2011 Course Schedule

We're just about ready to update our website with the current Balanced Rock 2011 course schedule, but for early birds, here is a preview of our mind-body-spirit journeys for the upcoming year. Enjoy and hope to see you in 2011!

March 4 – 6, 2011
Winter Wonderland: Snowshoe and Yoga in the Giant Sequoias with Arin Trook and Pam Meierding
Snowshoe and practice hatha yoga while finding sanctuary within an ancient sequoia grove. Unique lodging in the cozy and historic Merced Grove Cabin.
$450 | $400 if purchased by Jan 15

March 12, 2011
Yoga Jambalaya | Yosemite Bug Resort, Midpines
Join us for a medley of classes and instructors while rejuvenating in the Bug’s full spa including hot tub and sauna. Lodging and meals available through the
Yosemite Bug Resort.
$60 all day, $15 class drop-in

April 1 – 3, 2011
Secret Yosemite: Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Nadine Johnson and Arin Trook
Start your day with a flow yoga practice before getting off the beaten path in Yosemite Valley to explore secret spots and hidden treasures. End your day enjoying a restorative yoga practice and the Yosemite Bug Resort’s full spa.
Lodging and meals purchased separately through the Yosemite Bug Resort.
$275 | $225 if purchased by Feb 15

April 15 – 17, 2011
Coastal Getaway: Point Reyes Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Arin Trook and Pam Meierding
Enjoy beachfront yoga, gentle backpacking and inspired reflection along the wild Pacific coast at Point Reyes National Seashore.
$450 | $400 if purchased by Feb 15

May 27 – 29/30, 2011
Noah Mazé Anusara® Retreat: Yosemite Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Noah Mazé and Arin Trook
A weekend of yoga and hiking with one of the most sought-after yoga teachers in the country. Lodging and meals purchased separately by participant. Group camping option available through Balanced Rock.
$250

June 9 – 12, 2011
Energies of Nature: Yosemite Yoga and Hiking Trek with Dennis Eagan and Heather Sullivan
Join WildYoga™ founder Dennis Eagan on a back-to-earth expedition in one of the world’s most scenic “yoga studios.”
$600 | $525 if purchased by April 15

June 10 – 12, 2011
A Sense of Place: Art and Hiking Retreat with Andie Thrams and Arin Trook
Awaken your senses by painting, drawing, and writing in your field journal in Yosemite along the Merced River and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias with celebrated artist Andie Thrams. Find additional inspiration during gentle dayhikes and optional morning yoga.
$450 | $400 if purchased by April 15

June 23 – 26, 2011
Nature + Nurture: Yosemite Yoga Trek with Anna Landauer and Heather Sullivan
Rejuvenate, restore, and return to balance. Explore wilderness backpacking, yoga and inspired living with professional holistic healthcare practitioners.
$600 | $525 if purchased by April 15

June 30 - July 3, 2011
Inner Journey: Yosemite Meditation Trek with Kay Peterson and Arin Trook
Find serenity and cultivate awareness during this rite of passage through contemplative practice in the scenic Yosemite backcountry.
$600 | $525 if purchased by April 15

July 8 – 10, 2011
Eastern Sierra Yoga Retreat: Yoga and Hiking with Arin Trook and Liesa Scholze
Explore your inner wilderness on this true yoga journey. Outdoor asana and yoga philosophy, mantra meditation, contemplative hiking and hot spring soaks.
$450 | $400 if purchased by April 15

July 24 – 30, 2011
Muir's March to Restore Hetch Hetchy
Awaken your inner activist while experiencing the sage wisdom of John Muir in spectacular Yosemite scenery. 7-day and 4-day trips available.

