July 2025 Newsletter
Summer is in full swing, which means it's time for our Summer Conference! Save the date for Sunday, August 10th! Come early for Yuko’s Half Primary and bring a yummy treat to share. Don't miss this opportunity to come together as a community for discussion and learning!
Rocket Masterclass and Community Classes in Support of Immigrant Rights at the Shala
Here at the Yoga Shala Seattle, we are deeply committed to taking our practice off the mat to fight injustice and work toward collective liberation. In concordance with this commitment, the Shala will be offering a number of donation-based classes to support our wider community. The proceeds from these classes will benefit the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network's Fair Fight Bond Fund, which collects funds to bond individuals out of detention while their immigration proceedings are processed, avoiding prolonged and inhumane incarceration and helping to give immigrants in Washington state a fighting chance.
Starting July 12th, our 2025 cohort of teacher trainees will be hosting Ashtanga Fundamentals classes on Fridays at 5:30 PM and Saturdays at 10:30 AM. These are beginner-friendly, so feel free to bring a friend and support the Bond Fund and our new teachers! Visit our website to see the full schedule!
You can also support the Bond Fund by attending one of Yoga Shala co-founder Brenden Smullen's TWO extended-format Rocket Yoga Masterclasses on July 13th and August 31st! Following a semi-set sequence, this is a mixed-level class that encourages exploration and playfulness, while remaining accessible through modifications and the practice of accepting our bodies' present abilities. There will be a combination of hip openers, backbends, and plenty of opportunities to play with arm balances and inversions. The extended format gives you more time to play with transitions and variations, creating a unique opportunity to challenge and celebrate your practice.
Sign up via Momence to get playful with your practice and support an important cause!
Thai Massage Masterclass at the Yoga Shala
Join E-RYT 500 Catrin Leistikow, owner and operator of Crow Cat Massage, for a 3-hour immersive Thai massage experience on Saturday, August 16th! The course will provide insight into the ancient art of Thai Massage and its multiple benefits. The workshop offers simple and approachable techniques, along with a harmonious sequence that provides clear instructions, making it easy for everyone to follow. You'll also learn about the importance of the breath. This workshop is highly recommended for yoga practitioners and teachers!
About Cat:
Cat was introduced to Thai Massage at a very young age by her family and studied later Thai Massage and Thai Medicine (B/A) in Bangkok, Thailand. She's a certified Thai Massage Teacher and has taught hundreds of students all around the world. She is the owner and operator of Crow Cat Massage, a family-run massage salon focusing on the craft of Thai Massage, founded in 2011 in Bremen, Germany.
Sign Up for Our Intro to Handstand Workshop!
The August edition of our Intro to Handstand workshop sold out so fast that we opened a second slot! Join Kaysha on September 28th for an all-levels handstand workshop focusing on entry-level movements and drills requisite for a handstand practice.
This workshop will involve partner drills and principles of safely bailing from inverted shapes, building comfort upside-down for spatial orientation, and the appropriate use of handstands in an asana-based context.
Remember, this workshop is a prerequisite for the November 16th Intermediate Handstands Workshop, so make sure to sign up soon!
The Eight Limbs: Dharana
The sixth limb of Ashtanga yoga is dharana, meaning concentration. The first five limbs focus on the external practice of yoga, including personal and ethical considerations of the yamas and niyamas, the practices of asana and pranayama, and controlling the senses through pratyahara, and are addressed in Chapter II of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The final three limbs are addressed in Chapter III and focus on the internal practice of yoga.
Dharana is generally defined as concentrating the mind on a fixed point, creating the conditions of focus necessary for meditation. The point of concentration can be anything, but it often takes the form of a repeated mantra or focus on a symbol or image of a deity. Focusing the mind on this single point allows other distractions to fade away, creating the conditions necessary for intense concentration.
Other Resources
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We can't wait to practice with you!
