Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/somatic-inquiry-with-laura-v-ward-on-zoom-2174219

8:30-9:10am PDT

This 40 minute session will offer a dive into the fluid wisdom of your own body using breath, touch, sound, and sensation as tools to expand awareness and deepen your experience of being human.

You can take this class at any level of movement that feels comfortable to you. You can be in a chair, in bed, on the floor, and you are encouraged to move or not move in accordance with your own inner intelligence.

Laura Victoria Ward is maximalist artist, choreographer, somatic movement educator, Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, teacher, musician, and painter. She is the artistic director of Kingston Contemporary Dance Theatre, a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational, company. She has been teaching, creating dance theater, and performing in New York State, the Hudson Valley, and internationally for over 25 years.

Participating equally in both experiential and performative practices; movement, awareness, and expression lay the foundation for Laura's work which includes creativity, play, inquiry, and the general wonder of existing in a human body. An expansive knowledge of diverse movement practices, hands-on bodywork, anatomy, and kinesiology underpins Laura’s playful investigation including Continuum Movement, classical ballet training, physical theater, and nondual awareness meditation (with Michael Taft). She has been meditating for over 30 years.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

This event is likely to reach capacity. Register on Eventbrite to ensure a seat. 

The Chalice is a monthly psychedelic salon held at the Berkeley Alembic. Instead of the mainstream focus on clinical trials, legal frameworks, and psychotherapy, The Chalice will draw from the deeper humanistic wells of history, poetry, the gods, ethnobotany, humor, and mystery. The first half of each gathering will feature a talk or special guest interview; we are particularly devoted to centering elders and members of the underground. The second half of the evening is designed to develop the community, with possible breakout groups and peer-to-peer discussion, and more questions than answers. 

For the December Chalice, Erik Davis will give a talk on the complex ways that current psychedelic discourse and practice are attempting to balance and integrate the claims of religion and science.

The co-hosts for Chalice are Erik Davis, author and Alembic co-founder; Maria Mangini, co-founder of the Women’s Visionary Council and old-school head; and Christian Greer, currently a lecturer on counterculture at Stanford University. 

Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

Soulful flow is a robust vinyasa yoga class that brings balance to the body, mind and spirit. Anne-René has always been drawn to the spiritual side of life and yoga. This influences her movement meditations that are physically challenging and inspiring to the heart. Her class intertwines asana, breath, awareness, attention to transition and experiencing a personal connection to the movement that opens the door for a meditative flow to wake you up. Hand mudras, chanting, inspired readings, and music are incorporated into the class.

Anne-René Petrarca is a dance artist, Alexander Technique teacher and the artistic director of Sculpted Motion. She began her yoga studies back in New York City in the 1990's. In 2008 she received her Vinyasa yoga teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation. She is inspired and influenced by her many teachers and studios: Ty Landrum, Sara Baird, Erin Dudley, Keith Borden, Cindi Lee's Om Yoga Center, Laughing Lotus Yoga, and the anatomical teachings of Irene Dowd and Leslie Kaminoff. Other influences are Krishnamurti, Ram Das, Kundalini yoga, Gaga, and Gyrotonic.

"I have always expressed myself through movement. I find inspiration in watching the sky, feeling the sun on my skin and the wonderment of the night sky. Trees are amazing, animals are graceful, poetry can bring me to my knees. I find comfort in the resiliency of the human spirit and kind words from my friends. There is a fullness and flow to life that I know exist and I find comfort in knowing that I am a work in progress flowing toward it."

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/waking-up-in-the-middle-of-everything-2416439

The Zen School, as passed down to us from China via Japan, takes a unique view on the possibility of living an exemplary life in the here-and-now that is awake, alive, and completely human, as well as embodying the vows that underlie all Mahayana Buddhist schools. In this ongoing class we will study the practices and the accompanying conceptual frameworks that are, essentially, the mind and body of Zen.

More specifically, we will engage in actual Zen meditative practice, both sitting and walking, with particular attention to the details and the appropriate amount of guidance. In a series of talks, we will also review the classical literature of Zen, including the Song Dynasty koan collections and the writings of Japanese Soto Zen founder Eihei Dogen. There will be plenty of opportunity for dialog, group discussion, and explanation.

