Courses and Workshops Galore!

Hey, gang! You know we have that Beautiful Backs yoga workshop coming up soon (this Saturday!), but we also have a bunch of other great offerings happening in the next month. Here's a handy run-down for everyone keeping score at home.

Qigong Course. Michelle's popular introduction to qigong continues, starting this Thursday, 8 August - that's tomorrow! - and running four consecutive weeks, 6.30-7.30 pm. $80 for the course or $25 drop-in. For more on qigong, click here.

Beautiful Backs Yoga Workshop. Coming this Saturday, 10 August, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm. For full details, click here.

Postural Patterning, Level 2 Workshop. The next stage in Nik's postural patterning training will be held on Sunday, 18 August from 9 am to 1 pm with a break for tea. $100. This session covers more movement, including sitting, standing, walking, and flows. Prerequisite: Postural Patterning, Level 1. To register, call Nik Curry on 04 905 4151 or email him at curry.nik@gmail.com. For more on postural patterning, click here.

Mindfulness Meditation Course. Right on the heels of his sold-out initial offering, Karl is leading another introductory session. Four Wednesdays, 6.30 - 7.15 pm, beginning 4 September. $55. For more on mindfulness meditation, click here.


If you have questions about any of these workshops, or if there are others you'd like to see, let us know!

Beautiful Backs! A Yoga Workshop

Guess what? It's time for our next yoga workshop! This time we turn our attention . . . backwards!

Our backs hold us together. They shoulder the load. They help us stand tall and face the world. But when they're not in good working order, they can be an endless source of pain and discomfort.

Strong, beautiful backs can be ours if we take care of them and move with awareness. Turns out yoga is a great way to do this!

In this workshop, we will:

• discuss the basic anatomy of the back and the different things that can cause pain and restriction;

• go through the underlying alignment theory to get us into the best positions to open those hips; and

• dive into an amazing, all-levels, beautiful backs yoga sequence - beginners welcome!

You'll get heaps of tips to take with you to your home practice as well as to your regular classes. Register soon, as space is limited to 15 students!

Where: Healium.

When: Saturday, 10 August, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm - right after our regular Saturday morning yoga class.

How Much: $45: cash, EFTPOS or Internet Banking.

What: Beautiful backs!

Who: Jenifer Parker will be leading this workshop - that's me! I've been teaching yoga for 16 years now, specializing in alignment and therapeutic modifications. Currently, I'm learning how to fail spectacularly at parkour and roller derby.

He's Back! Nik Curry's Postural Patterning, Level 1 Workshop Returns to Healium

If you missed it last time, fear not! Nik Curry is offering another session of his Postural Patterning, Level 1 Workshop at Healium in just a few weeks' time. See below for details, and click here for my take on Nik's work. - Ryan

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Workshop details

Postural Patterning helps you achieve awareness and balance within your body. The level-one workshop is a four-hour practical course that combines postural concepts and yoga positioning with connected "power posture" in the center ideal.

The workshop is dynamic and hands-on, and you'll learn how to:

• see and understand your own postural pattern.
• achieve postural balance and find your personal keys in achieving the ideal.
• connect the links between posture and movement.
• find your physical self.

This exclusive training event includes course notes, demonstrations and heaps of interactive learning. Limited to 15 students - so get in quick!

Where: Healium.

When: Saturday, 29 June, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm.

How Much: $100 prepaid. To register or learn more, call Nik Curry on 04 905 4151 or email him at curry.nik@gmail.com. 

What: Postural Patterning, Level 1.

Who: Nik Curry. He's been working with people's wellness through the physical body for over 30 years as a physiotherapist in teaching hospitals, in private practice here and abroad and as a patient himself. His passion is creating self-awareness of the bodies we live in, providing a means of ownership for our wellness and an understanding of the language of the body. For more information, visit Nik online at www.posturalpatterning.com. 

FREE TALK: Postural Patterning with Nik Curry on 17 May

If you've been reading along here, following us on Facebook or listening to Jenifer's yammering in yoga class, you know we're excited to host Nik Curry's Postural Patterning Level 1 Workshop later this month. If you want to learn more, or you just can't wait to learn how to achieve beautiful posture, physical freedom and dynamic well being - do not despair! You can join Nik for a free 45-minute talk this coming Friday.

When: Friday, 17 May at 1.15 pm (replaces the regularly scheduled Power Yoga Basics class).

Where: Healium.

Cost: Free!

Note: We previously announced this event as happening on Thursday, 16 May at 12.15 pm. Please note the new day and time.

Postural Patterning, Level 1: A Workshop with Nik Curry

We at Healium are very excited to offer a special postural patterning workshop with Nik Curry. Here's why: the first time I met Nik I had just emerged from a blissful relaxation massage - a rare treat, actually - and this fellow introduced himself and then, after a mutual exchange of pleasantries, proceeded to enumerate a comprehensive inventory of my postural issues.

