In this afternoon workshop you will explore various ways to work with the shoulders and neck, through carefully sequenced, nuanced activations in asanas designed to liberate, balance and promote comfort.
Learn about:
– the complex system of shoulder muscles
– remedies for neck and shoulder tension
– the profound impact of stress on the body
– healthy shoulder alignment-in-action
– creating balanced upper body strength
– generating healthy shoulder and neck mobility
– shoulders/neck in context of the whole body

Ruthie Streiter is a NYC based Structural Integration Practitioner (Rolfer) and Structural/ Therapeutic Yoga teacher and is the Founder and Director of Decompression Project. Ruthie has been giving Rolf bodywork for 6 years and teaching Yoga for 10 years. Ruthie’s methodology, Yoga for Structural Balance, brings asana practice to life as a powerful vehicle to harmonize body mechanics and transcend the residue of unhealthy patterns in the body.

Remember when you were a kid and summer was all about kicking back and relaxing? Come find that feeling again with this summertime restorative workshop! Restore, relax, and renew all the systems of your body.

Using cooling pranayama to release excess warmth in the body, supported asana to sooth exhausted muscles, and meditation to calm an agitated mind, this practice will be a blissful summer vacation. *Seals & Crofts may or may not be included in the playlist.

Villas Shanti in Puerto Morelos is our favorite place for a retreat. The love affair with this sweet place runs deep.

Puerto Morelos is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, lined on one side by a gorgeous beach, and on the other side the mangrove jungles. The natural wonders of the Yucatán are countless – the cenotes (freshwater sinkholes), are particularly refreshing and exhilarating to experience! The small fishing village of Puerto Morelos is the perfect blend of old school Mexican village, and beach town. There are restaurants and café’s a short walk from Villas Shanti for morning or mid-day chilling out & exploring and a gorgeous resort down the beach for luxe sun-bathing! For more intense adventures, ancient Tulum Ruins and the even more impressive Coba Ruins are perfect for a day trip. In Puerto Morelos you can have perfect silence, or immerse yourself in the town square vibrations. Villas Shanti is 1 block from the beach and has a lovely swimming pool perfect for evening poolside kirtan!!

Opening the 1st day, we will co-teach a fully intentional yoga class to prepare our minds and bodies for the time to come. Thursday – Sunday we will teach 2 yoga classes/day and maintain a deep overall intention for the retreat. This will be a time of great fun and joy, but also expect a transformative time of focusing inward, being with the beauty of the beach, sun, sand, animals and sky, and connecting with your own profound nature.

Pricing:
$1275 Double
$1650 Single
There is also a large 2 bedroom house (with 3 showers!) if a family wants to attend, email Bryn at bryn@yogamayanewyork.com for information.

Price includes:
~ Lodging
~ The best brunch you’ve ever eaten DAILY
~ 3 of the best dinners you’ve ever eaten, other 2 dinners will be either pot-luck group or at a local delicious restaurant

Travel Arrangements:
Fly into Cancun airport. We recommend arriving by the early afternoon to get settled and take in the place before our 1st yoga class Wednesday evening at 5:30pm and our group Welcome Dinner at 7:30pm. Book your tickets early to get the best deals and to use Frequent Flier Miles!!!

Once we gather everyone’s arrival information, we will organize your cab pick-up. The airport transfer is not included in the price, but it is around $50 or less if more people are in the same car. Villas Shanti is less than 30 minutes away from the airport, and you will instantly feel like you’ve arrived in paradise.

Please note our refund policy for retreats:
- There are NO refunds within 45 days of the start of event & any other refunds/cancellation fees are specific to the event and at the full discretion of the event leaders. We cannot be held responsible for weather, travel issues, or other things beyond our control. Cancellation before the no-refund date will be be given minus a $250 fee.

YOGAMAYA reserves the right to amend this policy at its discretion.

***Please email Bryn at bryn@yogamayanewyork.com for more details or questions. To sign up, we’d prefer a check written to BRYN CHRISMAN. If you need to pay by credit card, you can call Yogamaya at 212-675-4555 and pay by credit card or sign up on our online site.

Hasta Luego Amigos!

