Balanced Rock Foundation

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras As A Treasure Map, by Ben Lehman

2012-02-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

This blog is written by Ben Lehman, participant in Balanced Rock's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.

We experience the world though the filter of our own perceptions, and as a participant in the WildYoga training I am no exception. As someone enamored with http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifexploring new territories and endlessly curious about what may lie around the proverbial river bend, introduction to the Yoga Sutras struck me as an adventure involving texts as ancient, mysterious, and influential as anything Indiana Jones would have braved a pit of snakes to uncover. Approaching my world as if on a perpetual adventure gave these succinct but meaning-rich verses an air of exotic excitement and as each syllable of Sanskrit resonated from my lips –samskara, purusha, citta, Samadhi, samyama, santosa- the sense of going on a treasure hunt steadily built.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.” – William Blake

Patanjali (and the unnamed Yogis, yogic scholars, and practitioners who came before him) may have felt, as I can imagine, that nothing could be a greater joy/gift/state of existence than to perceive or somehow gain awareness of everything, or as Alan Watts puts it, the whole blinkin’ cosmos. The shrewd yogic understanding is that each of us, underneath our superficial physical and mental layers, actually consist of or are in a sense apertures through which the entire cosmos views itself. From this philosophical point of view, yoga represents a means by which people can “cleanse the doors of perception,” or in other words “clean out the static from the attic” and come closer to perceiving things are they really are/reality as it really is... thus achieving the greatest treasure available to consciousness (as opposed to a treasure available merely to one’s physical existence/body, since the understanding is that our physical manifestation is simply a crude shell of matter and insignificant in comparison with our true self as part of universal consciousness, purusha. The sutras are Patanjali’s written distillation of a great oral tradition that outlines both the basic philosophy of the functioning of the mind as well as the disciplines and the practices which can result in control of the mind and subsequently awareness of the true self, ultimate bliss/peace/oneness with the universe. So, if we imagine the tenets of philosophical belief as landmarks in a mental geography and the attendant practices and disciplines as a sort of dotted line along which those seeking the ultimate treasure may proceed towards enlightening self-knowledge, we arrive at an image not unlike a treasure map. For each yogi(ni) the “X” may be found at a different spot depending on his/her beginning point and the degree to which the practices, disciplines, and underlying philosophies are adhered to in each individual’s life.

Although the author has done a great service in presenting so much material in so short a document, the real work is that of the yogis who encounter its teachings. As a mapmaker of old may have put countless hours into the craft, placing each town and trade route and dangerous region down accurately on the parchment, the real work remains to be done by those who seek the treasure.
I feel grateful and privileged to be on that path.

Why I Want To Teach Yoga, by Ben Lehman

2012-02-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

This post is from Ben Lehman, a participant in Balanced Rock’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.

An adult black bear ambles among the waving grasses of a meadow, followed closely by two little brown cubs. All three are covered in thick fur that glows golden in the sunlight bathing the meadow. The mother bear approaches a fallen snag near a shallow pond with hungry interest. The log, devoid of bark and whitish from years of sun and snow, hides insects and other life– nourishment for a mother and her little ones. Moments later her huge paws are clawing into the brittle dead wood, shoveling aside decomposing bits, her wet nose sniffing into new passages, locating the treats she came for. The cubs observe, play, and tumble about their mother, content in the moment with all they need. They sniff, nibble, claw, sniff, nibble, and eventually move on. They are one with their environment, free from interpretation or discontent.

The vignette above is a scene I witnessed earlier this year and it’s one that brought me great peace and joy, for it represents a balance and a harmony that I feel the majority of people living in the world have difficulty relating to. In the scene, all is in its proper place. The sun shines down warm from above while water wets the roots and gives life to the grasses and for a time, the tree. The energy of the plants -both living and dead- moves up into the bodies of the insects, worms, rodents, etc. This energy in turn becomes the bodies of the bears and other complex creatures, man included. All is encompassed by a continuous motion of changing forms and properties of temperature, texture, color, and direction. To view the world this way is to view ourselves more clearly for what we are: Not separate entities subject to success and failure, happiness and sorrow at the whims of our external circumstances – but temporary manifestations of a much larger, grander phenomenon in which each specific part is most certainly “hitched to everything else in the universe,” as John Muir famously wrote. Yoga’s ultimate goal, as I have learned to understand it, is nothing less than self-realization i.e. the realization and recognition of our true nature. That is to say the practice of yoga can bring us closer to knowing ourselves as conscious facets of the whole entire cosmos. With this enlightened understanding the weight of everyday troubles seems trifling and we abide in the peace of our glorious existence. Though discomfort is an unavoidable part of our physical existence, we need not always suffer as a result, and yoga aids greatly in developing the equanimity to deal with setbacks and challenges physical and otherwise. The individual mind’s quest for control and answers to its questions is quieted and we can simply BE…like the bears in the story.

I desire to teach yoga because the practice yields so many benefits often lacking in the modern way of life: Peace of mind, fitness and flexibility of the physical body, discipline and control of thought processes and attention, and self-knowledge. To help guide others down a path to such noble world-improving qualities is a privilege I hope to share.

Knock Your Socks off at Women of Color Retreat

2012-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Annual Women of Color Backpack Trip
August 10-14, 2011
Summer 2012 dates to be announced

The 2011 participants knocked my socks off, and they went straight into the washing machine. We had one professional videographer and photographer who is also the mother of the 2 cutest twins known to man, an esteemed aerialist, a bald registered nurse on hiatus from her life in Portland, OR with her quadriplegic husband, and a tough, practical sister who has become a mother by taking charge of her two young nephews when her brother and the baby momma couldn’t do it. Plus, there were two instructors with enigmatic pasts…

The Women of Color trip for 2011 was incredibly fun and engaging. The conversations were often so compelling that I had to remind myself that we were on a backpacking trip. We often discussed how things run back in the default world, and offered reinterpretations of how things could be. I felt honored to be among these WOCs.
As usual, we all worked together to prepare the meals and perform other camp duties. What was funny was that 3 of the participants were mothers, and the fourth was self-described as having OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). So, trust me, things got done. We joked that the Balanced Rock screening process should be tighter, so that all BRF trips could run so smoothly!

Our destination was Ostrander Lake in Yosemite National Park. We spent one night in the Bridalveil Creek campground, which is near our trailhead. It was a surprise that there was a lightning-started fire nearby, which was controlled, but allowed to burn. That’s how they do things these days in YNP, after years of snuffing out all fires. It was smoky on the road, and we constantly debated the wisdom of sticking to our itinerary in the days leading up to the trip. We stuck to it, and it turned out alright. We did end up wearing bandannas like rogue desparados, but that was just for one day.

We took 2 days to get to Ostrander Lake, and found a deluxe campsite along the way to set up shop for the night. There was a lot of laughter and camaraderie along the way, and we followed the fine balance between moving juxtaposed with the need to not go too fast for any one participant.

Once the WOCs got to the lake, it was refreshing to dip in, as well as a plentiful source of water to sustain us. There is a busy campground at the lake, but we opted for a more primitive spot where we could be more secluded. We were lucky enough to encounter the Ostrander Ski Hut occupied by NPS rangers on a break. We introduced ourselves and got a tour of the facility. It is such a great place to ski to during the winter months.

There was an optional day hike to Horseman’s Ridge, overlooking Hart Lakes. On the hike, half of us took in incredible views, and figured our way off trail. We climbed in a giant crack in a huge boulder and saw a small frog, about one inch in diameter. A hummingbird flitted by Emily, who took it as an auspicious sign from a guardian friend.

There were so many shining moments. Two of my personal additions to the equipment list are something frivolous, but lightweight, and something meaningful that also weighs almost nothing. My frivolous object was biodegradable glitter, which we wore almost every day. Let me tell you, it takes a very secure woman to sport that kind of bling. On this trip, there was nothing but. Everyone had a knack for supporting each other, and for taking personal chances. In short, it was another typical Women of Color trip.

Did I mention that I’m still honored & excited to lead these trips? This was my sixth! Look for a fundraiser for this trip slated for May of 2012. We need your support to make this trip accessible to as many WOCs as possible! We are still a minority in the outdoor world, and it doesn’t help that many need to start from scratch in terms of buying the necessary personal equipment. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Balanced Rock 2012 Course Schedule

2012-01-27T11:56:00.000-08:00

The following is a list of spring, summer and fall courses for 2012. Beginners welcome! All 2012 courses are appropriate for all levels of yoga, art, music, slackline, and outdoor experience. Space is limited. Advanced registration required and courses can fill quickly. Scholarships are available for multi-day courses.

Spring
200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified WildYoga Teacher Training
8 weekends from September 2011 through April 2012 in Yosemite National Park and the surrounding areas with WildYoga Founder Dennis Eagan E-RYT 500

April 22, 2012
Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk with Meg Keoppen & Heather Sullivan
One-day workshop. Join local herbalist Meg Keoppen for a beautiful walk in Yosemite's foothills identifying and making use of local medicinal and edible plants.

Dayhikes: April 28 and May 19, 2012
Yosemite Backpack Expedition: June 8 - 11, 2012
Yosemite Youth Expedition
Scholarship-based program for Mariposa County high-school-aged youth.

