Super stoked to be leading this King Pigeon posture clinic next month at YoYoYogi. Join us on Feb 12th as we break down this much-loved/loathed pose. We’ll flirt with a few cousin poses like Natarajasana (Dancer’s Pose), too.
Yoga History & Philosophy Workshops
I’m delighted to be teaching three big fat days of Yoga History & Philosophy next weekend at YoYoYogi. Please join me for a little or a lot. This is gonna be goooood.
(I promise to keep it real.)
There are 3 options to participate:
1. The Full Weekend: $299
September 16 – 18
Curious about the roots of yoga, but not sure where to begin? Wondering what the heck all that Sanskrit’s about? Ready to dig in a little deeper? Here’s your chance. Join Rachel for a fascinating weekend packed with the wild, renegade history of yoga (for real!), the brilliant philosophy behind the poses, down-to-earth tools for working with a racing mind, and so much more. This stuff will rock your world, deepen your practice, and change your life.
2. The History of Yoga $49
Friday, September 16 from 6:30 – 9:30p
Did you know yogis were once such scandalous rogues that no decent person would be seen with them? Or that sun salutations are really a hybrid of British military exercises, Indian nationalist wrestling, and Scandinavian gymnastics? The yogic tradition is rich with mind-blowing history, most of which is news to us contemporary practitioners. Come on down for a glimpse of the dishy roots of yoga you never knew existed. Get the lowdown on all those lunges, the true story behind the Tantra, and so much more.
3. Foundations of Yoga Philosophy $49
Saturday, September 17 from 2-5p
Join Rachel for a down-to-earth look at the inspiring, powerful philosophy that underlies the asana practice we know and love. Here’s your chance to break down some of the key concepts and texts of yoga, both on and off the mat, in super-relatable ways. Learn how to apply yoga philosophy to your crappy job, your gnarly commute, and that pain-in-the-butt boss. You’ll walk out lighter than you walked in. And your practice will never be the same.
You can register here.
Yoga Philosophy For Dummies
Delighted to teach a Yoga Philosophy For Dummies workshop at YoYoYogi next month. Open to all, whether you know anything about yoga or not. I promise it won’t be woo-woo.
August 8th Yoga Retreat & Beach Hike
We had such a great time the first time around that we’ve gotta do it again. And I’d love one last vinyasa with y’all before my family and I move to Portland the following week.
This time we’ll start with a yoga & meditation practice again at YogaToes Studio in Point Reyes Station, and from there we’ll head out to Limantour Beach to hike the Coast Trail.
(Have no fear: the Coast Trail runs a good 17 miles, but we won’t be doing the whole thing. We’ll hike for a solid hour or two and then head back to Point Reyes in time to stuff our faces and soak up some wine.)
The day’s agenda is above. It’ll be an ideal little summertime escape.
UPDATE (7/24):
Due to an unexpected conflict, this retreat has been postponed until later this autumn. Thanks for your interest. Stay tuned for new dates to come!
Point Reyes Yoga & Hiking Retreat
Mark your calendars for a day-long yoga & hiking retreat in Point Reyes Station on Saturday, July 11th.
Click on the image above for the day’s agenda and all the deets. We’re gonna have a fab time.
UPDATE: This retreat is now sold-out. Stay tuned for another opportunity later this summer!
Bhakti In Bloom: Sierra Hot Springs Retreat
Our 4th-annual yoga & hot springs retreat, Bhakti In Bloom, is coming up April 17th-19th, 2015. Join me at Sierra Hot Springs for 3 days of rejuvenating yoga, great company, delicious food, and healing hot springs. Deets here.
Farm-To-Table Yoga Feast
I could not be happier to be returning to Gospel Flat Farms to lead this WildSoul Farm-to-Table yoga feast with my creative and earth-connected friends over at Solyoga Trips.
Join me in Bolinas on Sunday, March 10th.
We’ll get our hands dirty. And leave with our hearts — and our bellies — full.
All photos courtesy WildSoul
New BOOK CLUB!
INTRODUCING 2013’s NEWEST BABY:
A BOOK CLUB FOR THE URBAN YOGI
Do you dig a good read, but find it harder and harder to get through a book between deadlines and emails?
Has your childhood love of reading been lost to the time-suck of mindless Facebook-scrolling and YouTube-watching?
Do you wish you had a down-to-earth friend or two with whom you could talk about more than the weather? Do you tire of superficial small talk and wanna dig into the deeper questions?
Would you like to learn more about the philosophies behind yoga and mindfulness, but don’t really know where to start? Are you intimidated by, but curious about, the big words and esoteric concepts underlying your practice?
Do you dig drinking wine and hanging out with cool cats?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above — and, come on, who doesn’t like an excuse to crack open a bottle of red on a weeknight? — then you should join us for the first-ever gathering of OMpower’s new book club, ROOTS.
ROOTS gets at just that: the soul behind the schtick, the ideas behind the practice, the philosophy behind the asana. We’ll tackle one book a month from diverse genres, keeping themes creative, broad, and relatable, with an emphasis on the light-hearted and the down-to-earth.
Join us for our first gathering Tuesday evening, February 19th, 7pm, at OMpower Cycling & Yoga. Bring a little something sweet to share if you can. We’ll sip pinot and tawk books.
February’s debut book selection:
Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi: 
My Humble Quest to Heal My Colitis, Calm My ADD, and Find the Key to Happiness,
by Brian Leaf
It’s pretty simple:
Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore, grab one at the library, or order it on Amazon here. Read it. Grab that friend you’ve been meaning to re-connect with for six months. Then roll on over to OMpower Tuesday the 19th at 7pm. We’ll take it from there. We just ask that you throw five or ten bucks into the can to help keep the lights on and the wine flowing.
Live far away but still wanna participate?
Have no fear; social media to the rescue. We’re working on a few slick ways for you to join in from afar. Start now by digging into the book, make sure to “like” the soon-to-come Roots FB and Twitter pages to receive updates, and we’ll have more info for you soon.
Happy reading! See you on the 19th.
OMpower Ladies Day: December 2nd
Join us Sunday, December 2nd at OMpower Cycling & Yoga for an afternoon of:
Shiatsu massage. Restorative yoga with hot stones. Chai & cookies. Camaraderie. Realness. Yoga Ninja trunk show. Tools for surviving the holidays. Good company. And more.
Basics of Bhakti
Basics of Bhakti with Rachel Meyer
Have you ever wondered what the heck “Bhakti Flow” is? And what makes it different from your usual Power Flow class, anyway?
Join Rachel for this lighthearted 2-week immersion exploring the Basics of Bhakti. Together, we’ll dive into the intertwining elements of sweat, breath, and song that combine to create a Bhakti Flow class. You can count on: an introduction to the basics of yoga philosophy, a down-to-earth overview of the Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, a story- and art-infused guide to the major Hindu deities (like Hanuman, Ganesha, Shiva, Krishna, and more), and lots of great music, including rad tunes from bhakti-rich singers like Jai Uttal and MC Yogi. Naturally, we’ll do a little of our own good strong chanting, too.
Whether you’re new to yoga or a long-time practitioner, this workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn a little more about the spirit behind the Bhakti yogic tradition, which is steeped in love and devotion. Bring your questions and your fears (if chanting makes you nervous, I’m talking to you!), your passions and your curiosities. This is an ideal offering for folks who might be flirting with the idea of a teacher training or just want to know a little more about the music, spirit, and philosophy that embody the heart of Bhakti Flow. Jai!!
Two Saturday afternoons: Oct 20th and 27th, 1:30-3:30pm
Early Bird rate: $50 for both
After Oct. 15th: $60 for both