For an athlete recovering from multiple injuries, this was exciting stuff. In fact, within a matter of minutes Nik had read my body like a book. He could tell just by observing how I stood, walked, and carried myself what was going on with me - my injuries, my history, asymmetries, strengths and weaknesses - in short, my experience of my body. Nik had identified my postural patterns.

Then, after conducting several simple tests, he was able to provide with me with some cues to follow: hold my elbow like this, rotate my wrist like that, and so on. These were my personal keys in achieving ideal positioning . . . and in time would play a significant role in my healing.

We all have postural patterns, strategies we pick up from an early age. Over time, these strategies may no longer support us - literally. Think of these adaptations as physical coping mechanisms. We hurt our knee, so we take up the slack on the other side of the body. This might work in the short term, but over time such a strategy may well lead to dysfunction and breakdown elsewhere - in places other than the original injury. You know how that goes.

I like to joke that it was only after working with Nik that I actually learned how to walk. I'm excited for all of you who will get to experience Nik's work for the first time, and who will see firsthand why we call him "the posture wizard." This workshop is designed for people who do yoga, and it's great for athletes and others interested in learning how to move - and live - better. I'll see you there! - Ryan

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Workshop details

Postural Patterning helps you achieve awareness and balance within your body. The level-one workshop is a 10-hour practical course over two days that combines postural concepts and yoga positioning with connected "power posture" in the center ideal.

The workshop is dynamic and hands-on, and you'll learn how to:

• see and understand your own postural pattern.
• achieve postural balance and find your personal keys in achieving the ideal.
• connect the links between posture and movement.
• find your physical self.

This exclusive training event includes course notes, demonstrations and heaps of interactive learning. Limited to 15 students - so get in quick!

Where: Healium.

When: Saturday, 25 May and Sunday, 26 May, 11 am to 4.30 pm each day.

How Much: $175 prepaid. To register or learn more, call Nik Curry on 04 905 4151 or email him at curry.nik@gmail.com. 

What: Postural Patterning, Level 1.

Who: Nik Curry. He's been working with people's wellness through the physical body for over 30 years as a physiotherapist in teaching hospitals, in private practice here and abroad and as a patient himself. His passion is creating self-awareness of the bodies we live in, providing a means of ownership for our wellness and an understanding of the language of the body. For more information, visit Nik online at www.posturalpatterning.com. 

All Shook Up: Yoga & Functional Anatomy of the Pelvis

Fresh off our Happy Hips workshops, we're offering a special one-day workshop in beautiful Nelson, New Zealand! This session will explore an uncommonly powerful part of our anatomy that's commonly quite misunderstood - the pelvis!

Proper positioning of the pelvis is fundamental to many yoga postures but can be tricky to achieve. With an understanding of how the pelvis works, however, you can learn to set yourself up with a good foundation that will inform almost every move you make.

In this workshop, we will:

• discuss the functional anatomy of the pelvis;

• go through the underlying alignment theory to get us into the best positions for optimal pelvic alignment; and

• dive into an amazing, in-depth study of several common postures that depend on proper pelvic alignment. 

If you're a teacher, you'll learn how to observe and identify where your students would benefit from improved pelvic alignment - and develop the skills to safely get them there. And if you're a student, you'll get heaps of tips to take with you to both your regular classes and your home practice.

Where: The Life Centre, 9 Towai Street, Stoke, Nelson; ph: 03 547 8468.

When: 3 March, 10 am to 3 pm.

How Much: $65 cash or Internet Banking (contact us for bank details).

What: All Shook Up: Yoga & Functional Anatomy of the Pelvis!

Who: Jenifer Parker will be leading this workshop - that's me! I've been teaching yoga for 16 years now, love teaching yoga and currently am learning how to fail at parkour and roller derby.

Happy Hips: A Yoga Workshop

Hey, everyone! We have a new yoga workshop coming up soon! Last time around we covered the hamstrings, so now we venture up the posterior chain to the mighty hips.

In lots of ways, hips are the key to our moving and being well. Not only do they get us where we're going, but they stabilize the upper body. Or at least they do when they're happy.

And by happy hips, I mean hips that are open, strong and mobile - not all tight, broken down and sad. No one wants sad hips.

So, in this workshop, we will:

• discuss the basic anatomy of the hips and the different things that can cause restriction in the hips;

• go through the underlying alignment theory to get us into the best positions to begin to open those hips; and

• dive into an amazing, all-levels, happy hips yoga sequence - beginners welcome!

You'll get heaps of tips to take with you to your home practice as well as to your regular classes. Register soon, as space is limited to 15 students!

Where: Healium.

When: Saturday, 9 February, 11 am to 1 pm - right after our regular Saturday morning yoga class.

How Much: $40 early-bird registration (before Friday, 1 February); $45 thereafter: cash, EFTPOS or Internet Banking.

