted practicing at home and weren’t sure what to do? Perhaps you worry that you will do something wrong or maybe you’ve had a home practice in…

Women's Health: Yoga for Emotional Well-Being 6 Part Series January 25, Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1 Emotional well-being comes from a sense that we have the skills and resources to face life’s inevitable ups and downs. When we don’t have this resilience, we can feel like we are drowning or being buffeted…

According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian natural healing system and the sister science of yoga, our body and mind are at optimal health and immune strength when we live in harmony with our individual constitution. In this session we will explore the basic Ayurveda principles and how to live and stay in balance. We’ll learn…

Saturday, February 17th from 2-5pm with Cynthia Bates As babies, one of our first wonders is finding our own toes and feet. Then we encased our feet in socks and shoes and pretty much forgot about them....until yoga! A healthy structure of the foot is the key to structural stability and mobility in the hips and…

Letting Go: Trust & Faith Donation-Based/Gift Class offered by Cynthia Bates Suggested Donation: $40 April 7th from 2-4pm "Faith is the belief in the goal of the enterprise." - Edwin Bryant on shraddha "faith" One of the greatest gifts of regular, uninterrupted yoga practice is that it engenders a sense of fearlessness. A sense that…

3 session series Wednesdays April 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30 – 9 pm There is really nobody in our modern culture who doesn't experience some neck and shoulder tension. When it is not addressed it can turn into a chronic problem that causes headaches, jaw tension and general discomfort. In each session of this…

Yoga & Cultural Heritage Retreat in Guatemala with Carolyn Belko and Heather Haxo Phillips 8 Days of Inner & Outer Exploration   Saturday—Saturday April 14 - 21, 2018 Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan - Guatemala   Exploration is an integral part of all spiritual practices. A true retreat provides the support for the practitioner to go more deeply into…

Step it Up (side down)! Headstand & Shoulderstand Headstand and Shoulderstand are two of the most beneficial poses yoga offers, yet many students are intimidated by these fully inverted asanas, or unsure how they should be practiced safely.  In this workshop you will learn the building blocks for developing both the strength and flexibility needed to…

Three session series: Wednesday May 2, 9 and 16 from 7:30 - 9 pm Learn to alleviate knee pain! Each year, 11 million Americans complain to their doctors about knee-pain. And, orthopedic surgeons are said to operate more often on the knees than on any other body part. Yoga can be an excellent solution to…

Backbends are an essential part of a balanced yoga practice. They remove stiffness from the back, tone the adrenals, kidneys and liver; backbends also stimulate the nervous system and promote emotional wellbeing. Whether you can’t get enough of the invigorating energy that backbends bring or are someone who feels like you will never “get” backbends,…

Many of us have lost touch with our natural cycles. When it comes to menstruation, we tend to override our body and mind's need for rest and rejuvenation which can lead to imbalances and issues such as PMS, cramps, headaches, heavy bleeding, missing periods to trouble conceiving and fibroids. Taking the time to acknowledge, rest…

Teacher's Practice: Specific Conditions & Creative Solutions From day one, Iyengar teachers are taught asana modifications that can help us on our yoga journey.  But, it isn't always easy to pull out the right tool at the right time - especially in the middle of a regular class.  This series will give you tools for investigation that you…

3-Day Workshop with Carolyn Belko   Celebrating 100 Years of Inspiration June 8 - 10th Friday 6 - 8 pm Saturday 2 - 5 pm Sunday 9 - 10:30 am Pranayama and 11-1:30 am Asana From the body to Embodiment Did you ever contemplate the incredible feeling of freedom and expansiveness yoga brings to you?  Using…

SADHANA STUDIES OPEN HOUSE COME MEET THE LEAD INSTRUCTORS! This event is an important way to find out more about the Sadhana Studies program, and if it is right for you. This session is highly recommended for students considering an advanced studies program or wondering what an apprenticeship program might involve. You can meet the core…

Let's Twist! Twists are great rejuvenators and tension releasers. And, they are fun to do! Twists remove lethargy, increase vitality, free up the breath and can remove back pain. B.K.S. Iyengar describes twists how the “squeeze-and-soak” wringing action of these poses flushes the organs, stimulates circulation and nourishes tissues. This workshop will explore basic principles…

Join us for an evening of uplifting, soulful, and sacred music. Francesca and the Adeline Yoga “house band” will lead us in kirtan, a joyful practice of call-and-response chanting and devotional practice of Bhakti yoga. Singing as a group connects us as a community and is an opportunity to open the heart, still the mind…

