As with all Kristie's teaching at the Integral Yoga Institute, all proceeds go to support the ashram.
]]> Tuesday May 26th, 6-7:30pGrounding convenes October 15-17. The retreat cost includes all classes, meals, and accomodations. If you have questions about the retreat in general or health concerns in regard to yoga, feel free to email Kristie, or call 415 863 1821. The cost of the retreat is $325. As of 7/28, 2 places remain available.
]]> Your registration for the retreat takes place with the payment of your nonrefundable $150 registration deposit. You can do this in person at any class, online through PayPal, or by mail, sending your check to:Kristie Dahlia Home
254 Hartford Street
San Francisco, California 94114
Balance of cost will be due upon arrival at the retreat. If you prefer to pay by credit card, you may do so via PayPal.
Our practice will offer openhearted exploration of body, mind, and spirit with a wide variety of yogic healing arts. The heart of the practice will be restorative asana (yoga postures). Restorative practice comes closer than anything else to directly inducing the kind of clarity and integration that comes from meditation. Healing, rejuvenating, calming, oh! We make you a little nest of pillows and blankets which supports the body in postures designed to invite calm for the nervous system, and you simply lie there, at peace. The magic that happens is something special!
At last year's autumn retreat, two women had acute (meaning fresh or deeply painful) spinal issues/injuries. They joined the meditations and the gentle rhythmic movement portions of the practice, and when the rest of the class moved into more active practice Kristie would set them up in a long restorative pose. At the end of the weekend, one woman was almost entirely fine and the other was vastly improved. Kristie also observed that they were even more giddy-mellow-blissful than the rest of us. This has her intrigued, so here we go!
We will also practice extensive pranayama (breathing practices), self-massage, and energy work. As a special delight, you will be led through giving and will receive a 1.5 hour session of Thai Yoga Massage! Meditations might range from the blindfolded full-body shake and rattle of an extended kundalini meditation to sitting in silence, mantra japa, and silent walking meditation in the labyrinth in the redwood forest. Chanting will be included, and you may listen or join in as your comfort calls for.
Practice will be led by Kristie Dahlia Home. Kristie is yoga instructor, massage therapist, and reiki practitioner, and will be moving throughout the room during every session offering bits of body or energy work to you as you practice.
We are blessed this autumn with the presence of our original and dearly loved caterer, Jennifer Lynch. It speaks to the glorious and sacred delights of Jennifer's practice that she is asked most often to feed the guests of weddings. Come marry your own heart, and let yourself be nourished! Our food will be organic, seasonal, vegan, and gluten-free.
Salamander Camp is located in the mountains outside Los Gatos, a one hour drive from San Francisco when there is no rush hour traffic. There are three yurts: one for sleeping, one for cooking and eating, and one for practice. Two of the yurts are connected by a sprawling deck which holds a redwood hot tub and a small pool with a wave generator. The lawn rolls downhill from there and eases into the mountains. Vast redwood trees and hiking trails abound! You will have free time to hike, read, sleep, soak...
For those accustomed to retreating with Kristie at Harbin, Salamander differs in these ways: the hot tub is mere feet from the yurts, making it a snap to soak any time. Also, Salamander is a private site being used only by us. This can allow for more inwardness as everyone present is sharing the experience. It also often leads to more bonding of the group as our experience weaves.
There are two options for accommodations:
The sleeping yurt at Salamander is a lofted space with beds and futons. You are welcome to get cozy here! Some beds are queen-sized; if you are coming with someone who you would be comfortable sharing a bed with, please let me know.
Camping is particularly lovely at Salamander, and you are welcome to bring a tent to enjoy more privacy and a closer experience with nature.
You are welcome to arrive on Friday as early as 4p to enjoy the tub and forest or set up your tent. Our first class begins Friday at 6p. The last class finishes on Sunday at noon, with brunch to follow. Yes, you can arrive late if your work requires it on Friday. It is sweet, though, to get an early start if you can take the afternoon off.