Summer
June 16, 2012
Slackline Yoga Workshop Fundraiser with YogaSlackers Ariel Mihic, Zach Plerhoples, Mara Raskin, & Liz Williams
This Balanced Rock fundraising event includes a 3-hour slackline yoga workshop, music, a delicious locally-produced dinner, and a silent auction.

July 12 - 15, 2012
Nature + Nurture: Yosemite Yoga & Wellness Trek with Brieann Powell Roberts, C.M.T., L.E., and Heather Sullivan
4-day backpack, yoga, and wellness retreat. On this course, we will focus on rejuvenating ourselves and learning self-care techniques for balanced living while exploring some of Yosemite's high alpine lakes.

August 10 - 12, 2012
Creative Awakening: Art and Hiking Retreat with Penny Otwell and Heather Sullivan
Weekend camping retreat. Be inspired and develop your creativity through watercolor instruction by acclaimed Yosemite artist Penny Otwell. Dayhikes and optional morning yoga within the breathtaking backdrop of Lundy Canyon and the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

August 15 - 19, 2012
Simply Wild: Women of Color Backpacking Retreat with Chelsea Griffie and Elizabeth Sy
5-day backpack retreat. Backpacking, outdoor yoga, and journal writing on an empowering shared adventure for women of color with Elizabeth Sy and celebrated outdoor leader Chelsea Griffie.

August 5, 2012 | 10:00 a.m. to noon
Mountain Inspiration Workshop with Heather Sullivan
Part of the Yosemite National Park Parson's Memorial Lodge Summer Series. Enjoy a morning of yoga practice and journal reflection along the banks of the Tuolumne River with Heather Sullivan, Balanced Rock co-founder, Program Director, Wilderness Guide and Yoga Instructor. Bring pen and paper. Offered by the National Park Service with support from Yosemite Conservancy —free and open to the public. Meet at Parson's Lodge in Tuolumne Meadows.

Fall
September 7 - 9, 2012
The High Sierra Retreat with Nicki Bluhm & Heather Sullivan
Weekend camping retreat. A women's weekend of dayhiking, singing, songwriting and yoga with singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers.

Saturday, November 3, 2012
Yoga Jambalaya: Workshop at the Yosemite Bug Resort
One-day workshop. Join us for the day to experience a medley of yoga and meditation classes with a variety of fabulous instructors while rejuvenating in the Yosmite Bug Resort's full spa including hot tub and sauna. A Yosemite-area tradition!

February Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2012-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Wednesday, February 1: Heather Sullivan

Monday, February 6: Teaching holiday, no class
Wednesday, February 8: Eliza Kerr

Monday, February 13: Schuyler Greenleaf
Wednesday, February 15: Heather Sullivan

Monday, February 20: Holiday in Celebration of Washington’s Birthday, No Class
Wednesday, February 22: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, February 27: Schuyler Greenleaf
Wednesday, February 29: Arin Trook

January Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-12-14T10:39:00.000-08:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, January 2: Holiday Break, no class
Wednesday, January 4: CANCELLED

Monday, January 9: Liesa Scholze
Wednesday, January 11: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King Jr Day, no class
Wednesday, January 18: Arin Trook

Monday, January 23: Eliza Kerr
Wednesday, January 25: Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, January 30: Heather Sullivan

December Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, December 5 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, December 7 6:00-7:15 pm Paula Wild

Monday, December 12 6:00-7:15 pm Cancelled
Wednesday, December 14 6:00-7:15 pm Eliza Kerr

Monday, December 19 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook
Wednesday, December 21 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler

Monday, December 26 Holiday Break, no class
Wednesday, December 28 Holiday Break, no class

November Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-10-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Wednesday, November 2: Heather Sullivan
Saturday, November 5 | 7:30am-7:00pm | Yoga Jambalaya at the Bug! | $15/class, $65 Full-Day

Monday, November 7: Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, November 9: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, November 14: Cintia Ramaciotti
Wednesday, November 16: Paula Wild (subbing for Schuyler Greenleaf)

Monday, November 21: Schuyler Greenleaf (subbing for Paula Wild)
Wednesday, November 23: No Class, Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday, November 28: Arin Trook
Wednesday, November 30: Eliza Kerr

Yoga Jambalaya: November 5, 2011!

2011-10-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sat. November 5, 2011 | 7:30am - 7:00pm
Yosemite Bug Resort in Midpines, California
6979 Highway 140, Midpines, CA
$15/class or $65/full day

Join us for a medley of unique classes and fabulous instructors while rejuvenating in the Bug's full spa including hot tub and sauna. Lodging, fresh lunch buffet, and $5 (half price!) sauna passes available for purchase through the Yosemite Bug Resort. Classes are appropriate for all levels of yoga practice.

The Day's Schedule:
7:30-8:30am: Anusara in the a.m. with Paula Wild
9:00-10:00am: Yoga Basics with Pilates Infusion with Carol Hart
10:15-11:30am: Asana & The Moon: Astrological Insight with Asana Celebration with Erik Sloan
11:45am-12:45pm: Pranayama & Inversions with Liesa Scholze
12:45 - 2:00pm: Whole-food Lunch Buffet ($8/person) and Spa Time
2:00-2:45pm: Hanuman, Songs & Stories with Arin Trook
3:00-4:00pm: Gentle Backbends & Shoulder Openers with Anna Landauer
4:15-5:15pm: Harmonizing Body & Mind with Demian McKinley
5:30-6:30pm: Yin Yoga with Linda Long
6:30-7:00pm: Savasana with Heather Sullivan

Space is limited and classes tend to fill. Pay at the door (first-come, first-served) or advanced reservations are available by phone at (209)379-wild or online.

Balanced Rock seeks Part-Time Business Director

2011-09-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Balanced Rock Foundation is a Yosemite-based nonprofit seeking a part-time Business
Director to work in collaboration with the Program Director. The mission of Balanced
Rock is to inspire balance and wellbeing through deep connection to nature and spirit.

Balanced Rock has been an established Yosemite-area non-profit since 2007.
Balanced Rock typically provides wilderness, camping, & lodge-based programs
promoting healthy wellbeing. BR also offers bi-weekly community yoga classes in El
Portal and the first Yosemite-area 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. The administrative
office is located in El Portal, CA, and the preference is for the successful candidate to live close to this area to facilitate communication with employees, volunteers, the National Park Service, community members and community organizations.

The Business Director is responsible for the organization’s day-to-day administration; budget oversight and strategy; bookkeeping and billing; Board of Directors meetings; fundraising; supporting marketing and program needs; and human resource oversight. The Business Director will work under the leadership of the Program Director, Heather Sullivan, and will also work closely with the Board of Directors.

Qualifications for the Co-Director include: passion for the mission; detail-oriented; selfdirected yet able to work well in a collaborative team; organized; computer literate with strong Word and Excel skills; and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Quickbooks and Filemaker Pro software knowledge, bookkeeping experience, and familiarity with non-profit management will also be considered. Successful candidates will have experience in managing budgets and multi-tasking. We are looking for a high-energy individual that has flexibility, experience working within a small staff, and is willing to commit for a minimum of one year. Start date in January 2012.

Compensation: Part-time @ $21/hour.
Approximately 16 hours/week from Oct-May and 24 hours/week from June-September.

By October 18th, 2011, please send a resume and cover letter describing the impact you made from your most significant work-related accomplishment to:
Balanced Rock Foundation
PO Box 102
El Portal, CA 95318(
209) 379‐wild
info@balancedrock.org
www.balancedrock.org

Due to the expected volume of responses, only those under consideration for the position will be contacted.

October Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-09-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, October 3: Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, October 5: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, October 10: No Class; Columbus Day holiday
Wednesday, October 12: Eliza Kerr

Monday, October 17: Arin Trook
Wednesday, October 19: Eryn Bordes

Monday, October 24: Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, October 26: Cynthia Ramaciotti

Monday, October 31: Heather Sullivan

September Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-08-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, September 5: Labor day holiday. No class.
Wednesday, September 7: Eliza Kerr

Monday, September 12: Paula Wild
Wednesday, September 14: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, September 19: Eliza Kerr
Wednesday, September 21: Arin Trook

Monday, September 26: Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, September 28: Eryn Bordes

August Yosemite Community Yoga Schedule

2011-07-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, August 1: Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, August 3: Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, August 8: Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, August 10: Paula Wild

Monday, August 15: Paula Wild
Wednesday, August 17: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, August 22: Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, August 24: Jon-Paul Salonen

Monday, August 29: Paula Wild
Wednesday, August 31: Jennie Wheeler

Hope to see you there!

Hands On Heath: The Maya Way

2011-07-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

We're passing along a unique healing opportunity in the Yosemite area. Thanks Liz for sharing!

Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday 9:30 – 5:30
El Portal Community Center
5512 Foresta Road
El Portal, CA 95318

A Time for Self Care and Empowerment…

Hands on Health the Maya Way is a workshop designed for anyone seeking to improve personal health and wellness. It is a nurturing time to focus on your own digestive and reproductive health concerns such as painful or irregular periods, PMS, fibroids, fertility, difficult menopause, postpartum, postcesarean or hysterectomy scarring, constipation, IBS, indigestion, bladder infections, incontinence, or swollen prostate. This course is designed to educate and empower you to use your own two hands to help yourself! You will learn self care techniques that are founded on the ancient Maya method of abdominal massage.

