Special Program

June 7 - 14, 2008

Yoga Retreat with Sonja Rzepski

with optional Prenatal Yoga Intensive for Yoga Teachers

My greatest joy has been the journey of motherhood. As a yoga practitioner I often reflect on the lessons learned from pregnancy and parenting. Long before becoming a mother myself, I trained prenatal clients in the gym setting as well as the specialized prenatal yoga
classes. I was always incredibly impressed on how each woman's path was at the same time completely unique, as well as being a profound universally shared experience. I noticed how the fluctuations of pregnancy cultivated women to be more present, to take each day at a time, to embrace change, let go of expectation, and at the same time work hard towards being as healthy as possible for the benefit of their child.

I am thankful that I was blessed with having a great pregnancy experience (even was observed doing tree pose while in labor!) My son is five years old now, and I continue to enjoy sharing my professional and personal journey as a prenatal teacher.

COURSE CURRICULUM:

This course is designed, not only to bring confidence to a yoga teacher while working with a pregnant population, but also to embrace this time in a woman's life as a rare opportunity to truly put the tenants of yoga to the test. Pregnancy is a time of constant change, of real physical challenges and needs, and of course a time of celebration and joy. Much of prenatal education concentrates on the negative, what can go wrong, the limitations, and warnings.

In my course we will learn all of the information needed to keep our pregnant client absolutely safe to the best of our abilities, learn when we need to refer out, AND we will also ask the question, yes but what CAN she do? We will on a practical level explore the three trimesters in depth, ask questions, use case histories, and be ready to promote not only good health and joy for the mother, but also a great beginning for the unborn child who must at all times be remembered and acknowledged during the work.

Additionally this course provides those with Yoga Alliance Registration 50 hours Continual Education credits and can be counted towards the ERYT200 and RYT500.

 

 

About Sonja

Sonja is a proud year 2000 graduate of the Centered Yoga Institute.  She has been working in the health and wellness field since 1994.  Certified through the American Council on Exercise as an athletic trainer, specializing in women's health, she was introduced to yoga by one of her own students. This student brought her to Paul Dallaghan's class, a worthy introduction to the practice. 

From that she was directed to the Ashtanga system at the Patanjali Shala in downtown
NYC. Finding how yoga moves us toward internal and external balance, it soon became clear that it would always be an integral part of her life.  Centered Yoga inspired her to the commitment of teaching yoga, an important part of her practice, and for keeping  grace in her life. Still an Ashtanga practioner, she is forever grateful to the great living yoga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Sonja, now a busy working mom, strives to empower her students to find mindfulness and balance in everyday living. Extensive certification in pre/postnatal exercise and yoga has given Sonja the privilege of working with numerous mothers and babies. She believes this experience
continues to deepen her faith in the potential for every being to grow toward the light in all our actions.