In Ayurveda our body and mind are at optimal health when we work in harmony with the rhythms of nature. In this session we will discuss the basic Ayurveda principles and the recommended daily routines for self care and their benefits: circadian rhythms, Abhyanga (Daily Self Massage), tongue scraping, neti, nasya and harmonious eating. Open…

Sunday, August 5th at 1 pm Yoga + Social Justice: Skill in Action Reading and Conversation Are you are interested in the intersection of yoga and justice, the role of contemplative practice in activists spaces and exploring your relationship to power and privilege? Author, yoga teacher, social justice activist and licensed clinical social worker, Michelle…

The Gift of Consciousness: An International Module Course on the Yoga Sutras in Study and Practice With Gitte Bechsgaard PhD CIYT & Gloria Goldberg MA CIYT September 12-16 2018 hosted by Adeline Yoga Studio in Berkeley Module 3: Intensification and Contemplative Practice In this 3rd module, we will explore the main contemplative practices described in…

Saturday, September 15 2-5 pm In a world that is full of suffering and pain, it is important to simultaneously cultivate a deep sense of joy and passion. Without this, we feel empty, we become depleted, and trouble keeping up with our lives. As a result, we may feel confused, trapped or isolated. Mudita is…

Padmasana or "lotus pose" is considered the most stable and auspicious of meditation seats. It requires both mobility and stability in the hip, knee and ankle joints. The process of exploring the movements and actions of padmasana in the lower body not only develop a stable seat but also bring health to the legs and…

Sunday, October 21st at 7 pm Starting the Conversation: Being Close to Blackness Being close to blackness is the deepest, most personal aspect of working with systematic racism. Svadhyaya is the yogic practice of self-study and self-reflection.  Through self-reflection we can identify and root out our habits, biases, and histories that are holding us back…

“It is the duty of the teacher to know what to teach, why to teach and how much to teach.” - BKS Iyengar Inversions are the cornerstone of our asana practice, but not always easy to teach.  This weekend workshop will help yoga teachers develop their understanding and confidence around headstand and shoulderstand in particular.…

Healthy and sufficient sleep is related to immune strength, heart health, weight management, stress response and better relations. However many of us have insufficient sleep either in quality or quantity. In this session we'll talk about the Ayurvedic view on sleep, the daily rhythms and routines to support it, sleep hygiene and some herbs to…

Sunday, November 18th, 12:45-3:15 pm Exploring Compassion A Benefit Workshop for Adeline Yoga's Social Justice Programming Compassion seems to be in short supply these days. Yet compassion is a core part of the yogi's tool kit - an essential virtue that we use for self-exploration and community interaction. We draw upon compassion for ourselves in…

Special Series: Staying Healthy During Winter 4 sessions: Sundays December 2 thru Dec 23 from 5:15 - 6:30 pm Join us for all or drop in Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas yang is…

Join us for a celebration to honor the life and legacy of BKS Iyengar. Friday, December 14 6-8pm Community Event in Honor of BKS Iyengar's Centennial Birthday Join the Adeline community in celebration of one hundred years of BKS Iyengar's life. Bring a potluck item to share while we watch a short film of Iyengar's…

Yoga for Digestive Wellness with Cynthia Bates Digestive issues are one of the most common causes of suffering. Not only are the uncomfortable, they can also cause many of us to feel low energy and down. If you suffer from any kind of digestive tract issues, from heartburn or bloating to gas, or irritable bowel syndrome, this…

Friday December 28th 6 - 7:30 pm You are invited to a special event honoring Geeta Iyengar. Geetaji passed away on December 16th at the age of 74 in Pune.   In the Indian tradition, a ceremony is held on the 13th day after someone has passed.  In this manner, we will gather to celebrate our…

Ayurveda can help you with your stress! Stress can wreak havoc in our lives.  It can lead to anxiety, sleep issues, depression, inflammation, chronic fatigue, weight loss or weight gain and many more imbalances. Everybody has stressors in her or his life, but what makes the difference between sickening or non-sickening stresses is the way…

According to Ayurveda, India's ancient medical system and the sister science of yoga, every being has a unique combination of the three fundamental energies called doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We are born with a specific individual combination of these three energies. This individual combination is called our base constitution. Due to the seasons,…

Owning Your “New Year” Renewal Special Series in January with Ananda Sunday Jan 6th & 13th from 5:15-6:30pm The start of the new year is typically a time where we resolve to start or re-start better habits and behaviors. It is an opportunity to start anew and create a powerful vision for the future. Yoga…

Saturday, January 12th 1 pm Join Michael Lucey and Heather Haxo Phillips for a talk and Q&A on their recent trip to Pune, India. Michael and Heather just spent two weeks in India with the Iyengar Family.  They will offer highlights from the recent 10 day Asana and Pranayama intensive and the Celebrations on 100…

