Our Classes
Cranioga classes are a form of restorative yoga helping to re-access the awareness of subtle expressions in the body. Gentle stimulation, postural balancing, breath-work, neurogenic release, pran-ayama and accessing the body’s embryonic intelligence are key aspects of the class which promote and encourage a sense of embodiment, rather than dissociation
Embodied non-doing therapy is a unique class providing a shift in perspective moving towards sensing the essence of ourselves and others. Uniquely this approach to contacting another is free from judgement, agenda and expectation, yet the resulting body adjustment and balancing can be profound
Cranioga (Restorative Form of Yoga)
POSTURE, BREATH-WORK & NEUROGENIC RELEASE GROUP CLASS
Venue. : Pomona School of Arts Hall
Location : 7/9 Reserve St, Pomona
Date : Most Thursdays **
Time : 9.15am – 11.00am
Cost : AUD25
Requirements: Props provided
No food for 2 hours prior to class will provide most benefit
Embodied non-doing (END) therapy
Group embodiment self enquiry and hands on therapy morning (12 people)
Venue. : Barefoot Physio & Cranio Clinic,
Location : Cooran
Date : By arrangement
Time : 9.30am-1.30pm
Cost : AUD85
Small group (12 people).
Immersing into the essence of biodynamic craniosacral therapy by practicing the subtler aspects of Yoga, as a primer, by placing emphasis the often mis-understood pranayama limb of yoga practice to help understand the quality of embodied internal stillness - pratyahara.
This is then followed by learning how to contact another persons body, free from manipulation, with insightful verbal and non-verbal communication and progressing by learning how to provide embodied, safe and receptive touch.
It is so rare to be touched by another in this way that it can literally change the way we relate to our body.
Requirements: Booking prior to event
Cranioga class
Incorporating whole body felt-sense postures, breath-work, neurogenic release, pran-ayama, awareness of embryonic and felt-sense insight
- Whole body experienced postures ("doing-poses") are specific postural alignments which help to evoke an inner sense of wholeness and relaxation
- Breath-regulation (prana-nigraha - "breath-doing") is a method of regulating the breath to help increase focus of the present moment and open to the awareness of embodiment and sensitivity. Relevant breath regulation exercises, tailored to an individuals physiologic and psychologic traits/tendencies, is often a vital component to help regulate the autonomic nature of the body which helps release restrictive patterns of experience.
- Neurogenic release (non-doing "body-motion") is an automatic 'waking up' of the body, which expands upon the breath regulation by facilitating an involuntary physiologic expression/release of subconscious reactive tendencies (this is mostly a gentle simmering release of sub-conscious tension and rarely overtly cathartic. When overt catharsis needs to be expressed it is generally a calm and palatable de-pressurisation of emotional tension).
- Pran-ayama (non-doing "breathing-insight") is the awareness of the natural breath, i.e. without intentional control, and the body's subtler expressions softly unearth and express. The awareness of these subtler expressions include tissue temperature, muscle tone, fluid space, potency space, vitality based stillness and subtle tangibility of breath and blood dynamics.
- Embryonic intelligence (non-doing "formative development-insight") is the subtle inner body awareness, now relatively free from protective/restrictive patterns of experience. This, if it is experienced, is a transition part of the process whereby the blueprint of an individuals physiologic formation reveals itself and provides the body with a greater sense of potency and empowerment. Potency, is this context, a difficult word to interpret and convey. Just to say it is like the calm stillness when all mental objects are no longer distracting from their essential nature. Yet this is not a stagnant/disembodied stillness, rather it is a dynamic stillness, which can seem paradoxical to the intellect whilst nourishing to the body intelligence.
- Embodied awareness (felt-sense insight) is the realisation that the 'original body' is a very subtle expression, often overshadowed by tendencies, intentions and expectations. When this is realised another way of relating to circumstance unfolds. This is a flow of connection beyond the constraints of fear and fragmentation. In other words it is an antidote to any limitations we have been coerced into believing, both consciously and subconsciously.
No lasting antidote will be found to help balance a fragmented system by incorporating extremes and opposites. For instance by gravitating to something we like in favour to that we do not like, which may be useful from a practical point of view, does not alleviate the long-term yearning to feel whole and in balance. In other words by suppressing the negative in favour of the positive we merely bury its subconscious shadow. Whereas whole body felt-sense insight (not born from the duality of opposites) shines a light (non-preferential awareness) which leaves no shadow of dis-satisfactoriness in its wake.
So, Cranioga begins with intention (desire to change something), it then transitions to focus attention on a present moment phenomenon, and develops to awareness without trying to change memory/circumstance or needing attention to be focused on a physical and/or mental object. Some call this last phase embodied non-doing…the ‘END’ (which is far from a psychologic conclusion) where potency is then able to express itself.
END therapy mornings For those who have already attended a Cranioga class, day, and/or retreat
Embodied non-doing (E.N.D) mornings run from 8am until 12.30pm at my private clinic in Cooran.
There are 3 parts to the morning as follows:
1) Tissue/organ/gland opening postures & gentle breath-work
2) Experiential awareness exercise uncovering the calm vitalising nature of stillness
* 1/2 hour social chai & home made organic cake sharing
3) Guided hands on relational touch session, sharing & swap
Followed by group feedback, which is often very interesting as those involved often access another way of communicating which requires a restructuring of the words we commonly use in order to explain it.
"Resourcing, reconnecting and reintegrating" are the words shared most frequently in the general feedback following the morning classes and retreats we ran last year. This, and other feedback, has inspired us to continue to offer regular classes which expand upon the E.N.D theme this coming year. Class will be limited to 12 people. However, if you wish to attend, and the class is full, then we will ask whether you would like to be put on the list to join in on one of the later classes running in 2024.