Aug 3 – 7, 2011

Soul Trek: Anusara® Yosemite Yoga Expedition with Dr. Paula Barros and Arin Trook

Celebrate yourself with Clear Creek Healing Center founder Dr. Paula Barros on this transformative wilderness journey set in the spectacular High Sierra scenery, where the beauty of nature unfolds our own deep inner beauty.
$750 | $675 if purchased by June 15

Aug 10 – 14, 2011
Simply Wild: Women of Color Backpacking Retreat with Chelsea Griffie and Elizabeth Sy
Backpacking, outdoor yoga, and journal writing on an empowering shared adventure for Women of Color with Elizabeth Sy and celebrated outdoor leader Chelsea Griffie.
$750 | $675 if purchased by June 15

Aug 12 – 14, 2011
Creative Awakening: Art and Hiking Retreat with Penny Otwell and Arin Trook
Be inspired and develop your creativity through watercolor instruction by acclaimed Yosemite artist Penny Otwell. Optional morning yoga and dayhikes within the breathtaking backdrop of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and Lundy Canyon.
$450 | $400 if purchased by June 15

Aug 19 – 21, 2011
The Tuolumne Retreat: Yosemite Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Eliza Kerr and Heather Sullivan
Join Balanced Rock founders Eliza Kerr and Heather Sullivan on this classic High Sierra transformative journey incorporating yoga, creative writing, and dayhiking.
$450 | $400 if purchased by June 15

Aug 24 – 28, 2011
Return to Balance: Yosemite Yoga and Ayurveda Trek with Sarah Goddard and Arin Trook
Care for yourself while exploring yoga practice, Ayurvedic wellness and holistic health in the awe-inspiring High Sierra backcountry with Sarah Goddard, program manager and yoga teacher at the renowned Himalayan Institute.
$750 | $675 if purchased by June 15

Aug 31 - Sept 4, 2011
Energies of Nature: Yosemite Yoga and Hiking Expedition with Dennis Eagan and Heather Sullivan
Join WildYoga™ founder Dennis Eagan on a back-to-earth expedition in one of the world’s most scenic “yoga studios.”
$750 | $675 if purchased by June 15

Sept 8 – 11, 2011
High Sierra Classic: Yosemite Yoga Trek with Arin Trook and Heather Sullivan
Find inspiration and deep empowerment through yoga, backpacking, and creative writing. A shared journey with Balanced Rock’s most accomplished international wilderness guides and yoga teachers.
$600 | $525 if purchased by July 15

Oct 8, 2011
Yoga Jambalaya | Yosemite Bug Resort, Midpines
Join for a medley of classes and instructors while rejuvenating in the Bug’s full spa including hot tub and sauna. Lodging and meals available separately through the Yosemite Bug Resort.
$60 all day, $15 class drop-in

Oct 21 – 23, 2011
Secret Yosemite: Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Arin Trook
Start your day with flow yoga practice before getting off the beaten path in Yosemite Valley to explore its hidden treasures. End your day enjoying a restorative yoga practice and the Yosemite Bug Resort’s full spa. Lodging and meals purchased separately through the Yosemite Bug Resort.
$275 | $225 if purchased by Aug 15

Or craft your own retreat: Call us to create a trip designed specifically for you and your group. Your course is free with six paid participants! Great for families and friends, bachelorette groups, and work retreats.

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Beginner’s Welcome! All 2011 courses are appropriate for all levels of yoga, art, and outdoor experience.

What is included? Unless otherwise noted, course prices include healthy, whole-food meals, campground and Wilderness permits, lodging or camping fees, and necessary gear.

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Refer a friend and save. Invite a friend to attend a three-day or longer journey with you and you’ll both receive a rebate at the end of the course. Ask Balanced Rock staff for details.

January Yoga Teaching Schedule

El Portal & Yosemite Community Yoga
Monthly Theme: Balance

Monday, January 3rd 5:45-7:00 pm Liesa Scholze
Wednesday, January 5th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook

Monday, January 10th 5:45-7:00 pm Liesa Scholze
Wednesday, January 12th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook

Monday, January 17th 5:45-7:00 pm Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, January 19th 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, January 24th 5:45-7:00 pm Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, January 26th 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, January 31st 5:45-7:00 pm Jennie Wheeler

Your Great-Grandchildren Are Watching

This is a powerful poem by spoken work artist and activist, Drew Dellinger.

What will you be able to say to your great-grandchildren?

Why Do Yoga?

Recently we asked our local Yosemite area yoga teachers to answer this question--why do you do yoga? The answers were as diverse and deep as our teachers. Here are just a few of the responses.

I practice yoga to bust through the crust of practiced faces and protective layers.

