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Summer 2011 Classes
Gina Interviews Anne Mcintyre about Calm Mind Joyful Heart.
• Calm Mind, Joyful Heart:
Healing Depression and Anxiety through the Wisdom of Ayurveda
With Anne McIntyre & Gina Mastroluca
Saturday, June 4th, 2011
10 AM to 5PM • $100.
The intention of this workshop is to present the view and principles of Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India, in the context of the causes and treatment of depression and anxiety. Ayurveda is a comprehensive, mind-body model of health and offers much practical and inspired wisdom. This has great relevance for the modern health practitioner—counselors, yoga teachers, bodyworkers, herbalists and allopathic practitioners.
We will review a western understanding and treatment of depression and explore how the Ayurvedic treatment of mind and emotions could be integrated. We will discuss prevention of depression and anxiety and how to cultivate a calm and stable mind. Nutrition, mindfulness meditation and pranayama are three main healing practices that restore the flow of mental and emotional health. Building ojas (reserves), balancing prana (life energy) and cooling Pitta (principle of heat) will be of special interest. This workshop will be held at a Tibetan Meditation Center in Portland, Maine and integrate presentation, discussion and experiential exercises
Author and Ayurvedic Practitioner, Anne McIntyre and Polarity Therapist, Gina Mastroluca have been collaborating and presenting workshops together for the past many years in the Calm Mind, Joyful Heart series. They are grateful for the inspiration and vast wisdom of the Ayurvedic teachings and are happy to be able to share them with others. www.annemcIntyre.com
Register now with your credit card or PayPal:
• Anne McIntyre at Avena Botanicals!
Ayurvedic Treatment of Children Avena Botanicals, Rockport, Maine
Saturday, May 28th
To Register: www.avenabotanicals.com
207 594 0694
• David Crow in Maine!
Ayurveda and Aromatherapy
The Medicinal and Sacred uses of Essential Oils
Sunday, September 25th
10AM to 5PM • $100
David Crow is an aromatic botanical medicine expert, author, grassroots health care visionary, acupuncturist, and ayurvedic teacher. We are delighted to have him teach here in Portland!
This workshop offers a practical introduction to the vast world of essential oils in the context of Ayurvedic Medicine. We will explore the most important oils and how they can be applied according to the doshas, sub doshas, dhatus (tissue levels), gunas (qualities), and bhutas (elements). Topics covered will include the relationships among prana, olfaction, fragrance, and consciousness. We will also work with sacred oils to calm the mind, sharpen concentration, inspire metta (loving kindness), increase awareness of prana, and get into deeply relaxed states of consciousness.
Register now:
Click here for David Crow's excellent Botanical Medicine community resource!
Classes 2010
• Introduction to Tibetan
Buddhist Meditation
April 18th to May 16th
Gina will co-lead this class with Kiki O'Connell at Vajra Vidya Portland.
• Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat at LifeBridge Sanctuary -
Rejuvenate the Body and Mind for Pitta Season
Leigh Evans, Gina Mastroluca & Annie Kunjappy
June 11-13th
Summer is the season of Pitta Dosha, the fire element. It is a period of luxurious growth, expansive energy, and joyful expression. This weekend retreat will focus primarily on balancing and restoring the body and mind for the Pitta season. Join us for joyous heart opening yoga practices with New York City Yoga instructor extraordinaire Leigh Evans, inspiring ayurvedic classes with Gina, and a delicious Ayurvedic culinary experience with Annie Kunjappy. Enjoy the lightness of being that is in harmony with the spirit of Summer abundance. The retreat will be held at the Lifebridge Sanctuary, a gorgeous retreat center in the Hudson Valley with stunning views of the Catskills, organic gardens, and 95 acres of woodland and open space to explore. It is a perfect place to retreat into the natural world!
• Calm Mind, Joyful Heart:
Emotional and Spiritual Health through Ayurveda
With Anne McIntyre & Gina Mastroluca
Saturday August 28th
Spiritual and Emotional health is the foundation for energy, vitality and happiness. How do we cultivate and balance the flow of prana through the channels of the subtle anatomy to transform the heart and mind? Our focus for this day will be the emotional and spiritual applications of Botanicals, Mantra and Achara Rasayanas (ethical actions). We will draw upon the healing tools of Ayurveda as we discuss aspects of mind and emotion that disturb our calm and joy. Among the topics will be: depression, anger, fear, insomnia, anxiety, agitated mind, panic attacks, grief, addiction, ADD, bipolar disease and OCD. This day-long retreat will integrate presentation and experiential practices to engage the 5 senses and develop meditative awareness.
Classes Taught in 2009
• Calm Mind, Joyful Heart:
Ayurveda and the Mind Living the Sattvic Way
With Anne McIntyre and Gina Mastroluca
June 2009
In this day retreat, we will explore in depth how we can experience more sattva—clarity, peace, and emotional balance—within ourselves and in our relationships. We will look at the importance of daily practices and the role of food, herbs, essential oils, meditation, pranayama and the natural world. Weather permitting, we will spend a part of the day outside. We’ll leave with a deeper understanding of ourselves and with the momentum to integrate these practices and principles into our lives.