"Kristie's workshop healed my heart and my body. She has a deep and broad understanding of the body, of the spirit, and of Yoga. Her love flows out of her and lights up the workshop, creating a powerful container for health, harmony and healing that keeps everyone's spirits high. Her workshop is a magical experience. It doesn't get better than this. "
"The meditation and yoga is sticking with me, and I am feeling really grateful for that practice! Thank you again for such a beautiful weekend. It was amazing how much different my body and mind felt by the end."
]]>"The healing art of thai yoga massage is an ancient and sacred system of healing with roots in Yoga, Ayurvedic Medicine and Buddhist spiritual practice. It is a unique and powerful system of Yoga Therapy, which combines rhythmic massage, acupressure, asanas (Yogic stretching exercises), gentle twisting, energy work and meditation. Thai Yoga Massage stimulates and balances the flow of healing energy within the body, opening the areas which are blocked bringing the person deeper into balance and harmony for health, happiness and wellness of being. This system creates a powerful release of stress and tension, an increase in vitality and well-being and it deepens the connection between mind, body and spirit in both the giver and receiver."
Kristie delights in incorporating thai massage into her group classes and private sessions. full sessions of thai massage offer profound goodness and last 2 hours. currently Kristie is sharing thai yoga massage sessions for $150-190 for a 2 hour session in her studio. shorter sessions are available for $90-110/hour. a session at your home may be possible; contact kristie to discuss availability and cost.
]]> folks are saying this about Kristie's thai yoga massage sessions:"one of the best massage treatments i've ever received (and i've received a lot). kristie's touch is attentive, penetrating, and energetically engaged... i feel balanced, energized, clear. all through the session i felt... filled with a child-like happiness."
"the session with Kristie was phenomenal - she obviously already carries with her a tremendous body of knowledge about touch and the body as a system. what i found most amazing about this session was the way that Kristie addressed my physical and energetic body so fully and completely. she was always very aware of making me comfortable so i could go deeper into the stretches and very in tune with my unfolding, knowing when to keep pushing and when to back off. overall excellent!"
"it was a thoroughly relaxing experience. I was put deeply at ease by Kristie. she felt in tune to how my body was responding to her work. i was in a trance throughout."
"it felt like a more holistic experience than a different sort of massage -- the stretching adds so much!"
"I came into the session tired, stressed out, and fighting a cold. after two and a half hours (it seemed like less than an hour!) of Kristie's careful attention, I was delightfully non-verbal and relaxed. I was surprised by the quality of her awareness of the structure of my musculature. I am looking forward to my next session."
]]>in Kristie's Castro Home studio:
$90-110/hour, sliding scale
at your home:
$90-110/hour, sliding scale, for session and travel time
availability and cost for outcall sessions varies; to discuss please email Kristie, or call 415 863 1821.
Kristie has a 48 hour cancellation policy; payment in full is due for sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours notice.
]]> Kristie's clients have offered these words of gratitude:"my session was so amazing; it really grounded me in ways i can't even understand/explain. I'm still feeling intense equilibrium and wellbeing in reaction."
"when practicing yoga following a video tape aggravated some shoulder pain that had been on and off for a few years, I asked Kristie to take a look. on close inspection she was able to identify that I had been cheating through a position with incorrect shoulder posture (probably the original source of my pain). Kristie taught me the correct posture, repositioning my shoulders and shoulder blades, which activated under-used muscles of the arms, chest and back, real strength! the effect of these adjustments was instantly felt in almost every pose of my practice. the adjustments also applied to my posture in everyday life which freed up a constant tension in my neck and provided better support to my middle back, especially sitting. one position correction, 3 aches gone! thanks, Kristie!"
"Kristie tailors each of our sessions to my state at that moment. this morning, after last night's six hour plan flight, Kristie created the perfect decompression for me, and what a great day I had."
"Through Kristie's generous spirit, I have learned how to let life bring my its gifts rather than forcing them to come to me. I believe this is the reason I have not had an episode of MS since I started my practice with her."
