Elemental Yoga - Monthly Practices (every other Monday)
As each Element contains many facets and a myriad of ways to relate to it, we are going to take our time to explore the Element within two, online LIVE monthly asana practices, traveling through the 5-Elements from April to August 2022.
Each practice will contain the foundational experience of the Element with a slightly different focus or theme, also journeying through the Yang expression and the Yin expression, respectively.
In this way, you can explore the potential, the polarity and the depth of the Element from week to week. Feel free to join both practices in the monthly series and/or to attend where you can.
As these sessions will be done Live through Zoom, you can also have access to the recordings for 3 days following each session.
Sessions are suitable for beginners or advanced practitioners - modifications will be given where necessary. These sessions can also be modified for postpartum women.
The two practices will include, respectively: Yang (active) and Yin (passive).
** The FIRST selected date will be the YANG practice and the SECOND date will be the YIN practice.
EARTH
11, 25 April 2022
7pm - 8:15pm SGT (1pm - 2:15pm CET)
One of the greatest qualities of the EARTH, is to provide an impartial, non-judgmental, supportive habitat for countless beings, one that we can call home, a place to belong to in space. Correlating to the Spleen (Yin) and Stomach (Yang) meridians, a balanced EARTH Element invokes qualities of centeredness, awareness, self-satisfaction, boundaries, safety, belonging and self-less giving. When out of balance, one can experience stuck-ness, a fear of being lost, ungrounded-ness, loss of identity, a lacking of concentration and being unsympathetic. In this practice, we will stretch and strengthen the Spleen and Stomach meridians through a carefully curated sequence of asanas as a means to bring balance to the EARTH elemental energies within our body/mind complex. In particular, we will slow our practice down, bring awareness to the root of our physical body by strengthening the legs and finding stability within each asana.
WATER
9, 23 May 2022
7pm - 8:15pm SGT (1pm - 2:15pm CET)
As seen to us throughout nature, WATER is a healing force of feminine energy that nurtures life through its effortless ability to shape-shift, self-balance, harness an ever present longing to flow and to seek the greatest Source. Correlating to the Kidney (Yin) and Bladder (Yang) meridians, a balanced WATER Element invokes qualities of adaptability, equilibrium, flow, feeling, reflection, and deep knowing. When out of balance, one can experience withdrawal, fear, self criticism, fixedness, and a sense of stagnation. In this practice, we will stretch and strengthen the Kidney and Bladder meridians through a carefully curated sequence of asanas as a means to bring balance to the WATER elemental energies within our body/mind complex. In particular, we will find the flow of our practice, as well as focus on lower back strengthening, balance, backward bending and forward bending.
FIRE
13, 27 June
7pm - 8:15pm SGT (1pm - 2:15pm CET)
Destroying while it is creating, purifying while transforming, FIRE exists in the present moment, and carries the heart of devotion as it asks the sacrifice of form in order to transform. This luminous, creative force inspires joy, creativity, celebration and magic. Correlating to the Heart (Yin) and Small Intestine (Yang) meridians, a balanced FIRE Element invokes qualities of power, acceptance, devotion, transformation, creativity, intuition, charisma and celebration. When out of balance, one can experience destruction, overexcitability, exhaustion, lacking creativity, aggression, volatility, boredom and a lack of equanimity. In this practice, we will stretch and strengthen the small intestine and heart meridians through a carefully curated sequence of asanas as a means to bring balance to the FIRE elemental energies within our body/mind complex. In particular, we will increase the intensity of the practice and our core strength, and work with shoulder mobility, flexibility and strengthening.
WIND
11, 25 July 2022
7pm - 8:15pm SGT (1pm - 2:15pm CET)
Inspiring animation, change and movement, the WIND element teaches us to let go as a means to breathe in the new. Correlating to the Lung (Yin) and Large Intestine (Yang) meridians, a balanced WIND Element invokes qualities of discernment, responsibility, spontaneity, positivity, right judgement and an ability to let go and let in. When out of balance, one can experience depression, grief, over-controlling energy, judgement, perfectionism, stubbornness and rigidity. In this practice, we will stretch and strengthen the Large Intestine and Lung meridians through a carefully curated sequence of asanas as a means to bring balance to the WIND elemental energies within our body/mind complex. In particular, we will increase the movement of this practice, invite in creativity through vinyasas, and focus on chest opening and direct large intestine work through deep pelvis asanas.
