New Year Yoga & Ecstatic Dance

Before us and behind us are endless doorways of potential and possibilities. This time of year proposes a perfect alignment of energies that allow the opening of all these doors so we may view the contents – insights, possibilities, reflections – inside. Welcome dancers to another 3 hour offering, where we celebrate the new year and new beginnings! DETAILS: 8:45am – Doors open 9-9:10 – Opening 9:10-10 – Yoga with Mira 10-11:50 – Ecstatic Dance with Sonara 11:50 – Closing circle **If you come for yoga please arrive in time to be settled for 9am start. If you are only coming for dance, please be mindful of the yogis finishing up as you arrive. Sliding scale $15-$30. We accept cash and credit card at the door. You can also purchase your entry in advance via Eventbrite below. If cost is a barrier, please contact the organizers. Newcomers are welcome! No prior experience necessary. ABOUT MIRA: Mira Light Hunter was an avid runner who couldn't fathom touching her toes. She remembered being a kid who was always "inflexible". In 2010 she discovered yoga to be a perfect compliment to her running. In January of 2015 she attended her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at Karma Teachers, a non profit yoga studio in the downtown eastside. Not a week after graduation she started teaching Hatha Yoga as well as training and teaching Kids Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and Baby and Me Yoga. She has since developed and taught two of her own styles, Playful Yoga and most recently Gettin' Lit Empowerment Yoga. Her quirky style and eccentric nature often brings laughter, playfulness, and a sense of not taking ones practice too seriously, after all there is a reason it's called a yoga "practice". She focuses on empowering her students to start where they are and deconstruct old stories and patterns that could be limiting their ability to fully show up for themselves allowing them the access to then show up fully for the world. Flexibility of mind required, the body...we will work on that. Oh and yes, after years of practice she can indeed touch her toes. ABOUT SONARA: Over the last decade, Sonara (previously known as Pyrrha Luna) has cultivated a reputation for delivering solid sets consisting of high-quality music selections. She has a deep understanding of the intricacies of sound and how it affects us, and maintains an empathic connection to the dancefloor with the aim of creating meaningful movement experiences. She weaves an eclectic and ethereal selection of bass music and spacey deep house with a touch of world beats. https://www.mixcloud.com/sonara/ https://soundcloud.com/sonara_sounds ACCESSIBILITY: The Russian Hall has an exterior ramp which provides access to the main entrance, lobby, and upstairs hall, as well as an accessibility lift to the downstairs hall and wheelchair accessible bathroom. HOUSEKEEPING: **SHIRTS ON PLEASE** Please keep your shirt on on the dance floor, regardless of your gender (we've had a fair bit of feedback around this of late and have decided out of fairness to ask everyone to keep their shirts on) ** CELL PHONE USE ** We have a 'no cell phone use' policy in the dance space. If you need to use your device, please do so in the foyer or outside. ** KIDS ** Kids under 12 are free! AND -- Parents are asked to kindly monitor their little ones, especially during the closing circle. If it's quiet, and your kids aren't - please help guide them into relative silence. Otherwise please take them outside the quiet space so as not to distract others. ** TALKING ** The dance floor is a no-talking zone. This is again done to remove any distractions and to allow for dropping in more fully. If you need to have a conversation, however brief, please step out into the foyer or go outside. If you witness a conversation happening, you are welcome to gently remind people of this request (with a gesture). ** DANCING ** Enjoy your own personal dance or spark up creative movement with others. If you wish to dance with someone, look for eye contact or the body language of an invitation. At any time, you or the person you are dancing with, may choose to end the encounter by moving away, or bowing with hands in prayer. **SPONSORS** We are grateful to our amazing sponsors who help keep us hydrated and fuelled. Should you so desire, please be ready to enjoy some Hippy Snacks, and some Bucha Brew from our lovely sponsors. HERE'S MORE OF WHAT ECSTATIC DANCE OFFERS: • Practice freedom of expression through movement, while respecting and being aware of those around you. • Tune into an eclectic selection of musical flavors from a revolving lineup of fantastic facilitators. • Inspire and explore new ways to move your body. • Learn to enter into a state of trance without the use of substances (no drugs or alcohol please). • Non denominational closing (can be in the form of a prayer, meditation or circle) • Minimal facilitation. You are free to move as you wish. IN CLOSING: Take care of yourself, others and the space. Bring a water bottle. Breathe. Wear comfortable clothing for movement. Be prepared to sweat. If you are attending yoga, please bring your own mat.