Intro to Somatics: An Exploration of Safety through Mindful Movement, Self Inquiry, and Play with Molly Bienstock, Monday, January 27, 7:30-8:45p
Together we'll explore what it means to be in a body through the lens of somatic experience, parts work, and the importance of slowing down. Come enjoy an evening of yoga, movement, and dance as a ritual for forgiveness, belonging, and collective care.
Investment: $30. Register HERE.
Molly Bienstock (they/them) is a nonbinary, queer somatic therapist and educator whose passions lie in helping people find safety in their bodies so they can experience their most playful, authentic selves. After a traumatic accident in 2014, Molly became a scholar of somatic and spiritual methodologies as a channel to better understand the body's survival responses as well as how it can thrive. Molly now offers a unique combination of tools in their private practice Magic With Molly that stems from the wisdom of yoga, breathwork, somatic experience, movement and dance therapy, traditional talk therapy, and parts work. Molly's focus is on helping people feel their most expansive, human selves by honoring our reflections in Nature and integrating contradictory aspects of the self to support the feeling of Wholeness. Molly works with clients of all ages and backgrounds in both 1-on-1 settings and groups.
MMMM… Melty, Myofascial Meridian Monday with Lauren Nottingham, Monday, February 3, 7:15-9p
Join Lauren in the warm glow of candlelight for an extended MeridiYin + myofascial release practice. Bring your fuzzy socks and cozy layers, and expect tennis balls and props galore. We’ll begin with a meridian activation tapping technique followed by some gentle movements and self acupressure. Then, we will settle in for restorative yin holds incorporating props and tennis balls to aid in fascial release, ending with a yoga nidra send off into an extended savasana with warm aromatherapy towels. MMMM, right?!
$30. Sign up HERE.
Cuppling : Intro to Cupping and Healing Techniques with Olivia Yohai and Rama Lemacks, Friday, February 7, 5:30-7:30p
Join Olivia Yohai (RYT 500, LMT, and Acupuncture Student) and Rama Lemacks (OG Dojo YTT Grad, Breathwork Instructor, Professional Warrior, and Transcendence Facilitator) for an evening of community and healing on February 7th, 5:30–7:30 PM.
Learn how to safely perform and receive the ancient art of cupping therapy, a powerful technique to move qi (energy/prana) and release stagnation. Perfect for when you want to share the benefits of a massage with minimal effort.
In addition to giving and receiving cupping, this session will include:
-A gentle flow to warm up the meridians
-Partnered healing techniques such as assisted asanas, acupressure, and more to deepen connection
-A restorative sound healing to close the evening
This workshop is designed for duos—bring any type of partner you’d like! Please bring one set of cups per pair. Please reach out if you have questions about purchasing a cupping set, or if the additional cost of the cup set feels like a barrier, we will have a few spare sets. Recommended cupping set for purchase: https://a.co/d/gmUp7kS
Registration: $65 per couple. Please only register under one attendee's name. Sign up HERE.
pilates pop-up with Katie Dale, Saturday, February 8, 12:30-1:30p
"Pilates is the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit"- Joseph Pilates
He claimed that his method properly and uniformly develops the body, maintains a healthy spine and thus vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.
With a lot of popularity around Pilates these days, there are a lot of adaptations, variations, and Pilates inspired workouts. Mat Pilates sculpt is a full body workout focusing on core strength and control- a fusion of traditional mat Pilates and hiit style variations. You can expect a slow burn that builds as we add progressions and sculpt variations.
In this workshop style class, we'll discuss the principles of Pilates as we apply them to movements and work through some of the classical repertoire. No extra props needed, but if you want to spice it up and bring ankle/wrist weights, go for it.
Cost: $30. Sign up HERE.
Community Acupuncture with Sarah Coghlan + Elizabeth Mastropierro, Sunday, February 9, 12-3p
Community Acupuncture is designed as a way of offering Chinese medicine in an accessible format. It's a means of giving back to our hardworking, overstressed community in a way that is affordable to all. It's ideal for both first time and seasoned acupuncture clients.
Community (or group) acupuncture is offered in a room with several zero-gravity chairs, where individuals can join each other in holding a healing space. Please wear loose-fitting clothing to your session, as most points will be from the elbows and knees down. There will be a short intake form and you will speak with our practitioner for a few minutes, have your pulse taken, and after points are inserted, your will be able to rest for about 30 minutes. People seek acupuncture for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) physical injury, acute and chronic pain, colds flu and immune support, reproductive health, allergies and respiratory issues, digestive health concerns, mental and emotional wellness, auto-immune conditions, insomnia, and more.
We will hold healing sessions once a month at The Yoga Dojo with Dr. Sarah Coghlan and Elizabeth Mastropierro. Relax and receive a 45-minute treatment for a sliding scale amount of $20-50 sliding scale. Pre-registration is required, either by emailing hello@theyogadojorva.com or through our online booking system. Our next session is also available for booking on 3/9.
Reserve your space HERE.