Hands on Health the Maya Way will introduce you to Maya traditional healing, abdominal/pelvic anatomy and physiology, signs and symptoms of displaced organs (female and male), benefits of abdominal massage, contraindications, demonstration of the technique and group practice of self care massage, herbs and other Maya healing modalities.

This is an introductory class and no prior training is required. You will learn how to perform the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy on yourself. It is not intended to prepare an individual to apply this technique professionally. Massage therapists can earn 7 CEU hours under NCBTMB. Note that the massage cannot be done with an IUD or during the first trimester of pregnancy.

*Please wear elastic waist pants and bring a yoga mat / blanket and 2 pillows

To register: www.arvigotherapy.com

Tuition: $125 includes workshop and tea/snacks. Early bird price $100 if registered by 9/22

This class is taught by Abigail Reagan LM, CPM, CAT, Licensed Midwife and Certified Arvigo Therapist.

She was trained by Dr. Rosita Arvigo and is passionate about this work to support health. For questions, contact Abigail at ar@rebirthmidwifery.com.

July Yosemite Community Yoga at the El Portal School

2011-07-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, July 4: 6:00-7:15 pm | Holiday, no class
Wednesday, July 6: 6:00-7:15 pm | Yoga Holiday, no class

Monday, July 11: 6:00-7:15 pm | Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, July 13: 6:00-7:15 pm | Heather Sullivan

Monday, July 18: 6:00-7:15 pm | Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, July 20: 6:00-7:15 pm | Paula Wild

Monday, July 25: 6:00-7:15 pm | Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, July 27: 6:00-7:15 pm | Paula Wild

Hope you can join us!

Mountain Bliss

2011-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

My most blissful experiences and "ah ha" moments have been in nature. About 10 years ago, I dramatically changed the whole direction of my career after a transcendent "mountain top experience" on my first real backpacking expedition. After 5 weeks of backpacking and hiking in New Zealand, I had a dramatic sense of intense gratitude and utter wellbeing that left me in a state of bliss for the next six months. Upon my return home, I left my office-based corporate job for training as a hiking guide, the Peace Corps, the National Park Service, and ultimately here, to Balanced Rock.

The natural world has become so sacred to me that two weeks ago, I made my entire family hike into the wilderness for my wedding. Watching my mother-in-law-to-be scale huge downed logs, large boulders, and trail wash-outs gave me pause, but the shared adventure created an atmosphere of heart-pumping excitement that might otherwise not have been there.

I deeply believe that very few experiences are as transformative as being in nature. Being in the outdoors refreshes, awakens, and rejuvenates us. We are biologically programmed to need sunshine, earth, and fresh air to feel most alive in the present moment. As usual, John Muir says it best:

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life."

Go home to the mountains. Wash your spirit clean.

Warm summer wishes,
Pam (Meierding) Kuhn
Balanced Rock Executive Director

The Full Yoga Experience

2011-06-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

"Yoga is just a form of exercise, right? I'm not that flexible and I've got a wrist injury so I can't do yoga."

Questions like this are often asked of us here at Balanced Rock. And we'd like to set the record straight. Because for us, rather than being a competitive sport, yoga is about creating a holistic lifestyle that embraces wellness, balance, compassion, and awareness––and anyone can do it. We pair yoga, meditation, and art with the natural world to awaken ourselves to the present moment and our own sense of empowerment.

Yoga has its roots as a 5,000-year-old tradition that seeks to create union between the mind and body. In India, monks went into seclusion with the goal of creating a disease-free body. The original intention of the exercise practice of yoga was to be able to sit in meditation without an achy body. By aligning the body, we are better able to align the mind. Rather than "push" ourselves into positions that we see others achieving, yoga is practice that is meant to mindfully place ourselves into positions that reflect our own individual edges. Besides the physical practice, the full yoga experience includes the cultivation of compassion for all living things, non-attachment, and breath awareness among many other practices.

As Balanced Rock Program Director and instructor Arin Trook M.A. puts it, "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 of my breath and body. I do yoga because it is the opposite of sugar and caffeine, and I need a little balance in my life." Read more of his blog "Why Do Yoga"

Join us this summer for the experience of yoga as a full expression of your life.

June 2011 El Portal Community Yoga Schedule

2011-06-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 1st 6:00-7:15 pm School Play, no class

Monday, June 6th 6:00-7:15 pm Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, June 8th 6:00-7:15 pm Karma Yoga with Cynthia Ramaciotti

Monday, June 13th 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, June 15th 6:00-7:15 pm Liesa Scholze

Monday, June 20th 6:00-7:15 pm Cynthia Ramaciotti
Wednesday, June 22nd 6:00-7:15 pm Yoga Holiday, no class

Monday, June 27th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook
Wednesday, June 29th 6:00-7:15 pm Liesa Scholze

Noah Mazé to Lead Local Memorial Day Fundraiser

2011-05-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Join donation-based yoga session with Noah Mazé in El Portal, California!

Noah Mazé is one of the most sought-after, advanced, and proficient practitioners and teachers of Anusara® Yoga, a style popularized by celebrity yogi John Friend. In Noah's classes, yoga philosophy, myths, and stories weave together with yoga postures, breathing practices, and meditation to create a powerful and transformative experience.

On Memorial Day weekend, Noah is teaming up with Balanced Rock for a weekend of yoga and hiking that will culminate in a donation-based fundraiser yoga session. The fundraiser will be held on Monday, May 30 from 9:00am – 11:00am at the El Portal Community Hall. The yoga session is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Email info@balancedrock.org for an advanced reservation. The community hall can accommodate approximately 50-60 yoga mats. There will also be a silent auction including Giants tickets and a weekend stay for two at a beautiful cottage in Point Reyes. Food will be available for purchase after the yoga session.

There are also a few individual fee-based yoga classes with Noah available on Friday, May 27, Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29. Only a few spots left, so reserve now!

Funds generated during Noah’s Memorial Day yoga session will be used for Balanced Rock’s scholarships and empowerment programs for low-income and underserved populations. Balanced Rock is a Yosemite-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire people to live more meaningful, healthy, and sustainable lives through deep connection to nature, community and themselves. Their programs for mind, body, and spirit wellness focus on journeys in the Yosemite Wilderness. Special programs have included free community yoga, Women of Color expeditions, and self-care courses designed for social workers.

One local program that will benefit from the fundraiser is the Yosemite Youth Expedition for Mariposa youth, a partnership project with Mountain Crisis Services, Ethos Youth Center, Mariposa Safe Families, and the Mariposa County Unified School District. This program brings local high-school-aged youth into Yosemite National Park on dayhikes leading up to a 4-day Wilderness Expedition. The next Wilderness Expedition is scheduled for June 16-19 in Yosemite National Park.

For more information, visit www.balancedrock.org, email info@balancedrock.org or call (209)379-9453.

Balanced Rock Gets a Shout Out in the June Yoga Journal!

2011-05-06T14:26:00.001-07:00

We're pretty excited to be included in the article Call of the Wild: Climb, Paddle or Surf Your Way to Bliss on a Yoga Adventure.

The text reads: "Hiking and Backpacking: Explore hiking trails and hone your backcountry skills along with your yoga and meditation practice while surrounded by rocky bluffs, cliffs and waterfalls of Yosemite.

Thanks Yoga Journal!

Forest Inspiration with Andie Thrams

2011-05-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Andie Thrams is a visual artist, educator and occasional publisher as Larkspur Graphics. She will be leading an art and hiking retreat called "A Sense of Place" with Balanced Rock from June 10-12.

Text quoted from:
IN FORESTS, Volume XVI: Great and Graceful
By Andie Thrams; all images © Andie Thrams
This book is part of an ongoing series of artist’s books documenting my experiences in wild forests. This volume holds original journal pages made in August 2008, during an eleven-day backpack with my husband, Dennis Eagan, in Sequoia National Park. We spent much of our trip exploring Redwood Meadow, a complex of several wilderness Sequoia groups in the upper Middle Fork of the Kaweah River watershed.

Page 9:
In the stringer grove, above Redwood Meadow, midday. A creek meanders steeply down, appearing in pools and little cascades, then disappearing under ground or logs or boulders. The Giant Sequoias here grow along this unnamed creek, nearly in it, in places. It is steep terrain & quite shady. This grove follows the creek down to Cliff Creek where we slept last night beneath two Sequoias. A few Sequoias continue downstream from there, eventually linking up with the main Redwood Meadow trees.

Nearly always these trees grow in groups. It is hard to put words to the sense of connection amongst them and the other giant trees like Sugar Pine, Jeffery Pine and White Fir that grow with them. But the term, forest community, seems perfect. A wild ancient forest like this feels unlike any other. It is all pattern & chaos, ordered & unkempt. It feels deeply complicated, interwoven beyond comprehension. And, best of all, it feels like a place thriving, and of grace.

