– WORKSHOPS –
The Zoom link will be sent to you close to the Workshop date.
Seeing and Understanding Bodies 2023
with Gay White
8 Seminars
January 7- Dec 2 (Not May, July, Aug & Nov)
First Saturday of the Month
2:00-5:00 pm
*These seminars may only be taken as a series.
$440 for 8 seminars
I– Saturday, January 7, 2–5pm
In this seminar, we will explore basic questions of alignment.
II – Saturday, February 4, 2–5pm
In this seminar, we will focus on the feet and ankles, especially in standing poses.
III – Saturday, March 4, 2–5pm
In this seminar, we will explore the proper alignment of the knees and legs.
IV – Saturday, April 8, 2–5pm
This seminar will consider the alignment of the pelvis and develop awareness of the sacrum and tailbone.
V – Saturday, June 3, 2–5pm
In this seminar, we will discuss the imporance of the inner groins and the iliopsoas.
VI – Saturday, September 9, 2–5pm
This seminar will cover various aspects of the thorax, with particular focus on the sternum and collarbones.
VII – Saturday, October 7, 2–5pm
We will explore the relationship betweenn the arms and shoulder blades, and will also consider the elbows, wrists and hands.
VIII – Saturday, December 2, 2–5pm
In our final seminar, we will consider the head and neck, with particular emphasis on the cervical curve.
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Gay White worked closely with Donald Moyer, both as an assistant in these seminars for many years and as a grateful asana student working with these ideas.
Yoga Anatomy 1
with Jason Hardage
8-class Series on Monday Evenings
March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24 | 5:45 - 7:15 pm
$256 for full 8-class series (Zoom only)
In this 8 week course we will study structural anatomy including the bones and joints. The participants will learn the names of the bones, and be able to describe the range of motion of the joint structures. This class is open to any student interested in learning how the body moves in daily life, and in yoga poses.
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Jason Hardage, a physical therapist for 20 years, is board certified in geriatric and neurologic physical therapy through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) through Yoga Alliance and a PWR!Moves Certified Therapist for people with Parkinson's disease through Parkinson Wellness Recovery (www.pwr4life.org). He works with older adults with chronic health conditions and people of all ages with neurologic conditions, including stroke and other types of acquired brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. He also works with people with chronic pain and cancer.
Developing a Practice of Standing Poses
with Betsy Weiss
8-class Series on Tuesday Evenings
March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18, 25 | 5:45 - 7:15 pm
$256 for full 8-class series (In-Person and Zoom)
The standing poses strengthen the legs, improve the mobility of the hip joints, and create a firm and steady base for the elongation of the spine. In this course, we will explore alignment, sequencing of poses, and the use of props. One year of yoga experience needed. This class can be taken for Advanced Studies Program Credit or for your own personal learning.
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Betsy Weiss has been practicing yoga since 1988 and teaching since 1994. She graduated from the Berkeley Yoga Room's Advanced Studies Program in 1996. Her primary instructors have been Donald Moyer, Mary Lou Weprin, Gay White, and Judith Lasater. Betsy has run two yoga studios in Alameda where she is also an elementary school teacher. She believes that yoga is an antidote to our busy lives and finds great joy in assisting other people on their quest for self-awareness through teaching yoga.
Zen Meditation on our Original Nature
with Reb Anderson
8-class Series on Tuesday Evenings
March 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9 | 7:00 - 8:45 pm
$144 full 8-class series - $20 for single classes (Zoom only)
In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. Each session will begin with quiet contemplation and will be followed by a dharma talk and group discussion.
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Tenshin Reb Anderson is Senior Dharma Teacher and former Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center. He is the author of Warm Smiles from Cold Mountains, Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Bodhisattva Precepts, and The Third Turning of the Wheel: Wisdom of the Samdhinirmocana Sutra.
Got Ur Back! Back Care for EvErY BODY
with Cator Shachoy
Saturday, March 25 | 2:00-4:00 pm
$45 (in-person and on Zoom)
Most us will experience a stiff, cranky back more than once in a lifetime. For some, back pain is a constant. Come and learn how to give yourself relief. We’ll move through a gentle yet effective asana and breath awareness sequence that is helpful for a variety of types of back pain. All levels welcome! No previous experience with yoga necessary. Cator’s teaching is informed by her extensive training in Iyengar style yoga, Craniosacral Therapy and Mindfulness meditation. Hybrid – Available both online and in-person. Registrants receive a link to the zoom recording valid for 2 weeks after workshop date.
