Living Your Destiny: Acupressure & Yoga Retreat is a weekend of Self-Care Acupressure, Gentle Kripalu Yoga, at the scenic grounds of Woolman Sierra Friends Center in Nevada City, CA.  At this Retreat, Karen will teach about the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine, and the principle that all everything in Nature is also within us: We are a part of Nature.  

Each Element will be its own class, and you will learn Self-Care Acupressure, Gentle Kripalu Yoga, and Partner Discussion related to each Element.  The 5 Elements are a system of checks and balances to bring balance, harmony, and peace to life.  Each Element is centered around a theme: 

*Water element to discover your Inner Power

*Wood element to uncover the Artist that you are

*Fire element to share your Joy

*Earth element to Nourish your soul

*Metal element to Give yourself the Respect & Honor you Deserve

Retreat includes optional additional Yoga classes to start and end your day, and free time to explore the hiking trails at Woolman Sierra Friends Center, or just time to relax and rest.  

Woolman at Sierra friends Center is located in the Sierra foothills of Nevada county, CA.   This is a short drive from the historic downtown of Grass Valley, CA.   The Woolman campus offers 230 acres of meadows, woods, ponds, and streams to explore.   Driving directions to Woolman can be found at their website:  https://www.woolman.org/about/directions 

 Woolman has a few health and safety policies for all guests:  

• Candles and incense are not permitted. Outdoor campfires and woodstove fires during the fire season require a CDF permit. We ask that all cooking be done in the shared dining hall and not in the cabin areas.
• Pets are allowed at Sierra Friends Center with advance notice from the renter and must be leashed while onsite.  There are some periods during the year where pets may not be allowed. The only exception is for working companions of the disabled.
• Tobacco and alcoholic beverages are not permitted at Sierra Friends Center.
• Parents are expected to provide responsible supervision of children at all times, including times when primary childcare providers are having meals and taking breaks.

The Living Your Destiny Retreat includes all catered meals by the Woolman staff.  The meals offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options.  The produce often comes from the Woolman Farm.   

Meet at Check in office at Woolman Sierra Friends Center

Experience being showered with the sounds of Dana Vasquez's crystal bowls in this Yin Yoga class!  Dana will create an experience of sounds through her chakra singing bowls.  Karen Chapman will lead you through the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine through Yin Yoga poses.  For all levels.

Learn more about Dana Vasquez and her work: 

One of my biggest passions in life is the magical connection of all things through sound vibrations.  The universe was created from it and we are all vibrating at our own frequencies.  The power of sound and combining of frequencies to make harmonious creations of music and healing sound is such a gift that excites me to the core.  I feel it can help support humanity's remembering of who we truly are.  I offer opportunities and modalities to experience these powers through sound baths with a combination of crystal bowls and toning.  Sacred Song circles accessing our most powerful instrument our voice.  As well as community and private drum circles to support play and community.  

I am an advocate of present moment awareness and offer opportunities to return to our center and feel into our wholeness.

I began my journey with movement as medicine as a young girl who loved to dance and play in nature.  I can remember the freedom I felt amongst the trees and the wide open lands of the hills in the central valley where I spent my childhood growing up in Gustine, Ca.  During college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo I discovered my practice of yoga.  I remember thinking “wow this takes a lot of focus and concentration it might take the rest of life and then some to be fully present all the time.” From that moment on in 2003 I have continued on my yogic path of self discovery.  In the fall of 2006 I completed my 500 hour Hatha yoga teacher training.

I am a being who loves to be wild and free. Qoya as a practice and a lifestyle is a true blessing. Through Qoya I can express my authentic self and hold space for others to notice how themes of life make us feel and our relationship to all parts of ourselves in a sacred safe space. While it may just seem to be a combination of dance yoga and feminine movement there's so much more beneath the surface. This movement supports creating conscious community, a chance to be heard in conversation, self-inquiry, the ability to come back to ones center and supports release judgement. Live and let live with love and compassion.  

For me leading these practices is service to humanity. Opportunities to gather and support ourselves and each other through ceremonies and rituals giving gratitude and awareness back to source and our home planet earth.  May all beings be free. 

Wake up and move into Vinyasa Yoga with Stacy Glass-Aylsworth!  Vinyasa Yoga is a powerful, dynamic style of yoga that links breath to movement.  Great for anyone wishing to get the blood moving and the body flowing.

