Introduction to Katonah Yoga with Jacob Friedman

Come explore the fundamentals of Katonah Yoga, a modern practice blending traditional Hatha yoga, Taoist theory, imaginative metaphors, and geometric maps of the subtle body. We begin with the idea that a human being is not a machine, and is never broken, and therefore does not need to be "fixed." However, as complex beings in an uncertain world, we sometimes become disoriented and disorganized. Our practice is to organize and orient ourselves in time and space, efficiently and gracefully.

To that end, we utilize the Taoist principle that all polarities are mediated by trinity. By putting your past behind you and your potential in front of you, you meditate between the two, oriented in the present. Finding the earth below and the sky above, you organize yourself in space. Through cross-referencing a multitude of polarities, you find yourself directly in the center of your circumstances, where you are concentrated and radiant. Through discussion, asana, pranayama, and meditation, we will theorize and embody these principles of self-orientation. This workshop is appropriate for all practitioners, as well as yoga teachers curious about something new.

This workshop takes place on Saturday, August 21st both in our studio located on the corner of NW Portland’s 26th and Upshur Street and LIVESTREAM. Follow the sign up link below to sign up for either class option.

EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT $30. COST IS $35 AFTER August 15TH, so sign up soon to save your spot. Space is limited.

Jacob Friedman (he/him) As a yoga teacher, Jacob guides you to cultivate a curiosity that may be panoramic or precise, but is always oriented towards the present. Knowing that the potency of your practice depends upon the quality of your inquiring attention, each class is designed as a formal play structure within which you might extract a morsel of insight from the inner workings of your experience. Using tangible forms of asana and pranayama, we investigate the more ephemeral narratives internal to the form. We play with a plethora of tools, techniques, and maps to orient and organize the mind, body, and breath with integrity. Landing fully alive in the here and now, we set up the conditions to have a joyful experience, and to radiate that joy to others. We practice for personal and communal well-being.