A Day of Yoga and Healing
Saturday April 16th
8:30am to 7pm

Self-Guided Hikes

Take a self-guided hike anytime during the day through a lush nature preserve on Little Bearwallow Mountain. Trail maps will be available, and the trail heads are located by the retreat center, and the trails are clearly marked and well maintained.

Music / Kirtan

Melanie Leenhouts & Friends will be singing and chanting kirtan, a call and response devotional yoga practice, during lunch.

Healing Arts: Massage & Acupuncture

Enjoy a healing massage treatment anytime during the day. Cost is $1/minute of treatment and 50% of the proceeds will be donated to GAYA by the healing arts practitioners.

Food

A healthy vegetarian and vegan lunch and yummy snacks will be available for purchase through Green Light Cafe. Lunch prices range from $5-$7.

Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase at Malaprops Books (cash/checks only) in downtown Asheville as well as online via Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. We highly recommend you purchase advance tickets as this event will most likely sell out.

What to Bring

Please bring your yoga mat and any yoga props you require. Also, consider brining a water bottle and appropriate clothing for outdoor activities. You may want to bring a notebook and pen to take notes during the workshops.

About Laughing Waters

The Laughing Waters Retreat Center, a holistic and sustainable retreat center on 230 acres of forever wild forest, just 16 miles southeast of Asheville, in the beautiful Hickory Nut Gorge.

Laughing Waters is a gathering place for social and community events of the Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community. The guiding principles at Hickory Nut Forest are to live sustainably, share our ideals and healing energy with each other, and use our resources wisely. As examples of this, the community center will be powered with renewable energy from the creek. Our community gardens, herb circle, orchard and vineyard are all organic and just a short walk down the creek. Our 200 acre nature preserve on Little Bearwallow Mountain, with precious forests and streams, provides a safe home for a wide diversity of native plants and wildlife.

Directions

From Asheville and points east and north:
From downtown Ashevillle take I-240 east, pass under I-40 and take 74A east toward Bat Cave, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Lake Lure. (If coming from I-40, take exit 53A and take 74A east.) Laughing Waters is approximately 13 miles from I-40. Drive through Fairview and up the mountain on a series of very curvy switchbacks. Go PAST Hickory Nut Gap Farm and on up the mountain. At the top is the continental divide and a sign for Gerton. Pass the Gerton Post Office (on the left), Gerton Fire Station (on the right), and Hickory Nut Forest (on the right where you will see a sign that says Laughing Waters, 1/2 mile ahead). From this point, Laughing Waters is less than a mile on the right, #3963. Look for the split rail fence and an old log cabin. Turn right into the entrance at the blue Laughing Waters sign. Parking starts at the top and also includes spaces off to the left as the road goes down to the retreat center. There are special needs parking spaces in front of the building and others in the circle of the driveway.

From points west and south:
If coming from the south, take I-26 west to Hendersonville, and then take 64 east to Bat Cave. Turn left onto 74A heading up the gorge toward Asheville. Laughing Waters is approximately 4 miles up the road. You will pass Creekside Campground on the left, a long red store on the right (formerly Moonshine Junction) and then a stone wall with a burnt chimney on the right. Laughing Waters is on the left at the blue sign and split rail fence and old log cabin, #3963. Parking starts at the top and also includes spaces off to the left as the road goes down to the retreat center. There are special needs parking spaces in front of the building and others in the circle of the driveway.

Instructor Bios

Martia Rachman - Martia has been practicing yoga and bodywork therapies for the past 14 years. In 1999 she fractured her spine in a severe car accident. In an effort to avoid surgery, she used yoga to successfully rehabilitate herself. Combining her history of ballet, knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and diverse study of yoga, Martia offers a flowing, deep, and intimate practice for anyone beginning or continuing yoga. Martia is the co-founder of Black Mountain Yoga.

Kristine Kaoverii Weber - Kaoverii has been teaching yoga since 1995 and training teachers since 2003. The founder of Subtle Yoga™, she is a registered yoga therapist and has extensive experience teaching a wide variety of students including the elderly and wheelchair bound. After finishing a BA/MA degree at Georgetown University, Kaoverii spent several years in California studying yoga and Chinese medicine. She also lived and studied healing arts in Asia for four years. She has practiced a variety of yoga styles including Vini yoga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Anusara, Kripalu and Acu-yoga and has completed a Therapeutic Yoga for Seniors training at Duke Integrative Medicine. Kaoverii is the director of several yoga teacher training programs including the groundbreaking Subtle Yoga Teacher Training for Behavioral Health Professionasl at MAHEC.

Mike Greenfield - www.ashevillecommunityyoga.com

Jacci Lea - Jacci is honored lead yoga classes in Asheville at West Asheville Yoga, Yoga South, Asheville Racquet Club and Training Partners. Before moving to Asheville from New Orleans (Jacci moved one week before Hurricane Katrina), Jacci taught classes at Wild Lotus Yoga. Jacci has been practicing yoga since 1992, teaching since 2000 and completed her yoga teaching training at Living Yoga in Austin, Texas.

