*Sign up for any dates you'd like. Each date is a stand-alone workshop. One is not a prerequisite for the next.

The intention of this two-hour monthly gathering is to grow effective allies and leaders in the yoga community on and off the mat.The first hour will be spent discussing a podcast that is required listening before the gathering. The last hour will focus on a specific skill for teaching yoga classes.

November
Yoga is Dead Podcast: Episode 1, White Women Killed Yoga with Guest Speaker Hien Hong of Hien Hong Yoga
Skill Focus: integrating a theme into a yoga class

December
Yoga is Dead Podcast: Episode 2, Karma Capitalism Killed Yoga with Guest Speaker Antoinett Atkins from The Reach Center
Skill Focus: effective and inclusive cueing for a yoga class

January
Yoga is Dead Podcast: Episode 3, Gurus Killed Yoga with Guest Speaker Kelly Jo Webster from Knead Massage Therapy.
Skill Focus: hands-on and verbal assists for a yoga class

*Sundays in downtown Tacoma are quiet, which is great for discussion (and free parking) but less great for finding coffee or snacks. Please bring anything you need with you. Food and drinks allowed.

**Portion of profits will be used to patron Yoga is Dead podcast.

Facilitated by Team Yoga Wild

*This workshop will be divided into two parts. You may sign up for either part separately, or attend the whole day.

Sliding-Scale Price (pay what you can)
ALL DAY: $120, $100 or $80
PART 1: $60, $50 or $40
PART 2: $60, $50 or $40

Skill in Action: Yoga + Social Justice
9:00AM - 12:00PM
Social justice and creating change is at the heart of the practice of yoga. Through the practice of yoga, we are invited to experience personal transformation that at best will allow us to be more effective in creating change in the world for the greater good. We are in a time in a world where we need to turn towards one another to create collective change. One way that white supremacy operates is to cause us to distance ourselves and others. This furthers cultural isolation and allows white supremacy to thrive by it’s most effective strategy-divide and conquer.

In this session, space will be created for you to explore the principles of yoga and the principles of justice to inspire you to use your practice of yoga to create a just world for yourself and all beings. We will explore power and privilege, oppression and identity, suffering and liberation and loving-kindness. Participants will use the tools of asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation; teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras; discussion and individual reflection to delve deeper into the interplay of yoga and social justice. This all-levels yoga workshop will include a dharma talk, meditation, asana, and discussion.

Skill in Action Yoga: Practice + Action
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Join Michelle C. Johnson as she hosts this three-hour workshop designed to explore our actions and reactions, not only individually but collectively. Through this exploration, we can harness our power so that we may take action and create social change. Through the practice of yoga, pranayama, and meditation we will connect with our inner fire, agni, to gain clarity about our actions and their alignment with our higher purpose all in-service of our collective humanity. You will leave this workshop with a deeper connection to self, your community, and all beings. This all-levels yoga workshop will include a dharma talk, meditation, asana, and discussion.

Michelle C. Johnson is an author, yoga teacher, social justice activist, licensed clinical social worker and Dismantling Racism trainer. She approaches her life and work from a place of empowerment, embodiment, and integration. With a deep understanding of trauma and the impact that it has on the mind, body, spirit, and heart, much of her work focuses on helping people better understand how power and privilege operate in their life. She explores how privilege, power, and oppression affect the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and energy body.

Tune-Up Therapy Balls are required for this workshop. Purchase on your own or at a discounted price with your workshop booking.

This workshop will teach you how to use yoga therapy balls to gently relieve areas of tension in the body. You'll learn how the balls work and how you can take just a few minutes each day to unwind your tension patterns. Sensations of stiffness sometimes come from areas of overwork but can also result from areas where the body does not feel stable. Learn how to tell the difference. Using therapy balls for self-massage prior to your yoga practice (or other physical endeavors) stimulates more muscle fibers to engage in the rolled area allowing a greater sense of mobility (strength and flexibility combined).

The Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls measure at about 2 1/2" in diameter each and are made of a special rubber that grips at your skin, grabs at multiple layers of muscles, and rubs out adhesions and tension, providing a deep tissue massage (colors may vary). Includes two Yoga Tune Up® Therapy Balls with mesh drawstring snug-grip tote bag.