Bend Yoga Festival 2024

Lymphatics are a critical and often overlooked system that play a crucial role in regulating inflammation & water metabolism while also acting as a critical waste clearance system. With a purposeful understanding of this system applied to yoga we can have a profound impact on this system with a variety of therapeutic impacts due to its far-reaching effects. In this class we’ll look at the basics of this system and get a bird’s eye view of how yoga can be used therapeutically to support lymphatics (and the many positive effects that can have).

All you need is some yoga experience, all levels are welcome.

Props: Whatever you need to sit comfortably, eg., meditation cushion, folded beach towel, low-back folding chair, etc.

There is a new syndrome sweeping our country, driving people towards yoga and holistic healing. It is extreme sympathetic nervous system dominance, which  creates the feeling of being “wired and tired”. This overstimulation robs people of sleep, calm, and focus. It also fuels the flames of inflammation.

There is an antidote to this problem. Its roots lie in restoring vagal tone. The vagus nerve, the Xth cranial, is the powerhouse of the “rest and digest” system. In this workshop, we'll dive into ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and put its beneficial regulation to work.

Thanks to the media, we’re all pretty familiar with the importance of strength training nowadays. From the effects of myokines on cognition, blood sugar, bones, & tumors to the importance of maintaining muscle mass over our lifespan, strength training is essential to our health. It’s easy enough to lift weights and increase our strength capacity at the gym but there is so much more to strength, like our functional capacity, movement efficiency, endurance, and the strength of our collagen matrix for injury resilience. After all, our muscles are only as strong as the connective tissue matrix that holds them together and allows them to transmit force. This class will investigate research-based practices that you can bring onto your mat to train the capacity of both the muscle and connective tissue to help enhance performance and minimize injuries.

Tiffany has worked with professional athletes across the US and helped create the Nike Wellness Center programs (at Nike WHQ) and so brings a wealth of both cutting edge knowledge and depth of experience from her specialty in sports medicine over the past 28 years of her career. Whether you’re dealing with the last remnants of an injury, trying to enhance performance & strength, or looking to help minimize injuries & feel your best this class will explore ways to train the tissues toward strength & resilience over time to cultivate youthfulness through our lifespan.

This class takes a modern lens to our traditional asanas with plenty of information to help you bring the concepts home with you.

PRE-REQUISITE: some vinyasa experience, all levels are welcome.

BRING: Anything you need to sit comfortably, a meditation cushion, block, folded beach towel, low-back folding chair, etc.

Myofascial release has been a life-changing tool for both myself and the tens of thousands of patients, teachers, & students that I’ve worked with. It can be used for both tissue resilience, pain regulation, recovery, and nervous system regulation to name a few. This workshop will look at the what, why, & how behind these techniques then dive into protocols for the legs, hips, back, & shoulders. A great way to get a scan of what’s going on in the major areas of your body as well as a potent tool to quickly shift your experience in your body. You’ll leave with a basic understanding of how to apply this work on your own and some areas to focus in on in your own body. No yoga experience needed, come for some juicy self-bodywork.

Props: 1-2 MFR Balls Will Be Provided Per Person

Contrary to popular belief, stress is not the enemy! In fact, stress can be a potent tool in our lives to instigate change, support energy levels, and balance the nervous system when approached skillfully. Ultimately stress can be an important friend that warns us of danger but also one that pushes us to be our best selves. Whether you’re looking to enhance performance, concentration, energy levels, or motivation this class explores ways to get you going in preparation for the task at hand. We’ll explore resources to turn stress into an asset with both stimulating and nourishing practices to help you appreciate the fullness of your life. This class uses breathwork, flow, asana, myofascial release (MFR), acupressure and Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts to bring this work to life and unlock the tools you need to make the most of a full life.

Pre-requisite: All you need is some vinyasa experience, all levels are welcome.

BRING: Whatever you need to be comfortable in a seated position, eg., meditation cushion, bolster, folded beach towel, low-back folding chair, etc.

There is a new syndrome sweeping our country, driving people towards yoga and holistic healing. It is extreme sympathetic nervous system dominance, which  creates the feeling of being “wired and tired”. This overstimulation robs people of sleep, calm, and focus. It also fuels the flames of inflammation.

There is an antidote to this problem. Its roots lie in restoring vagal tone. The vagus nerve, the Xth cranial, is the powerhouse of the “rest and digest” system. In this workshop, we'll dive into ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and put its beneficial regulation to work.