Tias Little in Helsinki - 19 - 23 May, 2010

MY BODY IS MY TEMPLE

Wednesday 19 May: Sacred Feet & Sacred Knee
9.00–12.00 & 13.30–16.30

The feet are the foundation to the temple of the body and this class details how to activate the foot in order to help align the knees, the pelvis and low back. We study the architecture of the foot and the key ligaments and muscles that support the foot. We look at common ways that the foot collapses and compresses and how to use yoga postures to strengthen and realign the foot. We also explore the vital points (marmas in Ayurveda) within the foot and the key acupressure points in Chinese Medicine.

The knees of the body help maintain physical and mental vitality, stamina and 'staying power'. Yet the knees are prone to strain including tears, twists and torques. This class is designed to safely release binding in the knee, move through scar tissue and strengthen. We practice supine, seated and standing poses to align and harness the knees.

Thursday 20 May: Sacred Hips & Sacred Sacrum
9.00–12.00 & 13.30–16.30

In Greek the name for the hip socket is acetabulum, meaning ‘wine cup’. Here the ball of the femur swivels in the hip joint. This class emphasizes balanced range of motion in the hip by taking the hip into flexion, extension, internal and external rotation. The sequence helps to align the all powerful ilio-femoral ligaments and release pull in the piriformis and glut muscles.

The sacral bone is the key bone of the pelvis and it is the key bone of the spine. Postural balance and centering occurs at the sacral level (svadhisthana, the second chakra) and the sacrum initiates the strong centering movement of the tailbone (mulabandha). This class looks at the powerful ligaments and muscles that hold the sacrum in place and we practice postures that balance the sacrum.

Friday 21 May: Sacred Psoas & Sacred Skull
9.00–12.00 & 13.30–16.30

The ilio-psoas is the revered muscle located deep in the abdomen, along the front of the spine that gives support to all movement. It is all too common that core building routines cause excessive shortness and tightening in the psoas. This class cultivates core strength in the low back and ilio-psoas without creating contraction. The emphasis will be on establishing length and strength in the psoas while developing support close to the spine.

The cranium is home to 21 bones, the 3 upper chakras, 3 brains, and 7 sensory openings or ‘gates’. This class explores the dynamic equilibrium of the skull in yoga meditation and asana practice. We review the jaw, tongue, inner ear, sagittal suture and frontanelles and the importance these structures have in releasing cranial compression. Iyengar once said: ‘The hardest organ to adjust in the body is the brain’. In this class we will investigate what it means to release the organ of the brain, through inversions (headstand for those who can do it), forward bends and twists. Significant time is given to the practice of pratyahara‹the softening of sensory awareness through pranayama, khechari mudra and visualization practices.

WEEK-END EVENT

Saturday 22 May: SideWays & Unwinding the Low Back
9.00–12.00 & 13.30–16.30

Freeing the side body in yoga is key to opening the core. If the side body is hemmed and bound then the inner body has no room to expand and open. Beginning at the outer heel, along the outer leg, waist, trunk, neck and skull, this class aims to release the sides of the body in order to allow the interior to open. Sidebends and twists.

Lower back compression is so common in our culture – 85% of our society suffers from low back pain at some point in their lives. Typically this pain is due to asymmetrical strain patterns, i.e. excess tightness one side of the body. The class aims to release constriction in the lumbar and sacral area through gliding and rocking and stretching movements. In particular, our aim is to unglue the tightness in the muscles, tendons and ligaments by irrigating blood into the lower spine and sacrum.

Sunday 23 May: Yoking the Shoulder Girdle & the Spiral
9.00–12.00 & 13.30–16.30

It is all too common for the shoulders to collapse and displace forward due to repetitive strain and overuse of the arms. This may result in pain in the neck region, tension between the shoulder blades and numbness in the arm and hand. The aim of this class is to reduce shoulder and neck restriction and to effectively yoke the shoulder blades onto the back. We will practice supine, seated and standing postures that help set the shoulders efficiently on the spine and prepare for arm balances.

The spiral pattern is one of the most ancient forms of life as it gives birth to galaxies, DNA, seashells and the inner ear. The word spiral comes from the Greek speira meaning coiled, wreathed or twisted. In this class we will investigate the coil (in Sanskrit kunda as in kundalini) that in yoga practice is the source of all movement. We practice revolving poses that activate spiral movement within the spine. We tap the profound ways that twisting poses bring life, creativity, joy and energy to the body.

Prices:

Wed–Fri: 260 € (until 30 April), 280 € (after 30 April)
Sat–Sun: 170 € (until 30 April), 190 € (after 30 April)

Enrolment and further information:
eija.tervonen (at) welho.com
+358 (0)40 575 2996 (after 3 March)

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Tias Little is trained in Iyengar and Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, and his perspective clearly reflects the Buddha's teachings. Tias has been a student of Dzogchen practice of Tibetan Buddhism since 2003, studying with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and he has practiced Zen meditation since 1992. He is also a licensed massage therapist and has studied extensively in both cranial-sacral therapy and somatics. Tias earned a Masters degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College in New Mexico. Tias’ teaching specialises in yoga and anatomy, blending both Western and Eastern perspectives. He currently directs Prajna Yoga in Santa Fe New Mexico with his wife Surya and leads yoga intensives both nationally and internationally. Tias taps from a remarkable wealth and depth of knowledge and personal experience, bringing to his teaching a wonderful play of metaphor and imagination, humour and compassion. His dharma talks touch the depths of your soul.

For further information on Tias, please visit: www.tiaslittle.com.