SPACE
1, 15 Aug 2022
7pm - 8:15pm SGT (1pm - 2:15pm CET)
The multi-dimensionality of SPACE is the ultimate container of all the elements; the intangible essence that contains enormous creative action, vision and freedom. Correlating to the Liver (Yin) and Gall Bladder (Yang) meridians, a balanced SPACE Element invokes qualities of faith, trust, freedom, a sense of purpose, discovery, confidence to lead, direction and vision. When out of balance, one can experience an obsession with independence, fear of becoming helpless, avoiding intimacy, being unnecessarily busy, competitiveness, anger and toxicity. In this practice, we will stretch and strengthen the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians through a carefully curated sequence of asanas as a means to bring balance to the SPACE elemental energies within our body/mind complex. In particular, we will explore our movement on the mat through space, as well as focus on side stretching, inner groin stretching and twisting asanas.
PAYMENT (SGD)
$ 25 SGD drop-in (15 euro)
$ 20 SGD / class for package of 6 ($ 120 / 75 euro)
$ 15 SGD / class for package of 10 ($ 150 / 100 euro)
you can always add on single classes at same rate or top up to next package anytime
RECORDINGS
Recording from each class will be available for 3 days following the session at no extra charge.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
Transferwise - aasawyer@gmail.com (overseas)
PayNow: UEN 202030481N (local to Singapore)
Bank Transfer: DBS 072-028-169-1 (local to Singapore)
WHAT IS ELEMENTAL YOGA?
This form of yoga is a unique system that integrates the wisdom of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hatha Yoga into a holistic lifestyle practice both on and off the mat. Elemental Yoga uses gentle, physical postures, mudras, visualisations and affirmations to bring harmony to the 5-elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space) within the body/mind constitution by strengthening, stretching and supporting the correlating elemental meridians. When we are constitutionally imbalanced, dis-ease can manifest mentally, emotionally and physically, until realignment of our elemental energies is addressed. This system of yoga empowers the individual to design a more specific yoga practice to therapeutically shift imbalances and to develop a closer relationship with nature, ultimately leading to a greater awareness of our own inner nature – perfect Yoga.
WHAT DOES YIN AND YANG MEAN RELATING TO THESE PRACTICES?
This refers to the type of practice we will do together, where Yin is indicating a more passive practice focusing on flexibility, held poses, slower and more restorative. This is not classical Yin as many correlate the term with what is found in yoga studios, but is more of a description to describe the energy and pace. Yang refers to a more active practice that focuses on endurance, strength and dynamic poses.
PROPS
It is helpful to have a yoga mat, 2 blocks, a bolster and yoga belt for these practices. If you do not have all of these, you can substitute with sturdy books, a good pillow and a neck tie or belt!
WHO IS THIS PRACTICE FOR?
This series is welcoming to beginners, advanced practitioners, men and women, and is also postpartum friendly. Please indicate in the registration form if you have any particular limitations or injuries so that the classes can be modified for you.
ABOUT AMBER
As an Embodiment Facilitator, Amber shares the joy of living through holistic practices of yoga, active meditations, elemental wellness and pre/postnatal support. With more than 20 years of study and practice in Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation, as well as a PhD in Biomedical Engineering in the field of stem-cell tissue repair, Amber brings a unique perspective on healing and self-discovery through the influence of scientific and ancient wisdoms. From 2009 - 2018, Amber founded a community in the heart of Singapore known as Satsanga where she has offered & organised weekly active meditation, yoga classes and community events. After enjoying the birth of her little one in 2015, Amber’s work primarily focuses on empowering women to have a conscious pregnancy, birth experience and preparedness for motherhood. Currently she serves as a midwife assistance, birth doula, teaches pre and postnatal yoga, as well as offers her own 85hr YA Embodied Woman Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training biannually and a Postpartum Yoga Foundation Series for new mothers, online and in-person. In 2020, Amber founded the Embodied Woman Yoga Academy, which is a platform for courses, CEUs, Yoga Teacher Trainings and resources related to women’s health, particularly pregnancy and postpartum.
