Classes & Workshops

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new! Human Being Training
Align mind, body, and spirit to become an unstoppable force of nature.

UPDATE 4/29/13: That was so incredibly awesome I have to do it again! The date is set for Saturday, July 13. The first one on 4/27 was sold out, so please sign up early!

(Watch a short video invitation!)

“I find Amanda’s yoga classes and her seminars inspiring. She communicates her extensive knowledge of yoga and functional fitness with a disarming style, humor, and generosity. Every class is more than just good exercise. It’s a fun and fresh way to reconnect your body, mind and spirit.” R. D.

Not too long ago, there were elite Japanese warriors known as samurai. Trained to serve and protect a lord and his subjects at all costs, some samurai came to renounce their frequently dictatorial, abusive masters. Known as ronin (“wave men”) because they were perceived as floating adrift on the outskirts of society, these masterless warriors went wandering in the world, using their incredible skills as they saw fit.

Some gave in to bitterness and abused their knowledge, but some retained the integrity of their martial tradition and became highly beneficial presences wherever they went, like the noble knights errant of the King Arthur legend, using their freedom to attain the ultimate human goal: self-mastery.

There are inspiring parallels between those highly developed ronin of olden times and many people today who are disillusioned with serving governmental, political, corporate, economic, social, and other masters (systems and concepts) that they believe are unintelligent or even harmful. I use the ronin concept as a metaphor for how to become a real, live human being in modern times.

To be ronin today, just as then, one must learn self-reliance, develop compassionate disdain for the herd mentality, and—above all—wish to attain self-mastery for the betterment of all mankind. To be of service in that way is the root of some souls’ purposes in being born at this particular time. Perhaps you’re one of them.

Human Being Training will reveal the elements of living the budo (martial way) as a ronin in the modern world and in modern applications. Topics will cover:

BUDO  A discussion about living according to your own soul-driven principles and creating an individual code of ethics

SPIRIT  Determining the Soul Purpose, the guiding, inexorable force that will draw together all three powers (body, mind, and spirit) to make you an unstoppable force of nature

MIND   Meditation (moving and seated), attitude, resilience, adaptability, toughness

BODY   Nutrition, fitness (yoga, martial arts, and bodyweight exercises), natural health

For a head start on the reading and film list that will accompany this workshop, I highly recommend watching The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, the Star Wars trilogy (note the Jedi and particularly the character Obi Wan), Limitless with Bradley Cooper, Troy (note the character Achilles played by Brad Pitt), Phenomenon with John Travolta, and Batman: The Dark Knight with Christian Bale. These films exemplify many of the principles we’ll be exploring.

Note: Due to the workshop’s intensive curriculum and my wish to provide as much individual attention as possible, space will be limited to 10-12 people. Men are particularly encouraged to attend. Current fitness level is unimportant.

Buy your admission below using PayPal, or email movingforward @ flashofwhite . ORG for questions or other payment methods.

Saturday, July 13, 1:00-4:00, at mBody in San Luis Obispo, CA. $35.

Photo credit: Timo Beckwith

Human Being Training
looks like yoga. feels like revolution.

“Amanda teaches the Jeet Kune Do of yoga” –Eric Alexander, CalPoly Fitness Program Director

People get so serious about yoga, and about everything in general. I encourage a more irreverent approach, with an emphasis on owning our personal power and creating sangha (community) through the common experience of joy and growth.

You’ll like this class if you are (or want to be): questioning, vibrant, fresh, funny, inspiring, quirky, aware, connected to your divine nature, and passionately engaged with life.

Human Being Training is a yoga-based discipline that focuses on the development of power fused with fluidity, and explores the art of expressing spirit through the human body. This class emphasizes the discovery of the inner master. Students will experience untraditional meditation and music.

I don’t like to label my style. It’s what happens when people ask me to teach them, and it’s always different. However, my natural, preferred yoga style is sort of an Iyengar flow. I use the vinyasa as a “palate cleanser” in between held poses. I love the precision and rules of Iyengar and ashtanga, and then I love breaking those rules, too, with some more organic, intuitive movement. I  usually add some restorative or yin poses in as well at the beginning or end of class, depending who shows up. Somehow it’ll be just what you need, every time. Not sure how that happens. Expect to use your muscles, take on a challenge, get pretty warm, and then chill with your bad-ass Self. All levels.
@ mBody Yoga & Massage in San Luis Obispo: Weds., 5:30-7pm, $10 each
@ CalPoly Rec Center (students/staff only): M 8:10-9:30 pm