Yoga and the Creative Spirit
with Melinda Thomas
Friday, September 15, 2023
4-6pm Ireland
11am-1pm Eastern
8-10am Pacific
Program Description
“There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life – including ourselves. When we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.” ~ Julia Cameron
Each moment is an invitation. Connecting awareness to the movement of body and breath through yoga poses (asanas), we open ourselves to the dance of creation. Every posture becomes a way to focus on the indwelling creative life force. What we do on the yoga mat holds the potential to transform our lives off the mat as we grow in our capacity to pay attention and choose how to respond with moment to moment awareness.
The expressive arts invite us to move out of the linear, thinking mind, and into a deeper intuitive knowing that pours out from the creative energy at the core of being.
In this mini-retreat we will combine yoga asanas with a creative invitation to free energy and attention, and express the deep longings of the spirit in the moment.
The first hour of the retreat will be a series of gentle, light-hearted yoga poses to open the body, soften the breath, and clear the thinking mind in preparation for creative arts expression. During the second hour you will be invited to engage in an expressive writing exercise and create a mandala collage. This is a generative workshop focused on expression in the moment rather than a finished piece of writing or art. The intent is to engage in creative play.
No yoga experience is necessary, modifications will be offered, and all bodies are welcome.
List of supplies:
- Yoga mat
- Suggested yoga props: two blocks, a blanket or cushion, and a strap, belt, or scarf
- One magazine for finding pictures for your collage
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Plain paper or a journal and a pen
- Crayons, markers, pencils, or other art making materials of your choice
We will turn on closed captioning during the live Zoom session (which you are able to turn off in your settings if you find distracting) as well as provide a video recording with closed captioning available and a text transcript of the session.
The program will be recorded for those who pre-register but are unable to attend at the scheduled time or who want to view again. You will be sent a notification when this is ready to view.
You have lifetime access to all online programs.
Your Guide for the Journey
Melinda Thomas, E-RYT 500
Melinda Thomas, E-RYT 500 is the Program Coordinator for Abbey of the Arts providing program and logistical support, forum facilitation, and yoga offerings. She is an experienced yoga teacher and has been studying and practicing yoga for more than twenty-five years. In each of her classes and workshops Melinda weaves spiritual and contemplative themes into accessible, alignment based movement practice. Melinda is a writer and the author of Sacred Balance: Aligning Body and Spirit Through Yoga and the Benedictine Way. She lives in North Carolina with her son whose room is often littered with LEGOs and who still wants to cuddle. Visit her website >>
Registration
We offer a sliding scale of 3 fees for payment. The reduced fee is for those who need financial assistance and the sponsorship fee helps support our ability to offer scholarships. In an effort to keep this program accessible, please carefully consider both your own resources as well as honoring the expense, time, and energy required to run these programs and keep our work sustainable. Thank you!
Please be careful to enter your correct email address when you register.
If you need a different payment plan or a greater scholarship to make this program accessible, please get in touch with us.
Terms and Conditions
Please consider your purchase carefully and review the many free materials we have on our website to make sure the program will be a good fit or get in touch with any questions.
We ask that you honor our work by not sharing the program materials with others who are not enrolled.
Please contact us for permission to quote in settings beyond the program
If you choose a payment plan and stop payment before fulfilling the commitment without contacting us to make other arrangements, your access to the program will be removed.
