This class moves from the head down to the feet over the course of the practice. You'll begin with a few writing prompts to connect with what you really enjoy, and then about 25 minutes into the class, things shift to Yin Yoga practice.
You'll begin with a standing Yin style forward fold to bring blood to the head, and then open the Apana Vayu flow with a squat to start the process of bringing things downwards. Melt into childs pose with various specific hand and arm placements to open all the meridians in the arms, neck, jaw, and chest, further releasing tension from the upper body. Next you'll practice some gentle twists to wring out the middle of the body, and thus stimulate assimilation of what's useful and release of what no longer serves. Open the hips and bring the energy flow down the legs with supported supta ardha virasana (reclined half hero pose), and melt into a gentle savasana to let everything recalibrate and settle in a little further.
Please have paper and a pen ready, a Yoga mat, and if you have one or two Yoga blocks and/or folded up blankets, those may be handy for some poses. Work-arounds are offered for anyone who is without props.
Energetically, the best way to stimulate activity (Yang) is by taking rest and receptivity (Yin) to its extreme. After class, you'll find yourself not only calm and rejuvenated, but also alert and agile in mind and body, ready to take on not only the day, but the whole month ahead.
Course Curriculum
Rae Diamond
Rae Diamond is a Qigong, Yoga and meditation teacher, mentor, and artist, who works with the creative intelligence of nature. In private sessions and classes, Rae supports personal growth through compassionate awareness, innovative perspectives, and mind-body-spirit integration.
Rae teaches practices from various Qigong traditions, including Wild Goose, Eight Pieces of Brocade, Five Animal Frolics, Primordial, Bone Marrow Washing, and Yijing Medical Qigong. Her teaching style is gentle, contemplative, fun, at times zany, and yet also therapeutic, with strong emphasis on proper physical alignment, energy flow, and on mind-breath-body coordination.
Over twenty years of devoted practice and inquiry are at the heart of her work. Rae's training includes several years of study with Medical Qigong master, Dr. Bingkun Hu, a 200-hour Anusara Yoga Teacher Training, Yin Yoga training, four years of private apprenticeship with a shaman, and a Reiki mastership. Her work is also informed by over two decades of research and practice with the Chinese Medicine system, meditation, herbs, psychology, physiology, voice, breath, Yoga, and Buddhist and Taoist philosophies.