I practice yoga to remember what I already know.

I practice yoga to rinse life's dusty road off my spirit.

I practice yoga to quench my heart's thirst.

I practice yoga to sweat.

Yoga and meditation as part of my daily routine grounds me, reminds me of who I am, what my challenges are, what my gifts are. Yoga reminds me of beauty, every moment, even in the stormiest of times. Who I am in my practice is who I am in my life. There is not a separation.
Yoga is one of the greatest gifts and tools I am a learner of this lifetime.

I do yoga to accept myself as I am, each day, in all my glorious and absurd imperfections

I do yoga to smooth the rough edges my breath and body

I do yoga because it is cheaper and probably more healthy than Ritalin for the hyperactive little boy that still lives inside me

I do yoga because my mom watched “Lilias, Yoga, and You” on PBS in 1976

I do yoga because I really dislike jogging, and yet sometimes I still need to release energy

I do yoga as an act of non-violent revolution

I do yoga to accelerate our collective human evolution

I do yoga because it just feels so good

sometimes I have no idea why I do yoga
sometimes I do yoga just because

most of the time I do yoga because it inspires me love the world many times I do yoga because through yoga, I learn to love myself

My yoga is the birdsong of shared voices, the quickening of collective power

it is vast and great, where I obsess and obscure

it is refined and empowering, when I am opinionated and personal

it shines without limit, as long as I'm in that focus

and focusing on you, me and all we will be.

And you? Why do you do yoga?

Yosemite Green Living Forum

Balanced Rock held the first session of our Yosemite Green Living Forum this week. This was an inspirational gathering of motivated change-agents from our local community. We are exploring concepts and practices of ecological design, sustainability, and ecological citizenship in this three-part series.

Our next Green Living session is Wild Democracy: Ecological Citizenship and Bioregional Action, Tuesday, December 7th, 7-9 pm at the El Portal Community Hall. Our third and final session Sustainable Living Practices: Green Building, Energy, and Food will be Tuesday, December 14th, 7-9 pm at the Yosemite Institute in El Portal.

This short video is of Alex Loorz, one of the more amazing youth activists I have come across lately. He is the voice and face of our future. I hope you find inspiration in his words.

Foundations of Yoga with Arin Trook

Explore the roots of yoga practice and theory in this unique three-part yoga series.

Foundations One: Breath

Wednesday, December 8^th, 6:00-7:15

• Yoga and breathing (yogic breath, pranayama)
• Standing postures (Tadasana, Eagle, Uttkatasana)
• Brief history of yoga: Patanjali to Lululemon

Foundations Two: Balance

Monday, December 13^th, 5:45-7:00

• Balancing postures (arm balances, inversions)
• Types of yoga (Hatha, Bhakti, Karma)

Foundations Three: Bandhas and beyond

Monday, December 20^th, 5:45-7:00

• Hips and Heart (backbends/chest-openers)
• Introduction to bandhas (energetic locks)
• Developing a home practice: taking yoga off the mat

These are all-levels classes, and appropriate and engaging for beginning to advanced students. Optional handouts and “homework assignments” are available, with a focus on developing your own home practice. You are welcome to drop-in to any of the three classes, although you are encouraged to attend all three for consistent progression.

This is a great opportunity to explore or return to the foundations of your practice, work towards developing a regular practice of your own, and learning to take your yoga off the mat and into other aspects of your life. We will begin with the basics of all yoga practice—correct breathing and anatomical alignment, moving into the playful and creative edge of inversions and arm balances, as well as exploring the subtle body aspects of prana and bandhas.