After a bit of time in forests like this, I also start to feel like a thriving being & filled with a sense of grace. I hear flickers, jays, nuthatches, chickadees, chickarees, woodpeckers, moving water, wind up high, juncos, winter wrens, and more I don’t know. Bracken & lady fern, California hazelnut, alum root, pyrola, gallium, a beautiful tall grass in the creek bed, pinedrops, & dried up still crimson snow plant, grey squirrels, bees, funnel-web spiders, and ants, no end to ants. (A person has to accept small creatures crawling on skin around these trees.) Also: snowberry, gooseberry, thimbleberry, currant and kit-kit-dizzee, dogbane, white-stemmed raspberry. I’ll never know them all! It is hot in the sun, but cool & breezy in the shade of these trees. Chickarees cut down cones, which sometimes crash through the branches to the ground. Wind blows down twigs & sometimes limbs, rarely a tree—we thought we may have heard a tree fall last night... so very good to be back here.

May Yosemite Community Yoga at the El Portal School

2011-04-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

All classes are from 6-7:15pm at the El Portal School. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Donation-based classes benefit the Balanced Rock scholarship fund and training for our yoga teachers.

Monday, May 2: Eryn Bordes, 6-7:15pm

Wednesday, May 4: Schuyler Greenleaf, 6-7:15pm

Monday, May 9: Cynthia Ramaciotti, 6-7:15pm

Wednesday, May 11: Liesa Scholze, 6-7:15pm

Monday, May 16: Jennie Wheeler, 6-7:15pm

Wednesday, May 18: Eliza Kerr, 6-7:15pm

Monday, May 23: Heather Sullivan, 6-7:15pm

Wednesday, May 25: Arin Trook, 6-7:15pm

Monday, May 30: Memorial Day Teaching Holiday; Noah Mazé Special Event!
Join us for a special Noah Mazé Donation-based fundraiser from 9-11am at the El Portal Community Hall. This event will raise money for Balanced Rock's social service programs like our Women of Color backpacking trip and Yosemite Youth Expedition for youth at risk of chemical dependency. This event offers the chance to practice yoga with one of the most sought-after yoga teachers in the country.

April El Portal Yosemite Community Yoga

2011-03-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

Theme: Just Breathe

Monday, April 4th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook
Wednesday, April 6th 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, April 11th 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, April 13th 6:00-7:15 pm Liesa Scholze

Monday, April 18th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook
Wednesday, April 20th 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, April 25th 6:00-7:15 pm Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, April 27th 6:00-7:15 pm Cynthia Ramaciotti

Women of Color Going Backpacking? Oh Yeah!

2011-03-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Click here to read Oakland Local blog from CB Smith-Dahl as she shares her personal connection to natural spaces, and why it’s important to support Balanced Rock in providing the unique chance for women of color to connect with the outdoors on their own terms. Thanks also to Outdoor Afro for sharing the blog with their community!

CB Smith-Dahl (aka Ms. Smitty B) is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and educator who has always put the community at the center of her work. In 1997, she founded Community Bridge Video. As Oakland Local’s Community Media Manager, she creates new media content for the site. Her work with Oakland Local Academy teaches and engages youth and community members and organizations in useful media skills.

The Refuge

2011-03-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yoga is a practice of refuge. Slow the breath, turn the gaze inward, find a place of stillness. These are both aspects of the path, as well as the destination, for yoga practice. Yoga, in its literal translation, is union. Union of breath and body, union of spirit and mind, and union of self and other, the coming together of community in yoga, in union.

All wonderful and inspiring (if a bit uber-groovy) words. And yet the afternoon of the Storm, the first day of Spring, we were reminded of these truths in a very real way.

The First Day of Spring Storm had hit Mariposa and Yosemite hard. Heavy rain and thick snow had toppled hundreds of trees, washed literally tons of stone and mud across highways, covered the high roads with thick drifts of snow. Much of the area had lost power, and every road in and around Yosemite National Park was closed. My family and I had just missed the last window to return home, arriving at the Highway 140 closure just minutes after the last car was allowed through. We waited out the night, and the next day, with the road still closed, began to bide our time in Mariposa, anxiously wondering if we would be able to get home any time this week, wondering about work, about pets, about friends and family and homes. There were rumors of tree branches fallen through rooftops, power lines laying across most of El Portal’s roads.

Unable to really rest, we poked our head into the Downtown Yoga studio. And we were not alone. One by one, more El Portal refugees began to arrive, everyone trapped away from home, simply waiting. Jen Meno, as always the most gracious of hosts, had hot tea ready for us all, and soon began nudging us out onto yoga mats. Gentle music was soon on the new sound system, and one by one, individual yoga practices began.

For me, the time we spent in the Downtown Yoga studio as refugees was one of the most beautiful expressions of yoga I have experienced. The stress each of us felt being away from home and family melted away in a collective yoga practice. Our world was chaotic, the future uncertain, we were in a real crisis. And yet, we were in this together. And this made all the difference. We stretched our way into peace, into a gentle acceptance of the moment as is was, in all its chaos and uncertainty. This was yoga, as it was meant to be.

And then, sometime in the early afternoon, Josh arrived with the news. There was a convoy from Highway 120 heading into the Yosemite and El Portal at 3 pm. If we hurried, we just might make it through the hairpin turns of Highway 49 over the Merced River in time to join the convoy and head home. The moment was broken, and we jumped into our cars to head across the county and back home.

Of course, several hours later, huddling in an unlit, unheated apartment under three sleeping bags, we all had to wonder why we ever left the warmth of the Downtown Yoga refuge, what was so compelling about getting home again?

No one looks forward to crisis. And yet, I was reminded again at our recent emergency town meeting in El Portal that crisis and disaster can actually be an opportunity to build stronger community. It is at times like this, when things seems incredibly dark, that we are closest to each other. And this is yoga, the practice of union, the refuge.

Miho Aida: Special Guest Speaker at Women of Color Fundraiser

2011-03-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Balanced Rock Women of Color All-You-Can-Eat-And-Drink Fundraiser is this Saturday, March 26 from 3-7:00pm at Sol's (Sustaining Ourselves Locally) in Oakland (1236 23rd Avenue).

Besides all-you-can-eat korean BBQ tacos, beer and other beverages, music, a silent auction, backpacking treats for sale, guides Chelsea Griffie and Elizabeth Sy have ALSO coordinated a special guest speaker. We're honored to announce that Miho Aida will join us to talk at 5:00pm about her project "Empowering Women Through Outdoor Role Models."

Miho was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. In 1999, she left Japan to study environmental education and natural sciences at the Teton Science School in Wyoming. Since then, she has dedicated to educating young people, especially urban youth and those with limited access to nature, about the natural world at the Headlands Institute in Marin Headlands. Simultaneously, she gained
opportunities to learn climbing, surfing and many other outdoor sports that have empowered her and helped her connect with the natural world. In 2003, she joined the staff of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) as a backpacking and rock climbing instructor to give others the same opportunity she had.

Along this journey, she has become aware of the lack of support for women, especially women of color, to pursue environmental work and outdoor adventure. To change that, she founded two awards winning project called "If She Can Do It, You Can Too: Empowering Women Through Outdoor Role Models." Since 2008, Miho has traveled to four continents and documented images and stories of diverse and remarkable outdoor women from around the world. Her project shares these images and stories so that women, especially women of color can see what's possible. Today Miho will share her experience in the outdoors and these diverse women she met along her journey.

The Balanced Rock annual Women of Color Backpack retreat began in 2004 and remains the only program of its kind in the country. All monies raised from this event will go towards scholarships for this year's trip which runs from August 10-14, 2011.

Event is $15-25 suggested donation at the door.
RSVP required by March 21—Email elizsy@gmail.com or info@balancedrock.org to RSVP.
Warm thanks to our event sponsors for this event: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Sol's, Trumer Brauerei, Black Orchid Bakery, and New Belgium Brewing.

Can't make the event but still want to donate? Click here.

The Power of Hanuman

2011-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

The stories and myths of the monkey god Hanuman stretch across the centuries. Hanuman is the son of the wind, the divine incarnation of service in his role as the faithful servant of Ram. We inhale, a small wind, and invite the playful and powerful spirit of Hanuman in with each breath.

The lessons of Hanuman are vast, and here I will focus on just a pair of key insights Hanuman has offered me in my own monkey-wanderings through the years. As a child, Hanuman, like all monkey children, was playful, bordering on mischievous. His constant pranks ands meddling finally upset the forest sages so severely, they beset upon him a life-long curse. Although Hanuman was able to keep his almost limitless power, the sages’ curse erased his memory of this power. Only when reminded of his power by someone else is he able to unleash this hidden potential.

Later in his adventures, Hanuman found himself stuck at the end of the Indian sub-continent, looking across the vast sea to the island of Lanka, a demon-ridden land where the wife of Ram lay captured. Alone, Hanuman was at a loss for solution. And yet he is reminded by Jambavantha of his powers, and with this recall, leaps into the air, crossing the sea in one jump.

Is this not a wonderful description of human nature? Here we are, “playful monkeys” moving through our worlds, meddling and creating unintentional trouble, usually oblivious of our actual hidden potential. As Nelson Mandela said in his inaugural speech, quoting Marianne Williamson, “our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”. As human beings, we have an incredible wealth of untapped potential, and yet usually it is only through someone else’s eyes, someone else’s encouragement, through service to a greater good, that we can realize this. Isn’t your yoga practice usually more refined when in class, encouraged by a teacher, constantly reminding you of your full potential? Is there not always just a little more energy you find deep inside when taking care of your children, when giving back to your community of friends and family?

