Yoga and the Act of Creation
Facility: Esalen
Location: Big Sur, CA
Leader: Thomas Fortel
Dates: Week of May 9-14, 2010
The themes of death, rebirth, and creation are central and woven into the ways of yoga, from Brahma the Creator, to savasana (corpse pose), to a still point of equanimity and calm; moments of Being without thought.
We students of yoga have established some practices that give us a daily respite from mind and thinking. Some call it intuition, or centeredness. It is essentially an empty state, yet very alert, where we tap into a field of energy far beyond the scope of one human being. This state is full and bulging with potential. Whether in yoga, writing, improv acting, or art-making, there is a field of emptiness/ fullness available to us.
If we're moving away from a materialistic way of life, then the simpler forms of creative expression can become more important—dancing and singing, journal writing, and creating with form and color. A simple way of being is the connection point and allows the river of prana to flow through us.
We begin each day with meditation, pranayama (conscious breathing) and daily journaling, continuing after breakfast with a morning yoga practice and an art project (pastels, stick and ink, charcoal, and paint). In the afternoons we meet for restorative yoga and conclude our days with a secret Esalen spiritual practice: lawn-lying, meeting at various locations on the Esalen property as we study the energy of Mother Earth and Father Sun. We will sing, too, for sure.
All levels of yogic and creative expression welcome. Please bring a journal and yoga mat. All other yoga props are provided.
($20 art supply fee paid directly to the leader)
