March Greetings from Shankar

The daffodils and crocuses, undaunted by last week’s surprise snowfall and freeze, are showing their buds again, the cover crops on the Centre farm are lush and green, and a myriad of little birds can be seen foraging among the shrubs and grasses. Spring is on the way.

March is the month we swing back into program mode. New people arrive this week and familiar faces return as the administrative infrastructure takes shape again, and we begin with a visioning weekend for the Dharma Sara Board. While the Centre Committee looks after the day to day running of the Centre, ensuring smooth functioning of programs and facilities, the Board’s task is the big picture. How should we change our program offerings over the coming years? Do we need new buildings? Should we expand farming at the Centre? How much of the Centre’s resources should go to making the Centre more sustainable in terms of energy and food? Will we be able to afford the changes we’d like to make? Can we devise a plan for leadership succession?

Out of deliberations such as these will come a strategic plan for the coming years that will guide the Centre’s direction as it moves forward in uncertain times. If you have ideas on these and related matters, send us an email, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Upcoming Programs Highlights

Yoga In Your School

The first full program for 2011 is a five day workshop entitled Yoga in Your School led by Teressa Asencia, perhaps the most-qualified teacher in this emerging area. Yoga in Your School presents a series of short yoga breaks designed for teachers to easily insert into their daily classroom schedule. Each posture or breathing technique may be practiced in less than three minutes, so that they may be used regularly or as needed, when attention or energy begins to wane. These short exercise segments may also be combined to create longer sequences for physical education classes, playgrounds, athletics, recreation centers, camps, and dance schools. This is conveniently offered during the school spring break.

Yoga Getaways

If you are simply looking for an inspiring weekend of yoga practice, the first Yoga Getaways of the season take place March 25th – 27th and April 22nd – 24th. The March and April Getaways are not generally as full as the summer or fall weekends, so they offer an opportunity to experience a more intimate, cozy atmosphere at the Centre.

Loving Your Life – a Weekend in the Work of Byron Katie

On the April 1st – 3rd weekend, we are pleased to host for the first time a workshop entitled Loving Your Life – a Weekend in the Work of Byron Katie facilitated by Caitlin Frost and Kim Howden. The Work is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question the thoughts that cause all suffering.

Ayurveda and Yoga Lifestyle Workshop

If your interest is health and you are seeking knowledge and practical tools for a deeper integration of wellness into all aspects of your daily life, we offer the Ayurveda and Yoga Lifestyle Workshop May 20th -22nd. This is an experiential weekend where you will learn practical self-care methods that integrate yoga and ayurveda. Girija Edwards has just returned from her most recent ayurvedic studies in India and is full of inspiration and enthusiasm which will no doubt infuse this hands-on weekend.

We hope to see you here soon!