MICHAEL STONE

Michael Stone is an internationally renowned Yoga teacher, Author and Psychotherapist. He is the
leader of Centre of Gravity Sangha, a thriving community of Yoga and Buddhist Practitioners in
Toronto. He teaches yoga postures in a way that integrates physical precision with a psychological
awareness so that the practice of yoga works as whole mind-body practice. Michael is interested in
tying together these meditative aspects of yoga with social action, ethics and how to live practice
in everything we do. He is the author of several books including Yoga For A World Out of Balance
and Freeing the Mind, Freeing the Body. visit: www.centreofgravity.org

Friday October 1st 9:00 am - 4:00 pm FR1STO

Yoga From the Ground Up: Bandhas, Pranayama, Drsti
This in-depth asana class workshop explore bandhas (internal energy bonds), pranayama (unconditioning of the breath) and drsti (meditative gazing) within
yoga posture sequences. These three techniques help deepen the psychological aspects of yoga so that as we work with the body we also free the mind. For
beginners and teachers alike, this class will be practical and educational and will explore some subtle aspects of yoga postures that are rarely taught and
often misunderstood. We will slow down common posture sequences and look at the mind-body connection with depth. A rare chance to delve into
important theory combined with practice and discussion.

Saturday October 2nd 10:30 am - 12:30 pm SA2STO

Yoga for a World Out of Balance
Drawing on his new book, Michael Stone will offer five principles for taking yoga off the mat and into the world of relationships. Drawing on Patanjali's
teachings and modern psychology, Michael will give specific examples of how to put yoga to work on contemporary imbalances in our ecology, families,
bodies, hearts and minds. This is an excellent class for those wishing to deepen their practice off the mat and also for teachers looking to better communicate
yoga philosophy in their communities and also within their own lives in formal practice and in everyday obstacles. Practice and discussion. Please bring a
copy of Yoga For A World Out of Balance: Teachings on Ethics & Social Action by Michael Stone, foreword by B.K.S. Iyengar (Shambhala Publications).

Saturday October 2nd 3:15 pm - 5:15 pm SA4STO

Simple practices for Anxiety & Depression
Drawing on his roles as psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and community leader, Michael will explore how a daily personal practice of simple yoga poses can
be used to work with turbulent emotions, strong sensations, or loss of motivation. Yoga can be a powerful tool of waking up the body and learning to be
with our feelings and experiences from a place of non-reactivity and increased creativity. One hour will be spent on theory and 1 hour on a short
meditation/yoga sequence.

Saturday October 2nd 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm SA5STO

Headstands from the Inside Out
This class will work slowly with simple headstand variations and the sequences that build toward a safe and smart practice of headstands, especially for
people with fear of being inverted. The class will focus on the role of breathing, bandhas and the soft and hard palate in practicing headstands as a
meditation practice without effort. Then we will tie headstands into pranayama practice. We will explore this important set of postures using walls and very
slow stages so that we can plum the fascinating internal pathways that these poses open up in us.

Sunday October 3rd 9:00 am - 11:00 am SU1STO

Freeing the Body, Freeing the Mind: Exploring Yoga and Buddhism
In this class Michael will draw from his latest book on the integration of yoga and Buddhist practice. This class will include meditation, study of Buddhist and
Yoga teachings and discussion. This is especially relevant for people interested in both traditions and how each tradition is changing on western soil. This
workshop will include a balance of practical teaching for your life as well as a way of learning the history of yoga and how it comes alive in western everyday
culture. After meditation instruction we will look closely at the key psychological teachings of both traditions.

Sunday October 3rd 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm SU3STO

Yoga Breathing: The Psychology & Practice of Prana-Ayama
This class will introduce three basic forms of yoga breathing from both a practice-oriented and psychological perspective. This in-depth class is excellent for
people wanting to use breathing practices to settle their emotions and work with the mind and is ideal for teachers learning how to incorporate pranayama
practices in their classes from an intelligent and detailed perspective. Practice and Meditation.

18 theyogaconference.com 905.404.9642 the next Toronto Event is April 14 - 17 2011