What: Happy Hips!

Who: Jenifer Parker will be leading this workshop - that's me! She's been teaching yoga for 16 years now, loves teaching yoga and currently is learning how to fail at parkour and roller derby.


P.S. Remember: Simon's special offer for Traditional Chinese Medicine!

UPDATE 5 February: This workshop has sold out - so we're offering another session! Happy Hips Workshop Redux is happening on Saturday, 16 February, from 11 am to 1 pm. As before, early-bird registration is $40 before Friday, 8 February; $45 thereafter. As of this writing there are only nine spaces left, so get in quick!

Workshop Series: Clutter-free for Life!

Do you have lots of stuff? Is it all over the place, running amok, weighing down on you? No worries! Next month we're offering a special workshop series on living free of clutter! Join professional organizer Galit Maxwell - a member of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers - for three practical sessions on how to organize your living space.

Here's Galit's introduction to living a clutter-free life:

Spring is here; it's time to let go of the layers of fat and the layers of clutter we built around ourselves over winter.

So which comes first - the body diet or the house diet? You'll find that by starting to look after your home you will naturally feel more inclined to look after yourself too.

I help my clients understand their relationship with their belongings and gain awareness of the any negative effects it has on their lives.

Clutter is a stagnant energy that disturbs the flow of the life force energy in our home and workplace. Clutter can be things we don't use anymore, things we dislike, too much stuff in a small space or anything unfinished or broken.

Clutter affects your energy levels and can make you feel tired and lethargic. So even the thought of clearing your clutter can be overwhelming. Use spring's vital fresh energy to help you get started to sort your clutter, take control of your home again and feel light.

The workshop details:

Session 1: 16 October. What is clutter anyway? Why do people accumulate clutter and hold on to their stuff? The effects of clutter on our health, wealth and happiness.

Session 2: 30 October. Organizing tips and feng shui principles for all areas of your home.

Session 3: 13 November. How to sort your clutter: a step-by-step guide to clearing your stuff by yourself without having a nervous breakdown. Paper clutter: how to tackle the monster called paper. How to maintain a clutter-free life.

Where: Healium!

Time: 6.30 to 8 pm.

Cost: $95 prepaid by 9 October for all three sessions.

For more information or to register, email Galit at galia@ihug.co.nz or visit www.sortyourclutter.com.

Feel-Good Hamstrings Workshop!

We all know how Tim feels. Yes, he looks happy, but dude is tight!

But aren't we all? I feel tight. I sit a lot at this computer writing blogs and emails and being on Facebook. Sure, I do yoga, but *still* my hamstrings feel tight.

And they feel *so good* when they are stretched out right!

And so I am totally psyched to offer a workshop on how to accomplish feel-good hamstrings!

In this workshop, we will:

• discuss the basic anatomy of the hamstrings and the different things that can cause hamstring tightness;

• go through the underlying alignment theory to get us into the best positions to begin to liberate those hamstrings; and

• dive into an amazing, all-levels (beginners welcome!) feel-good hamstrings yoga sequence!

You'll have plenty of tips to take with you to your home practice as well as to your regular classes. Look at the price - you can't go wrong! You know you want this hamstrings workshop! Register soon, as space is limited to 15 students!

Where: Healium.

When: Saturday, 27 October, 9.30 am to 12 noon.

How Much: $40 early-bird registration (before 1 October); $45 thereafter.

What: Feel-Good Hamstrings!

Who: Jenifer Parker will be leading this workshop - that's me! She's been teaching yoga for 16 years now, enjoys teaching yoga and currently is learning how to fail at parkour and roller derby.

Yoga Posture Clinics at Healium!

Many of our long-time students are looking to deepen their understanding of the postures and deepen their practice. At the same time, our new students want greater insight into what we are doing and how they can modify our most common postures to their specific needs.

To meet this interest, we are holding a series of 10 yoga posture clinics. We'll dive deep into each posture that we commonly do in our practice, as well as a few "cousin" postures related to our main postures just for fun! Here's what we'll be studying:

Each two-hour workshop will start with an opening sequence to prepare the body to work the postures. We'll spend some time discussing the basic structure and most important elements and principles at work in each posture, and learning how to the work the posture specifically for your body - the modifications for your best alignment. Finally, we'll spend the last 45 minutes of class doing a yoga sequence that pulls together all the elements of what we workshopped!

All 10 sessions run on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 am. You can explore all of the postures or just your favorites! Take one, five or all 10 clinics.

a. Any one clinic: $65 prepaid.
b. Any five clinics: $250 prepaid.
c. All 10 clinics: $450 prepaid.

To ensure that everyone gets lots of hands-on, individual attention, each posture clinic is limited to 15 students. Bookings and pre-payment essential.

This series is a great way to learn more about how common postures work, develop greater awareness in your body in relation to these postures, and then take these skills back into your classes to deepen your practice.