Anshi Zachary Smith

Anshi Daigi Zachary Smith has been practicing Zen since 1993. He took jukai (lay ordination) in 1995, was shuso (Head Student) in 2007, ordained as a Zen priest in 2014 and received Dharma Transmission on April 17, 2019, all with former abbot and Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. He currently directs North Mountain Zendo, a zazenkai (sitting) group in North Beach and is a regular and frequent teacher at SFZC's City Center.

In addition to his involvement with Zen, Zachary is a husband, a father of four, a (mostly retired) engineer, a musician, a bike fanatic, and an avid but mediocre poet. He may be the only person in the history of Zen in the West to have interrupted a residential practice period to tour with a rock band.

Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancing-with-gravity-contemporary-floorwork-from-the-inside-out-tickets-742775791387?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this 10-week movement class series we will learn how to use falling weight and kinetic chains to achieve seemingly effortless dynamic movement. In each class we will build slowly from anatomy study and warm-up exercises to movement phrases across the floor. My intention is for participants to really expand their movement vocabulary and not just get overwhelmed with new information. There will be group lab time to zoom in on the hard(unfamiliar) part, as well as time to improvise, integrate and have fun.

The subtitle refers to the approach of learning movement “from the inside out”. This means we will not just focus on executing certain body shapes but also prioritize tuning into the sensation of the movement from the inside. This could be something like feeling the tug of a falling leg that pulls us up to standing. We will explore bio-mechanics through both anatomy study and hands-on practices to learn and embody principles for healthy and efficient movement.

The three main intentions of this class:

1. Expand your movement vocabulary (especially new pathways in and out of the floor)

2. Learn and feel principles of biomechanics, anatomy and physics

3. Connect to your body and the group through the joy of dancing

Marcus van Duren is a dancer, teacher and community organizer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Marcus has intensively studied movement and dance since his discovery of contact improvisation in 2012. He has been teaching classes and workshops locally in California since 2015, and seasonally travels internationally to teach at festivals and practice in community. Marcus has had the pleasure of studying with Kira Kirsch, Frey Faust, Nuria Bowart, Chris Aiken, Angie Hauser, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Martin Keogh, Ray Chung, Nita Little, James Graham, Sarah Shelton Mann and many others-- "in every dance, something is learned". Marcus is an active member of the international Axis Syllabus community. In addition to appreciating dance as a performing art, Marcus sees dance as a life practice. He is endlessly curious about how dance can reflect larger patterns in one's attention and serve as a laboratory to explore new ways of moving and being, both on and off the dance floor. Marcus holds an interdisciplinary BA from UC Berkeley focusing on Theater, Dance & Performance Studies, Psychology and Business.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dynamic-embodiment-w-ian-shaw-zak-2690859

Discover a world of transformation in our Dynamic Embodiment Somatic Movement Class with Ian Shaw-Zak. Dive deep into the realm of sensorimotor and perceptual patterns that shape your interactions with the world, and cultivate the root of who you are becoming. Through mindful movement and a curiosity-driven approach, you'll cultivate differentiation and connections between layers and aspects of yourself, unlocking your body's innate wisdom and resourcefulness

Each class is a journey through developmental layers that uses diverse maps and lenses. Though grounded in the present moment, the exploration will expand your sense of body, space, range, and the possibilities for more vibrance and ease. We will play with images and concepts drawn from embryology, motor learning, and archetypal symbolism—including the rich language of alchemy and Qigong—to explore, cultivate, and nourish our bodies. This class welcomes participants of all levels, whether seasoned explorers or people new to somatic practice. No prior experience is necessary—simply come as you are, and leave with a deeper connection to your inner self, renewed vitality, and a sense of emergent possibilities.

Ian Shaw-Zak (he/they) has spent over thirty-five years practicing Shaolin Qigong. They have engaged in a lifetime quest investigating how bodies function, learn, interact, and heal while seeking to understand what has come to be known as neurodiversity. With a decade of experience as a Somatic Movement Therapist, and more recent experience as a provider of mental health services, Ian brings a wealth of knowledge and empathy to guide your journey. Visit www.ianshawzak.com for more information.

