FEATURED WORKSHOPS
Yoga Nidra For Resilience - Fall 2024 with Carol Mermey
Sunday, December 5th (remaining) | 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST | Online | $20 per class or $70 for entire series
Resilience -- Returning to the wisdom of your body & mind to deal with life’s challenges.
Strengthen your ability to bounce back from life’s challenges by reconnecting with the inner resilience of your body and mind. Through the guided meditation practice of Yoga Nidra, discover a deep source of stability, clarity, and self-empowerment. This workshop is designed to help you release tension, calm your nervous system, and restore your energy.
In each session, you’ll:
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Learn centering and relaxation techniques
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Practice gentle stretches for joints and muscles
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Explore mindful breathing practices
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Experience a complete Yoga Nidra session
Yoga Nidra is practiced lying down or seated comfortably. No experience is necessary—everyone is welcome. *All registrants will receive recordings of these practices.
About the Facilitator:
Carol Mermey (E-RYT 500, MPH) has been teaching yoga since 2004, guiding students of all ages and abilities to “start where they are, use what they’ve got, and do what they can.” Her classes emphasize healthy alignment to build strength, flexibility, and balance, promoting a sense of well-being and empowerment. Carol enjoys teaching students of all ages, and her teaching settings range from yoga studios and workplaces to health clinics and senior centers.
Certified in ParaYoga Nidra, Yoga for Osteoporosis, and Yoga for Healthy Aging, Carol is also a Brain Longevity Specialist. She has completed iRest Yoga Nidra II and Integrative Yoga for Seniors, and she continues to study with Rod Stryker in ParaYoga. Currently, she is involved in a study on yoga for improving core strength and balance in older adults.
Radiant Rhythms Ecstatic Dance with Clara Fang
Saturdays, December 14th & February 1st | 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST | In-Person | $30/$150
Break free from screen fatigue and daily stress with ecstatic dance—a wellness practice that encourages free expression through movement. In an immersive, interactive space, participants can release tension, gain mental clarity, and connect with others through nonverbal expression.
Suggested Arrival Time: 6:45PM
Benefits:
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Stress relief and relaxation
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Somatic healing
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Self-expression
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Exercise and play
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Community connection
No experience is necessary! We’ll start with an opening circle to share intentions, followed by a 75-minute playlist of non-lyrical, new age, and tribal music arranged in a “dance wave.” We’ll close with reflections, creating a meaningful and often trance-like experience.
What to Bring:
Water bottle, loose clothing (expect to sweat!), optional yoga mat.
Suggested Arrival Time: 6:45PM
Note: Please refrain from bringing food or alcohol.
Dharma Talks: Ancient Tools for Modern Times with Joe Miller
Sunday, December 15th | 4:00pm - 5:30pm EST | In-Person | FREE EVENT
As the darkness of the winter season settles in, take time to nurture your heart, mind, and body with this special offering. Join Joe Miller for a free Dharma Talk and Meditation, where you’ll explore the timeless wisdom of yoga and discover how these ancient tools can support you in navigating modern life.
This session is a great opportunity to learn more of the traditional teachings and practices of yoga that we teach here at Willow Street Yoga. It will include:
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Insight into the traditional teachings and practices of yoga.
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Practical ways to integrate yoga into daily life.
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A guided meditation for cultivating inner peace.
Together, we’ll reflect on how to quiet the mind’s and see our circumstances with greater clarity, even in the darkness of winter. This is a beautiful opportunity to connect with yourself and others on a deeper level.
*Pre-registration is encouraged to reserve your spot. We look forward to sharing this transformative experience with you.
Winter Solstice Forest Bathing with Susan West Montgomery
Saturday, December 21st | 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST | In-Person (Rock Creek Park) | Early Bird Rate: $50.00 until 12/1! $60.00 after
Come honor the longest day of the year with a guided mindfulness walk and fire meditation in Rock Creek Park. We will welcome winter by practicing Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, a Japanese wellness practice that helps individuals access the healing properties of nature. Extended contemplative time in nature calms the mind, promotes well-being, and cultivates a profound sense of belonging.
