UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & RETREATS 

DANCING WITH GRACE AND COURAGE: following the path of yoga tantra
at HeartSpeak, 56 Elm St., Topsham
Saturday, September 18
9 am - 1 pm
$65 ($60 before 9/13)

Grace, a key concept and element of yoga tantra, is the mysterious power of universal beneficence. We have all of us experienced it, when something happens that is unexpected, unearned and a true blessing. Grace is not religious matter; it is a force of creation, one that we all know, and one we can enhance in our lives by certain practices, and by simple awareness. Grace blesses us, as the touch of the divine and it bestows on us a longing, a sense of calling to something greater in our life. Most of us come to yoga with some sense that there is more that we want for our lives. This sense is itself grace. But grace alone doesn't get us where we want to go. We also need the courage to follow the path; we have to use effort, determination and yes, discipline, or what I prefer to call devotion.

In this workshop we will look at the forces that are moving through our lives--the universal power (shakti) of grace (anugraha), and the personal power of our own response to this call. We'll experience the forces as they move thorugh out bodies and our breath. Using pranayama (breath practices), asana (postures) meditation and chanting, as well as journaling and discussion, we'll look at what has brought us to this moment in our lives, and what direction we want to go from here.

On the eve of the Autumn Equinox, join Anne for this wonderful exploration of your life path, and the path of the community (the kula). This workshop is open to everyone; no prior yoga or meditation experience is necessary.

Pre-register requested but not required. To register, send payment to:
 
ANNE DELLENBAUGH
841 Mere Point Rd.
Brunswick, ME 04011

For more information about the workshop, please call Anne at 207-751-4875.

LifeForce Yoga® YOGA FOR DEPRESSION (It really works!!)
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
First Session: 2hrs/$100
Second & Third Sessions: 90 min./$75

LifeForce Yoga® is an evidence-based protocol that interweaves the power of an ancient discipline with current scientific findings. Following an initial assessment, we collaborate to design a yoga program specifc to your needs. Your program is likely to include: pranayama and kriyas (specific breathing exercises), use of intention and affirmation (sankalpa), sounds/tones (mantra), hand gestures (mudra), postures (asana) and meditation. You will leave at the end of the third session with a clearly defined practice you can use in a variety of situations and circumstances.

It is recommended that the three sessions be scheduled in consecutive weeks, or at most, within one month's time.

 

PAST WORKSHOPS & RETREATS

RIDING THE VIBRATORY WAVES OF CREATION: An Experiential Exploration of the Mantra OM
Saturday, June 26
with Anne Dellenbaugh and Susan Hess

Have you ever wondered what OM really is? It is the sound of primordial creation, the hum of the universe, the original music of the spheres. And it is the sound essence of Shiva, the auspicious Pure Consciousness that is the very heart of all creation. In this workshop, we'll explore nada yoga (the yoga of sound), particularly this simple mantra, OM, through asana, chant, pranayama and creative arts. You will learn to write/draw/paint the mantra in devanagri (the script of Sanskrit) and will have the opportunity to explore all it's parts and aspects in the process. This workshop will be fun!

 

MEDITATION: Following the Path of Bliss
at HeartSpeak, 56 Elm St., Topsham
Thursdays in March (March 4, 11, 18, 25)
7:15 - 8:15 pm
$50/4-class session; $15/individual class

Meditation is the jewel of yoga, the nectarian fruit of our asana and pranayama practices. In this 4 session series you'll receive instruction in tantric yoga meditation, the use of mantra, mudra and chant as well as related supportive practices such as pranayama and asana for meditators. Each week we'll explore a different aspect of meditation. You'll have the support of a group and teacher to help you establish a foundation, or build upon prior experience. The course is designed to be beneficial for both novice and experienced meditators. Come taste the bliss! Have you ever wondered what OM really is? It is the sound of primordial creation, the hum of the universe, the original music of the spheres. And it is the sound essence of Shiva, the auspicious Pure Consciousness that is the very heart of all creation. In this workshop, we'll explore nada yoga (the yoga of sound), particularly this simple mantra, OM, through asana, chant, pranayama and creative arts. You will learn to write/draw/paint the mantra in devanagri (the script of Sanskrit) and will have the opportunity to explore all it's parts an

