Cora Wen Yoga Workshop “Stirring the Sea of Chi”

March 20-21, 2010 $150 before 3/1 ~ $160 after 3/1 Register and Pay Now for Entire Weekend $40 per session

There's energy at the core of your being, right in the middle of your belly... This “Sea of Chi” is a source of great personal power, and called the seat of intuition. To nurture and sustain harmony in the body, it is important to balance the energetic and physical body.

In and Out. Yin and Yang.

We will explore moving from the belly centre to uncover energy - Chi, Prana, Life Force. Cora unifies breath, movement and relaxation to encourage and exhilarate the body, calm the nervous system, and enliven your spirit!

As we connect to Chi and move from this energetic place, we awaken subtle intelligence in the body. Moving mindfully and intelligently stimulates physical, emotional, and spiritual vitality.

You will flow into sequences with sustained and skillful attention to awaken Chi! Unwind the belly and learn to access your Sea of Chi

Saturday AM Session - Yin Yum Hips, an experience of letting go… 10:00am-12:30pm Register and Pay Now

Modern life requires a lot of sitting, which keeps hips from the rotation, flexion, and extension they need to remain free. And fun sports like running, biking, skiing and even normal walking increases hip strength but not flexibility. Without freedom in the pelvis and legs, there is also more stress on the knees and lower back.

Cora will unwind your pelvis, unlocking this hub of movement and get your hips gliding free! We will loosen the body, focusing on hip rotators (buttocks area), hip flexors (front of thighs and pelvis) and hamstrings. Hip openers can be challenging and many feel like they have hips that are glued together, so Cora’s Happy Hips sequences will unstick this area in a slow, mindful way for an incredibly satisfying physical and emotional awakening.

Saturday PM Session - Yin Yang Wriggle - Twist & Sprout 1:30pm-4:00pm Register and Pay Now

Twists are some of the best ways to heal your back, as it elongates the upper and lower back, neck, shoulders, hips and waist. Twisting asanas cultivate flexibility and strength, soothing the tension caused by stress, posture, or prolonged sitting. The side to side action aligns vertebrae, limbers muscles, loosens hips and enhances circulation. These movements tone spinal nerves and ligaments, cleanse organs and improve digestion.

Cora focuses on the internal organs, particularly liver and kidneys in the twisting action. The wringing action on the kidneys is a powerful way to move energy and stimulate vitality. Stability is finding your center: to feel balanced in the divine matrix of tissue, muscles, and organs. Flexibility is the introspection and deep relaxation that stimulates the natural healing and nourishing of your vital essence.

Cora will show you ways to work to rotate the spine, bending backward, forward and laterally for complete flexibility, so you will feel like you have never twisted before!

Sunday AM Session - Heart/Belly Salutations & Deep Abdominals 10:00am-12:30pm Register and Pay Now

In Chinese Medicine, the belly is the “Sea of Chi”, and an extraordinary place to access energy. Anatomically, the navel is connection of Mother to child, so it is a reservoir of life force and the source of strength and vitality. Taoists believe it is the birthplace of immortality. Connect to Chi and awaken body intelligence. Explore your belly and uncover an unsinkable, unshakeable life force.

This session highlights energy pathways in the center of the body, investigating subtle, internal refinements in movement to discover and enliven your own “Sea of Chi.” Focus is to strengthen the core and move from a place of balanced strength and flexibility. Moving from this center gives steady balance and support, and the freedom, ease and grace to trust our intuition.

Unwind the belly to liberate enthusiasm, discipline, and the courage to discover your potential. This belly centre links us to our mortality, and awakening it can uncover the immortality of intuition and spirit. A mindful and dynamic flow with emphasis on Cora’s “liquid spine.” Look out for Cora's slow, sneaky and effective abdominal work to awaken your Sea of Chi...

Unwind the belly and de-stress, discover and delight in your belly, your body, and yourself..!

Sunday PM Session - From Bhakti to Shakti - Folding into Hanuman 1:30pm-4:00pm Register and Pay Now

Yin and Yang can describe everything in life. Nothing is purely Yin or Yang but contains both in varying amounts. You cannot have one without the other, and both are needed for equilibrium and well being. Cora focuses on balancing movement and stillness, power and grace, suppleness and strength to create a stable and even Yoga practice.

Hanuman is the monkey god beloved for his service, strength and devotion. His story is part of the great Hindu epic, The Ramayana, and his power comes from bhakti, his devotion to Rama. In Yoga, Our power comes from the ability to take a giant leap of faith to overcome challenges with unfailing devotion, humility and respect.

This session refines the application and implication of Yin and Yang in your practice. Cora brings attention to sensations that arise, gently guiding the body, encouraging breath and mindfulness. Give yourself with complete devotion and witness subtle sensations, thoughts and feelings. They may be as rewarding as the physical benefits.

We will use standing pose techniques, forward folds and supine hip and leg stretches, as basic patterns in preparation for moving toward Hanumanasana (splits). This pose is often seen as difficult, but with a little devotion, courage, and practice, you might overcome difficulty! Your passion for Yoga springs from a personal experience of its transformative power. Getting the balance of reflective Yin with passionate Yang energy can transform Yoga into nectar for your soul…

Cora Wen has taught Yoga since 1994, and is one of the first certified E-RYT500s with Yoga Alliance. She has been a dedicated student of Buddhism for over 30 years, and apprenticed with Judith Hanson Lasater in therapeutic and restorative Yoga since 1996. Cora apprenticed extensively with Erich Schiffmann and Rodney Yee throughout the 90s, while serving international clients Lockheed Martin and Nestle Corporation, as a corporate banker.

She gave up a flourishing career to pursue her love of teaching, and as a full-time teacher, Cora travels internationally offering workshops and trainings that are playful, educational and innovative. She blends the safety of Iyengar alignment, along with a flowing practice that stresses energy meridians and the visceral organs. CYT certified through International Association of Yoga Therapists and one of the first Advanced Relax & Renew trainers in restorative Yoga, Cora has helped students find freedom from injuries and chronic ailments.

At once infectious and calming, she consistently earns accolades from peers, mentors and students. She is currently working with UCSF and the NIH on studies of restorative Yoga and diabetes.

Cora is dedicated to protecting traditional and indigenous cultures and is a representative for Tibetan Children’s Education Fund, an organization dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and education in India. www.corawen.com