]]>"Kristie was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, reliable, caring, communicative, and creative throughout her tenure with us. teaching in an office setting presents different challenges than teaching in a yoga studio: encouraging busy workers to take time out to nurture their bodies, working with students with a wide variety of aptitude and flexibility, and recognizing that the classes are presented within the greater framework of the office environment. in our case, this was doubly challenging, as Kristie has helped to support our staff through our public stock offering, 10 mergers/acquisitions, 2 layoffs, various changes in management, and other various impacts of the Internet roller-coaster ride of the past few years. Kristie was consistently able to provide a centering and creative environment in our office."
"Kristie has worked with all ages within the Hamlin community, ranging from kindergarten classes to the faculty. Kristie shares her love of yoga with her students and inspires, excites and motivates her pupils. the students love and respect her and the community has embraced the teachings that she has offered."
- Danny Meyer, After School Academy Director, The Hamlin School
"we hired Kristie to teach twice-weekly yoga classes at my company, and it proved to be an excellent decision; she is a wonderful teacher. Kristie is very responsive to the needs and abilities of whomever is in a particular class and also to the changing needs of a class itself as a unit."
"Kristie's sessions helped our team of two to be more at ease with each other. by sharing the physical poses and meditation, my colleague and i became better attuned to one another, and our writing project flowed much better."
"Kristie is truly an outstanding teacher, one whose generosity of spirit inspires students in amazing ways. her teaching is nurturing as well as challenging. while Kristie easily articulates the physical aspects of the practice, she also weaves in the philosophical in a seamless and lovely manner. she has clearly studied yoga from myriad perspectives and is deeply rooted in traditional teachings. at the same time, she is quite comfortable with improvisation and can be quite adaptable and flexible depending upon the class and what challenges the students present. Kristie is an individual with deep integrity. she is inspired and inspiring to work with, on every level.
Kate Randall, Art Department Chair, The Urban School of San Francisco
"in our program Kristie leads special workshops that focus on the subtle aspects of Hatha Yoga. these workshops focus on challenging students to search within their own experience so they can teach from an authentic and compassionate place. over the past few years I have come to rely upon Kristie’s expertise. not only is she a great resource for my own questions, but I know that our students are being enlightened by her teaching. I cherish Kristie’s addition to our program."
- Reverend Jivana Heyman, Teacher Training Coordinator, Integral Yoga Institute.
]]> $90 per 6 week session.
register here
Mats and props are provided.
We will use gentle seated and, if appropriate for you, standing poses to increase comfort, strength, and flexibility. Deep relaxation, breathing, and meditation will help to build the skill of relaxation and relieve stress. Chair yoga is appropriate for those who cannot comfortably practice on the floor, or anyone who prefers a very gentle practice.
]]>A community favorite since 1999, this all levels class has rave reviews on yelp.com. Our practice ranges from hatha to hatha flow; this is a class for the able-bodied person interested in a challenge. The studio is a hidden gem, a long bare-brick room where eight huge skylights bring summer sunlight or the sound of winter rain.
]]> Kristie's students have said these things:"Last night's class was a miracle; your teaching combined with the chiropractic adjustment I had earlier in the day had my physical body vanishing into light posture after posture."
"Working with you for has brought to my entire being a sort of unity I have never known before. I feel unity between my body and mind, a brand-new set of shared ideas where before there were mainly commands from above and complaints from below. I feel unity and connection with the warm, generous beings in the space around me, my community, where before I saw 'other people'. And I feel unity with something big and quiet and open, where just being is enough. You have taught me to ask myself questions that lead to real insights, where I never even knew there was a question to be asked. Your voice is my graceful guide through my practice, drawing poetic, illuminating explanations of each movement and adjustment with encyclopedic knowledge, and continually drawing me back out of my head with words of thoughtful inquiry, encouragement, and wisdom. Am I stronger and more supple than before? sure. But the real gift of your teaching is in what you impart of yourself; not to teach me what I can do, but to show me who I can be. and so I say, what you have taught me through yoga has changed my life."
"I've been practicing yoga with Kristie for close to five years now. Her choice of words to describe an asana or to relay some yogic benefits or history is always so thoughtful - every word and every breath for the benefit of the class; nothing done casually or without purpose, and yet it always flows naturally."