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Cator Shachoy began the practices of yoga, Buddhist meditation, and energy healing in 1990 to heal chronic illness. Through the regular practice of these disciplines, she recovered her strength and vitality. For Cator, spiritual growth and development is a healing path inviting us to become more intimate with everything. Her practices of Buddhism, Energy Healing, Yoga and conscious body movement are deeply integrated. Cator is a CIAYT yoga therapist, YACEP instructor, MBSR teacher and Visionary Craniosacral work practitioner. She completed teacher training at the Iyengar Inst of SF & Kripalu and studied with senior Iyengar teachers in the SF bay area for 25 years, including Donald Moyer, Marylou Weprin, Ramanand Patel & Elise Miller. She has a certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy. Her primary meditation teachers include Ajahn Pasanno, Ruth Denison & Mingyur Rinpoche. Cator began teaching Yoga & Meditation in 1996. Currently she is in private practice and teaches internationally.
Returning to Partner Work
with Debbie Gilman and Bridget Frederick
Saturday, April 1 | 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
$65 (in-person only)
If you’ve missed partner work in your yoga practice, you understand the benefits that come with them, including traction, going deeper in our poses, getting feedback on our alignment, and the shared community that comes from working together. This workshop will allow us time to revisit some favorite ways of working in groups in a well-rounded practice that includes warm ups, twists, moderate forward bends and backbends. We’ll review in detail how to set up for and execute the partner work in safe and satisfying ways for ourselves and to use in our classes. Open to yoga teachers, ASP graduates and experienced practitioners with permission of the instructors.
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Debbie Gilman. M.A., ERYT 500, has been teaching at The Yoga Room since 2000, is on the faculty of the Advanced Studies Program there, and co-owns Innate Chiropractic & Wellness Studio in Albany.
A life-long teacher, she loves sharing the movement-based mindfulness practice of yoga with her students. In recent years Debbie has been studying the history of yoga to deepen her understanding of the practice.
Bridget Frederick, ERYT 500, has been teaching since 2010. Her classes aim to make Yoga accessible to anyone who is interested in finding the relief, strength, or stillness that Yoga can bring. With a strong focus on anatomy, balance, and core strength, there’s always a new direction and challenge for her students to explore. Her interest in aerial arts led to an exploration of the Yoga Ropes Wall.
Exploring Partner Work
with Debbie Gilman and Bridget Frederick
Sunday, April 2 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
$55 (in-person only)
Are you interested in exploring partner work and the benefits of extra eyes on your practice and extra care to help you find your best poses? We will work with you to understand what safe and helpful partner work looks and feels like. This workshop is for students with at least 6 months of yoga experience.
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Debbie Gilman. M.A., ERYT 500, has been teaching at The Yoga Room since 2000, is on the faculty of the Advanced Studies Program there, and co-owns Innate Chiropractic & Wellness Studio in Albany.
A life-long teacher, she loves sharing the movement-based mindfulness practice of yoga with her students. In recent years Debbie has been studying the history of yoga to deepen her understanding of the practice.
Bridget Frederick, ERYT 500, has been teaching since 2010. Her classes aim to make Yoga accessible to anyone who is interested in finding the relief, strength, or stillness that Yoga can bring. With a strong focus on anatomy, balance, and core strength, there’s always a new direction and challenge for her students to explore. Her interest in aerial arts led to an exploration of the Yoga Ropes Wall.
Yoga for the Pelvic Floor
with Emily Combs
Saturday, April 15 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
$45 (in-person only)
In this workshop, we will begin to become aware of and sense the pelvic floor. We will discuss pelvic floor anatomy, diaphragmatic breathing, and different types of pelvic floors. We will learn how to address both hypertonic and hypotonic pelvic floors by modifying well-known yoga poses.
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Emily Combs (B.A., ERYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP) has been studying yoga for over 20 years and teaching for the last 10 years. She has a 500 hour teaching certificate from the Advanced Studies Program at The Yoga Room Berkeley. In addition, Leslie Howard has been her teacher and mentor for 17 years. Emily is a certified Pelvic Floor Yoga teacher who has taught workshops and class series for the pelvic floor. She taught Pelvic Floor Yoga for a UCSF study focusing on the efficacy of using yoga to help with urinary incontinence in 2019, 2020, and 2021. She also taught Pelvic Floor Yoga for another UCSF study last year focusing on relieving pelvic pain.