December 2010 El Portal Community Yoga Schedule

Wednesday, December 1^st 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, December 6^th 5:45-7:00 pm Foundations 1 w/ Arin Trook

Wednesday, December 8^th 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler

Monday, December 13^th 5:45-7:00 pm Foundations 2 w/ Arin Trook

Wednesday, December 15^th 6:00-7:15 pm School Program, No Class

Monday, December 20^th 5:45-7:00 pm Foundations 3 w/ Arin Trook

Wednesday, December 22^nd 6:00-7:15 pm Liesa Scholze

Monday, December 27^th 5:45-7:00 pm Teaching Holiday

Wednesday, December 29^th 6:00-7:15 pm Erik Sloan

Krishnamacharaya and the Roots of Yoga

T. Krishnamacharaya was perhaps the most influential yoga teacher of the 20^th century. When traced back, most the wonderful yoga styles, teachers, and forms we know today trace their roots back to this Indian yoga teacher, healer, and scholarship. His students include some of the most well known and influential yoga teachers today--B.K.S. Iyengar, the late K. Pattabhi Jois, the late Indra Devi, Srivatsa Ramaswami, A.G. Mohan, and Krishnamacharya’s son T.K.V. Desikachar.

This video is an amazing view back in our yoga history and heritage. This is B.K.S. Iyengar, at age 20, moving with grace through his asana practice. The voice of Krishnamacharaya chants Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras over the video. Just listening to the resonant sound of Krishnamacharya’s Sanskrit is a yoga practice in itself.

The Uncarved Block of Tadasana

Tadasana, or the mountain pose, is the “uncarved block” of your yoga asana practice. It is from this posture that all other poses and actions arise and return. Perhaps second only to shavasana in importance, it is critically important that you find your tadasana, strong and rooted, and disturb this posture as little as possible.

Yes, we are speaking somewhat metaphorically here, but there is also an element of practicality—no matter what shape or form your body takes, look for aspects of your tadasana there, and breathe into this. You may be engaged in your most beautiful pinky-finger handstand with scorpion legs, and yet even here, you are working to maintain as many elements of your tadasana as possible (soles of the feet, the smooth breath).

Physically, tadasana begins with the rooting of the feet. Lift the toes, spreading them wide and replacing them mindfully on the mat. Engage the legs, hugging the muscles of the upper and lower leg to the bones. Strengthen the abdomen, focusing specifically on the lowest part of the belly, creating a slight and subtle uddiyanda bandha. Drop the tail bone as you draw the pelvic floor up, engaging, as always mulabanha. Chest and shoulders are open and broad, with the chin tucked slightly in and down to elongate the very top of the spinal column. Relax the jaw, the tongue, and the forehead, and invite the breath to lengthen.

During your standing asana practice, try returning to tadasana as smoothly and fully as possible after each posture. Can you resume tadasana and take one or two full breaths before readjusting, shaking out legs or arms, or wiggling? This is an excellent way to efficiently relax and restore you body and energy, cultivating your ability to move from complete engagement to complete relaxation effortlessly.

Finally, can you bring tadasana off the mat and into your everyday life? What is the difference between standing in tadasana in the yoga studio and standing in line at the market? Can you bring this level of consciousness to all your “standing postures” in life?

Virabhadrasana, The Warrior

The warrior. This can be an intensely energetic pose as we inhabit the fierceness, the strength, the determination of the warrior. I try to begin this pose with the question, “What would I fight for, as a warrior?” Even, or perhaps especially, for us devout non-violent pacifists, this is a powerful examination of our deepest beliefs and ethics.

Virabhadra was one of Shiva’s most fierce warriors. He was born in a fit of rage, as Shiva tore one of his matted dreadlocks off and threw it to the ground. From the impact, Virabhadra and Bhadrakali arose, and were ordered to kill Shiva’s father-in-law and everyone in his company. A blood-drinking, party-crashing Rasta-born soldier, Virabhdra takes to towards our wild, unleashed potential-self.

This pose, in its two most common variations, is rooted strongly through the outer edge of the back foot. Take time to set the foundation here, grounding through both feet, again trying to “disturb tadasana as little as possible.” Externally rotate the inner thighs, opening the groin and dropping a bit deeper in the pelvic floor. The front leg bends at 90 degrees, keeping knee and foot in alignment. Drop the tailbone and engage the lowest abdomen, inviting uddiyana bandha (abdominal lock).

If you tend to mostly practice the first variation of this pose (arms and hands overhead), I encourage you to drop your arms into Virabhadrasana B to further establish your lower body foundation. With the arms spread wide at shoulder height, the strong backbend of the posture is reduced, and here, again dropping the tailbone, you can work on engaging the feet, drawing muscular energy up through the legs with each breath.