YOGA IN THE MOUNTAINS: A Meditation Retreat
at Flagstaff Hut, Flagstaff Lake, Maine
July 17-19 (Fri-Sun)
$225 (Deposit: $100) [Early registration discount: $200 if paid in full by June 1]

Don't let the word "hut" fool you. While you will be sleeping in a bunk bed, this hut, part of the Maine Huts and Trails system, is really a simple but beautiful, ecologically designed, remote wilderness lodge on a private cove of Flagstaff Lake. You'll enjoy delicious homecooked meals, hot showers at the end (or beginning) of your day and the cozy library that will be our yoga/meditation sanctuary for the weekend.

The weekend will be devoted to the simple, liberative meditation practice of Awareness. While we will do some asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing techniques), our focus is on cultivating meditative awareness. This is the jewel of yoga, the balm for the suffering soul. Yoga is a practice of ease and well-being. Come discover this for yourself on this weekend retreat.

The practice is not just a formal one. On Saturday and Sunday there will be time for you to take your meditation outdoors--hiking, paddling on the lake, or just sitting by the water's edge. You'll leave with a practice you can use daily, in every day life.

The hut is accessible only by foot or boat. We'll arrange carpooling to the parking area and hike the 2.3 miles into the hut together on Friday afternoon. Our first yoga/meditation session will be Friday after dinner.

Participants will be encouraged to practice social silence during some periods.

YOGA BY THE SEA: Ease of Being Meditation & Yoga Retreat
at Knubble Bay Camp, Georgetown, Maine
August 23-27 (Sun-Thurs)
$495 (Deposit: $150) [Early registration discount: $450 if paid in full by July 1]

Join Anne Dellenbaugh for Yoga, Meditation, and study of the VijnanaBhairava Tantra;
as well as Kayaking, good friends, and fun at the shore—
the last hurrah of the summer!

This will be a special retreat since it’s the last opportunity to study/travel with Anne before her Sabbatical. The VijnanaBhairava Tantra is a perfect text for outdoor spiritual practice. We’ll use it as the basis of our morning yoga, meditation and pranayama practice, and our outdoor contemplative practices—whether pursued in a rocking chair on the porch or a kayak out at sea. A part of morning asana practices will be specifically designed to support and enhance your kayaking. Some mornings will also include a dharma talk and discussion. For those who want some on-the-water instruction, we’ll translate the yoga into paddling. Paddle near or far or not at all, according to your desires.  At the end of the day we’ll gather for dinner and evening practice—chanting, yoga and yoga nidra, meditation, storytelling… There’s paddling suitable to all skill levels. Bring your own kayak.

Knubble Bay Camp, run by AMC, is located in Georgetown, Maine, an hour's drive from Portland, and is accessible by car. Yogi's are encouraged to come for the whole retreat, and preference will be given to those enrolling for the entire time. Those who can only come for a shorter time, are welcome to apply. Please plan to stay for at least two nights.

 

BODY SENSING & YOGA NIDRA SEMINARS
at HeartSpeak, 56 Elm St., Topsham
Fridays, February 13, 27, March 20
9:30 - 12 pm
$40/session; $105/all three; includes 3 CD's for home practice

Yoga Nidra, an ancient Tantra yoga practice (literally "the sleep of the yogis"), is a profoundly transformative practice. It is a method of inducing a state of extremely deep physical, mental and emotional relaxation while remaining totally alert and aware. Using a guided experience of inquiry and meditation you are led to realize, firsthand, your true Self as unconditioned pure Presence.

Yoga Nidra is also used to eliminate stress, overcome insomnia, solve personal problems, resolve trauma, and overcome fear, anxiety, anger and depression. Yoga Nidra clears away old patterns of thinking and behaving that no longer serve your highest good.... effortlessly. Its magic lies in the paradox that by learning to simply observe and accept "what is" in a deeply relaxed state, you free up tremendous energy for manifesting joy, abundance, wellbeing and fulfillment. Anyone can practice Yoga Nidra, regardless of yoga or meditation experience.