Yoga for Osteoporosis
with Betty Aten
Saturday, April 22 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
$45 (in-person only)
Due to the encouraging results of Dr. Loren Fishman’s original 10-year study showing that the majority of participants had significant improvement in their bone density after practicing a prescribed series of 12 yoga poses, he became interested in delving more deeply into the factors that make yoga an effective intervention strategy for those with osteopenia and osteoporosis. He has just concluded a second study covering a separate set of yoga poses. In this workshop you will be introduced to the second series of poses. Enrollment is limited to 12 to allow for individual feedback. It is appropriate for all levels
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Betty Aten traveled to New York City in 2016 to become the first Yoga for Osteoporosis certified teacher in Northern California. She taught Yoga for Bone Health classes at 4th Street Yoga until it closed, and now offers classes at her private studio, “just YOGA” in Berkeley. She teaches with precision, warmth and encouragement.
Back on the Walls!
Yoga Rope Wall Workshops
with Sandy Zirulnik and Bridget Frederick
Saturday, March 18 and April 29 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
$45 for one class - $80 for both (in-person only)
Curious about the Yoga Ropes Wall in Studio B? Ready to get back to live, assisted classes after practicing at home for so long? Enhance your yoga practice and experience the many facets of the Ropes Wall. These two-hour workshops will explore technique and poses, developing strength and confidence in weight shifting, balancing and getting off the floor. No prior Ropes Wall experience is necessary. Space is limited on the ropes wall, so please sign up in advance!
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Bridget Frederick’s classes aim to make yoga accessible to anyone who is interested in finding the relief, strength or stillness that yoga can. With a strong focus on anatomy, balance and core strength, there’s always a new direction and challenge for her students to explore. In addition to yoga, her interest in aerial arts led to an exploration of yoga wall ropes, first developed by BKS Iyengar, who used them as a prop to support and intensify his asana practice. Bridget started co-teaching regular ropes classes and workshops with Sandy Zirulnik in 2017. The support of the ropes wall can bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the asanas, playing with gravity and the way our bodies can exist within it at different angles than we are used to.
Sandy Zirulnik, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, YACEP, leads yoga classes that explore structure, movement, strength, and balance through the practice of asanas, breathing awareness, and the study of anatomy. They are enjoyable and appropriate for students of all ages and interests. Sandy began studying Yoga in 1998 and graduated from The Yoga Room’s Advanced Studies Program. On the rope wall, he explores pushing, pulling and weightlessness.
Limited to 9 students. All students must be fully vaxxed and boosted.
Yoga and Mindful Practice Classes
for Children 8-10 Years Old
with Vida Bateau
Wednesdays, April 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24 | 3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
$15 or by donation (in-person only)
*Mindful Practice includes formal sitting, walking meditation, mindful eating, listening and seeing, among others.
*Yoga includes poses emphasizing the basics of balance, flexibility, alignment and strength.
Designed to suit the ages and interests of the children.
These classes will be full of fun, exploration, curiosity, creativity, and some history.
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Vida Bateau began studying Iyengar yoga in 1980 with Patricia Walden in Cambridge, MA. Many years later, she is a student of Gay White at the Yoga Room Berkeley.
Vida trained in the Mindful Schools program in Emeryville and by, among many others, Pema Chodron, Jack Kornfield, and Thich Nhat Hahn. For over 10 years she incorporated Mindful practices and yoga poses into the music classes she taught. Inspired by the deep changes in her own life from these practices, she has seen profound growth in her students over the years. “I was constantly required to be quiet, sit down, be still. I couldn’t do that. I was fidgety, anxious, loud, impulsive and usually in trouble. If only I’d been told what to do, instead of what not to do.! It is so moving and healing for me to be able to share these simple tools. “
Vida taught Orff Schulwerk-inspired music classes for over 45 years at Beacon Day School in Oakland, Berkwood Hedge School, Berkeley, and at The Crestmont School in Richmond. She and her wife have had the good fortune to raise two wonderful children, her most important teachers.
– INTENSIVES –
Winter Intensive
with Mary Lou Weprin
Saturday-Sunday, March 11-12 | 10am-12 noon, and 2-4pm
$220 (in-person and on Zoom)
Please join us for our annual Winter Intensive. Morning sessions will focus on Standing Poses, Backbends and some Inversions, and afternoons will be more relaxing with Restoratives, Inversions and Forward Bends. Participants should be familiar with Headstand, Shoulderstand, and Urdhva Dhanurasana. Open to students who regularly attend a Level 2–4 or 3–5 class at the Yoga Room, are graduates or currently enrolled in the Advanced Studies Program, or by permission of the instructor.
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Mary Lou Weprin's Intensives allow more time to enjoy these poses within the framework of a fully balanced practice.
