Join Daniel Currie for a Beginner Guided Ashtanga vinyasa yoga class to raise awareness and funds for Trini Foundation.

This class is appropriate for ANY LEVEL of student - complete beginners who have never done yoga before or those with more experience are WELCOME. Daniel will lay the foundation for an Ashtanga yoga practice with basic breathwork, foundational postures and a closing sequence. Attend a single class or all three!

Proceeds from this class will go directly to Trini Foundation, A 501 c3 organization that is dedicated to helping people with substance use disorder find long-term recovery by building environments of physical, mental, and spiritual support through integrating recovery services with Ashtanga yoga and mindfulness practices.

Upon registration you will be given the opportunity to donate what you’d like for the class.

Dates:

Saturday April 27th; 11am-12pm

Sunday May 12th; 11am-12pm

Saturday June 15th; 11am-12pm

One Saturday each month, Cary will be hosting classes that will be open to all on a donation basis, no one will be turned away. Each class will be two hours long and will consist of meditation instructions and Buddhist mindfulness training from the Theravada perspective and time for questions.

Cary Brief is a Buddhist meditation and dharma teacher located in Raleigh, NC. Cary has been practicing 22 years in Zen, Tibetan and Therevada  Buddhist traditions.  He began studying Chaplaincy at UNC hospitals and has continued  his training at Upaya with Roshi Joan Halifax.  Cary’s teacher training has been on going since 2018.  

Starting in 2023 he will offer outdoor meditation retreats focusing on developing our understanding of the interconnectedness with our plant and animal kin which can open our hearts and deepen compassion and kindness towards ourselves and all beings.  

Cary has volunteered for the past two decades at detox units, rehabs, prisons and mental health centers bringing the message of meditation and compassion as powerful tools to heal the suffering all beings experience.

All are welcome. No need to register - just show up :-)

Future dates:

May 25

June 8

July 13

The Primary Series of Ashtanga yoga refers to the seated postures from Paschimottanasana through Setu Bandasana. But that’s not the end of the story! A full practice includes a backbending section as well as a closing sequence to ensure a balanced energy and a calm nervous system. In this weekend workshop, we’ll look closely at those sections, as well as explore a bit of Second Series, and a few alternate sequences to support a balanced daily diet of yoga.

NOTE This weekend workshop is part of the AYSR Student Development Course. It can also be taken on its own. For more information on the Student Development Course, CLICK HERE

Saturday June 1st

7:30-9:30am: Led Half Primary & Half Second Series & Discussion -- Some say that a balanced diet of Ashtanga yoga includes Primary Series and Second Series. The first section of Second Series in particular provides a nice balance to the dominance of forward folds in Primary Series. So let’s talk a peek! We’ll Practice Primary Series up to Navasana, then the first several postures of Second Series, as appropriate for those in attendance. Practice will be followed by a discussion & Q&A

10am-12pm: Alternate Practices — There are days built in to the Ashtanga tradition for rest, allowing for a robust practice most other days. But let’s be real…sometimes you need to explore the practice from a slightly different angle. In this workshop we’ll discuss options for those days you don’t have enough time and energy, as well as those days you have some extra juice!

1-3pm: Closing Sequence: Shoulderstand, Headstand and all the rest — The Closing Sequence of Ashtanga consists of two inversions - Headstand and Shoulderstand, along with some variations and counterposes. Considered the King and Queen of asana, Headstand and Shoulderstand both build strength in the upper body, as well as calming the nervous system in preparation for Savasana. In this workshop we’ll explore these postures using props, modifications, and enhancements to help us get more out of these amazing postures.

Sunday June 2nd

8:30-10:30am: Mysore Class (optional)

11am-12pm: Sutras & Philosophy — A discussion of yoga philosophy based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (chapter1) and other texts.

1-3pm: Backbends — Positioned at the end of practice, Backbends provide a welcome balance to the forward folds of Primary Series. However, Urdvha Dhanurasana is not considered a beginner backbend, and many people have difficulty with this posture. In this workshop, we’ll begin with some foundational backbends from the Second Series, moving through these postures in an “easiest to hardest” progression, so ALL LEVELS are welcome. You are sure to gain some insights no matter where you are in your practice.

Investment:

$120 for the Full Weekend; $35 per session

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the start of the Workshop will receive a refund minus any credit card fees already accrued and a $15 handling fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations made within 14 days of the start of the Workshop.