”Hanuman faces many intense challenges along his path, and each time he is able to rise above the obstacle, finding new strength, new abilities and skills he had forgotten. When we see life through the eyes of Hanuman, we realize the challenges of life—the lost love, the passing of a parent, even the inconvenient flat tire—all these are actually opportunities to find our own wealth of power. Obstacles, in this Hanuman perspective, become opportunities. This is true service work for the world, because as Mandela and Williamson conclude, “as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same….

Sustainable Speaker: Brad Lancaster Sunday, April 10

2011-03-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Rainwater Harvesting and Water Security
On Sunday, April 10, 2011, from 1:30-3:30pm Brad Lancaster, noted author of a series of books titled Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, will speak in Mariposa about rainwater harvesting and reuse of greywater. This donation-based event will be held at the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers at 5100 Bullion Street, Mariposa, starting at 1:30 pm. Lancaster, whose wisdom and know-how is sought internationally, has taught, designed, and consulted on the sustainable system of permaculture and integrated rainwater harvesting systems since 1993. He lives on the thriving 1/8th-acre urban permaculture site he created in downtown Tucson, Arizona.

Lancaster's presentation is for everyone who uses water. He will present an overview of how to safely harvest and store quality water from your roof for household and landscape use, as well as redirect greywater to your landscape.

An alliance of Sierra Foothills groups, such as the Upper Merced River Watershed Council, Mariposa County Master Gardeners, Yosemite Area Audubon Society and California Native Plant Society, along with area residents, have cooperated together, to bring this award-winning author to the community. Balanced Rock is one of the event sponsors. For further information call 966-1206 or email to desertbounty@hotmail.com

March Monday Yosemite Yoga Series with Heather Sullivan

2011-03-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

Cultivating a Healing Yoga Practice, Respecting Our Bodies’ Limits

March 7: Salamba Sarvangasana "Whole Body Supported Pose"
Our practice tonight will focus on the queen of poses, shoulder stand and ways we can support our entire being toward health and peace.

March 14: The Back Body: Yoga and Lower Back Pain/Injury and Tight Hamstrings
Explore the connection of hamstrings, hip rotators, iliopsoas muscles, & sacroiliac joint. Practice poses that strengthen and support these systems while identifying poses and practices that could aggravate or injure the lower back or hamstrings.

March 21: Deep Restorative Practice
A relaxing evening of deep self care and nourishment. Sample poses include supta baddha konasana, matsyasana over chair, salamba sarvangasana over chair

All classes take place at the El Portal School Multi-Purpose room, Mondays, 5:45-7pm
All level classes. Hand-outs and take home practices will be available. These classes will emphasize restorative and healing poses and practices. Focus on proper alignment, breath, body awareness.
Please bring: Journal and pen, warm clothes, extra blankets, pillows and bolsters if you have them.

March 2011 El Portal and Yosemite Community Yoga

2011-02-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

March Teaching Schedule

Wednesday, March 2nd 6:00-7:15 pm Cynthia Ramaciotti

Monday, March 7th 5:45-7:00 pm Series with Heather
Wednesday, March 9th 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, March 14th 5:45-7:00 pm Series with Heather
Wednesday, March 16th 6:00-7:15 pm Jennie Wheeler

Monday, March 21st 5:45-7:00 pm Series with Heather
Wednesday, March 23rd 6:00-7:15 pm Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, March 28th 5:45-7:00 pm Liesa Scholze
Wednesday, March 30th 6:00-7:15 pm Arin Trook

Why Do Yoga? (part 2)

2011-02-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Standing there, early morning, tired eyes, wobbling balance, wondering why on Earth would someone think this is a good idea, I ask the question again....

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 of my breath and body. I do yoga because it is the opposite of sugar and caffeine, and I need a little balanced in my life. I do yoga to sculpt my breath into beautiful forms. I do yoga to watch the sunrise in cool and outrageous places. I do yoga to “nirdoah” those pesky “chitta vrittis.” I do yoga because is just feels so fucking good. I do yoga to dance with the elements, earth, air, water and wind. I do yoga to explore the wild landscapes of my interior ecology. I do yoga because my mom watched “Lilias, Yoga, and You” on PBS in 1976. I do yoga because I hate jogging, and sometimes I still need to release energy. I do yoga because it is cheaper than psycho-therapy. I do yoga to fully complete my long-haired, groovy, goofy, snag-y persona. I do yoga to share my breath with other people. I do yoga to be in community. I do yoga to expand the potential of who I am. I do yoga as an act on non-violent revolution. I do yoga to unite body and breath. I do yoga to be able to surf when I am 90. I do yoga to set myself in the kiln of tapas. I do yoga because it is cheaper and more socially acceptable (maybe) than Ritalin. I do yoga to push further into the realm of the impossible. I do yoga to wade into waters of traditions 4000 years old. I do yoga to refill, refuel, replenish. I do yoga to channel my addictive-compulsive tendencies away from beer and towards something healthier. I do yoga to fly.

Yosemite Youth Expedition

2011-02-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

In 2010, Balanced Rock ran the first Yosemite Youth Expedition program, geared towards bringing local Mariposa county young adults up into Yosemite, specifically targeting youth in the foster care system, as well as other populations under-represented in Yosemite National Park.

The program was a wonderful success, with many local students coming up to Yosemite for the first time, backpacking for the first time, and exploring holistic wellness skills such as yoga, reflective writing, healthy food, and outdoor adventure.

This video shares some of the experiences and insights into the program.

We are already looking for volunteers for our 2011 Yosemite Youth Expedition, as well as funding to keep this important local youth opportunity alive in future years. Let us know if you are interested in helping out in any capacity!

What It Is (Was es ist)

2011-02-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

A beautiful Valentine's Day poem, from the German poet, Erich Fried, dedicated to all those who have learned about the ups and downs of relationship, and are still bravely loving, with all their hearts...

It is nonsense
says reason
It is what it is
says love

It is misfortune
says calculation
It is nothing but pain
says fear
It is hopeless
says insight
It is what it is
says love

It is ridiculous
says pride
It is careless
says caution
It is impossible
says experience
It is what it is
says love.

Yosemite's Balanced Rock at the 2011 Yoga Journal Conference

2011-02-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful experience at the 2011 San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference. Part trade show, part Burning Man, part yoga-party, it was a great weekend all the way around. We were thrilled at how well-received our Balanced Rock booth was. Everyone seems to have a deep connection to Yosemite, as we stories of childhood memories, family vacations, and weddings that happened here in the magical Valley.

This video is a glimpse into the spectacle, everything from the deep philosophy of Dharma Mittra to the wild performance of the Shamanic Cheerleaders. Enjoy, and hope to see you there next year!

Feb 26-Inspired Yoga with Arin and Liesa: Movement, Breath and Music

2011-02-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Join us on Saturday, February 26 from 9:00am - 11:30am at Downtown Yoga in Mariposa!

Instructors: Liesa Scholze and Arin Trook. Explore asana, pranayama breathing, sacred song, yoga philosophy and meditation in this inspiring workshop! All levels. Percentage of proceeds to support Ethos Youth Center in Mariposa. $20/person

Visit www.yogainyosemite.com or call 209-379-9453

5027-A, Hwy 140

Mariposa, CA

Wild Yoga in Yosemite

2011-02-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

Yoga is inherently wild. The practices and philosophies of yoga were born hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, with dreadlocked sadhus journeying into the jungles and forests of India, exploring the wilderness of both the inner and outer world. It was through communing with the energies of nature that yoga was born, a weaving of individual consciousness with the larger body of the wild world.

Even today, as yoga slips into the mainstream consciousness of America with $100 lululemon pants and designer yoga mats, yoga exists on the wild fringe of culture. We move our bodies in wild ways, explore the wilderness of our untamed mind through the practices.

Our Balanced Rock retreats, workshops and backcountry expeditions work to return to the roots of yoga. Wandering the wild beauty of Yosemite, we find inspiration in our yoga practice here. And while practicing yoga in such a beautiful place is powerful, Yosemite as a “yoga studio” is a bit limiting. Returning to the roots of yoga, we are not just practicing yoga in the Yosemite wilderness—we are really trying to practice with the energy and power of the wild world. Taking Tadasana, the mountain pose, under the spires of the Cathedral Range, we take on the power of these high peaks. Practicing pranayama breathing, we literally become part of the wild world, taking the fresh mountain air into our bodies.

But really, you don't need to trek all the way up to Yosemite to experience wild yoga. Your local city park, the roof of your apartment building--just about anywhere you can draw on the energies of nature to inspire your yoga practice. Yoga, after all, in its literal translation is "union", uniting breath and movement, mind and body, self and nature.

Get outside!

