For all classes and workshops, please call Anna Winkler at Shakti Yoga at (973-763-2288) to register or log onto www.shaktinj.com and pay online. For all classes, wear loose, comfortable clothes. We have yoga mats available, so there's no need to bring one.

Martha is also available to teach special workshops upon request. These workshops can also be designed to address the needs of healthcare providers, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, massage therapists and fitness trainers. A minimum of 6 participants is required.  All workshops include detailed handouts of the exercises and a practice CD. Please contact Martha directly to set up your own specially designed workshop, or choose from any one of the workshops mentioned below.

ALL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE AT SHAKTI YOGA AND LIVING ARTS - 

1861 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, NJ - UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

ON - GOING CLASSES:

SOMATIC EXPLORATIONS:

Learn to minimize pain, injury and stress and maximize flexibility and awareness. Learn to move with mindfulness. This “Somatics Essentials” class helps to reinforce awareness of smooth, comfortable movement. It also serves as a “refresher” course for those with previous knowledge of Hanna Somatics or as an introduction to the essential tools for body maintenance and pain relief based on the work of the late somatic education pioneer Thomas Hanna.  If you’ve already had private Somatics sesion, taken the Myth of Aging series or any other Somatics workshop, this class if for you! Beginners are welcome, too!

When: Saturdays - 12:45-2:00pm  

Cost: $18 drop in class - 10 class card available

Martha Peterson and Carrie Day-Palmer alternate teaching every other week. Check out Carrie’s website at www.daysomatics.com.

YOGA AND SOMATICS: A Somatic Approach to Yoga Practice

Through slow, mindful movement we will explore basic elements of yoga poses in order to improve balance, breath, flexibility, and coordination. This class is for both those completely new to yoga or somatics, and those more experienced wishing to slow down.

Thursdays 6:15-7:30pm

$18 Per class, discount available with class card

This class is taught by Carrie Day-Palmer, CCSE.

WINTER WORKSHOPS 2010:

(Please note that all Saturday workshops are from 1:00 - 3:00pm. The Somatic Explorations drop-in class is canceled on workshop days)

MARCH:

ESSENTIAL SOMATIC PRESENTS EXUBERANT ANIMAL!

Come play with me!! Join Frank Forencich of Exuberant Animal for a fun filled weekend of play based functional fitness.

This is an AMAZING workshop- it's intended for anyone, really, to learn the importance of PLAY, and give creative solutions to getting in shape while connecting to a community, improving brain power, challenging yourself, and above all HAVING FUN. It's also a great workshop for fitness & health professionals, movement educators, PE teachers, physical therapists to learn how to encourage play with their clients & patients.

Here's the event page: http://essentialexuberance.eventbrite.com/

The Exuberant Animal website:
(check out the videos!)
http://www.exuberantanimal.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/ExuberantAnimal 

SOMATICS FOR RUNNERS - HAPPY FEET, AND HEALTHY KNEES 

Healthy and strong knees depend upon balance and symmetry in movement. If the center of the body is out of balance, the knees will be strained and the legs and feet will be tired and sore. In this workshop you will learn a variety of somatic movements that integrate the upper body with the legs and hip joints resulting in more fluid walking, running, flexibility. We will also work with the sacroiliac joint and pelvis. This workshop is of particular interest to runners, walkers, dancers, and practitioners of yoga.

When: Saturday, March 13 - 1:00 - 3:00pm

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door/day of the workshop

PAIN FREE NECK AND SHOULDERS - back by popular demand!

Learn to relax and release contracted muscles in the shoulders, back and neck. In this workshop you will increase your somatic awareness with exercises that will help to reverse stooped, hunched shoulders and imbalanced posture that can come from repetitive computer work, excessive driving or sitting. We will also address stiff, tight necks that can occur due to overly contracted back muscles.

This workshop will be taught by Carrie Day-Palmer, CCSE

When: Saturday, March 20 - 1:00 - 3:00pm

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door/day of

 APRIL: 

SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF BACK PAIN

Learn why back pain occurs and how to end it for good! Learn how muscles become habitually tight and why. You will learn Somatic Exercises which will teach you to relax and release those muscles which, when chronically contracted, contribute to back pain. Learn to control the entire lumbar spine for more ease of movement, flexibility, and pain relief.  This workshop is appropriate for all fitness levels.

When: Saturday, April 10 - 1:00 - 3:00pm

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door

SOMATICS FOR THE CHILDBEARING YEAR

In this workshop you will learn to release and relax tight muscles that are a result of the ongoing demands of childbearing and child-rearing. You will learn gentle, easy exercises that you can do anytime, anywhere in order to feel more relaxed, flexible and in control of your back, neck, shoulders and hips. These exercises can be safely done at any time during or after your pregnancy.

When: Wed., April 14 - 7:00-9:00pm

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door/day of.

