Upcoming dates:

April 13, May 11

3:30-5:30 pm

at Upper Valley Yoga

Please join me once a month for a long-format complete yoga practice, which seems to be increasingly rare in yoga studios these days. In a kind, unhurried way, we use movement and focus of the body, breath, and mind to explore the experience of yoga and being alive, tapping a deep well of potential. This class includes a bit of Sanskrit chanting, an invigorating and balancing physical practice drawing on the structure and selected postures from the Ashtanga primary and second series, along with breath technique and meditation. Along the way, we will address and perhaps uncover for ourselves some of the more subtle and esoteric aspects of yoga. No particular experience is necessary; everyone is welcome. Experienced students will find this class helpful to enrich and refine their practice.

Register here.

Last summer in Alaska, I had the pleasure of talking with artist/photographer Ryland West about my research studying glaciers and the water that drains beneath them. Here is the interview:

http://rylandwest.com/researchers-of-the-cryosphere

November 6, 13, and 20

4-6 pm

Open Door Integrative Wellness in White River Junction, Vermont

In this 3-week series, learn the foundations of Ashtanga yoga to establish a grounding, uplifting, and sustainable personal yoga practice. We will begin from where we are, progressively adding to the practice each week, with attention to proper alignment, breath, focus, and internal awareness. Individual adaptations will be offered to serve any circumstances. By the end of the series, you will be equipped with a solid yoga practice to do at home and take with you anywhere, and you will be ready to practice in a Mysore class (in which each student practices at their own pace, with personal assistance and guidance from the teacher). This series is appropriate for those new to yoga or new to the Ashtanga form; more experienced students will also find it enriching to revisit the foundations in detail, look again, and begin again.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

A 3-part workshop at Upper Valley Yoga

September 25 / October 2 / October 9, 2022

Register here (opening early September).

What is the point of being in a body? In this three-part series, we will explore the fundamental patterns involved in the practice of yoga, tasting for ourselves the enormous potential held in our own bodies. Each 2-hour workshop will involve a guided practice, based on postures from the Ashtanga tradition, along with seated visualization and breath practices.

1.Grounding
Apana, the downward pattern of sensation typically associated with the exhalation and curling-inward forms, is stabilizing to our nervous system and psyche. 
 
2.Expanding 
Prana, the upward-rising pattern of sensation typically associated with the inhalation and front-opening forms, has an uplifting and energizing effect on our nervous system and state of mind. 
 
3.Integrating 
The true magic of waking up to the world and finding ourselves in a balanced, calm, clear state of equanimity depends on the successful merging of prana and apana. This powerful union is at the heart of all potent yogic practices and holds unfathomable potential. 

Register here.

In June, I had the joy of teaching for a couple of weeks as part of the International Summer School in Glaciology held in the remote town of McCarthy, Alaska. I spent some time in McCarthy back in 2014, helping with fieldwork on Kennicott Glacier, and it was sweet to be back in this quirky town and out on the ice.

A few highlights: lecturing about glacier hydrology in bare feet in a log cabin, getting to know graduate students and faculty from all over the world, advising two students on a research project applying the SHAKTI model to simulate water drainage beneath Haute Glacier d’Otemma in the Swiss Alps, spending time with senior faculty over breakfast, beers, and scientific discussions, learning more about remote sensing and glacier mass balance terminology than ever before, swimming in ice-water lakes, exploring an ice cave, practicing yoga in the mornings on the rocky beach of McCarthy Creek with a stunning view of Mt. Sourdough and thousands of mosquitoes, a soccer game between the US and the rest of the world (the rest of the world won), and lots of inspiring questions for research!

Thanks for having me. 🙂

On new moon and full moon days, the convention in Ashtanga yoga is to take a day of rest from your usual practices. The full moon (May 16) and new moon (May 30) both happen to fall on Mondays this month… Since we only meet once a week, instead of canceling class I will be leading a guided practice on these days in place of the usual self-paced Mysore practice. This will include guided asana (postures), pranayama (breathing technique), and meditation – with some chanting and singing bowl, of course. I hope you’ll join us!