Saturday, January 19 from 2-5 pm with Cynthia Bates There is really nobody in our modern culture who doesn't experience some neck and shoulder tension. When it is not addressed it can turn into a chronic problem that causes headaches, jaw tension and general discomfort. Cynthia will go through a yoga practice to help release…

Ayurveda is India’s ancient medicinal practice. Similar to the practice of yoga, it is focused around prevention and well-being to promote superior health. Join Adeline Instructor Jessie Holland for this Introduction to the basic traditions of Ayurveda. In this first session, you will learn about the doshas, or “constitutions”, the simple principles to help you…

You've heard your teacher mention parts of your body a million times: your shoulder blades, your quadriceps, your metatarsals, your triceps. But, can you really truly feel these bones and muscles and how they interact to perform motions and actions in the yoga asana? This workshop will help you to experience your body and the…

Saturday, February 9 | 2 - 4:30 pm Making time in our busy lives to slow down to relax, rejuvenate, and connect with our innermost self is so important. Restorative yoga and chanting Sanskrit mantras help to relax the body and mind, soothe the nervous system and open the heart, bringing a sense of wholeness and…

The Gift of Consciousness: An International Module Course on the Yoga Sutras in Study and Practice With Gitte Bechsgaard PhD CIYT & Gloria Goldberg MA CIYT February 14 - 18, 2019 hosted by Adeline Yoga Studio in Berkeley Module 4: Yoga as Mystical Trance: Cultivating Meditation According to Patañjali, Yoga embraces a wide range of…

ENGAGE: Community Challenge Month March 1-March 31 The benefits of yoga practice are exponential. What that means is that practicing two times a week is not twice as beneficial but 10 or 20 times as beneficial! In fact, according to recent study which showed the effectiveness of yoga for people with depression, "... more yoga…

Starting the Conversation: Gender Identity in Yoga Spaces Gender is something that goes way beyond just male or female. For many people, the gender they identify with doesn’t match the gender they were assumed to be at birth based on their physical and sexual characteristics.  How does this affect students when they are in a…

Back extensions:  Teaching and Practice Being a good yoga teacher comes from self-study and personal practice. In this weekend workshop we will focus on the back extensions on the Intro 1 and 2 syllabus. We will explore ways to sequence, to create linkages between poses, and the use of props and accommodations for a range…

2 class series: Wednesday April 1 & 8 7:30 - 9 pm Achy breaky knees?  The knees are a common area that causes chronic or occasional pain. Yoga can be an excellent solution to address many knee issues - and help stop them from turning into complicated problems. Yet, certain knee pains may be keeping…

Savasana = The Art of Relaxation April 15th 7:30 - 9 pm Savasana is a pose we do for rest and relaxation.  Did you know that it can also help with managing pain and injury? Over the decades of his practice, BKS Iyengar developed many different types of savasanas for the parts of our body…

Once spring comes along, many people think about doing a cleanse or detox program.  There are many different methods out there. In this talk we discuss the Ayurvedic approach to cleanses and detoxes: who should do it, when best to do it according to the seasonal rhythms of the body, what different kinds of ayurvedic…

Adeline Yoga is honored to welcome our teacher of teachers! Saturday, April 20th, 2 - 5 pm Moving from Happiness to Delight in Asana A Benefit Workshop for Adeline Yoga's Yoga Blessings Fund To be able to reach a meditative state in an asana, the dynamics of the asana need to be understood. Janet will use…

Your daily routines can boost the health of your body and mind. Ayurveda, Indian's ancient medicinal science, offers many routines that will help you achieve optimal health while honoring your connection to nature. In this workshop, Jessie Holland will teach simple and effective tools that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine to optimize…

3 Part Series: Fridays 6 - 8pm May 10, 17 and 31 Join Michael for a series of special 2 hour class exploring and experimenting with schemas for practice that bring us towards prayatna shaitiliya, that state of effortless effort that is mentioned in Sutra II.47.  How can  the body, mind and breath become  connected, associated,…

Yoga for Menopause with Sandy Carmellini May 22, 29 and June 5 7:30 - 9 pm Yoga can help women tremendously in navigating through this passage of change. During menopause, we face new challenges as we redefine ourselves and our roles. The need for solitude, reflection, and a spiritual practice increases and the holistic practice…

Experience yoga with H.S. Arun June 17 - 20, 2019 Monday: 1:30 - 3:30 pm Tuesday: 7:30 - 9:30 am and 1:30 - 3:30 pm Wednesday: 7:30 - 9:30 am and 1:30 - 3:30 pm Thursday: 7:30 - 9:30 am Sri H.S. Arun has practiced and taught the art and science of yoga in India for…