This three-part class is open to anyone with an interest in developing a Yoga Nidra practice. Each week we will explore a different aspect of the practice. You will have the opportunity to borrow yoga nidra CD's by other teachers in order to find the one that works best for you.

Each class will begin with 20-30 minutes of Body Sensing movement practice to cultivate sensitivity to the interaciton of body and mind. Through presentation, exercises and discussion we'll explore one aspect of the practice in depth and then do a full practice.

 

YOGA TO BEAT THE BLUES!
A LifeForce Yoga® Workshop
Saturday, February 28
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
$55 ($50 if paid by Feb. 23)

Do you sometimes find yourself with sad or empty feelings that you numb out with food or alcohol or the internet? Do you sometimes feel separate and afraid? You may be suffering from depression, and you're not alone. Depression effects 121 million people worldwide. And 80% of people who struggle with depression also suffer from anxiety.

Yoga teaches us that when we're depressed, we've lost our connection to who we really are. Practice LifeForce Yoga® regularly and begin to reconnect with your true nature, the wholeness you are beneath the current mood. Practice LifeForce Yoga® every day, and it will change your life.

LifeForce Yoga® is an evidence-based protocol that interweaves the power of an ancient discipline with current scientific findings. In a safe and accepting environment, you'll learn yogic strategies that can help you mantain your optimum mental health and methods to safely release chronically held tension and repressed emotion in the physical and emotional body. We'll practice:

* Pranayama and kriya breathing techniques that regulate the emotions
* Mediations that lift the mood
* Creating affirmation (Sankalpa)
* Guided visualizations (Bhavana)
* Tones that regulate the emotions (Mantra)
* Hand gestures that affect different areas of the chakra system and the body (Mudras)
* Yoga asanas suitable for all levels.

You'll leave feeling refreshed and renewed, with strategies to revitalize your practice and manage your mood. Psychotherapists, health professionals, and yoga teachers will learn techniques they can use to help their clients focus, relax and have greater access to their feelings. Students who attended the Home Practice workshop last month will find this workshop adds to their repertoire significantly, giving you many more yoga tools to use to make your Home Practice really suit you.

 

IF I'M THE DIVINE, HOW COME I STILL SUFFER?
An Introduction to Yoga Tantra--philosophy and practice
OR How Shiva/Shakti Dance is all creation, including YOU!
Saturday, March 20
NOTE: DATE CHANGE
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
$55 ($50 if paid by March 16)

Mystics of all traditions verify the truth many of us have glimpsed: that there is no separation between you and the Divine, the Source, the Supreme. But if this is true, you might ask, why don't you know it. Why do you still suffer and feel isolated, cut off or alone. Yoga Tantra has a clear, if somewhat esoteric, answer described in the tattvas, the 36 principles which delineate exactly how the Divine Shakti (the creative power in the universe) conceals herself as she moves from Supreme Consciousness all the way to the denseness of the Earth element.

In this workshop you'll learn about the tattvas and how they relate to the 5 Acts of Shiva according to which the Divine, out of complete freedom, chooses limitation and then chooses, by her own Divine grace, to remember her divinity and freedom. The tattvas offer us a map, of sorts, to help us navigate our way back to consciousness of our own true nature as infinite, Pure Awareness.

Lest our discussion become too abstract, we'll ground the "theory of the practice" in an exploration of the "practice of the practice," the practice of the tattvas, and of the 5 Acts of Shiva as they occur in an a yoga practice, and in our daily life. The yoga practice will include asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation.

Come with a wide open and curious mind; no prior yoga experience necessary.

BENEFIT for WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
A Yoga Retreat with SHIRSTEN LUNDBLAD and ANNE DELLENBAUGH
and Belfast Poet Laureate KARIN SPITFIRE
at Wild Lotus Studio
Sunday, March 30, 2008
10 am - 4 pm
Minumum Donation: $75

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THE BENEFIT! We raised over $900 for Women for Women!

Help a woman in Iraq or Afganistan as you deepen your own yoga practice.

Women and men are welcome to join this one-day retreat dedicated to helping women victims of war hearl themselves and their communities. We will practice yoga postures and breathing, chant to our hearts' content, be inspired with poetry, and meditate on the power of love.