Details & Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/releasing-into-presence-with-lopon-chandra-easton-1089849

Releasing into Presence: 

Meditation, Mantra & Movement

with Lopön Chandra Easton 

 Open to All

In this class, we’ll experience the benefits meditation, mantra, and movement have to offer our body, mind, and soul. Classes will be relaxing, rejuvenating, and fun, enhanced by community and collective practice. Weaving together mystical stories, meditations, mantra, movement and singing chants, Chandra offers practices that facilitate releasing into presence with ease and comfort.  All are welcome.

Meditation: Experience a richness of techniques for developing shamatha, calm abiding, and vipashyana, insight. These will include mindfulness of breathing, an especially effective approach to soothing the body and calming the discursive mind, and more advanced techniques called “settling the mind in its natural state” and “awareness of awareness.” 

Mantra:  Explore mantra recitation and chanting, both with and without musical accompaniment. Chandra will share a variety of mantras and melodies from the Buddhist and Hindu tradition, including melodies from her 21 Taras Collective project.

Movement: Practice gentle and accessible yoga and/or meditative movement/dance to bring more comfort and ease to your meditation and life. 

Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton is a teacher, writer, and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. She has taught Buddhism and Yoga around the world since 2001 and co-translated Sublime Dharma: A Compilation of Two Texts on the Great Perfection, published in 2012. In 2015, she was given the title of senior lead teacher, Dorje Lopön (Varjāchārya), by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. She is on the Tara Mandala Board of Directors and the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Council, which addresses the under-representation of people from different cultural, racial, sexual orientation, and social backgrounds in the Dharma and at Tara Mandala. She is currently writing a book on the twenty-one Taras in Buddhist Tantra.  She is collaborating with musicians Nina Rao and Genevieve Walker, on the 21 Taras Collective, which aims to bring the 21 Taras alive through mantra, music, and devotion. She lives in Berkeley, CA.

Visit www.chandraeaston.com to learn more. 

Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/somatic-inquiry-with-laura-v-ward-on-zoom-2174219

8:30-9:10am PDT

This 40 minute session will offer a dive into the fluid wisdom of your own body using breath, touch, sound, and sensation as tools to expand awareness and deepen your experience of being human.

You can take this class at any level of movement that feels comfortable to you. You can be in a chair, in bed, on the floor, and you are encouraged to move or not move in accordance with your own inner intelligence.

Laura Victoria Ward is maximalist artist, choreographer, somatic movement educator, Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, teacher, musician, and painter. She is the artistic director of Kingston Contemporary Dance Theatre, a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational, company. She has been teaching, creating dance theater, and performing in New York State, the Hudson Valley, and internationally for over 25 years.

Participating equally in both experiential and performative practices; movement, awareness, and expression lay the foundation for Laura's work which includes creativity, play, inquiry, and the general wonder of existing in a human body. An expansive knowledge of diverse movement practices, hands-on bodywork, anatomy, and kinesiology underpins Laura’s playful investigation including Continuum Movement, classical ballet training, physical theater, and nondual awareness meditation (with Michael Taft). She has been meditating for over 30 years.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

For  Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fusion-alchemy-tickets-759145533727

Welcome to Alchemy of Fusion, an enchanting bi-monthly dance affair that blends movement, music, and connection. Every gathering kicks off with an immersive hour-long fusion dance class led by expert instructors. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a newcomer to the world of fusion, this class caters to all skill levels, offering a perfect blend of technique, creativity, and connection. The class serves as a gateway for dancers to explore and integrate various dance forms, creating a melting pot of movement styles that define Fusion Alchemy.

Following the class, the dance floor transforms into a haven for socializing and free expression. For three hours, dancers have the opportunity to engage in the art of fusion, where genres intertwine, and creativity knows no bounds. The Berkeley Alembic provides an inviting atmosphere with its spacious dance floor, comfortable spaces to lounge, and an eclectic mix of music that transcends genres.

Alchemy of Fusion is not just an event; it's a community where dancers come together to explore the magic that happens when diverse movement traditions converge. Whether you prefer the sultry embrace of tango, the rhythmic freedom of blues, or the playful energy of swing, Fusion Alchemy welcomes all dance enthusiasts to partake in this bi-monthly celebration of movement and connection.

Cost: $20 in advance/$25 at the door

Sayaka is a lover of movement and a believer in human potential. She has trained in Bachata, Fusion, Contact Improv, and Brazilian Zouk, and understands what movement can do to transform individuals as well as whole communities. In addition, she has many years of experience helping people be the best version of themselves as a nurse and a life coach.

