ABOUT THE BOCAS YOGA FOUNDATION
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Namaste. The Bocas Yoga Foundation started out of a need to be part of a yoga community in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Living for 8 years in Tucson, Arizona, before moving here, I thrived in the supportive yoga community there. Deciding to move to Isla Colón, Bocas Del Toro, I had no idea how dependent I was on the yoga community in Tucson and found myself longing for that type of connection with others who are on a similar path. Having no support system like that here in Bocas, I decided to start a yoga community in Bocas Del Toro. Although yoga is about the individual, emphasizing personal practice, the need to create a healthy community in which you chose to belong - seemed even more important here in Bocas,
In Bocas Del Toro it's all too easy to get caught up in the natural beauty and idle atmosphere to become indolent, lethargic, and perhaps have one too many cocktails with pretty umbrellas in them. I'm all for occasional lazy days reading in the breeze, or relaxing on a boat, but as a day-after-day lifestyle there seems to be something missing -that something deeper awaits on us all, and that is simply self-realization. Sometimes getting wrapped up in the natural beauty of Bocas, we forget to look inward and see the unique inner goodness that resides within each and everyone of us. Without acknowledging our inner goodness, it's easy to loose touch with it and flounder, even though we live in a Caribbean paradise.
A regular yoga practice is the roadmap to getting in touch
with oneself and it's my dream to help others become aware of the tools available
to them, through yoga, to find the true, unsullied beauty that resides within
each individual. If people want to come to Bocas Yoga to get toned and fit
in order to look great in a bikini, well, they can find that here too! But,
they will undoubtedly find that a regular asana practice brings strength and
flexibility to not just their bodies, but to every part of their lives.
My Yoga Teacher Training took place at the Providence
Institute, in Tucson. My Yoga Teacher Certificate is registered with the
Yoga Alliance. The course that I studied prepared me to teach hatha yoga and
covered a vast field of yogic philosophy while emphasizing asana principles
and teaching techniques. I enjoyed study of classical yogic texts including
the "Yoga Sutras" of Patanjali and the "Bhagavad Gita",
along with Sanskrit terminology, focusing on integrating the study of these
ancient texts into everyday life. The curriculum included the history, theory
and practice of yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, professional
skills, subtle body anatomy and Ayurvedic principles as they apply to yoga
practices.
Along with philosophy and subtle body anatomy, my training had an in-depth study of physical anatomy and physiology, covering functions of skeletal, neuromuscular, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, and major organ systems. The relationship of asana practice with the principles of biomechanics, kinesiology, and the anatomy and physiology of breath was also explored.
In the Fall of 2007, I extended my study of yoga, by spending
five weeks in India, a month of which was spent living in Rishikesh in the
foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. India
is a life-changing experience! During the month of February, 2009, I was in
Northern Thailand where I went to study Anusara Yoga, completing the Anusara
Immersions 1 & 2 courses. I plan on continuing my education in yoga -
it's a lifelong process. In addition to this foundation, I
have successfully completed 108 Hours of Anusara Yoga Immersions,
as well as 50+ hours of Anusara Yoga Teacher Training. I am on the
path to eventually achieving Anusara-Inspired status. Anusara Yoga, which
is grounded in a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness, is a heart-opening
path that I love to share with others. I live on a small, remote Caribbean
island off the coast of Panama, so I travel in order to maintain my trainings
with my teachers, BJ
Galvan, John
Friend, Kelly
Haas, Katherine
Wilder, & Michele
Baker. It is with deep gratitude that I humbly honor my teachers. I started
my Anusara path at world-renowned Yoga
Oasis in Tucson, Arizona under the guidance of Certified Anusara Yoga
teacher, James
MacAdam, the studio being owned by Darren
Rhodes.
When regularly practicing yoga, it's only natural to become a more content, compassionate person. This spills over into how we relate to others. Smiles are contagious, whether the people we are directing our smiles towards practice yoga or not, they are sure to smile back. It's my sincere belief that yoga can make Bocas Del Toro an even more beautiful place to be. So, please join me at Bocas Yoga and let's grow the community....
If you are registered by John Friend as an Anusara-Certified or Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher, please contact Laura Kay at sweetlaurakay@msn.com to find out about being a guest teacher at Bocas Yoga! We can offer you a free photo shoot with Laura Kay and lodging (only one full-sized bed on location), free wireless Internet, A/C, & refrigerator, private shower, plus $3 per person, per class, in exchange for your teaching Anusara classes. Laura Kay offers this to bring the Anusara Kula to Bocas and have the luxury of being a student herself thus adding to her hours towards becoming Anusara-Inspired. If you are listed on John Friend's directory of teachers (either Certified or Inspired Status) on his official Ansuara website then I'd be happy to consider you for a guest teaching spot, as I am clear in my vision of studying only under Anusara teachers. Although I repect all schools of yoga, Ansuara is the path that I am on personally and what I envision for the studio I have created, and what the community here has responded overwhelmingly well to. If you are not listed on John Friend's directory of teachers, I'm not in the position to offer anything at this time. Thank you for your interest.
All other styles of yoga are respected and honored. The charge for teachers (other than Anusara) is $35/hour for studio rental space, $10/day for teacher lodging. Accomodation for your retreat participants are outside of studio at their cost, at various price ranges, all within walking distance of the studio and can be found by checking out our lodging page here. Please see our exact location in relation to Bocas Town, beaches and other islands by clicking here. Thank you for your interest in Bocas Yoga!
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Laura Kay, Founder & Director of Bocas Yoga CLICK HERE FOR IN DEPTH VISITOR INFO ON BOCAS DEL TORO & PANAMA CITY
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