Just Sit Raleigh Meditation Society Presents

A Half-Day Mindfulness Mediation Retreat on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (the Satipatthana)

Sit Raleigh's Half Day Mindfulness Retreat will focus on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness taught by the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta. The time we spend together will mostly be in noble silence except for the talks and guided meditations for each Establishment.  The day will consist of a short talk, guided and walking meditation, guided movement periods, short silent meditations with appropriate breaks in between. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.  Visit www.sitraleigh.com for more details.  Sign up is available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindfulness-meditation-half-day-retreat-tickets-878561339617

$25 Suggested Donation

Light Snacks and Beverages Provided

Exploring Ashtanga Yoga & Buddhism - Where the Mat Meets the Cushion

With Cory Bryant of Yoga Shala Nashville & The Spiritual Pilgrim

For well over twenty years Cory has been exploring yoga and Buddhism. At times feeling more drawn to yoga and at other times more to Buddhism, until one day he realized it doesn’t have to be one or the other. 

These two rich philosophies/histories/practices — sadhanas — share incredibly rich and sacred roots. Over the past ten years it has been his great pleasure to embrace their integration. In this weekend workshop he’d like to share that experience with you!

Join Cory for this special weekend of lecture, discussion, and practice focused on the common ground of yoga and Buddhism. We will draw from the teachings of Patanjali and the Buddha along with contemporary teachers like Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Joseph Goldstein, Richard Freeman and Lama Willa Blythe Baker. Our time together will be interspersed with guided meditations ranging from 3 to 30 minutes with plenty of time for group discussion and support.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday

8-9am Session 1:  Introduction to Yoga, Buddhism & Meditation – An overview of the practices and how they may be integrated, regardless of one’s personal belief system, to enhance our experience of yoga. Cory will introduce the śamatha (calm abiding) method of meditation and lead a short sitting practice.

9-9:30am Break

10am-12pm Session 2:  Yoga & Buddhism:  Common Ground – A deeper dive into theteachings of the Buddha and Patanjali with an emphasis on the areas of commonality, which it turns out there are many! We will continue to explore śamatha meditation as a means to develop greater ease with sitting practice.

12-1pm Break

1-3pm Session 3:  Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhist Approach: Good Fit for Ashtanga –  A distinguishing feature of both Tibetan Buddhism and Ashtanga Yoga is their shared tantric roots. In this session Cory will introduce the theory behind tantra – and don’t worry, it’s not the erotic mumbo jumbo that’s often associated with tantra – and how we can benefit from this aspect of practice. We’ll wrap up the day with a 30 minute guided meditation that invites you to explore open awareness.

Sunday

8-10am Session 1:  From the Mat to the Cushion – Here we’ll explore the transition from the mat to the cushion. It’s quite common to consider these as separate, even unrelated, practices — asana and meditation, but they don’t have to be. There can be so much meditative value gleaned from movement-based practice. We’ll use this time to look at how to approach this integration and elevate the impact of our time on the mat. This session will include some asana practice – nothing major, just simple sun salutation and standing postures. Please bring your mat.

10-10:30am Break

10:30-12pm Session 2:  Focusing on the Cushion – This last session will focus on bringing it all together with a series of 3 meditations interspersed with inspirational teachings from great masters including the Buddha and Patanjali. We’ll explore ways to make meditation something you look forward to!

Meditations (mainly seated with possible inclusion of walking practice within the room) will be included throughout the sessions and range from 5 to max 30 minutes each. 

Investment: $150 for whole weekend; $35 per session A La Carte (if price is an issue, please reach out for scholarship and/or sliding scale options)

Bio

Cory Bryant is the Founder of Yoga Shala Nashville – Ashtanga Yoga in East Nashville, TN and The Spiritual Pilgrim – yoga & meditation pilgrimages in Nepal, India and soon, Bhutan. His yoga journey took root at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City just after 9/11 in 2001 and hasn’t stopped since. A practitioner of Ashtanga for over ten years, he’s been teaching yoga for 16 years and has studied intensively with David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Garrigues and Tim Miller and more recently Tim Feldmann. A PhD scientist and a student of Tibetan Buddhism, he draws from his understanding of the scientific method to explore the intersections between Buddhism and yoga to provide an integrative approach to practice and life. Cory has made 12 trips to Nepal since 2010 where he has taken up extensive study and practice. After a successful career in international food policy he and his husband relocated from DC to Nashville in 2019 where they live with their three dogs, Buddy, Bella & Puja.  IG: @yogashalanashville @the_spiritual_pilgrim @coryyoga

Canellation Policy:

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the start of the Workshop will receive a refund minus any credit card fees already accrued. No refunds will be given for cancellations made within 14 days of the start of the Workshop.