We all know autumn is the time of letting go. This month, we support the colon in its processes of extracting essences and letting go of what's no longer needed. This then frees up space for new creativity.
This monthly class begins with a few brief writing practices to gather up the lessons of the past month, and orient yourself towards the weeks ahead. Then you melt into the present moment with over an hour of Yin Yoga practice, unraveling tension from your body, strengthening your joints, and letting your insights and aspirations take root in your consciousness.
Just like the proverbial scales that always hover a little this way and a little that way, maintaining a healthy balance in life is an active practice. Every so often, you might find that things have gotten a little out of balance in some way in your life. Because we live in a fast-paced world, most of us do too much and push ourselves too hard. This can lead to fatigue and stress that then create a domino effect of further imbalances. This class is will give you a moment to pause, reflect on your circumstances from a peaceful place, and let a fresh sense of balance emerge in your consciousness.
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. And don't worry - your writing is private, and just for you.
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.