]]> $75 per 5 week series.
register here or at the first class in the series
autumn series:
9/15/09-10/20/09 (no class 10/6), 2009
10/27/09-11/24/09
12/1/09-1/04/10 (no class 12/29)
Mats and props are provided.
We aim to build a strong foundation for newcomers and to deepen the awareness and skill of the experienced practitioner. Anyone interested in deeper well-being, including those new to yoga or facing health challenges, is welcome. Level of practice is sweet and gentle.
]]> some students have said:"I look forward to this class every week. Kristie's class left me feeling as if I just had a massage. I am new to Yoga and her attention to each of her students provided me with a safe and unintimidating environment. In a stressful world this class offers 90 minutes of relaxation and rejuvenation."
"I've enjoyed taking the Yoga classes with Kristie. Her approach is nurturing, encouraging, and gentle. I feel more relaxed, flexible, peaceful, and yet energized afterwards. My connection to my body and breath has improved and I appreciate her spiritual influence."
]]>A nice brisk early-evening class. There are numerous delicious dinner options within a couple blocks. the Liberty Cafe is a particular favorite, with outstanding local, seasonal, and organic foods. Their wine bar often has fine music, too!
]]> Kristie's students have said:"I have never felt so comfortable in class. Just minutes into the class and I feel like I've arrived at home. And blissed out for the rest of the evening!"
"She's an expert at guiding students toward expanding and deepening their individual practices without sacrificing the unity of a group class. I found her yoga classes to be my favorite ever."
"I just wanted to tell you I'm a believer."
"Kristie brings a spiritual energy to her classes, honoring the mind as well as the body. She simply asks that you do, too. Her instruction is non-judgmental and imparts her own sense of peace in its delivery. She invites you to push a little more and yet accept what your body is willing to do today. Every day is different. Corrections of asanas are gentle and there is no feeling of competition with others in class. She brings light to class and invites you to do the same."
"My meditations were always the 'best' (deepest, longest, calmest) at the end of her classes, when we would sit for meditation. And that's when I realized that Kristie was a true teacher/mentor for me. Through her guidance I was able to go much deeper, and not only in meditation, but my body too, was able to do new stretches and asanas for the first time. She inspired me to continue with my personal, daily practice, and before long I was studying to teach yoga as well - I wanted to know what she did!"
]]> $50 for a 10 class card.
$7 drop-in
scholarships are available
register at class or 415-600-HEAL
Mats and props are provided. If your immune system wants extra care, please either bring your own mat or a towel to place on the studio mats.
This class combines group support, gentle yoga postures, breathing practices, guided imagery, and yoga philosophy to relieve stress and encourage healing of the body, mind, and heart. If you are able to get to class, you can participate! Please feel free to email Kristie with any questions, or call her at 415-863-1821.
]]> yoga and cancer has gotten a lot of attention in the media recently.one of the students from Kristie's internship class at UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine was featured in an article in the January 21, 2008 issue of U.S. News and World Report.
And in exciting news, Dr. Dean Ornish's Preventative Medicine Research Institute has collaborated on research showing genetic changes with the adoption of a yogic lifestyle. in reading this, know that the "moderate exercise" component is gentle yoga. Kristie's work with cancer patients began with a group at the PMRI.
]]>7-8:15am
Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Friday
Kristie's Castro Home studio
Cost by series subscription, to be paid in advance:
$100-90 sliding scale for one day
$175-165 sliding scale for two days.
What folks are saying about the Morning Series:
"This morning was great! I feel so grounded and alert. Being with the group as the sun rose was really transcendent for me."
"I'm really, really enjoying the class... Having a teacher and a small group to work with is really great. It's a whole different thing with a small class and a teacher, and I feel like I'm learning a lot."
"Yoga is really helping me in all aspects. Love the way I feel when I leave. I really look forward to the class!"
"I'm really really loving class, and the emotional presence that it is helping ground me in life in general. It leads me to drink less, sleep more, and feel better! Watching the season change and the sun rise from your studio is a magical, precious thing."
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