She has been organizing dance events with focus on comfort and connections since 2022. She named her company after a Japanese buddhist word, Goen: serendipitous encounters that lead to meaningful relationships.

Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

Soulful flow is a robust vinyasa yoga class that brings balance to the body, mind and spirit. Anne-René has always been drawn to the spiritual side of life and yoga. This influences her movement meditations that are physically challenging and inspiring to the heart. Her class intertwines asana, breath, awareness, attention to transition and experiencing a personal connection to the movement that opens the door for a meditative flow to wake you up. Hand mudras, chanting, inspired readings, and music are incorporated into the class.

Anne-René Petrarca is a dance artist, Alexander Technique teacher and the artistic director of Sculpted Motion. She began her yoga studies back in New York City in the 1990's. In 2008 she received her Vinyasa yoga teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation. She is inspired and influenced by her many teachers and studios: Ty Landrum, Sara Baird, Erin Dudley, Keith Borden, Cindi Lee's Om Yoga Center, Laughing Lotus Yoga, and the anatomical teachings of Irene Dowd and Leslie Kaminoff. Other influences are Krishnamurti, Ram Das, Kundalini yoga, Gaga, and Gyrotonic.

"I have always expressed myself through movement. I find inspiration in watching the sky, feeling the sun on my skin and the wonderment of the night sky. Trees are amazing, animals are graceful, poetry can bring me to my knees. I find comfort in the resiliency of the human spirit and kind words from my friends. There is a fullness and flow to life that I know exist and I find comfort in knowing that I am a work in progress flowing toward it."

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/waking-up-in-the-middle-of-everything-2416439

The Zen School, as passed down to us from China via Japan, takes a unique view on the possibility of living an exemplary life in the here-and-now that is awake, alive, and completely human, as well as embodying the vows that underlie all Mahayana Buddhist schools. In this ongoing class we will study the practices and the accompanying conceptual frameworks that are, essentially, the mind and body of Zen.

More specifically, we will engage in actual Zen meditative practice, both sitting and walking, with particular attention to the details and the appropriate amount of guidance. In a series of talks, we will also review the classical literature of Zen, including the Song Dynasty koan collections and the writings of Japanese Soto Zen founder Eihei Dogen. There will be plenty of opportunity for dialog, group discussion, and explanation.

Anshi Zachary Smith

Anshi Daigi Zachary Smith has been practicing Zen since 1993. He took jukai (lay ordination) in 1995, was shuso (Head Student) in 2007, ordained as a Zen priest in 2014 and received Dharma Transmission on April 17, 2019, all with former abbot and Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. He currently directs North Mountain Zendo, a zazenkai (sitting) group in North Beach and is a regular and frequent teacher at SFZC's City Center.

In addition to his involvement with Zen, Zachary is a husband, a father of four, a (mostly retired) engineer, a musician, a bike fanatic, and an avid but mediocre poet. He may be the only person in the history of Zen in the West to have interrupted a residential practice period to tour with a rock band.

Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancing-with-gravity-contemporary-floorwork-from-the-inside-out-tickets-742775791387?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this 10-week movement class series we will learn how to use falling weight and kinetic chains to achieve seemingly effortless dynamic movement. In each class we will build slowly from anatomy study and warm-up exercises to movement phrases across the floor. My intention is for participants to really expand their movement vocabulary and not just get overwhelmed with new information. There will be group lab time to zoom in on the hard(unfamiliar) part, as well as time to improvise, integrate and have fun.

The subtitle refers to the approach of learning movement “from the inside out”. This means we will not just focus on executing certain body shapes but also prioritize tuning into the sensation of the movement from the inside. This could be something like feeling the tug of a falling leg that pulls us up to standing. We will explore bio-mechanics through both anatomy study and hands-on practices to learn and embody principles for healthy and efficient movement.

