about our classes and teachers

Kudrat Kaur (Vanessa Weinberg) is a Yoga & Meditation Teacher, ARCB Certified Reflexologist and Wholistic Healer in New York City. She leads workshops and retreats throughout the country providing yogic technology to householders and corporations alike.

Kudrat has been a student of Yoga for over 25 years. She received her first teacher's training under the guidance of Yogi Bhajan at the Kundalini Yoga Institute in New Mexico.

Yogi Bhajan, brought the Kundalini Yoga teachings to the west blending them with the martial meditations of the Sikh tradition. We hone our bodies and minds, cleanse the organs and auric space, align the chakras to generate energy to heal ourselves and others, increase our creative potential, activate strength of grace at any age, all of which sets you free to explore the Infinite here & now!

She is happy to be an ongoing student of vinyasa with many wonderful teachers including Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini.

Kudrat is the former COO of weBreathe, the Universal Village for Holistic and Spiritual Health, Information, and Business. She is the founder of *Healthy Yoga* and *Healing Gifts*.

YOGA OF NOURISHMENT
WITH AARONA PICHINSON

Aarona Pichinson has been actively involved in the healing arts for the past 8 years. Beginning her journey and education with her own health, Aarona found great healing using tools such as whole organic foods, yoga, dance, art and photography, and alternative medicine. During her 6 month stay in India, she increased her knowledge of natural healing methods, yoga and ayurveda, and began working with people who suffered from various health problems and imbalances. Upon her return to the United States, Aarona moved to New York where she received her certification in Holistic Health Counseling from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She now uses each of these tools when working with others to cultivate a sustainable, practical and fun way of achieving optimal health and wellness. Aarona has a private practice in New York and gives lectures and workshops based on wellness using food, movement and creative self expression as a roadmap to living a vibrant and vital life.

YOGA DANCE WITH PARASHAKTI

There's a world behind the one we see, one humans have pursued since first inhabiting this planet. A certain few break through layers to communicate deeper; some call it soul, others spirit, but most agree it is unnamable, infinite. Parakshakti is one such initiate in this rare class of seers, using her own life as a template for others to map out. "My goal is to connect people with the earth," she says, "with their own voice in a very deep way." A native of Jerusalem, Israel, Parashakti melds the teachings of dance, shamanism and the yogic arts. An adept at massage therapy, yoga and TranceDance - a communal ritual blurring the lines between dance, music, and internal therapy - she is a healer in every facet of the word. Working with energy fields and day-to-day tensions alike, partaking in a Parashakti ritual allows one to touch the eternal without leaving the moment; her techniques offer immense healing potential, regardless whether diehard skeptic or enduring believer.

CAPOEIRAWITH MALUCO

Maluco has dedicated 8 years to the art of Capoeira. He is celebrated for his free-flowing, acrobatic, and unpredictable style. He is an instructor with the New York Capeoira Quintal under Mestre Ombrinho, the first North American Capoeira Master. The focus of the class is to create a playful and free-flowing Capoeira "game". Instructor Maluco's program builds: strength, balance, coordination, reflexes and flexibility - all while smiling

HEALING MOVEMENT WITH COLIN CAREW

Colin Carew's unique blend of dancing and teaching is influenced by his inner love of movement and healing within its creation. Mr. Carew taught himself how to dance first before his training in the dance studios of many well known New York schools and companies such as Dance Space Center, Alvin Aiely School, Broadway Dance, Steps, Tish school of dance, Jacobs Pillow, and many more. He started dancing at the age of five in his country of British Guyana. Colin Carew Has spent 6 years in Italy, Paris and Amsterdam teaching and performing dance and experimental Healing movement. He has won many prizes in the Riccione Danza Concorso Nationale- a National Choreographers competition- and has been invited again to participate as a guest judge. His unique style and technique of dancing comes from the blending of Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Salsa, Tango, Partnering, Contact improv, Afro Cuban and experimental healing movement. He has performed with Alvin Aiely Dance Company, The Good- Milkman Company, Tony Silva Dance Company, Alison Belllefonte Dance, The Inner Landscapes Dance Collective, The Assokere Cuban Folklore Dance Company, Alex Beller dance, and many more national and International companies. Mr. Carew Has created a Dance, Acting, Music, singing and film making collective called KUANGABASH (The inner movement project). This movement is to bring back spirituality to the Arts and in life for the audience members who need a little more than just to be entertained. KUANGABASH is the beginning of a new movement of artist whose intentions are to awaken a higher spiritual ability in their crafts.

VINYASA KRAMA WITH MATTHEW LOMBARDO
bio. coming soon

KUNDALINI YOGA & ASTROLOGY WITH GURU JAGAT

Guru Jagat Kaur (Athena Katie Day) is a yogi by day, stargazer by night and an alchemist outside and inside of Time. Her learning and teaching is about the Remembrance of Being. You are the Grand Plan. She is currently working on two books, one is called "Saturn in Cancer: Home is where the Heart is" and the other is on the practical applications of Christ Consciousness.

