Recent Programs
Family Constellations – Healing Through the Movements of the Soul
“Once we find ease with life as it came to us…. we can begin to shape the life that comes through us.” ~ Suzi Tucker
Family Constellations – Healing Through the Movements of the Soul
“Once we find ease with life as it came to us…. we can begin to shape the life that comes through us.” ~ Suzi Tucker
Song Circle/Festival
“Out of eternal emptiness arises the vibration which transforms into the Song of Creation.”
Come join us to sing, dance, and surrender to the power of music and silence. Each week we will come together to take part in a festival of spiritually-oriented songs from different traditions and cultures. We will listen and meditate to powerful music selections, rest in the silent meditation that is always available, and sing songs with KD accompanying us on guitar. Everyone is welcome to sing, dance, play along with us, or simply be silent. Bring your own instrument if you’d like. (Copies of the songs/music books will be sent out so participants can be familiar with the songs.)
4 Sessions90 minutes each
Yoga Secrets Body Reading – The Art of Seeing Each Other More Deeply
In this class we will dive into the Vedic study of Samudrik Shastra/body reading and explore the roles of seeing and awareness in understanding the body. Body reading, or somato-typology is a useful tool for understanding the integration of mind and body, psyche, soma, and spirit. Many models for “reading” bodies, constitution, and personality have been used throughout history, each with strengths and weaknesses.
In this class we will look at the historical and experiential foundations of somato-typology—including the roles of awareness, embodiment, comparison, contrast, and figure-ground relationship. We will then explore a number of models of “reading” bodies—including Ayurvedic models, Western constitutional models, Oriental models, and others. A 3-step method—the “O-N-E Way”—for developing skills in body reading—will be discussed.
Through practicing the 3-step method and using photographs and examples, the models will then be integrated to reveal new ways of seeing, which offers a truly individualized and personal approach to teaching and practicing yoga, and will allow you to work less and achieve more in your practice.
This class offers practitioners and teachers foundations for developing a true “mastery” of yoga practice and teaching, grounded in “not knowing” and inspired by the 2nd yoga sutra “yoga citta vrrti nirodha”—yoga is the ending of the definitions of the field of consciousness.
West Meets East: Simplifying Constitutional Diagnosis and the Future of Constitutional Diagnosis
Constitutional influences affect many aspects of acupuncture treatment including point selection, depth and style of needle insertion, length of treatment, needle composition, needle gauge, herbal protocols and lifestyle recommendations. The usefulness of the 5 Phases, TCM, and Helms’s “Structural Biopsychotype” models is founded on the ability to accurately assess constitution through “reading” and classifying body and personality types. Constitutional assessment models are also available in Western medicine and have direct correlations to Eastern models and are powerful and easy to use. This lecture/seminar explores Western constitutional diagnosis in the context of acupuncture to simplify the use of traditional models of constitutional diagnosis. By the end of the seminar participants will be able to use specific, simple, yet powerful techniques to assess constitution through integrating Eastern and Western models, and will also be able to discuss the influence of mass digitalization of the evolution of constitutional diagnostic models for the future.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the foundations and basic principles of constitutional assessment in Western and Eastern constitutional models including from the perspective of Western holistic sciences.
- Describe and demonstrate basic and advanced principles and techniques for assessing body structure in relation to function/behavior.
- Apply specific, simple, yet powerful techniques to assess constitution which simplify diagnosis and facilitate treatment. (Including the “O-N-E Way” Method of constitutional diagnosis).
- Evaluate constitution using a number of Eastern and Western models while developing improved observational skills.
- Explore the influence of mass digitalization on the evolution of the constitutional diagnostic models of the future.
Song Circle/Festival
“Out of eternal emptiness arises the vibration which transforms into the Song of Creation.”
Come join us to sing, dance, and surrender to the power of music and silence. Each week we will come together to take part in a festival of spiritually-oriented songs from different traditions and cultures. We will listen and meditate to powerful music selections, rest in the silent meditation that is always available, and sing songs with KD accompanying us on guitar. Everyone is welcome to sing, dance, play along with us, or simply be silent. Bring your own instrument if you’d like. (Copies of the songs/music books will be sent out so participants can be familiar with the songs.)
4 Sessions90 minutes each
The Experience of Tantra
Tantra is the “Alchemy of Experience,” and bridges the phenomenal world and the numinous, exposing the illusion that they are not the same. Many practices and techniques have grown up around Tantra, but they can easily become distractions from the experience itself and even become a barrier to their intended “goal.” The essence of tantra is available to us right now, in this moment, and requires no practices or techniques. All that appears to be needed is an open mind, and even that may not be necessary. In this session we will open ourselves to the experience of Tantra and re-enchant ourselves with everyday life.
This is an opportunity to engage in a highly experiential practice/inquiry session where you will be invited into direct contact with the present moment. From there we will explore questions or insights as they arise in whatever way the moment supports us to.
Our work together will incorporate the senses of speech, sound, movement, and touch. And we may use our breathing as a portal to the experience of transcendence. Along the way we will unravel some of the myths, misconceptions, and false impressions that abound around tantric practice, including many that have been promoted in well-known texts.
Beyond Belief/Sacred Secrets - Exploring the Edge of the Miraculous
The spiritual journey is a way and not a path. There is no beginning and no end. What happens along the way can be unexpected or even miraculous. “Sacred secrets” can be revealed and things “beyond belief” can arise. In this class, we will celebrate the mystery and beauty of creation by exploring the realm of “miraculous” experiences through stories, song, conversation, and meditation, and enter the sacred space of Divine Love that is infinitely creative and beyond belief.
In this class KD will offer stories, songs, and creative work that arose out of his spiritual journey and invites everyone to share their own experiences and inspirations. Bring your stories, artwork, music, poetry, or short passages you would like to share. Questions, inquiry, and dialogues are encouraged. We will explore the creative process as it reveals itself in the moment, using creative work, and our senses—including speech, sound, movement, and touch—as portals to the transcendent.
4 sessions60-90 minutes