El Portal and Yosemite Community Yoga

2011-01-31T12:32:00.001-08:00

February Teaching Schedule

Wednesday, February 2nd 6:00-7:15 Schuyler Greenleaf

Monday, February 7th 5:45-7:00 Liesa Scholze
Wednesday, February 9th 6:00-7:15 Arin Trook

Monday, February 14th 5:45-7:00 Jennie Wheeler
Wednesday, February 16th 6:00-7:15 Arin Trook

Monday, February 21st 5:45-7:00 Heather Sullivan
Wednesday, February 23rd, 6:00-7:15 Karma Yoga with Schuyler

Monday, February 28th 5:45-7:00 Jennie Wheeler

John Muir Was a Yogi

2011-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

John Muir was a yogi. No doubt about it—wandering solo through the wild sierras, mystical contemplation of the light and life of Yosemite Valley, sinking deeply into the prana of place. Just like the wandering sadhus of India, the dreadlocked forest mystics of India that have given up family and social ties to focus on a deeper yoga practice, John Muir was a spiritual seeker of the forest as well. “The clearest way into the Universe,” says Muir, “is through a forest wilderness.”

OK, so I can’t say as I have ever seen photos of John Muir sitting it the lotus seat of padmasana. I do, however, believe Mr. Muir’s quest for mindful living practices, for deep connection with the wild world, his dedication to social and environmental work for the benefit of all living beings—these are all manifestations of enlightened spiritual practice.

Looking again to Muir’s writing, we find his yogi philosophy strong in the oft quoted reflection, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything in the universe.” The original root word yoga is most easily translated from Sanskrit as “union”. And is this core concept of union, of yoga, not at the core of what Muir is saying ? He was on a life-long path to unite with this magical place, Yosemite Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Muir described Yosemite Valley many times as a “temple” and the backcountry of the Sierras his “church”. Again I am reminded of the very essence of contemplative practice in Muir’s famous words, "I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."

It is with this in mind that we continue our work here at Balanced Rock. Whether leading a backcountry climb of Mount Hoffman or tapping away at the keys of this computer, we strive towards the cultivation of mindfulness in all of our daily practices. We work to reawaken the deep union (or yoga) of all living beings, to use creative expression, like Muir’s words here, to share insights and inspire connection. Although they are big shoes to fill, we do see ourselves walking the same path as Muir, working in the next generation of Muir’s lineage.

We joke at times about our mission here at Balanced Rock being “world peace”. Although this may seem an overly grand vision for a group of backcountry yogis and yoginis, there is some truth in this joke. We live in a world that is in need of support and healing. The first step in our process of restoration and reconciliation begins inside us—learning to reconnect with our own selves, lost often in the buzz and busy-ness of modern life. Only from a calm and complete space can we venture forth to sculpt the world we wish to with, in peace and health and harmony.

At the core of what we are doing here at Balanced Rock is our mission to reawaken and foster deep connection with the wild world. We believe that the combination of immersion in the wild world with the exploration of contemplative practices is a key developing this connection. If we are to address some of the deep-seeded social and environmental issues of our age, we must go at this with our whole selves. It is not enough to be educated in the facts and scientific foundations of global climate change (although this is important). The cultural and social evolution (or revolution) that is needed, must engage us not just in the mind, but in the body, emotion, and spirit of each individual. At Balanced Rock we are working to open our hearts to the great growing world.

Yoga and Ecology by Dennis Eagan

2011-01-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

This excellent article comes by way of Balanced Rock instructor and WildYoga founder Dennis Eagan. For more information on Dennis, visit his website at www.wildyoga.com or see Dennis' Balanced Rock trip, "Energies of Nature."

Yoga and ecology both stem from the same seed: the awareness that all things are entwined in a single sacred web. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word, yug, meaning to join together. It refers to the integration of the body-mind and its union with the divine, but yoga also speaks to our connection to the energy field that sustains us. Every being inhabiting this planet represents a sutra or thread in the vast, complex tapestry we call the biosphere.

Both yoga and ecology are by their very nature sustainable practices. Sustainability is the conscious management of an ecosystem to insure that system’s productivity and resilience to disturbance are both maintained. In other words, how much can be harvested (think energy here) from that environment without upsetting its ability to bounce back from the physical challenges imposed upon it.

Many schools of yoga expound on the merits of blood, sweat, and tears as a means to ascend the mountain of enlightenment, but the emphasis on one’s dedication to practice or tapasya should not be confused with burning calories or profuse sweating. Too much effort leads to an unbalanced practice. An excess of heat and perspiration can leave us dehydrated and low on electrolytes, compromising our energy reserves or productivity, and leaving us more susceptible to colds and flu, less resilient.

Balance has always been the keystone of yoga. In a balanced practice, surrender equals effort, or as we say in yoga, Isvara pranidana merges with tapas. Then the physical body feels restored and rejuvenated after a yoga practice, and the mind is cool and calm; both productivity and resilience are maintained.

Life throws many stressors at us that can weaken the body-mind connection and disrupt the flow of the life force. A well-balanced yoga practice helps us face the challenges of aging, fighting off a virus, maintaining a family and career, and living in a world often dominated by fear.

The most productive and resilient ecosystems are also the ones with the most diversity. Though much of the focus on yoga in America is on asana practice, yoga provides a diverse curriculum with seven other limbs to ground and stabilize our practice. Living the precepts of the yamas and niyamas, pranayama, and the meditative aspects of yoga are all necessary for a well-integrated practice.

Ecology is the study of the energy flow between organisms and their environment. Yoga is an energy practice that promotes conservation of energy (the true yoga master is aware of each and every breath) and pratyahara or self- study. Look deep enough inside and we see that all things are indeed connected. In the words of Laura Cornell, founder of the Green Yoga Association, “Yoga is Ecology.”

Dennis Eagan
Wild Yoga
PO Box 304
Coloma, CA 95613
(530) 626-6353
www.wildyoga.com

Yosemite Wilderness Wellness Expeditions for Low-income Californians

2011-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Help support Balanced Rock's wilderness wellness program initiative! Balanced Rock is in the running to receive a $50,000 grant from Pepsi to support a series of 10 trips this summer focused on supporting wellness for low-income Californians. These programs include our established Women of Color Backpack, our local Mariposa County Yosemite Youth Expedition, as well as open up the opportunity to provide programs for survivors of domestic violence, Central Valley youth outreach programs, and other new program initiatives.

What you can do to help:

1. Vote! Go to this website: http://www.refresheverything.com/yosemite and vote. You can vote up to 10 times each day--the projects with the top 10 vote counts win. We are in the $50,000 category under "Heath".

2. Send an email to family and friends and encourage them to vote as well.

3. If you are on Facebook or Twitter, post this information and encourage friends to vote.

This could be a wonderful opportunity for the Balanced Rock community to support a wide range of people who would otherwise not have an opportunity to experience the beauty, magic, and healing powers of Yosemite.

2011 Course Schedule

2010-12-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

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.

***

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.

***

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

2010-12-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-12-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-30T09:34:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

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.

Yoga Class Fundraiser in Berkeley

2009-01-22T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here is an opportunity to do something for yourself while supporting the programs of Balanced Rock. Join us Saturday February 7th, 2009 at 7th Heaven Yoga Studio (directions below) for a special yoga class led by Nadine Johnson with Kirtan and live music by Keith Borden. All levels are welcome.

The class will be followed by refreshments and a reception with Balanced Rock staff and former students. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the programs and talk with staff and past participants.

2:00 -3:30 pm: Yoga class by Nadine Johnson with Kirtan and live music by Keith Borden. All levels are welcome

3:30 – 4:00 pm: Reception. Meet Balanced Rock instructors and past participants over tea and snacks.

$20 - $25 Donation to the scholarship fund for Balanced Rock programs

Location:
7th Heaven Body Awareness Center
2820 Seventh Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Tel 510-665-4300
directions to 7th Heaven

For more information call us at 209-379-9453.

Kirtan and Live Music by Keith Borden
Keith Borden is a bhakti, an interfaith minister and a Senior Teacher at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center (New York & San Francisco). Most recently Keith has taught himself circular breathing on the didjeridoo and has started playing the melodica.

Keith strives to live and breathe the devotion-rich yoga that comes out of his own daily practice, infusing his offerings with playfulness and creativity. His goal is to spread light all around.

Changing Seasons

2008-10-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

This comes to us from our close friend and mediacl advisor Linda Lee who has been a fixture at the Medical Clinc in Yosemitie Valley and on the search and rescue team for the past 7 years:

When I moved from the coast to Yosemite, I so appreciated the changing of the seasons. The summer heat has left us. We now experience brisk mornings, the golden colors of the grasses, and the dogwoods color of pink and magenta. A season, a year, an era, and so goes the transition of life.

Life is a process of beginnings and endings. In both human life and nature, there are times when things move slowly and don’t seem to change much. Then one day, it can be felt, sensed and our perceptions anew. Life transitions are challenging because they force us to let go of the familiar and face the future with a feeling of vulnerability.

The seasonal employees within the park are dispersing. I ask many where they will go during the winter and if they will return for another summer here in Yosemite. The response is mostly to return and capture the magic that we all feel when here. But it will never be as it was, each passing has it’s own character, an episode, like the rings on a tree. Transition in life gives us a time to reflect and learn about our strengths. It also is a time to explore and redefine what is important to our soul.