We welcome back our visiting teacher from the UK, Anne McIntyre, who lectures widely on Ayurveda throughout the UK, Europe and in the US and has authored many books on Herbal Medicine and Ayurveda. For more information go to www.annemcintyre.com
Classes Taught in 2008
• Introduction to Ayurveda
Health, Happiness & Longevity
October 2008
An intro to the principles and philosophy of Ayurveda! This ancient and traditional health system of India holds many practical tools for creating balance and well-being in our modern lives. We will begin to recognize our own unique expression of the five element constitutional types vata pitta kapha.
Through ayurvedic nutrition and healthy digestion we clear toxins, nourish the tissues and balance the doshas. We will explore the principle of ‘like increases like”, discuss the 6 tastes, digestive fire (Agni) and tongue diagnosis.
Balancing Vata Pitta kapha How do we balance the doshas through the seasons? Excess vata can lead to anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and lowered immunity. We will emphasize reducing vata in the autumn season through herbs, foods, oil massage, pranayama and mantra.
• Ayurveda, the Chakras and Emotional Health
November 2008
Ayurveda has long recognized that emotional and spiritual health is the foundation for physical health and happiness. The chakras (whirling wheels of subtle energy!) are the bridge between the sensory world, emotions, thoughts and the physical body. We will explore balancing emotions and the chakras through awareness, pranayama, sound, color and bodhicitta (awakened heart).
• Balancing Pitta:
Dosha of Transformation
April 2008
Understanding the dynamic and transformative energy of Pitta Dosha is the focus of this afternoon class. In Spring there is an opportunity to balance Pitta Dosha before the heat of the summer. We will explore the fire and water energy of Pitta and how it affects our state of health and well-being. We will touch on Pitta imbalances such as pitta allergies, headaches, digestive disturbances, and irritability. We can learn to be aware of the subtle signs of imbalance before they manifest as symptoms. We will discuss spring cleansing, lifestyle, food, herbs, and self-healing practices to feel balanced, steady, and strong throughout the spring and summer.
A certificate of completion available for CEUs
• Calm Mind, Joyful Heart: Ayurveda ,the Mind and the Emotions
With Anne McIntyre
and Gina Mastroluca
June 2008
Through the wisdom of Ayurveda, we can gain great insight into our inner selves-- why we think and feel the way we do. During the weekend we will explore our own mental and emotional constitution and begin to recognize the workings of the Doshas through our daily lives and relationships. We will discover how the tools of Ayurveda-- meditation, mantra, herbs, foods and lifestyle - can help us to cultivate peace, joy and balance. We will leave with a deeper understanding of ourselves and with the momentum to apply these practices and principles to our daily lives.
A certificate of completion will be available for CEUs.
For those new to ayurveda suggested reading: Science of Self Healing, by Vasant Lad
We welcome back our visiting teacher, Anne McIntyre, who lectures widely on Ayurveda throughout the UK, Europe and in the US and has authored many books on Herbal Medicine and Ayurveda. For more information go to www.annemcintyre.com
Classes Taught in 2007
• Ayurvedic Nutrition and Spring Cleansing
April 2007
Ayurveda helps us tune into ourselves and to be in accord with the seasons and the natural world. Deepen your understanding of this ancient holistic science thru exploring the principles of the 5 elements, the 6 tastes, mindful eating and seasonal cleansing for each dosha. We can attune to the dynamic energies of spring, clear inner and outer clutter and open to new growth. We will sample the energetics of each of the 6 tastes and discover how to cleanse and nourish ourselves for a clear body, calm mind and open heart.
• Energetic Anatomy and
Women’s Health
September 2007
Did you know?
Each of the 5 senses connect to a main chakra, an emotional energy, and one
of the 5 elements of the natural world?!
Our energetic anatomy is a doorway into a deeper relationship with ourselves, our health and the world around us. Knowing your energy body is a powerful tool for creating radiant health and living fully. Through presentation, discussion and experiential exercises we will learn about an essential part of who we are. We will explore the interconnecting language of thoughts, emotions, beliefs, the chakras and the endocrine system. We will take home an energy balancing tool we can use daily and share with others. This intro class will draw upon principles of polarity therapy, ayurveda and new scientific findings and is especially recommended for therapists, bodyworkers and healthcare providers.
• Balancing Vata in Autumn Season
October 2007
In the Ayurvedic system,Vata dosha is the quickest to go out of balance, especially in autumn season. Anxiety, sleep disturbances, stress and lowered immunity are all signs that vata has accumulated. We can learn to be aware of subtle signs of imbalance before they manifest as symptoms. We will discuss and explore vata dosha and its significance to our well-being. We will learn lifestyle, food, herbs and self-healing practices to feel balanced, calm, steady and strong throughout the cold season.
Polarity Therapy • Ayurveda • Yoga • Energy Healing • Holistic Wellness • Essential Oils