Learn about Stacy Glass-Aylsworth and her Yoga Journey: 

 Stacy has been on this path of yoga for more than 15 years now. Yoga has changed her life in so many ways. It has healed her overused body, calmed her busy mind, and brought many wonderful like-minded people into her life! She now practices yoga daily to gain strength, flexibility, calm, and balance. Her mission as a yoga teacher is to share the gift of yoga with as many people as she can reach, in a compassionate and caring way.

Stacy has been in the fitness business for over 30 years. In that time, taught cardio classes including kickboxing, step, spin, and muscle conditioning, as well as working one on one with clients as a personal trainer in the Santa Cruz area. Stacy also taught and practiced martial arts with 10 years practicing Tae Kwon Do. She has enjoyed working with people of all ages including working as a physical education teacher for 9 years with 1st-5th graders, instilling good healthy habits in our youth.

Once Stacy found yoga, she dove in deep. She lives the lifestyle and reaps the wonderful benefits it has to offer, finding balance in the practices she is devoted to. Vinyasa and hot yoga work muscular strength, enhancing balance and opening her mind to all possibilities. Yin yoga creates space in the body and calms the mind, giving her time to explore deep meditation.

Knowing that there is no finish line in yoga, she is sure to spend the rest of her life rolling out her mat and taking the time to teach, practice, and live the yoga lifestyle. She is very grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge, and she pledges to continue to learn, share and grow.

“May your blessings be abundant, and you notice each and everyone
Namaste

-Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor

-Experienced in teaching Hot 26/2 Method, Vinyasa, and Yin Yoga

Karen Chapman will guide you through an introduction to the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine and teach about the Element of Water.  The Water Element is about finding the Power within.  In this class, you will be guided to recognize the Strength, Courage, and Vitality within you that is as forceful as the current in the ocean.

Inside each of us there is a potential to grow into the best version of ourselves.  Just like each tiny seed has a blueprint to sprout and move towards the sun to eventually become a magnificent tree.  There is a plan towards movement and growth in ourselves.  To be the artist of our life, is to think outside the box.  In this class Karen will teach Acupressure and Yoga to foster this creativity that is life.   

The Fire Element is about Friendship, Love, & Joy.  This passion is fuel for life, without the passion, life is non-existent.  Learn Acupressure and Yoga to open the heart to naturally overflow with the blessings in your life.    

End our day of Acupressure and Yoga with the Earth Element, which is about Nourishment, Contentment, and Understanding.  What does your soul long for?  How do you best provide for your needs?  Compassion and non-judgement set the tone for this session, learn to give yourself the space to "just be."

Kerry Cataline will lead a Yoga Nidra  & Sound Healing session to complete the day.  In Yoga Nidra, the body is still and relaxed.  This class does not include physical movement.   Kerry's calm voice will guide a  meditation to open to serenity and set the tone for a restorative night's sleep.  Then she will incorporate her singing bowls into the final savasana of the day.  

Message from Kerry Cataline: 

The healing arts through sound and yoga is my life purpose.  I am certified in and studied sound healing with Michele Averard and Nestor Konblum co-founders of the International Association of Sound Therapy and Harmonic Studies at the Dome in Spain. 

I provide individual sound healing treatments and combine yin yoga and the healing connection of Tibetan sound bowls providing a healing environment and an opportunity for the body to heal through sound and yoga.  

I began practicing Bikram yoga in Elk Grove in early 2003 and knew immediately that I would practice for the rest of my life. Yoga is a game changer, healing the body from the inside out while connecting body and mind. I started my practice with the desire to be in good physical health, and found with consistent practice the mental and emotional body also healed and changed, as well as growing spiritually.  I attended teacher trainings in 2015 with 26/2 Bikram method yoga followed by Yin Yoga in February 2016 and Yoga Nidra in September 2016. 

I love practicing and teaching bringing varied benefits to body, mind and spirit with each style.  I found yoga and sound healing provides balance, relieves stress, and creates an opportunity to quiet the mind. When not working, taking or teaching yoga and sound healing, I cherish long walks and hiking in Northern California.

Start your morning with Yin Yoga, which is a meditative, relaxing type of yoga.  Melisa Domingo will guide you through the longer holds of these poses using yoga props to make each pose accessible.  A quiet contemplative style of class for all levels, great for beginners.

Learn more about Melissa Domingo: 

End our Retreat with the Metal Element.  Just as the miners in Nevada County were looking for the gold nuggets in the earth, we will explore the cave of ourselves to find the precious stones of who we are.  If you were given a metal or a badge of honor for your best qualities, what would these awards be for?  How do you share your talents with the world?  End our Retreat by sharing your best self!  Closing Ceremony to conclude and integrate the weekend.  

Check out time 2 pm