June 2025 Newsletter
The days are finally getting warmer, and we are excited to share our summer with you! Don't forget that we have two exciting events coming up THIS WEEKEND:
The summer edition of the Shala’s Start Your Practice Series is Sunday, June 8th at 10 am! Led by Brendan and a special guest, this workshop is perfect for new students or seasoned practitioners looking to recommit to their practice!
Our upcoming plant repotting workshop in collaboration with Fancy Plants Seattle is scheduled for Saturday, June 7th at 12 pm! RSVP today!
Summer Workshops and Events
Save the date for these upcoming events and offerings:
Brendan will host a Rocket masterclass on Sunday, July 13th. The class is donations-based, and all proceeds will benefit WAISN's Fair Fight Bond Fund. Take advantage of this opportunity to play with a longer-format Rocket sequence and support an important cause!
Our Summer Conference is scheduled for Sunday, August 10th. Come for Yuko's Led Half Primary and stay for discussion and sharing with our community.
Our summer Intro to Handstand workshop sold out so fast that we opened a second session led by Kaysha on Sunday, September 28. Remember, Intro to Handstands is the prerequisite for our November 16th Intermediate Handstands workshop, so make sure you sign up soon!
Summer Shala Merch!
We’re all out and about for summer, which means you need some new Shala merch to show off! The much-anticipated summer merch pre-order form is live! Check it out and place your order today.
Final Spots for Bali Practice Intensive
There are just a spots left to join Brendan and Christiane for a tropical practice intensive in Ubud, Bali, this fall!
Here is all you need to know:
Week 1: Oct 22-29
Week 2: Oct 29-Nov 5
The experience includes:
Lodging at Shala Bali with gorgeous views of rice terraces (7 OR 14 nights)
Two vegan/vegetarian meals per day
One weekly excursion to temples, rice terraces, and more
Local transportation from Denpasar Airport to lodging (select shuttle times)
ALL Yoga sessions (Daily Mysore and guided classes, specialty workshops -such as backbends, inversions, support practice-, daily pranayama and meditation, select lectures)
For more information, visit our website or reach out to us directly with questions!
Community Recap
Over the last few weeks, we have celebrated the practice and our community with a number of special workshops and events. May 4th was our Journey to Leg Behind the Head and Other Hip Openers workshop, and on June 1st, we explored Intro to Arm Balances and Inversions. Workshops are a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of particular shapes and aspects of the practice, and we love seeing our community grow together and try new things! (Look out for our upcoming Intro to Handstands on September 28th!)
We were also thrilled to welcome back Sumeet Banjir for an evening of yoga Nidra, storytelling, and acoustic music. This was Sumeet’s third visit to the Shala, and it is always an honor to host him!
The Eight Limbs: Pratyahara
The fifth limb of Ashtanga yoga is pratyahara, generally translated as “withdrawal of the senses.” The first four limbs focus more on the external aspects of yoga, with the ethical considerations of the yamas and niyamas and the physical practices of controlling the body with asana and the breath with pranayama. Pratyahara is often considered a bridge limb, moving from the external to the internal practice of yoga.
Pratyahara consists of two words: ahara, which means “food” or “nourishment,” and prati, which means “against” or “away.” Taken together, they refer to withdrawing from the stimuli that feed the senses. The senses are not turned off, but the mind no longer reacts impulsively to sensory input. Withdrawing from the constant stimulation of sense input is a key step to prepare the mind for the final three limbs of yoga, which involve meditation and deep concentration.
Other Resources
Did you know Moon Days are listed on our website? Super convenient.
Newsletters are now archived on our website.
We can't wait to practice with you!
