The gifts of yoga are as numerous and varied as the petals of a lotus blossom. Join Sweta Saraogi for an interesting afternoon of Restorative Yoga that incorporates yogic mythological storytelling. It will transport you to times of yore when gods co-habited with humans, divine voices could be heard and visions seen. Let this workshop help you add a new dimension to your practice, understanding, and love of yoga.

During this 2 hour workshop:

• Students will be lead through classic restorative yoga poses that create gentle openings, and facilitate bringing the body back to its natural alignment.
• The body will be fully supported in each pose allowing the muscles to relax and open while encouraging the release of tension and stored up toxins that can cause illness. These series of floor postures will be held from 10 to 12 minutes.
• This style of yoga focuses on the connective tissues, stimulating the energy meridians throughout the body. It complements the more muscular and dynamic forms of yoga such as vinyasa.

Why storytelling?

• These mythological stories have been told since ancient times. Whether or not they actually happened is of less importance than the symbolic meaning they convey.
• These myths point to a higher state of consciousness. They have the power to change old patterns of behaviour, providing us with enlightened insight that brings us closer to who we really are. And this is precisely what the yoga tradition is concerned with.
• The stories are very inspiring, soul-stirring, and rich with multiple layers of meaning. They will illustrate some mystical, hidden potential within. This potential tends to lie dormant until we illuminate it with awareness.
• To be mystical is to look within oneself for the source of all that is. As you meditate on the essence of the story during restorative yoga, your brain goes into an alpha state similar to that experienced during meditation or right before falling asleep. This state will travel your soul from ignorance to illumination as you look within yourself from the lens of your heart.

Take these few hours to renew your outlook on your life by imbibing the teachings from these stories. Their goal is to take us from the illusions of our ego-centered existence (samsara) to the reality of liberated existence, which has three major components: truth (sat), clear consciousness (cit), and boundless joy (ananda).

All levels are welcome and postures can be modified based on your experience or physical condition.