Elemental Sound healing with Juju Desta
Dates/Times:
Friday, February 21, 6-7:15p
Friday, March 7, 6-7:15p
Sound healing is an ancient practice that uses sound to relax the body and mind through allowing the vibrations of the various instruments to put one into a “yogic sleep.” In yogic sleep, the individual is neither fully asleep nor fully awake. In Aboriginal culture, it is referred to as the “Dream Time” state. The sounds vibrate with every cell of a living organism which in turn activates a natural healing process working through any physical, mental, or emotional blockages within the body.
Julian J. Desta is 200hr certified yoga instructor residing in Richmond, VA. Always having a passion for the creative arts, he was introduced to the practice of Sound Healing and Therapy when given his first singing bowl as a birthday present from a friend. Julian began researching the depths of sound and it’s powerful healing techniques. After a few years practicing Julian received his Sound Healing Certification from Mentor and friend Mark Toregson in 2019.
Specializing in a variety of instruments from the didgeridoo, to flutes, singing bowls, and drums, Julian has created a unique Sound Healing Experience called Elemental Sound Healing. Discovering relationship between sound healing and nature, he calls on the 4 elements of Air, Wind, Water, and Fire to channel through each practice to bring balance to the human system or what he likes to refer to as homeostasis.
Investment: $30. Link to sign up HERE. Be sure to bring what you need to rest comfortably on the ground - a blanket or two and pillow are recommended.
Rewilding Training with Tara Eschenroeder, February 28-March 2
This program is for you if you are in the midst of change, need support in gaining clarity, or perhaps just simply curious about what it takes to embody transformation and this journey of being human from a place of self trust, instinct, and intuition with a supportive group of like minded souls.
Re-Wilding Training is for all humans longing for a reconnection with their own inner wild and knowing; a journey back to the deep wisdom within. You are invited to join for an experience of holding space for the sacred remembering of our internal compass; our instinct and intuition.
Throughout this program, we will explore tools that can be utilized in everyday life that will provide manageable and breathable ways to occupy and live a life of alignment and integrity. These tools will include (and will not be limited to) journaling prompts and discussion, exploring the felt sense, connecting with the outdoors, meditation, visualization, integration between sessions, breath and asana.
We will meet on the following dates and times as we hold space for the remembering of the knowing of our bones.
Friday, February 28, 5-9p
Saturday, March 1, 12-7p
Sunday, March 2, 10-5p
Whether you are a yoga teacher, training to become a yoga teacher, or simply a practitioner and student of life, all of you is welcome.
The answers lie within, and the path is made by walking it. Keep going….
This course is approved for 20 lead trainer hours in our Modular 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training (18 contact hours, 2 non-contact hours).
Investment: $250 earlybird rate until 1/31, $300 after. Register HERE.
True Nature: Self-Discovery through Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras with Izzy Shurte, April 4-6
Please join Izzy Shurte LPC, E-RYT 500 for True Nature: Self Discovery through Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. In this course, all curious yogis are welcome to explore Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a foundational classical yoga text. While PYS is 2000 years old the text is relevant for anyone interested in practicing yoga asana, developing a meditation practice and / or working with the challenges presented by the human mind.
Join with other yogis to create a community for exploration that includes dharma talks explaining key sutras and vocabulary, time for introspection through journal and contemplation, guided meditation, moving with the wisdom of the sutras with daily asana, supportive group discussion and Kirtan (chanting accompanied by harmonium).
Schedule:
Friday: 5:30-9:30p
Saturday: 9:30a-7:30p
Sunday: 11:30a-5p
This course is approved for 22 lead trainer core hours (20 contact hours, 2 non-contact hours) for our modular 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training program.
Investment: $300. Register HERE.
Chair Yoga Teacher Training with Jess Geevarghese, April 19-20
Chair Yoga is an accessible practice for students, clients or patients who need the support of a chair for a number of reasons, including age, weight, temperament, ability or situation. The 14-hour Chair Yoga Teacher Training is an opportunity for yoga teachers and those in allied professions to build skills related to teaching students of varying abilities in three settings:
• Yoga Studio (more mobile seniors/individuals)
• Nursing Home/Retirement Facility, and
• Corporate/Workplace Settings.
The training is accompanied by a 100+ page printed manual.
What you will learn:
1) Students will learn to teach chair yoga in a trauma-informed and accessible manner.
2) Students will understand the considerations for teaching a variety of students, including in an active yoga studio setting, corporate environment and retirement facility.
3) Students will learn the basics of injury and condition management.
4) Students will become competent to teach resistance training and use props in their practice.
The training is broken up into Discussions, Posture Labs, Anatomy & Physiology, Practice and Practice Teaching.
*Discussions include Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment, Balance/Proprioception and Considerations for Workplace Yoga.
*Posture Labs cover seated and standing sun salutations, back bends, forward bends, hip openers, low-impact movements, lateral flexion, and savasana.
Please bring a yoga mat and a set of light-weight dumbbells (1-3 lbs). We will provide chairs and blocks.
Schedule:
Saturday, 4/19: 12-7p
Sunday, 4/20: 11:30-4:30p
This training is approved for 14 lead trainer core hours (12 contact, 2 non-contact) for our modular 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training program.
Investment: $400. Register HERE.
Mallorca Retreat with Adrian McCavitt and Lauren Nottingham, May 10-17
We didn’t even get to make an official announcement for our Mallorca retreat before it sold out! But drop us an email if you want us to put you on the waitlist.