LOOK FOR THESE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS IN 2010 - check back for dates:

In this workshop you will learn to release tight back muscles and in turn release the hamstrings for more ease of movement. Tight hamstrings are often the result of a tight back, so learning to release both the back and hamstrings at the same time will result in better balance and coordination in walking, running, dancing, yoga, etc. This workshop may be of particular interest to fitness instructors, runners, high school athletes, dancers and yoga students.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the door

THE "MYTH OF AGING" 6 WEEK SOMATICS BASICS SERIES

In this series, you will learn to relax and release muscles that, when habitually contracted, contribute to chronic muscular pain. Those with back, neck, shoulder, hip joint pain or problems with flexibility can benefit from this series. These movements are considered the most basic, essential exercises in the practice of Hanna Somatics. You will learn a sequence of exercises that can be done anytime, anywhere in order to maintain better coordination, and balance, and will result in fewer aches and pains commonly attributed to aging. Because this is a progressive class, please make every effort to attend all the classes.

Appropriate for all levels, even (and especially) throughout pregnancy.

When: TBA
Cost: $90 for the 4-week series. No drop-ins

To register: call 973-763-2288 to register

RELEASING LEGS AND HIP JOINTS

Rid yourself of nagging hip pain that interferes with your running, dancing or active lifestyle. In this workshop you will learn somatic exercises that integrate the upper body with the legs and hip joints resulting in more fluid walking, running flexibility, balance and coordination.
This workshop is appropriate for anyone regardless of activity level. You will learn to use your brain to "re-program" your muscles to lengthen and relax, regaining more efficient muscle control, thereby eliminating pain and stiffness.

This workshop is of particular interest to dancers, runners, and yoga practitioners.

When: TBA

Cost: $20 in advance - $25 at the door/day of

 WALKING WITH EASE

Learn to walk easily and effortlessly! As we get older, many of us complain of stiffness in our hips, knees and feet while walking. You will learn Somatic Exercises that release and relax the muscles of the back, waist, hips. and legs for more fluid, coordinated and balanced walking. There will be special attention paid to regaining movement in the pelvis and sacrum, which aids in a freer,
easier stride.
This workshop is of special
interest to runners, hikers and
walkers.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the door/day of

FULLER, FREER BREATHING

Breathing properly positively affects one’s physiological well being. Shallow breathing can cause a host of problems. You will learn about the muscles involved in breathing and how any restriction in those muscles can make full, easy breathing difficult. Using slow, easy movement exploration you will learn to release the muscles of the back, stomach, waist and ribs in order to deepen your ability to expand your lungs when breathing. This workshop is of special interest for those suffering from asthma or anyone who wishes to breath more fully and feel healthy.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door/day of

 STRENGTHENING WITH SOMATICS

Many of our clients ask us how to strengthen without straining and overstretching. This workshop teaches you to apply the concepts of Hanna Somatics to whatever kind of strength training you enjoy. Learn to develop strength, control and balance in your muscles without the threat of overuse injury so common to most workout techniques. These concepts can be applied to weight training, physical therapy exercises and any other strength training system you may participate in.

This workshop will be co-led by Carrie Day-Palmer

When: TBA

Cost: $25 in advance - $30 at the door

ALIGN YOUR SPINE

In this workshop you will learn exercises that will help to reverse the muscular imbalances that occur due to the repetitive stresses of life, and which can result in spinal misalignments (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis). You will create more flexibility and symmetry in the muscles of the waist, back, hips and ribs. We will assess each person’s alignment and work to address individual issues as well.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance - $35 at the door/day of

A SOMATIC APPROACH TO SCIATICA

In this workshop you will learn exercises that will help to reverse the muscular imbalances and chronic tension in the center of the body that leads to the condition of sciatica - that lower back pain that sends pain down one or both legs. If you have it, you know, and it’s not fun! Using the gentle, easy movement exercises of Hanna Somatics, you will learn to relax and release the muscles of the back, waist and buttocks that, when chronically tight, can lead to the debilitating pain of sciatica. We will also explore what habitual postures and movements might aggravate this condition. A handout of exercises will be given.

SOMATICS FOR YOGA TEACHERS

This workshop is open to yoga teachers only.

In this workshop you will learn the fundamentals of Hanna Somatic Education and how they can be applied to your yoga teaching in order to further help your students in their practice of yoga. You will learn about “sensory motor amnesia” and how it affects ones muscular awareness and movement. We will also discuss the stretch reflex, and the pandicular response, which helps to re-set muscular tonus. We will also teach you how to recognize the three most common dysfunctional postural patterns and how to help your students to become aware of them within the context of their yoga practice.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance/$35 at the door

This workshop will be co-taught with Carrie Day, CCSE.

SOMATICS FOR DELICATE BACKS

This is a gentle and slow workshop in which you will learn easy movements to help you recognize and reverse the chronically tight muscles in your body that cause pain and stiffness. This workshop is of special interest to those suffering from severe back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, sciatica or any other acute condition that can result in muscular pain. It’s also a terrific introduction to Hanna Somatics for those who are new to this work.

When: TBA

Cost: $30 in advance/$35 at the door 

Please call and pre-register by calling Shakti at 973-763-2288.