Our journey will end around a warm fire, where we’ll set intentions, meditate, and share in a sense of community—with hot chocolate to warm our hands and hearts.
What to Expect:
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A non-strenuous, mindful walk through the woods (1 mile on uneven paths, with some inclines)
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Moments of sensory connection, inviting you to touch, smell, listen, and observe nature with curiosity
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A grounding fire meditation to set intentions and celebrate the season
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Hot chocolate and meaningful time with like-minded community members
About Susan:
Susan is long-time member of the Willow Street Yoga Community and a Kripalu certified Outdoor
Mindfulness Guide. She provides customized outdoor mindfulness excursions in the Washington DC
region and beyond. She is also a passionate advocate and non-profit consultant who is committed to
leveraging natural and historic places to connect citizens, promote social justice, and foster health and
well-being. Learn more at www.susanwestmontgomery.com
The Magic of Being Together: A New Year's Day Workshop with Claudia Neuman
Wednesday, January 1st | 10:00am - 12:00pm EST | In-Person & Online | Early Bird Pricing: $20 until 12/15! Reg: $40
Set the tone for your year with intention and clarity through a powerful practice that blends asana, pranayama, Yoga Nidra, and meditation. This session will guide you into a state of yoga, where we’ll reflect and set a personal theme for the year ahead. If you feel comfortable, you’ll have the opportunity to share your theme with the group, fostering connection and support as we give each other light and strength.
Bring your journal and something to write with. These practices are suitable for all levels and are designed to clear the mind, energize the body, and awaken the soul.
Workshop Details:
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Offered in person and online
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Early Bird Pricing: $20 (until 12/15)
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Regular Pricing: $40
*This workshop is designed to be accessible to all. If you find yourself interested but are restricted by financial circumstances, please email us at registrar@willowstreetyoga.com and we can offer a discount code on a case by case basis.
Sundays, January 12th & 19th | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST | In-Person | $80
Discover Tai Chi, often called “meditation in motion”—a gentle, low-impact exercise designed to harmonize body, mind, and energy. This practice promotes flexibility, balance, coordination, and pain relief while easing anxiety and enhancing mental clarity.
Workshop Highlights:
In this workshop, Balanced Arts introduces Yang-style Tai Chi, covering seated, standing, and moving forms, as well as partner drills, Tai Chi ball, and Chi Gong exercises. Learn basic self-defense applications and Tai Chi principles for wellness.
Learning Objectives:
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Fundamental Yang style movements (8 form and basic form)
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Partner drills (push hands)
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Practical life applications of Tai Chi
Benefits:
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Stress management and breathing techniques
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Improved focus and introspection
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Tools for mindfulness and relaxation
Instructor:
Robert Anderson, founder of Balanced Arts, is a seasoned martial artist, wellness educator, and certified fitness instructor with over 30 years of experience. Trained in multiple martial arts, Robert works with athletes, executives, active seniors, and teens, guiding them toward mindfulness and personal wellness.
Heartfelt Rest: A Restorative Yoga and Reiki Workshop with Kathy Rivera
Saturday, January 25th | 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST | In-Person | Early Bird Pricing: $45 until 11/1! Reg: $50
Embrace the Wisdom of Winter -- As winter draws near, join us for Heartfelt Rest, a restorative workshop inspired by earth-based wisdom and the season's call to slow down land turn inward. This session combines Restorative Yoga and Reiki to guide you into deep relaxation, allowing for a reset of body, mind, and spirit.
Workshop Highlights:
• Restorative Yoga postures to release tensior
• Reiki energy tor deep healing
• Embrace the stillness o- winter as an act of selt-love
About the Facilitator:
Kathy Rivera (she/they/ella) is a trauma-informed, queer Latine Energy Medicine and Yoga practitioner, certified in various yoga styles, breathwork, and Reiki. Kathy creates a compassionate space for healing and renewal.