In summary, we will have class every Monday from 5-7 pm:

Mysore: May 2, 9, 23

Guided full moon practice: May 16

Guided new moon practice: May 30

Please register here in advance: https://www.opendooruv.com/somatics-yoga/mysore-ashtanga-yoga

Mysore class (Ashtanga yoga):

Mondays, 5-7 pm

at Open Door in White River Junction (“clinic” entrance)

Details and registration are here.

I am happy to be offering a free introductory Ashtanga class at Open Door as part of the First Friday art festivities in White River Junction, Vermont. See you there. 🙂

Details HERE and below.

Join Open Door Friday, April 1st at 5:30pm
Ashtanga Yoga Appetizer with Aleah Sommers

In the tradition of Ashtanga yoga, we practice yoga postures and techniques as a daily personal practice that can be adapted for any individual circumstances. This style of yoga takes shape as a full-body meditation, with attention on the breath and internal forms. We open the body through deliberate movement, cultivating mental focus and clarity, and balancing the nervous system.

To celebrate First Friday on April 1, join Aleah at Open Door for an introductory Ashtanga yoga class. In this guided practice, you will move through surya namaskar (sun salutations) and a selection of standing and seated postures, grounded in the breath and sublime embodied experience.

All are welcome. Please bring a yoga mat.

Starting January 4, we will have Mysore class every Tuesday evening from 5-7 pm at Open Door in White River Junction, Vermont.

Masks are required, as well as Covid vaccination.

Description: In this class, each student learns and practices a series of yoga postures from the Ashtanga tradition, adapted and modified according to individual circumstances, with a focus on breath and internal awareness. Students are welcome to arrive and leave any time within the Mysore class time, except during the final rest period in the last 10 minutes of class. You practice at your own pace, with individual assistance and guidance from the teacher, progressively building on and refining your practice. No experience is necessary to begin. The only pre-requisites are sincerity and curiosity (a sense of humor helps too).

Register for classes here: https://www.opendooruv.com/somatics-yoga/mysore-ashtanga-yoga

See you soon! Happy new year.

I am very happy to be teaching an introduction series to Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga, taking place at Open Door in White River Junction, Vermont! A couple of weeks ago, I was curious to see if there were others in the Upper Valley practicing yoga in the Ashtanga form, if anyone would be interested in meeting up to practice together occasionally, and/or if there was interest in learning. So I sent an inquiry to the community email listserv, and the enthusiastic responses I received were heartwarming! We’ll see how this goes. We begin November 30, details below. Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Introduction to Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga – 4 week series:

5:30-7:00 pm, November 30, December 7, 14, 21

Open Door Integrative Wellness, White River Junction, Vermont

Register here.

In this 4-week series, learn the foundations of Ashtanga yoga to establish a grounding, uplifting, and sustainable personal yoga practice. We will begin from where we are, progressively adding on to the practice each week, with attention to proper alignment, breath, focus, and internal awareness. Individual adaptations will be presented to serve any circumstances. By the end of the series, you will be equipped with a well-rounded yoga practice to do at home and take with you anywhere, and you will be ready to practice in a Mysore class (in which each student practices at their own pace, with personal assistance and guidance from the teacher). This series is appropriate for those new to yoga (or simply new to the Ashtanga form); more experienced students will also find it enriching to revisit the foundations in detail, look again, and begin again.

Week 1 (November 30) – Foundations of breath, prana/apana, Surya Namaskar A/B

Week 2 (December 7) – Backbends and closing sequence postures

Week 3 (December 14) – Standing sequence

Week 4 (December 21) – Seated postures, introduction to Primary Series

Register here.

Note: Following this 4-week introduction series, this class will become a Mysore-style class.