Monica Gauci brings her vast knowledge and experience as a Yoga Therapist, a Doctor of Chiropractor and 47 years of personal yoga practice to these topics. Her work and insights as a doctor of chiropractic and a yoga therapist make her workshops powerfully relevant. Her teaching is inspired by her passion to educate others to empower them to heal and care for themselves.
The Full Weekend includes 2 Mysore Sessions (Saturday & Sunday) aswell as 2 Workshops:
Shine a Light on Sun Salutations Workshop, Saturday, 2-5pm
Surya Namaskara is the most iconic yoga āsana sequence and exists in every yoga tradition. Physically it warms the body and stimulates and cleanses the nadis to enhance its health. Spiritually it brings sunlight to the spirit. Traditionally, Surya Namaskara was practised as an act of reverence to the sun. The brilliance of the sun is the most powerful symbol of the divine Light that resides within our spiritual, innermost heart (hrydaya). This sequence of āsana are highly therapeutic. However, how therapeutic they are relies upon how intelligently we practice them. that their effect on our body is balanced and harmonious.
In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, they are especially pertinent as are the foundation of every vinyasa that we do. This workshop shines a therapeutic light on sun salutations, illuminating complex postures like Chaturānga Dandāsana, Urdhva Mukha Svanāsana and Adho Mukha Svanāsana and their transitions. We will also chant the 12 mantras, honouring the names of Surya as we further put into practice the many refinements that you will learn.
I have a deep reverence for these postures and this sequence. With a clearer, deeper understanding of how to perform the individual postures, our ease and grace of movement as well as our love and appreciation for this brilliant sequence will grow.
Bending Backwards with Grace & Ease, Sunday 1.30 - 4.30 pm
A deep, intelligent approach to the art of bending backwards, where structure, mobility and awareness meet to create strength, openness and freedom. Backbends can be deeply transformative, but they often bring up challenges — both physical and emotional. To explore them safely and effectively, it is essential to understand the anatomical mechanics and individual variations that influence our experience of these postures.
In this workshop, we will study the functional anatomy of the spine and the key structures involved in backbending: from the ligamentous ‘brakes’ that protect us, to the muscles that can either support or limit our range of motion. We’ll explore how different backbending asanas call for unique combinations of flexibility and strength, and how to adapt our approach based on each practitioner’s individual body and needs.
The practical part of the workshop includes movement sequences and release techniques to decompress the spine, mobilise the thorax, and safely open the hips and shoulders. These practices are designed to support healthy and sustainable backbending, whether you’re an advanced practitioner or just starting to exploredeeper heart-opening shapes.
By integrating anatomical knowledge with somatic awareness, you’ll learn how to move into backbends with more ease, confidence and stability — developing a personal experience of grace, freedom, and strength in your practice.
Please note:
Mantra and chanting are integrated into each Workshop appropriate to the topic being taught.
Where there is an anatomical/theory base to the Workshop, PowerPoint presentations are used as a visual supplement to aid students to better understand and integrate the information presented.
A digital manual with the mantras and PowerPoint presentation are supplied.
There is a strong practical component to each Workshop, which makes the material relevant and applicable.
Emotional anatomy is weaved into all topics to enhance the understanding of the mind-body connection, how our body stores emotions and how better to release them.
To enhance your experience of the material taught students are encouraged to bring certain props or are provided with them for some of the workshops.
These workshops are interactive and questions are encouraged to make the material pertinent to those in attendance.
These workshop contribute to yoga association continuing education (CE) points and are YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Program) approved.
Pricing:
Full weekend:
Early Bird (till 3rd of May) 240€
Regular 260€
Single Mysore Session incl. Meditation: 50€
Single Workshop: 90€ (book via Workshops)
10% discount for unlimited membership holders. Get in touch before booking - hello@thevinyasapeople.com