The three main intentions of this class:

1. Expand your movement vocabulary (especially new pathways in and out of the floor)

2. Learn and feel principles of biomechanics, anatomy and physics

3. Connect to your body and the group through the joy of dancing

Marcus van Duren is a dancer, teacher and community organizer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Marcus has intensively studied movement and dance since his discovery of contact improvisation in 2012. He has been teaching classes and workshops locally in California since 2015, and seasonally travels internationally to teach at festivals and practice in community. Marcus has had the pleasure of studying with Kira Kirsch, Frey Faust, Nuria Bowart, Chris Aiken, Angie Hauser, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Martin Keogh, Ray Chung, Nita Little, James Graham, Sarah Shelton Mann and many others-- "in every dance, something is learned". Marcus is an active member of the international Axis Syllabus community. In addition to appreciating dance as a performing art, Marcus sees dance as a life practice. He is endlessly curious about how dance can reflect larger patterns in one's attention and serve as a laboratory to explore new ways of moving and being, both on and off the dance floor. Marcus holds an interdisciplinary BA from UC Berkeley focusing on Theater, Dance & Performance Studies, Psychology and Business.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dynamic-embodiment-w-ian-shaw-zak-2690859

Discover a world of transformation in our Dynamic Embodiment Somatic Movement Class with Ian Shaw-Zak. Dive deep into the realm of sensorimotor and perceptual patterns that shape your interactions with the world, and cultivate the root of who you are becoming. Through mindful movement and a curiosity-driven approach, you'll cultivate differentiation and connections between layers and aspects of yourself, unlocking your body's innate wisdom and resourcefulness

Each class is a journey through developmental layers that uses diverse maps and lenses. Though grounded in the present moment, the exploration will expand your sense of body, space, range, and the possibilities for more vibrance and ease. We will play with images and concepts drawn from embryology, motor learning, and archetypal symbolism—including the rich language of alchemy and Qigong—to explore, cultivate, and nourish our bodies. This class welcomes participants of all levels, whether seasoned explorers or people new to somatic practice. No prior experience is necessary—simply come as you are, and leave with a deeper connection to your inner self, renewed vitality, and a sense of emergent possibilities.

Ian Shaw-Zak (he/they) has spent over thirty-five years practicing Shaolin Qigong. They have engaged in a lifetime quest investigating how bodies function, learn, interact, and heal while seeking to understand what has come to be known as neurodiversity. With a decade of experience as a Somatic Movement Therapist, and more recent experience as a provider of mental health services, Ian brings a wealth of knowledge and empathy to guide your journey. Visit www.ianshawzak.com for more information.

Details & Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/releasing-into-presence-with-lopon-chandra-easton-1089849

Releasing into Presence: 

Meditation, Mantra & Movement

with Lopön Chandra Easton 

 Open to All

In this class, we’ll experience the benefits meditation, mantra, and movement have to offer our body, mind, and soul. Classes will be relaxing, rejuvenating, and fun, enhanced by community and collective practice. Weaving together mystical stories, meditations, mantra, movement and singing chants, Chandra offers practices that facilitate releasing into presence with ease and comfort.  All are welcome.

Meditation: Experience a richness of techniques for developing shamatha, calm abiding, and vipashyana, insight. These will include mindfulness of breathing, an especially effective approach to soothing the body and calming the discursive mind, and more advanced techniques called “settling the mind in its natural state” and “awareness of awareness.” 

Mantra:  Explore mantra recitation and chanting, both with and without musical accompaniment. Chandra will share a variety of mantras and melodies from the Buddhist and Hindu tradition, including melodies from her 21 Taras Collective project.

Movement: Practice gentle and accessible yoga and/or meditative movement/dance to bring more comfort and ease to your meditation and life. 

Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton is a teacher, writer, and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. She has taught Buddhism and Yoga around the world since 2001 and co-translated Sublime Dharma: A Compilation of Two Texts on the Great Perfection, published in 2012. In 2015, she was given the title of senior lead teacher, Dorje Lopön (Varjāchārya), by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. She is on the Tara Mandala Board of Directors and the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Council, which addresses the under-representation of people from different cultural, racial, sexual orientation, and social backgrounds in the Dharma and at Tara Mandala. She is currently writing a book on the twenty-one Taras in Buddhist Tantra.  She is collaborating with musicians Nina Rao and Genevieve Walker, on the 21 Taras Collective, which aims to bring the 21 Taras alive through mantra, music, and devotion. She lives in Berkeley, CA.

Visit www.chandraeaston.com to learn more. 

Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/somatic-inquiry-with-laura-v-ward-on-zoom-2174219

8:30-9:10am PDT

This 40 minute session will offer a dive into the fluid wisdom of your own body using breath, touch, sound, and sensation as tools to expand awareness and deepen your experience of being human.

You can take this class at any level of movement that feels comfortable to you. You can be in a chair, in bed, on the floor, and you are encouraged to move or not move in accordance with your own inner intelligence.

Laura Victoria Ward is maximalist artist, choreographer, somatic movement educator, Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, teacher, musician, and painter. She is the artistic director of Kingston Contemporary Dance Theatre, a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational, company. She has been teaching, creating dance theater, and performing in New York State, the Hudson Valley, and internationally for over 25 years.

Participating equally in both experiential and performative practices; movement, awareness, and expression lay the foundation for Laura's work which includes creativity, play, inquiry, and the general wonder of existing in a human body. An expansive knowledge of diverse movement practices, hands-on bodywork, anatomy, and kinesiology underpins Laura’s playful investigation including Continuum Movement, classical ballet training, physical theater, and nondual awareness meditation (with Michael Taft). She has been meditating for over 30 years.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

Soulful flow is a robust vinyasa yoga class that brings balance to the body, mind and spirit. Anne-René has always been drawn to the spiritual side of life and yoga. This influences her movement meditations that are physically challenging and inspiring to the heart. Her class intertwines asana, breath, awareness, attention to transition and experiencing a personal connection to the movement that opens the door for a meditative flow to wake you up. Hand mudras, chanting, inspired readings, and music are incorporated into the class.

Anne-René Petrarca is a dance artist, Alexander Technique teacher and the artistic director of Sculpted Motion. She began her yoga studies back in New York City in the 1990's. In 2008 she received her Vinyasa yoga teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation. She is inspired and influenced by her many teachers and studios: Ty Landrum, Sara Baird, Erin Dudley, Keith Borden, Cindi Lee's Om Yoga Center, Laughing Lotus Yoga, and the anatomical teachings of Irene Dowd and Leslie Kaminoff. Other influences are Krishnamurti, Ram Das, Kundalini yoga, Gaga, and Gyrotonic.

"I have always expressed myself through movement. I find inspiration in watching the sky, feeling the sun on my skin and the wonderment of the night sky. Trees are amazing, animals are graceful, poetry can bring me to my knees. I find comfort in the resiliency of the human spirit and kind words from my friends. There is a fullness and flow to life that I know exist and I find comfort in knowing that I am a work in progress flowing toward it."

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

Details & Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/releasing-into-presence-with-lopon-chandra-easton-1089849

Releasing into Presence: 

Meditation, Mantra & Movement

with Lopön Chandra Easton 

 Open to All

In this class, we’ll experience the benefits meditation, mantra, and movement have to offer our body, mind, and soul. Classes will be relaxing, rejuvenating, and fun, enhanced by community and collective practice. Weaving together mystical stories, meditations, mantra, movement and singing chants, Chandra offers practices that facilitate releasing into presence with ease and comfort.  All are welcome.

Meditation: Experience a richness of techniques for developing shamatha, calm abiding, and vipashyana, insight. These will include mindfulness of breathing, an especially effective approach to soothing the body and calming the discursive mind, and more advanced techniques called “settling the mind in its natural state” and “awareness of awareness.” 

Mantra:  Explore mantra recitation and chanting, both with and without musical accompaniment. Chandra will share a variety of mantras and melodies from the Buddhist and Hindu tradition, including melodies from her 21 Taras Collective project.

Movement: Practice gentle and accessible yoga and/or meditative movement/dance to bring more comfort and ease to your meditation and life. 

Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton is a teacher, writer, and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. She has taught Buddhism and Yoga around the world since 2001 and co-translated Sublime Dharma: A Compilation of Two Texts on the Great Perfection, published in 2012. In 2015, she was given the title of senior lead teacher, Dorje Lopön (Varjāchārya), by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. She is on the Tara Mandala Board of Directors and the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Council, which addresses the under-representation of people from different cultural, racial, sexual orientation, and social backgrounds in the Dharma and at Tara Mandala. She is currently writing a book on the twenty-one Taras in Buddhist Tantra.  She is collaborating with musicians Nina Rao and Genevieve Walker, on the 21 Taras Collective, which aims to bring the 21 Taras alive through mantra, music, and devotion. She lives in Berkeley, CA.

