Three
free yoga classes daily
8:00 am – Intermediate
10:00 am – Beginning
5:00 pm – Open
Harbin Yoga
is a yoga of heart consciousness. In class, students have the
opportunity to experience yoga as a spiritual practice centered
in self-awareness. With this awareness, we explore breath, alignment,
balance and symmetry in asana. Our classes inspire lightness,
humor and self-acceptance through cultivating an open atmosphere
within which students can deepen into their practice.
Classes begin
with setting a spiritual mood through chanting, silence, visualization
or meditation. This is followed by breath practice, pranayama.
From this initial place of softness and stillness, asana is explored.
All of the yogis and yoginis who share practice at Harbin are
also involved in therapeutic touch. We use hands-on touch in the
classes to facilitate awareness in asana. This yoga is a practice
influenced by diverse paths including Standing Wave, Iyengar,
Jivamukti, and Integral Yoga.
In all classes,
increasing range of motion, releasing the spine and pelvic girdle
and addressing the therapeutic needs of the students are primary
areas of focus. The beginners’ practice at 10 am is a floor
practice adaptable to anyone in any physical condition. The intermediate
practice at 8 am is more vigorous and cultivates the experience
of asana on a deeper level. There is also an open level class
at 5 pm. We look to hold the yoga space sacred and safe for all
students, supporting in the moment whatever arises from the practice.
Each class
is unique depending on the personal style of the person sharing.
Each class is similar in its focus on supporting the unfoldment
of consciousness through the sharing of yoga. Come celebrate the
heart with us!
"Through the Chakra" Series:
Once-a-Month Saturday Yoga Intensive
This is an intensive 3-hour yogic exploration of the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of each chakra through asana and breathwork. Open to all levels. Attend your favorite chakra or all seven!
The seven chakras reflect seven levels of consciousness in the development and evolution of a whole being. Come explore a fuller experience of yourself. Explore the chakras that have been in the shadows and uncover the treasures of your true self. Release blocked energy, address old injuries or emotional trauma, claim your full potential.
See the Events Calendar for upcoming dates.
"X-Yoga" Series:
Once-a-Month Saturday Yoga Intensive
X is for: X-pansive, X-periential, X-perimental, X-pressive, X-tatic, and Xtra-curricular! We embrace the infinite quality of Yoga and we recognize it as an inclusive practice. There is an experience of yoga in everything.
Each intensive is unique and an individual sharing of personal experience from a Harbin Yoga staff teacher. We may include breath, movement, dance, asana, partnered exercises, singing, art & more. We adventure beyond the reaches of our normal daily yoga program. We inspire, discover and play in ways that branch out from a solid yoga foundation.
For the curious, adventurous, and expressive yoga student, join us on the first Saturday of each month for our X-Yoga Intensive in the Harbin Temple.
See the Events Calendar for upcoming dates & times.
Off the Mat:
Harbin Yoga instructors share their perspectives, gentle advice, and more
After a transformative session in the Harbin Temple, guests often engage the yoga instructors in a dialog about their practice, particular poses, or challenges. This new monthly feature, authored by various yoga practitioners, lets you stay in the conversation after your visit to Harbin.
Watch for future articles like "Self-Praise the Antidote", "Pain as Your Guide", "The Grace of Alignment", and interviews with Harbin Yoga celebrities!
The Discipline of Self-Love
by Rainah
Many beginning yoga students have asked, "Do you really do Yoga EVERY DAY? I could never be that disciplined." With this attitude, students make it impossible for a tiny sprouting yoga practice to take root and burst into the light of profound nourishment.
 Just the word "discipline" carries tremendous baggage for most people. And yet so many people we admire have successful relationships to discipline: spiritual leaders, athletes, dancers, musicians, artists, scientists, nearly everyone who has achieved mastery. Notice in yourself right now what energies arise in you in response to the word discipline. It has a wonderful ability to call up bits of our story, judgments and projections, instantaneously... failures, not enough feelings, disempowerment, preferences, righteousness, iron-clad knowingness.
In our Yoga practice, either consciously or unconsciously, we are contending with this body of material, within ourselves. We often want the achievement – but at what cost? So lets shift out of the attitude or attachment to attaining a goal of any sort. Let's aim for a successful relationship, understanding what serves us in any discipline, what furthers our opening and unfolding as whole beings.
At the root of any discipline is a motivation. Clarifying and purifying the motivation, nourishes the discipline in an optimal way. Sometimes in the guise of BEING GOOD TO OURSELVES sneaky self-depreciating motivators sabotage our well meaning actions. So inquire: Am I trying to prove something to myself, my teacher, or someone? Maybe even my father? Am I trying to prove my self worth – only reinforcing my lack? What motivators are influencing my practice or not practicing? Each thread reveals an attachment, a bit of illusion, we might invite to shift, choose to release, and pray to dissolve.
So what is the essence of "being good to ourselves"? I would say Self Love. That may well be the common denominator of all motivators. From that clarity, begin to ask what behaviors or attitudes are MOST self-Loving. AND LET THAT actually BECOME THE PRACTICE. Give that inquiry and that LOVE the priority in ALL your choices. "How long do I hold this pose?" " Do I continue to do level III of the asanas even though my muscles are aching?" "DO I judge myself for only practicing for a half hour today?" Cultivating a practice of Self-Love. I can praise myself more. Unplug my negative, critical thoughts.
A discipline of Self-Love is patient, compassionate, persistent, and encouraging. Maybe what we are doing here is beyond your previous definition of discipline. I think finding a good relationship to discipline requires some redefining in the name of love.
Beyond all the parameters of whatever discipline you employ ... how long you practice, how often, how intensely... put the greatest weight on how I can best love myself – in any given moment. You know the energetic texture of love. Be honest. Can I imagine an even more loving way of being – in each moment. Breathe that in.
If I miss practicing the asana form, perhaps the practice takes the form of breathing, or selfless service or simply trusting that I am worthy, loveable, valuable... whatever... even if I miss the goal I set. Is giving up self loving? Sometimes. Perhaps persistence and believing in myself is even more loving.
What if I don't sacrifice my self-loving for any other agenda? Not to please my boss or partner or parent. Not to meet my obligations. I can physically execute any task with the energy of Self-Love, with prayer and transform it into nourishment. I may be required to surrender my preference around what I need to do but not how I do it. I can always practice self-love. Often we get it backwards and refuse to sacrifice the form. This can separate us from our wholeness, become abusive as we suppress or sacrifice parts of ourselves... Compromising love is always corrosive. Why choose anything else as a higher priority? What is more valuable than learning to love myself more deeply, more truly?
Whatever discipline – a new diet, playing the guitar, singing bajans, doing asana – see what happens if you source it from your Self-Love. And since you can practice Self-Love anywhere, anytime, it is the ideal foundation to all other practices. Begin here.
Blessings.
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