I also will be in transition this autumn and leaving the park. With hopes to return next summer in a new role with NPS, I will pause to thank each of you for letting me into your life on the intimate level of nurse to patient. It is an honor that I respect highly.

Embrace transition and the gifts that change reveals. To your health!
Linda Lee RN, FNP-C

Linda Lee will be posting the Balanced Health column from afar as she travels to Guatemala and beyond this winter.

November and December Yoga Class Schedule

2008-09-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Balanced Rock a foundation for inspired learning

November/December Yoga Class Schedule

Time: Monday 5:45pm-7:00pm Wednesday 6:00pm-7:15pm

Location: El Portal Elementary School

Cost: Free Donations accepted. All donations support the Community Yoga Class Program and our Scholarship Fund.

NOVEMBER
Monday 5:45pm-7:00pm

11/3 Cynthia Ramaciotti, 11/10 Jen Meno, 11/17 Schuyler Greenleaf, 11/24 Jen Meno

Wednesday 6:00pm-7:15pm

11/5 Anna Landauer, 11/12 Eliza Kerr, 11/19 Cynthia Ramaciotti 11/26 CANCELLED

Please note: Class will be cancelled 11/26 (day before Thanksgiving)

DECEMBER
Monday 5:45pm-7:00pm

12/1 Eliza Kerr, 12/8 Schuyler Greenleaf, 12/15 Schuyler Greenleaf, 12/22 Jen Meno, 12/29 Jen Meno

Wednesday 6:00pm-7:15pm
12/3 Jen Meno, 12/10 Eliza Kerr, 12/17 Schuyler Greenleaf, 12/24 CANCELLED, 12/31 Jen Meno

Please note: Class is cancelled on 12/24 Christmas Eve! Please join Jen Meno for a special New Year’s Eve yoga class on 12/31!

Instructors are subject to change.

Submissions for The El Portalian

2008-09-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The El Portalian is a literary magazine highlighting the talents of writers, artists, musicians, photographers and nature lovers from and around the Yosemite area.

This is a yearly magazine, started by Kristen Shive and will be continued by Balanced Rock volunteers. It is a beautiful piece of art and form of expression.

The theme for 2008 is travel but submissions do not have to relate to the theme.

The extended deadline is October 15th, 2008. Please submit to Heather Sullivan at heather@balancedrockfoundation.org.

Submissions should be typed, in word document and visual images in a readable digital format.

Thanks for sharing your passion and creativity!

Yoga Jambalaya

2008-09-26T16:06:00.001-07:00

Yoga Jambalaya Sunday, October 19th 2008

Please join Balanced Rock Foundation and the Yosemite Bug Hostel for a wonderful day of yoga classes, spa time, delicious food and a wonderful community. This is our second Yoga Jambalaya.

Yoga Jambalaya is a day of 6 yoga classes that we encourage participants to pick and choose from leaving time for spa use, bistro meals and connection to fellow yoga students.

Location: Yosemite Bug Hostel Midpines, CA
Cost: $15/class or 3 classes/$40, $7 lunch buffet, Spa and sauna day pass included with yoga class purchase.

Schedule: (Please arrive at least 15 minutes before class to insure spot)

8:00am-9:00am Intermediate Yoga Class with Reen
9:15-10:15am Intro to Meditation and Pranayama with Cynthia Ramaciotti
10:30-12:00 Intro to Yoga Asana with Anna Landauer
Lunch Buffet served from 12:00pm-2pm
1:00-1:50 Yoga Philosophy with BRF staff
2:00-3:15 Vinyasa Flow with Schuyler Greenleaf
3:30-5:00 Inversions with Anna Landauer
5:15-6:30 Restorative Yoga with Heather Sullivan

For further information on these events, please email: heather@balancedrockfoundation.org

AcroYoga Workshop in El Portal

2008-09-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

AcroYoga Saturday, October 4th 2008

Cultivating trust, connection, and playfulness
The class experience includes: Circle Ceremony, Mirrored Asana, Partner Yoga Flow, Assisted Inversions, Partner Acrobatics, Flying Sequences and Thai Massage.

El Portal Elementary School
10am-3pm
Cost: $35-$45 sliding scale
Visiting Instructor: Samantha Miller

To register, email: heather@balancedrockfoundation.org or arrive 15minutes early to class.

Please bring: lunch, yoga mat, comfortable clothes and water.

Basic understanding of yoga helpful, no partner necessary.

October Yoga in El Portal

2008-09-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

October Yoga Class Schedule

Time: Monday 5:45-7:00pm Wednesday 6:00pm-7:15pm

Location: El Portal Elementary School

Cost: Free. Donations accepted. All donations support the community yoga class program and our scholarship fund.

Monday 5:45pm-7:00pm

10/6 Schuyler Greenleaf, 10/13 Cynthia Ramaciotti, 10/20 Schuyler Greenleaf, 10/27 Heather Sullivan

Wednesday 6:00pm-7:15pm

10/1 Eliza Kerr, 10/8 Heather Sullivan, 10/15 Cynthia Ramaciotti, 10/22, Anna Landauer, 10/29 Jen Meno

Note: Instructors are subject to change

SUMMER YOGA CLASS SCHEDULE

2008-06-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Experience Community Yoga Classes!

Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm Please note new time!
Day: Monday and Wednesday Nights New Night Added!
Location: El Portal Elementary School

Cost: Free. Donations accepted. All donations support the Community Yoga Class Program and our Scholarship Fund.

JULY
Mon 7, 14, 21, 28 (all classes taught by Jen Meno)
Wed 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (all classes taught by Heather Sullivan)

AUGUST
Mon 4, 11, 18 (classes taught by Schuyler Greenleaf)
Mon 25 (class taught by Eliza Kerr)
Wed 6, 13, 20 (classes taught by Heather Sullivan)
Wed 27 (class taught by Jen Meno)

Note: instructors are subject to change

2008-06-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

“BLACK AND BROWN FACES IN AMERICA’S WILDEST PLACES”

2008-04-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

SOME JOURNEYS ARE UNEXPECTED…
BUT THEIR BEGINNINGS CAN BE SHARED.

The Balanced Rock Foundation presents
“BLACK AND BROWN FACES IN AMERICA’S WILDEST PLACES”
A Special Evening of Stories Celebrating Women of Color

View the event invitation!
April 19th, 2008 6-830pm
Women’s Bldg, Audre Lorde Room
3543 18th St. #8 (Between Valencia and Guerrero) SF
$10-50 sliding scale; all are welcome and no one turned away for lack of funds
All men and women of every color and creed welcome.
Cash or check accepted at the silent auction.

Join us for an evening of celebrating the transformational stories of women of color and our adventures in the outdoors as we toast the creation of the Women of Color Backpacking Access Fund, sponsored by the Balanced Rock Foundation. In this interactive evening, join our active and powerful panel of women adventurists as they lead you through stories of reflection and rejuvenation. This evening will include a mini-workshop to uncover your own adventures and end with a silent auction of products donated by outdoor outfitters Arcteryx and Osprey, acclaimed animation studio Pixar, massages, art, personal training sessions and more! Learn how to be a part of the 2008 Women of Color Backpack Trip, the only one of its kind in the nation, and find your own adventure on this special night.

About the Speakers:

Chelsea Griffie You may have seen photos of Chelsea in Patagonia clothing company catalogs, in Essence Magazine, Sports Illustrated Women and the anthology, Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places. As a young woman, Chelsea dreamed of the mountains and going camping. Chelsea eventually found her way to the outdoor world through rock climbing, which she began in 1993. Chelsea is currently the Program Director at Bay Area Wilderness Training. She brings to BAWT her enthusiasm for getting city kids outdoors, as well as her expertise in both the office and outdoor worlds.Nina Roberts, Ph.D
Nina Roberts is an Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University. She has worked with women and girls outdoors in some capacity throughout her 25 year career. She is currently on the Advisory Council for GirlVentures, Inc, and has served on the Association for Experiential Education Board of Directors as the Women’s Professional Group Representative. She has worked with the National Park Service where she also completed a 3-month detail with the first woman Director, Fran Mainella. As a bi-racial woman, Nina's research has guided her to write about people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and explore their connection to recreation in the natural environment. She is currently the Principal Investigator and Project Director for the SFSU Pacific Leadership Institute working with urban youth. Nina is also a Fulbright Scholar where she conducted youth evaluation in India.
Erin “Echo” DavenportAs an archaeologist for the National Park Service, Echo reads the human traces on the landscape to learn the stories of the diverse people and cultures of the last 20,000 years or more. One of her most intense experiences as an archaeologist occured when she visited Topaz, the Japanese Internment Camp where her family was held during World War II. The barbed wire, building foundations and lost or cast-away artifacts took on important meanings when painted with the stories Echo has gathered from her family members. She believes that when we know and understand our own cultural heritage, we are best suited to honor other cultures in the past, present and future. Echo has a BS from UC Berkeley in Conservation and Resource Studies with an emphasis in Cultural Geography and is currently pursuing an MA in Cultural Resource Management at Sonoma State University. Prior to becoming an archaeologist, Echo spent many years as a teacher and environmental educator in the Bay Area, the Santa Cruz mountains, and Yosemite. Echo enjoys exploring the world as a climber, backpacker, naturalist, cyclist, basketweaver, archaelogist, teacher, and wildland firefighter. She has travelled five of the world's seven continents, but always returns to experience and share in the natural and cultural heritage of her home state of California.