Visit www.chandraeaston.com to learn more. 

Details and Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/somatic-inquiry-with-laura-v-ward-on-zoom-2174219

8:30-9:10am PDT

This 40 minute session will offer a dive into the fluid wisdom of your own body using breath, touch, sound, and sensation as tools to expand awareness and deepen your experience of being human.

You can take this class at any level of movement that feels comfortable to you. You can be in a chair, in bed, on the floor, and you are encouraged to move or not move in accordance with your own inner intelligence.

Laura Victoria Ward is maximalist artist, choreographer, somatic movement educator, Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, teacher, musician, and painter. She is the artistic director of Kingston Contemporary Dance Theatre, a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational, company. She has been teaching, creating dance theater, and performing in New York State, the Hudson Valley, and internationally for over 25 years.

Participating equally in both experiential and performative practices; movement, awareness, and expression lay the foundation for Laura's work which includes creativity, play, inquiry, and the general wonder of existing in a human body. An expansive knowledge of diverse movement practices, hands-on bodywork, anatomy, and kinesiology underpins Laura’s playful investigation including Continuum Movement, classical ballet training, physical theater, and nondual awareness meditation (with Michael Taft). She has been meditating for over 30 years.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

This lunchtime vinyasa flow features a dynamic yoga practice that calms the mind and cultivates presence by connecting movement with breath. This 45 + 15 minutes class will start and end on time and includes sun salutations, standing poses, and dynamic stretching focusing on hips, shoulders and the neck. The last 15 minutes of class will include pranayama (breath work) and Shavasana, optional for those needing to return to their afternoon obligations. This class is a great way to break up your day, release tension and stress, let go of your morning, and prepare for the rest of your day feeling energized and ready to tackle any afternoon challenges! Appropriate for the beginner with a few yoga classes under their belt to the intermediate yogi!

About the teacher:

Hi my name is Emily Fesler-Young!

Yoga found me in the fall of 2011, when I attended my first hot yoga class at the studio I would later go on to complete a 200 hr YTT certification, Yoga State in Lansing, Michigan. My teacher training was rooted in Hot Vinyasa and incorporated Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Tantric methodologies. In 2014, I began teaching in-studio classes. I continuously draw on Hatha and Yin styles in my teaching, as well as incorporating other elements of the 8-limbs of yoga to shape my class philosophy. As I have traveled and grown with teachers and students all over the world, my appreciation for practices centered on devotion, acceptance, and love has grown. Apart from teaching, I co-own a wellness-based business with my Husband and Brother-in-law centered on sharing mindful events and products to the SF Bay Area, and beyond. I am a seasoned traveler with a love for nature, people, and culture.

Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yoga-at-alembic-1106959

Soulful flow is a robust vinyasa yoga class that brings balance to the body, mind and spirit. Anne-René has always been drawn to the spiritual side of life and yoga. This influences her movement meditations that are physically challenging and inspiring to the heart. Her class intertwines asana, breath, awareness, attention to transition and experiencing a personal connection to the movement that opens the door for a meditative flow to wake you up. Hand mudras, chanting, inspired readings, and music are incorporated into the class.

Anne-René Petrarca is a dance artist, Alexander Technique teacher and the artistic director of Sculpted Motion. She began her yoga studies back in New York City in the 1990's. In 2008 she received her Vinyasa yoga teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation. She is inspired and influenced by her many teachers and studios: Ty Landrum, Sara Baird, Erin Dudley, Keith Borden, Cindi Lee's Om Yoga Center, Laughing Lotus Yoga, and the anatomical teachings of Irene Dowd and Leslie Kaminoff. Other influences are Krishnamurti, Ram Das, Kundalini yoga, Gaga, and Gyrotonic.

"I have always expressed myself through movement. I find inspiration in watching the sky, feeling the sun on my skin and the wonderment of the night sky. Trees are amazing, animals are graceful, poetry can bring me to my knees. I find comfort in the resiliency of the human spirit and kind words from my friends. There is a fullness and flow to life that I know exist and I find comfort in knowing that I am a work in progress flowing toward it."