This event initiates an ongoing partnership and commitment of Wild Lotus Yoga and Orcasong Studio to support women and communities through Women for Women International.  Our hope is that this will engage your continued passion and support as well.

For more information, please call:  Shirsten Lundblad of Orcasong Studio:  725-7774 or Anne Dellenbaugh of Wild Lotus Yoga:  721-9229

Space is limited; please register early to reserve you place, by sending a check payable to "Women for Women International" to Wild Lotus Yoga, PO Box 177 Brunswick, ME 04011.

Women For Women International provides women survivors of war with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, and leadership in their own communities and countries. All fees and funds raised will be sent directly to Women for Women International to sponsor a woman in Afghanistan and/or Iraq.

TURNING INWARD: AN AUTUMN WILDERNESS RETREAT
Flagstaff Lake , Maine
October 5 - 8, Friday - Monday
$550

Come celebrate this holiday weekend with HER WILD SONG.

Tucked away in the western mountains, with Bigelow Mountain rising from its southern shore, Flagstaff Lake is one of Maine’s gems, especially wonderful at this time of year when bright colors are seeping into leaves and yet it is still warm enough to enjoy a swim in these beautiful clear waters. This is a base camp retreat, perfect for those who want or need wilderness with little strain. We will meet in Kingfield and drive together to the put-in where we’ll load canoes and paddle to one of Flagstaff’s secluded campsites. From there, we will find plenty to do, or plenty of time for doing nothing. There is Bigelow (one of Maine’s premier mountains, 4,090’) for those who want to hike, islands and coves to explore, wildlife to sit in stillness and observe, and abundant beauty to be enjoyed without ever leaving the campsite.

In addition to our dawn practice of yoga, meditation and chanting and evening fire circles, this trip offers participants the opportunity to delve more deeply into the teachings and practices that form our retreats (Anusara-Inspired Hatha Yoga, Body-Mind Centering, and meditation, or QiGong, for instance), and to reflect together on how these experiences inform our lives.  This retreat is appropriate for women facing life-challenging illnesses.

YOGA BEYOND TRAUMA
A Yoga Class for Women with Histories of Childhood Abuse and Neglect
Wednesdays, October 3, 10, 17, 24
10:00 - 12:00 pm
Co-facilitated by Mary Auslander, MSW

The practice of yoga can both challenge and trigger women whose bodies hold the persistent effects of trauma, as well as the associated self-limiting beliefs. For many women the seemingly simple act of raising one’s arms to the sky can lead to being awash in shame, or lying on the floor can suddenly become a flashback of nausea and confusion. Healing happens gradually as we learn how to be fully embodied in the present.

This class fosters deep healing by offering women the opportunity to explore movement, as well as the chance to talk about what happens when they do. Periods of yoga/movement will be followed by facilitated discussion. All levels of ability are welcome. No prior experience in yoga or group work is necessary to participate.

This workshop is co-facilitated by Mary Auslander, MSW, a psychotherapist, trauma consultant, and herself a survivor. Mary specializes in working through the long-term traumatic effects of childhood abuse and neglect in her Damariscotta-based practice called “Living Beyond Trauma.”

LOVE YOUR BODY!
A Special Tantric Yoga Exploration for Women
Friday, April 27
9:30-12
$35

Revolutionalize your experience of your own body! While Madison Avenue has used women’s bodies to sell almost everything, and the standard of female beauty is dangerously close to an emaciated prepubescent body, tantric yoga offers a very different understanding of the body as the gateway to truth, beauty and your own divine essence as unconditioned Presence. Our exploration in this workshop will be playful, adventurous, inspiring—as we remap the body from the inside out. Learn about the five Prana vayus or subtle energetic flows, and the use of body locks (bandhas) to channel them. We’ll use movement, chant, breathwork, deep relaxation, and readings from inspiring tantric texts (from Kashmir Shaivism) to gracefully launch us into a new and joyful relationship with our bodies.

