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 "Pain Relief Through Movement" workshops upon request. These workshops can also be designed to address the needs of healthcare providers, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, massage therapists, weight lifters, pregnant women, and fitness trainers. A minimum of 8 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:

HOOP DANCE JAM IN THE PARK
with Carrie Day

When: Fridays, July 16 - August 27 10-11am, weather permitting
Cost: By donation
Where: Maplewood Memorial Park, on the grass below the train station.

Join Carrie Day for a Hoop Dance jam in the park! We'll start with a little warm up, then groove in meditative waist hooping, followed by anything goes, and ending with a little movement awareness cool down. Beginning hoopers welcome to learn the basics, and experienced hoopers come share your skills.

Bring your own hoop or borrow one there. Limited hoops for sale as well. (These are not the Hula Hoops from the '50s that you buy for 99 cents. They are bigger & a little heavier. The bigger the better for adult hoop dancing!)

Contact Carrie Day with any questions: carrie@daysomatics.com, or 828-280-4252. 

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 session, taken the Myth of Aging series or any other Somatics workshop, this class if for you! Beginners are welcome, too!

When: class to resume in Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 12:45-1:45pm

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

Martha Peterson and Carrie Day alternate teaching.

RELAX AND RELEASE YOGA: 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.

Mondays, 9:30-11:00am

$18 Per class, discount available with class card

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

"PAIN RELIEF THROUGH MOVEMENT" FALL WORKSHOPS/SERIES 2010: Pre-registration is encouraged, as space is limited. Call 973-763-2288 or pay online.

(Please note that all the Somatic Explorations drop-in class is canceled on workshop days)

4 WEEK SOMATICS BASICS SERIES: Pain Relief Through Movement

When: 4 Wednesdays, 7:45-9pm, September 8 - 29

Cost: $60 for the 4-week session. No drop-ins.

Register: call 973-763-2288 or pay online

Please note this is a non-refundable series.  If you miss a class, you can make it up at any drop-in class.

Perfect for All Fitness Levels. A great way to jumpstart your yoga practice or as a gentler alternative to yoga.

In these 4 classes you will learn to regain sensation and control of muscles that, when held unconsciously, contribute to chronic pain patterns, normally assumed to be the inevitable result of aging. Through gentle, pain-free movement patterns, you will learn how to move your body with a new sense of awareness, and improve your freedom of movement, muscle control, mobility, balance and coordination....and eliminate pain. Because of the progressive nature of the lessons, please make every effort to attend every class in order to get the most out of the series. You will learn a wonderful daily routine that can be done anytime, anywhere to reinforce the progress you make in class.

SEPTEMBER 18 - 1:00 - 3:00PM

Register: call 973-763-2288 or pay online

RUNNING MADE EASIER - 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.

OCTOBER 9 - 1:00 - 3:00PM

Register: call 973-763-2288 or pay online

FULLER, FREER BREATHING

Breathing properly positively affects one’s physiological well being. Shallow breathing causes a host of problems. You will learn about the muscles involved in breathing and how any restriction in those muscles makes 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 improve your ability to expand your lungs when breathing. This workshop is of special interest for those suffering from asthma, chronic respiratory problems, fatigue or fibromyalgia.

NOVEMBER 6 - 1:00 - 3:00PM

Register: call 973-763-2288 or pay online

RELEASING TIGHT HAMSTRINGS

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.

DECEMBER 11 - 1:00 - 3:00PM

Register: call 973-763-2288 or pay online

WALKING WITH EASE

Learn to walk easily and effortlessly! For those who have ever suffered a trauma to the body - knee surgery, a broken ankle, or other trauma you know that an injury can cause uneven leg length, and an uneven gait. In addition, as we get older, many of us complain of stiffness in our hips, knees and feet while walking. In this workshop 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 those recovering from injury, suffering from sciatica, runners, hikers and anyone who loves to walk.

LOOK FOR THESE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS IN 2010 - 2011 -  check back for dates:
 
 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.

PLAY YOURSELF FIT!

Combining the awareness of Somatics with the exuberance of fun, play-based fitness, this workshop will leave you with a new awareness of what it means to move with control, strength and speed. You will learn Somatic Movements on the floor before you get on your feet for more vigorous movement. We will do balancing, partner-resist, and functional movement. All movements are optional.

INJURY FREE STRENGTHENING - the somatic way!

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

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.

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.

 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.

This workshop is co-taught by Carrie Day-Palmer, CCSE.

PAIN FREE MOVEMENT 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.

6 WEEK SOMATICS BASICS SERIES - Learn the basics of Pain Relief Through Movement!

In these 6 classes you will learn to regain sensation and control of muscles that, when held unconsciously, contribute to chronic pain patterns, normally assumed to be the inevitable result of aging. Through gentle, pain-free movement patterns, you will learn how to eliminate pain as you move your body with a new sense of awareness, and improve your freedom of movement, muscle control, mobility, balance and coordination. These movements are considered the most basic, essential exercises in the practice of Hanna Somatics.  Because of the progressive nature of the lessons, please make every effort to attend every class in order to get the most out of the series. You will learn a wonderful daily routine that can be done anytime, anywhere to reinforce the progress you make in class. This series is appropriate for people of all activity levels and ages, even (and especially) throughout pregnancy.

Week 1 - Freeing and controlling the muscles of the back
Week 2 -  Relaxing the waist muscles
Week 3 -  Learning to control trunk rotation
Week 4 - Releasing the hip joints
Week 5 -  Pain free neck and shoulders
Week 6 - Free and easy walking

PAIN FREE NECK AND SHOULDERS

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

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.

PAIN FREE MOVEMENT 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.

This workshop is co-taught by Carrie Day-Palmer, CCSE