Meghan Ganser - Meghan has been studying yoga and martial arts (aikido) since 2001, and she perceives the physical body as a vehicle which we may work with to steady, luminate, and free ourselves and others. She has studied Iyengar yoga with Joan White and Kofi Busia, and incorporates anatomical instruction and physical adjustments during her classes to keep her students safe and focused. Her experience with Jivamukti inspires her to keep the mood of her classes devotional, conscientious, and uplifting. Tibetan Heart Yoga influences her use of meditation and mantra, and dedicating the practice is part of each class. www.meghanganseryoga.com

Anna Ferguson - Anna was first introduced to yoga 11 years ago. Over the years, it has helped her overcome many obstacles in life, including chronic illness and injury. Anna is a graduate of Asheville Yoga Center's Teacher Training program. She draws from her wide range of experience of Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Forrest and Therapeutic yoga in each class. She is interested in sparking the fire in your spirit to inspire you to incorporate the benefits of yoga into your life, enabling you to walk a path of health, peace and happiness. She is currently a teacher at Asheville Yoga Center, Weaverville Yoga and Asheville Community Yoga Center. www.ushasyoga.com

Jason Brodsky - Jason teaches Ashtanga Yoga for Everyone - Blending facets of traditional Ashtanga Yoga with other influences to create a practice truly accessible to everyone. Ashtanga Yoga is a vigorous and dynamic form of Hatha Yoga that can revitalize and connect the body, mind and soul! His mission is to provide a safe and non-intimidating environment for everyone to learn the foundations of Ashtanga Yoga. Visit www.ashtanga4everyone.com for more information.

Mado Hesselink - Mado is an Anusara inspired yoga instructor and has over 600 hours studying the Anusara yoga system. Anusara means to flow with grace, and combines therapeutic alignment with an uplifting philosophy that teaches us to ride the fluctuations of life with equanimity and joy. Mado’s classes connect the practice of yoga with the rest of life while honoring the principles of alignment that help you go into your poses safely and deeply. Find out more on her website: www.trueselfyoga.com

Lia Pardy - Lia is a Certified Yoga Instructor and NCBTMB approved provider #451468-10 She conducts weekly classes and workshops in Yoga, Thai Massage and Partner Thai Yoga. She is founder/owner of Yoga South, a center for Yoga and Thai Massage, the sister art of yoga. Her passion is watching her students transform their bodies and lives through these ancient arts.

Cat Matlock - Cat’s yoga classes are grounded in her understanding of anatomy and alignment. Her classes are rooted in the Ayurvedic principle of balance and that balance in your physical and pranic bodies is what brings health and peace. She teaches various levels of classes with her higher level classes incorporating some slow flow, yoga with movement. Cat continues her lifelong study of the body and of yoga science, ayurveda, prana life force energy, Japa mantra recitation, and bhakti devotional yoga. Cat is the founder of West Asheville Yoga.

KaliDas - www.mahashaktimandir.org

Jackie Dobrinska - As the co-founder and vice president of the Greater Asheville Yoga Association, Jackie is devoted to helping people tune their bodes and minds, unwind their limitations and nourish their spirits. Jackie draws on the wisdom of her teachers, - she has studied with Rod Stryker of ParaYoga since 2003 and and Pundit Rajmani Tiguniut of the Himalayan Institute since she 2005. With her dedication to helping people find the tools they need to thrive, Jackie has also pursued studies in Ayurveda (the sister science to yoga), herbalism, energy healing and personal training. Currently, she lives and teaches in Asheville, North Carolina where she writes a wellness column and is pursuing an advanced degree in Holistic Health.

Joseph Immel - Joseph is director and founder of Joyful Belly, an Ayurvedic digestion clinic and the leading website on Ayurvedic dieting. His academic credentials include: * Graduate of the Ayurvedic Institute taught by Dr. Vasant Lad. * Harvard University Bachelor of Arts Degree 1996 He is a faculty member at the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism, director of Ayurveda for Yoga Spirit Studios, and writes for the Light on Ayurveda Journal.

Melanie Leenhouts

Ryan Kurczak - Ryan is an ordained teacher in the Kriya Yoga tradition. He serves as Senior Minister at Center for Spiritual Awareness of Asheville. Ryan is the owner/director of Asheville Vedic Astrology.  He provides Vedic Astrological readings to local and national clients, and also serves as a Vedic Astrological teacher, providing tutorials and workshops for those interested in the study of this sacred science.

CoreyPine Shane - CoreyPine is the Director of the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine. He has been studying herbal medicine for over 15 years, and has been seeing clients professionally for 10. He has taught at the North Carolina School of Holistic Herbalism, Southeastern School of Herbal Studies, Warren Wilson College, UNC-Asheville, and at several national herbal conferences.

Timothy Burgin - Timothy is a Kripalu & Pranakriya trained yoga instructor living and teaching in Asheville, NC. Timothy has completed his 500 hour Advanced Pranakriya Yoga training and currently serves as the Executive Director of YogaBasics.com and as the President of the Greater Asheville Yoga Association. With over 20 years of experience in the practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation, Timothy guides his students deep into the experience of yoga by creating a supportive environment, by giving clear precise instruction, and by providing safe, gentle assists.

About GAYA

The Greater Asheville Yoga Association (GAYA) is a fellowship of yoga studios, teachers and students encouraging and supporting each other in spreading the universal teachings and joy of yoga. Through the application of yoga principles the Association's goals are to foster community, provide education and create prosperity. All proceeds of this event will benefit GAYA.

Media Inquires

Please download the A Day of Yoga and Healing flyer and read our press release for the event. Please contact Jackie or Timothy for any questions using the GAYA contact page.