CULTIVATING A LIFE OF VALUE
Design a Daily Practice that lets your Heart Sing!
Saturday, April 28
9:30 - 1:00 pm
$45

What does your heart yearn for? Are you living with impeccability? How do you cultivate a daily spiritual practice that supports your heart’s deepest longing and supports your own authenticity? In this half day retreat, we will explore the notion of sadhana (daily spiritual practice) as we search in own hearts following the path of these questions. Rather than seeking to find answers to the questions, we honor the words of the poet Rilke when he said to “live the questions.” We will look at ways to engage with these questions through movement (asana and BodySensing, a meditative approach to asana), pranayama (breathing), guided meditation and a selection of yoga texts, especially the Bhagavad-Gita.

 

EXPLORATIONS IN BEING
A New Year's Retreat on Mount Desert Island, Maine
December 27-31,2006

"When we knowingly live in timeless Being, with a heart and mind that
are open to knowing our true unborn and unconditioned nature, awakening spontaneously arises. This is the end of searching. This is the end of suffering. This is fulfillment and the beginning of living the awakened life.”
--Richard Miller

Deepen your yoga practice during this four day New Year's retreat on the ocean of Mount Desert Island. Through our practice of asana, pranayama and meditation, we'll explore the core teachings of yoga on awakening to our true nature as pure Being. Drawing from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as well as the tantric text, Pratyabijna Hridayam, we'll study experientially the process of awakening. We'll take this practice into ordinary activity during our hikes on the trails of Acadia National Park. A special feature of this retreat will be the daily practice of yoga nidra, a profoundly transformative process that leads to lasting psychological, physical and spiritual healing through the systematic dissolution of long-held negative beliefs and progressive self-inquiry into Being. We’ll stay in cottages directly on the beach on the western shore of the island. The retreat begins with an early dinner on Thursday and ends with lunch on Sunday.

INVOKING THE WISDOM GODDESSES
An Exploration of the Ten Wisdom Goddesses of Tantric Yoga
February 10
9:30 - 1:00 pm
$45. ($125 for all three winter workshops.)

The Tantric Yoga tradition offers a beautiful practice of mantra and meditation through the teaching of the Ten Wisdom Goddesses (dasha mahavidya). Through asana and guided meditation you will identify one goddess with whom you share an affinity and you'll learn simple practices associated with Her.

MOVING INTO BLISS
A Tantra Yoga Workshop in two parts
October 14, November 18, Saturdays
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
$45/session; $80 for both

Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field.
I’ll meet you there. -Rumi

Come play in the field of yoga and philosophy.  Align the body and discover the divine. Laugh for no good reason and relax so deeply you touch the stars. Honor the truth of this moment and discover the wisdom of right action.

This two-part workshop is offered as an invitation to move deeply into the truth of what we face individually and globally and learn to respond with an open heart and a wise mind. Each session will include asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), and yoga nidra (deep relaxation & meditation), as well as presentation and discussion.

Oct 14: the fundamentals—body, breath and aligning with the Divine
Nov 18: expanding possibilities—working with the embodied mind

TRUE FREEDOM THROUGH TANTRIC YOGA
July 1, Saturday
9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Celebrate Independence Day in this retreat on the yogic understanding of freedom: what does it mean and how do we cultivate it. We’ll examine the tantric wisdom on freedom and do a full yoga practice including asana, chanting and pranayama, and a meditative exercise on finding your own path to freedom.

 

DO YOGA FOR THE PURE FUN OF IT!
Come for a morning of LAUGHTER YOGA
June 3, Saturday
9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Laughing is fun, and extremely beneficial for your physical and emotional health! It stimulates the immune system, opens the lungs, and promotes the production of “feel-good” hormones like beta-endorphin and serotonin. In this workshop you’ll learn how to laugh yourself into an altered state of joy. You’ll discover that you don’t need a good joke to have a good laugh. We’ll look at the science of yoga, practice laughing and do plenty of yoga, including breathing exercises and chanting, all of which are sure to raise your spirits high!

 

THE EIGHT-LIMBED PATH OF YOGA
An Introduction to the Ashtanga Path of Patanjali
May 6, Saturday
9:30 am - 1:00 pm

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali (writing in the 3rd c. BCE) offers a complete description of the eight limbs of yoga. These include asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing) as well as guidelines for ethics, meditation and more. This half day retreat offers an introduction to this wonderful text, through study, chanting, meditation and practice of asana.