“Count yourself as one of the privileged few writers if you are able to attend one of Monique's Yoga of Writing Workshops. Her extensive knowledge of Classic Yoga along with her impressive experience as a writer create a cutting edge workshop that helped me reconnect with my voice while nourishing my body and soul. If I had more money and time, I would be camping on Monique's doorstep, awaiting my daily inspiration.”

- Shannon Morrison, Ph.D.
Albuquerque, New Mexico

“The Yoga of Writing workshop was truly a turning point for me in getting over my fears of committing words to a page. My practice helps me center and when in that state, I can let go of judgment and apprehension.”

- Laure Liverman
Santa Fe, New Mexico

The goal of the Yoga of Writing workshops is personal reintegration—a state of personal clarity from where we discover our voice and story. It is the freedom from chronic disturbances and symptoms of stress that effect our immune system, mind, and emotional state.

The Yoga of Writing is committed to helping writers:

• Center a nomadic mind
• Deepen spiritual attentiveness
• Improve physical well-being
• Tap into writer’s flow
• Clarify their vision in a nurturing environment

SOMOS Winter Series 2010
Date and Time TBA
A Literary Evening with
Monique Parker & David Perez
Taos, NM

Short story writer Monique Parker and nonfiction writer David Perez

The Yoga of Writing Funny
The University of New Mexico-Taos
Spring, 2011
9am-5pm
Santosha Yoga of Taos
1.0 credits
Register at UNM-Taos
Dates TBA

English 298: The Yoga of Writing: Writing Funny is a creative writing workshop designed to help seasoned and aspiring writers experience the ease and confidence of expressing humor. Time-tested yogic disciplines act as a mentor for reconnecting with one’s authentic voice, enhancing concentration, and developing strategies for writing satire. The goal is to develop a writing & yoga habit by incorporating disciplines into one’s daily routine and to learn how to creatively express with the whole body, not just the mind.

In this course students will generate ideas, create drafts using writing prompts in combination with yogic techniques such as asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), chanting, and mantra japa (meditation). We will explore how breathing and movement together can act as a mentor for releasing humor, via fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. Students are encouraged to participate in all writing and yoga exercises. Adaptations will be made and encouraged in order to serve the needs of each participant.

Prior yoga experience is not required. Pre-registration for this workshop is required through UNM-Taos. Admission fee is $15; tuition for 1.0 credit is $57, 2.0 credit $114; lab fee $25. Please bring a notebook and writing instrument.

Yoga Methodologies & Ethics
Saturdays, Sept. 11 & 18, 2010
9am-5pm
The University of New Mexico-Taos
Spring Semester
MED 2 building
GNST 293, 1 credit unit
Tuition $57

GNST 293 : Yoga Methodologies & Ethics introduces students to some of the different approaches, techniques, philosophies, and methods of teaching yoga, as well as the professional ethics involved in becoming a yoga teacher. Emphasis will be on identifying, developing, and integrating teaching skills in hands-on practice and question and answer segments.

The intention of the course is to:

1. Enhance the overall skills and esteem of the aspiring yoga instructor
2. Simplify the art of teaching, including safe verbal cues, effective presentation & demonstration skills, observation, assessment, & adaptation
3. Demonstrate how to design individual versus group classes
4. Help new yoga teachers develop practical business skills
5. Create competent yoga teachers in a supportive environment
   
   *The course is open to beginner and advanced yoga practioners seeking yoga  teacher certification.

Prior yoga experience is required. Pre-registration for this workshop is required through UNM-Taos.  Admission fee $15; tuition $57; lab fee $25.

Yoga Therapy
Spring 2011
Dates & times TDA
The University of New Mexico-Taos
Santosha Yoga of Taos
HHHA 293 , 3 credit unit
Tuition $171

HHHA 293 : Yoga Therapy is the adaptation and application of ancient Yoga techniques and practices to help individuals facing health challenges manage their condition, restore balance, and improve their state of mind. Yoga Therapy for Personal Wellness presents students with a comprehensive and integrated model that addresses all aspects of health and well being—both for maintaining health and for resolving conditions of ill health.

Students will learn how six factors—diet, environment, lifestyle, exercise (in the form of asana), breathing techniques (in the form of pranayama), and mental techniques (in the form of mantra japa)—can be used to restore balance to both body and mind. In addition, this course encourages students to develop abilities to better think, analyze, and discern structural and functional issues. Emphasis will be on identifying and applying practical therapeutic yoga methodologies to themselves and others. Students learn to utilize and adapt ancient disciplines such as Vedic chanting and mantra japa for the treatment of psychological and physiological imbalances.

*The course is open to beginner and advanced yoga practioners seeking yoga  teacher certification.

Prior yoga experience is not required. Pre-registration for this workshop is required through UNM-Taos.  Admission fee $15; tuition $171, lab fee $25.

Yoga Chant & Pranayama
Spring 2010, TBA
The University of New Mexico-Taos
Santosha Yoga of Taos
HHHA 293 , 1 credit unit
Tuition $57

HHHA 293 : Yoga Chant & Pranayama introduces students to some of the different pranayama or breathing techniques, as well as a variety of non-denominational chants that can be used in practice for developing concentration, as a baseline for pranayama practice.

*The course is open to beginner and advanced yoga practioners seeking yoga  teacher certification.

Prior yoga experience is not required. Pre-registration for this workshop is required through UNM-Taos.  Admission fee $15; tuition $57, lab fee $25.