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“I believe strongly in making this community of women, and women of color, a sustainable one. These are the moments that will sustain us - these moments to get out, to grow, to breathe, to be, to connect.” – Han Pham, Women of Color backpack participant 2007

“I’m participating in this evening because I believe in the power of all people in making unique and personal connections with the outdoors.”- Nina Roberts, PhD, Panelist and author

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ABOUT THE BALANCED ROCK FOUNDATION:
Balanced Rock offers enriching programs for the mind, body and spirit. These journeys foster individual well being, support the health of our community and environment, and forge a deep connection to the natural world. Our aim is to do work that encourages people to "unplug" from the world of technology for a few moments or days while plugging back into the earth that sustains us. From here, we can remember how to sustain ourselves and the earth while seeking a balance in our daily lives.

The Balanced Rock Foundation’s Women of Color trip offers a bright opportunity for a number of individuals to step through a very special doorway and participate in an outdoor world of beauty and healing. Many of us may realize that our wild spaces belong to all Americans, but many Women of Color do not take advantage of these places. Who wants to trek to an alpine lake and feel that they don’t belong there?

The 2008 WOC Backpacking Trip will be a model for the future WOC programs through the Balanced Rock Foundation. This four four-day backpacking trip is scheduled for July 17th to 20th, 2008.
Visit http://www.balancedrockfoundation.org/ for more info or email Chelsea (at) bawt (dot) org.

For more information:
event invitation >> http://tinyurl.com/4evvtj
full speaker bios >> http://tinyurl.com/5y4pbz
URL>> http://balancedrockfoundation.blogspot.com/

Musings from Marcia

2008-03-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. As I read it I'm frequently reminded of my experiences with being in the back country. Being completely engulfed in nature is the perfect environment to practice being totally present. That's true for me whether it's while carrying a 50 lb. pack or a relaxing day hike. All the cares of the outside world no longer matter. It's where I am able to slow down and stop thinking......notice the intense beauty around and within me.

As Eckhart Tolle says, "Beauty, love, creativity, joy and inner peace come from beyond the mind." The relaxation I've experienced while on these trips, whether it's for a weekend or for 10 days, has allowed me to truly understand what he's saying here. And once I experienced it, I now simply want more of it!

"The practice, the sense of stillness and peace will deepen. There is no end to its depth." "In this state, you feel your own presence with such intensity and such joy that all thinking, all emotions, your physical body, as well as the whole external world become relatively insignificant in comparison to it."

Isn't this what we all want? A deep sense of inner peace? To experience our own "presence" with intense joy? That's why I'm eagerly awaiting this next season with attending the Balanced Rock trips. To help me continue to cultivate practices that foster being very present....not only when I'm in nature, but also when I'm focused on the rest of my very full life. Bring 'em on!

written by Marcia Hodges
Board Member, Balanced Rock

YOGA JAMBALAYA

2008-03-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

YOGA JAMBALAYA
Sunday April 6th, 2008

Join us for a delightful medley of yoga classes at the beautiful yoga studio and spa at the Yosemite Bug Hostel in Midpines, CA.

Balanced Rock Foundation and the Yosemite Bug Hostel will host this full day event.

Schedule:

8:00 am Registration for classes opens at spa front desk. If attending later classes, please arrive 15 minutes before class to insure a spot.

9:00-10:15 Invigorating Vinyasa with Schuyler Greenleaf (sun salutations, flow, enlivening music)

10:45-12:00 Backbending Anna Landauer (based on Anusara style)

12:00-1:30 lunch break

1:30-2:45 Intro To Yoga with Iyengar base….Marya Carr (focusing on proper alignment)

3:00-4:30 Restorative Yoga with Heather Sullivan (focusing on deep relaxing and restoration)

5:00-5:45 Abhyanga with Jon-Paul (Ayervedic practice of self-oil massage.)

6:00-7:30 Jon-Paul’s weekly Sunday night yoga class

Pick and choose the classes you would like to attend and complement the teachings with use of the spa facilities, staff of body-workers, and meals.

Yoga students may sit in on classes if not practicing to take notes and learn. $10 fee applies

Cost: $10/class $10 for use of spa Delicious bistro meals not included in cost.

Yoga class proceeds support Balanced Rock scholarship fund.

Please bring: yoga mat, 2 blankets, (blocks, bolsters, and belts if you have them), journal, water bottle, swimsuit if using spa.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before class to insure a spot. Space is limited.

Contact: Heather Sullivan heather@balancedrockfoundation.org 209.379.9453
www.balancedrockfoundation.org
www.yosemitebug.com 209.966.6666

THE YOGA OF WORK

2008-03-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to share some words that I wrote in my journal as I was contemplating becoming involved in Balanced Rock. I was inspired by an article in Yoga + Joyful Living written by Eknath Easwaran.

THE YOGA OF WORK
As I enter into my "work" with Balanced Rock, the message of the Bhagavad Gita is important and was the driving force for Gandhi who mastered the art of joyful work. The Gita is a call to action on the battlefield of life...the human heart as told to Arguna by Krishna. There are many opportunities for selfless service where we can offer our time, energy, skills and enthusiasm to a cause bigger than ourselves. Life is for giving....a trust and I am a trustee whose job is to use the assets entrusted to me for the greatest benefit of all. All work develops in phases. Not being anxious about the results means that when fortune smiles on you, when success comes, you don't get excited; you just say thank you. Yoga is "even-ness of mind". In practice, we have to admit that even with selfless work, we have some private motive. But if we practice meditation and spiritual disciplines, our private, selfish motives become less and less. We are where we are, doing what we are doing, because we have something to learn from that particular context. What and who I am--what I have thought, done, and desired--has brought me to this job and co-workers, and that makes it just the situation I need to grow. Don't ask if you like the work, if it's creative, if it always offers something new....ask if you are part of work that benefits people. This becomes worship. ALL LIFE IS YOGA.

written by Sharon Bluhm, Balanced Rock Board Member

March and April Yosemite Yoga Class Schedule

2008-03-05T17:54:00.001-08:00

Yoga Class Schedule

sponsored by Balanced Rock Foundation

Monday evenings
5:45pm -7:00 pm
El Portal School Multi-purpose Room
(Please arrive 5 minutes early)

March

3 Anna Landauer
10 Schuyler Greenleaf
17 Jen Meno
24 Heather Sullivan
31 Eliza Kerr

April

7 Anna Landauer
14 Jen Meno
21 Heather Sullivan
28 Eliza Kerr

Please bring yoga mat, water, blankets, belt or strap and warm clothes
Donations benefit community programming

Monday Night Yoga Classes in El Portal

2008-02-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

February Yoga Class Schedule

Day & Time: Monday evenings: 5:45pm-7:00pm
Location: El Portal Elementary School Multi-purpose Room

February 4 Instructor: Schuyler Greenleaf

February 11 Instructor: Heather Sullivan

February 18 Instructor: Eliza Kerr

February 25 Instructor: Heather Sullivan

Please bring: yoga mat, blankets, belt, block, water bottle, comfortable clothing

Donations support Community Events sponsored by Balanced Rock.

When asked what gift he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied:
I wish no gifts, only presence.

Yoga Class sponsored by Balanced Rock.

2008-02-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

Yoga Class to sponsor Mountain Crisis Center at the Yosemite Bug Hostel.

Balanced Rock will host a yoga class at the Yosemite Bug Hostel in Midpines.

Date: Saturday February 16, 2008.

Time: 3:00-4:30pm.

Location: Yosemite Bug Hostel Midpines, CA (209) 966.6666 Class will be in the yoga room of the new spa.

Instructor: Heather Sullivan, Executive Director of Balanced Rock

Cost: Donation. All proceeds benefit the Mountain Crisis Center

This will be an incredible day. Enjoy a yoga class, the new spa facilities at the Bug hostel, a fine meal, and the Vagina Monologues performed by local community members. The event will be followed by a chocolate reception.

Please contact Balanced Rock with questions about the yoga class.

To reserve a ticket for the performance or lodging at the Yosemite Bug Hostel, contact the Bug directly: 209.966.6666

See you Saturday!!

Musings on Balance

2008-01-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million, count a half dozen, and keep your accounts to a thumbnail...simplify, simplify, simplify.
Thoureau

From the Art of Pilgrimage:

The five excellent practices of pilgrimage:
1. Practice the arts of attention and listening.
2. Renew yourself everyday.
3. Practice meandering to the center of every place.
4. Practice the ritual of reading sacred texts.
5. Practice gratitude and praise singing.

Reflect on this: What is enough?

Welcome to Balanced Rock!

2008-01-02T23:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! This is an exciting time for us here at Balanced Rock. We are just launching our website and have an exciting calendar of trips, treks and community events outlined.

Most of my new year's resolutions involve seeking balance. They include: driving less, trying not to fly in airplanes, sleeping outside more often, taking computer free days, and learning how to grow my own food.

Please write in with some ways to lead a balanced life.

We hope to see you on a trip or course this year.

Heather Sullivan
Executive Director