Upcoming Series:
Sundays May 5, 12, 19 w/ Cristina
Sundays June 9, 16, 23 w/ Julie

This class is Yogamaya’s 3 deep and thoughtful introduction to Yogamaya Yoga. YOGAMAYA classes are dynamic yoga classes in the tradition of Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa yoga is to flow or move, with intention, from one asana to the next, to arrive at a particular point, physically and spiritually. A YOGAMAYA asana class combines alignment, devotion (Bhakti), and philosophy.

In this series you will learn the basic poses, gain an understanding of what Yoga is, and be ready to jump into our on-going Level 1 classes.

PLEASE NOTE: This series is open to everyone. No previous experience (or flexibility) necessary. As this is a 3-week series, the classes build on each other and you must register for the entire course. There are no make-up classes for missed dates within a series & no refunds.

Start your weekend off with some special FAMILY Yoga! This spirited class is geared towards parents (or any adult family memner) and their 2.5 – 6 year olds, and will include playful partner poses, yoga games, and music!

FAMILY YOGA PRICES
1st Timers Family ~ $25 for 1st class for 2 adults and 1 child!
5-Class Card ~ $125, 1 parent/child (additional adult $10/class) good for 3-months

We offer Families an option to try out our amazing Family Yoga class for their first time! Then after your kids LOVE it you can purchase your 5-Class Card and make Yoga part of your fun weekend routine!

This popular and distinctive workshop seamlessly blends restorative yoga, breath awareness, meditation, aromatherapy and reiki to restore natural alignment to the body, mind, and spirit.  Perfect if you are recovering from an illness or just need to be treated with TLC.

Keely is an E-RYT 500 and Urban Zen Integrative Therapist.

“The land of healing lies within, radiant with the happiness that is blindly sought in a thousand outer directions.”  Swami Vivekananda

Get ready for the everyone’s favorite seasonal transition from Winter into Spring! Spring brings increasing daylight, warmer temps, and the rebirth of trees and flowers. Now is the time to reawaken your own wellspring of energy and enthusiasm that has been hibernating all winter! Taking the time to relax, rejuvenate and shed your layers is essential to enjoying this enervating time of year.

All summer long, we will be teaching FREE YOGA IN THE PARK classes, sponsored by the Chelsea Improvement Company!

Come join us in the “14th Street Park”, 10th Ave b/w 14th & 15th Street for some outdoor yoga fun! Post savasana, hit up a cool Chelsea restaurant or take a walk along the High Line. 

There is no advance sign-up, just show up. Some mats will be provided.

If there is rain the class will be cancelled!

Ananda Rasa Kirtan is led by David Estes who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This kirtan will celebrate the NYC release of his new album “Mulani- dub Kirtan” which brings together the Worlds of roots reggae and dub with kirtan. Traditional kirtan sung to original raga melodies is blended together with Indian and reggae/dub musical elements. The album features guest artists The Mayapuris, Prajna Vieira and Tahir Faridi Qawwal and was mixed in NYC by reggae/dub genius Michael Goldwasser (Dub Side of the Moon, Radiodread…. ).

Get your exclusive copy here! Join the party and get your chant on!

The Shakti energy and vibration of the kirtan is experienced powerfully in singing and chanting the divine Names in call and response with YOU! David will be joined by the NYC Ananda Rasa Kirtan crew.

Sri Radha’s Intriguing Sidelong GlanceDhanurdhara Swami will discuss Sri Radha!

Radha is the gateway to PURE BHAKTI and for centuries people have been seeking to understand her nature and to feel one drop of her love. She is THE most beloved love of Sri Krishna and has inspired countless songs, poems, and writings. The understanding and knowing of Sri Radha comes over time and is actually considered confidential knowledge, as its content is SO precious and sweet. Tonight will be one an opening and sharing of her nature and you are encouraged to come with a soft heart.

We are graced to know Dhanurdhara Swami as a friend & spiritual mentor.  When he is not in India, he offers monthly lectures at YOGAMAYA on Thursday evenings once/month.  DDS is a dynamic speaker, filled with knowledge and depth of perspective.  One of his great gifts is his ability to speak on high subjects in a way that is practical, relatable, and digestible for everybody.

Whatever your level of spiritual understanding, you will leave his programs feeling like you “get it” & can apply some of Yoga’s most important teachings in a powerful & USEFUL way!