YOGIC ARTS WITH HWALAN

As a natural athlete, Hwalan's grace and strength bring to her teaching an empowerment and fluidity. Her experience as a performer and time living and studying in Korea, as well as skills honed from her extensive dance and martial arts training, contribute to her unique perspective and teaching style. A magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in Visual Art, she is also a multi-media artist and performer. Born in Seoul, Korea, Hwalan currently resides in New York and is a member of the USA Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Demo Team under Sifu Shi Yan Ming.

IYENGAR & BODY MIND CENTERING
WITH BETH BIEGLER

Beth is a registered yoga teacher and ayurvedic practitioner. She spent five years of under the tutelage of Dr. Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute as a student, herbalist and instructor in the Ayur-Yoga Program. Her eclectic approach to asana draws on over fifteen years of experience in the Iyengar tradition, as well as her work with Body-Mind Centering, cranio-sacral therapy, and both Indian and Tibetan tantric practices. Beth teaches anatomy and specialized courses on ayurveda in several Yoga Alliance certified teacher training programs. Since leaving New Mexico in 2000, she has returned to teach yoga seminars at the Ayurvedic Institute and is a regular contributor to their quarterly publication, Ayurveda Today.

YOGIC ARTS WITH DUNCAN WONG

Yogic Arts(tm) integrates the dynamic core strength development and joint conditioning of the internal (energetic) aspects of martial arts and the fluidity and purification of Vinyasa flow yoga with the healing touch of traditional Thai massage (yoga-sage).

Duncan Wong is a seasoned body-worker, accomplished Ashtanga yogi, certified in the Jivamukti method, a Cranial-Sacral Therapist and former champion Kuk Sool Won (traditional Korean Buddhist martial art) competitor. His teaching method synthesizes technical alignment and natural energetic flow with therapeutic Thai massage, combining somatic intelligence and compassionate intensity, which affords an experience of accelerated cellular memory and awareness in an encouraging and educational environment.

Duncan's teaching experience spans over fifteen years and extends across the globe. His teacher's include Sri K. P. Jois, Sri Brahmadev, Kwahn Jang Nym (Korean Buddhist Gung-Fu Master) Suh, Tim Miller, Eddie Stern, Rodney Yee, Sharon Gannon, David Life and Nivene Michaan. A native of San Francisco, California, Duncan resides in New York, where he conducts classes and teacher certification programs at his Yogic Arts(tm) Studio.

LAUGHTER MEDITATION WITH SWAMI LARAAJI NADANANDA

Swami Laraaji Nadananda is a meditator, laugh master, and cosmic musician who tours and records internationally to share his gift of bliss and healing sound. He is a disciple of the here and now.

Bing a joyful element to your practice through Laughter Meditation w/ Swami Laraaji Nadananda. Laughter has been said to be our best medicine and an important aspect of healing and relief from stress. Laraaji brings a wealth of laughter and love to hundreds of participants who say it has changed their lives. Dress lightly and comfortably?expect to have some serious fun!

BODY ENLIGHTENMENT WITH SIMON PARK

Simon Park was introduced to vinyasa yoga through shiva rea in the world arts and cultures department at ucla. he continued his study of both ashtanga and iyengar at yogaworks in santa monica, ca, where he was certified to teach in 1997. Saul David Raye, founder of the center for thai-yoga therapy, also introduced him to thai massage at that time. Simon received his training in swedish massage with Telema Hess, founder of Omega Bodyworks. Simon integrates thai massage, swedish, shiatsu and osteopathic techniques into his teaching.

HATHA VINYASA WITH PAULA TURSI

Paula Tursi has been practicing yoga and alternative healing in New York City and abroad for over 15 years. She has studied with renowned teachers such as John Friend, Rodney Yee and Angela Farmer. She has also worked extensively with Leslie Kaminoff and Topf technique in the art of breath, anatomy and movement awareness. She has her 500 hr Yoga Alliance certification and is currently seeking her Anusara yoga certification. She holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from Columbia University and is certified by the Milton Erickson School of Hypnosis and Vortex Healing.

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Sept 23rd - 26th, 2005
Autumn Equinox
Cleansing Retreat for Women
with Aarona, Kudrat, & Haale

Ananda Ashram, Monroe, NY - only 1 hr. by bus from NYC

REGISTRATION::: call: (845) 782-5575

tuition $315/ $140 for each single day + room & board
tuition includes special cleansing foods and recipes
room and board are separate -- call the ashram for rates

congregate as a society of women to cleanse
discover recipes for health & longevity
dance, drum, and chant sacred mantras in fire ceremony
practice Kundalini & Vinyasa Yoga
rise with the sun & meditate with nature

Give yourself a weekend filled with clarity and healthy connection.

Women of any age and yogic experience are welcome to join us at this gathering.

:::what to bring:::
comfortable and ceremonial clothes
journal, pen, drum
& any items that you wish to add to an alter
(stones, feathers, pictures, flowers...)

This well rounded and informational cleansing retreat, will provide you with various yogic technologies tailored for you as a woman to bring you to bliss, balance, & wholeness so that you may explore life as your most vibrant self. You will put into practice tools designed to help you diminish imbalanced cravings, maintain optimal energy, and achieve mental clarity -- all of which can easily and safely be continued on your own.

Private counseling is available during and after the retreat.

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