One of our first inspirations for the development of a Jewishly-inspired yoga practice is the wonderful Diane Bloomfield, who’s book Torah Yoga really set the standard. Diane is back with an intensive this summer at Elat Chayyim in Conneticut – full details below! Thank you, Diane.

For full details click here.
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Torah Yoga

Experience
The Body as a Gateway to Torah Wisdom
and
The Torah as a Gateway to the Wisdom of the Body

July 30 – August 5
(Early registration deadline: July 2. Save 10%!)

Warrior 1

Join Diane Bloomfield for a week of yoga and Torah. Students are welcome to take either or both the morning and afternoon workshops described below. No previous Torah study or yoga practice is required for participation. For those considering taking the upcoming Torah Yoga Teacher Training (beginning February 2013), both workshops will be wonderful preparation.

The morning workshops will focus on The Body as a Gateway to Torah Wisdom through an Iyengar Yoga Practice. Sfat Emet, the late 19th century Chassidic Rebbe from Gur Poland, taught that the Torah is engraved in the body of a person, but it is hidden, and needs to be discovered. From this we understand that we can learn Torah from our own bodies, as well as from classical texts. In this morning Torah Yoga session, we will explore the Torah that is hidden in our bodies by engaging in a full 2-hour session of yoga. We will conclude each morning session by connecting the Torah of our bodies to classical Jewish wisdom.

The afternoon workshops will focus on The Torah as a Gateway to the Wisdom of the Body through Sfat Emet Text Study. In this afternoon session, we will engage with in-depth text study of the teachings of Rabbi Judah Aryeh Leib Alter, known as the Sfat Emet. Through classical Jewish study techniques, we will dive into the spiritual treasure chest of Sfat Emet in Hebrew, with English translations. We will learn selections of Sfat Emet’s teachings on the subjects of Shabbat, Torah, Inner light, and more. For the last half hour of the afternoon session, we will integrate the wisdom of the text into our body, mind, heart, and soul through a meditative, restorative yoga practice.

isabellafreedman.org/torahyoga

800.398.2630 x4

Diane BloomfieldDiane Bloomfield is the the author of Torah Yoga: Experiencing Jewish Wisdom through Classic Postures, and the co-director, together with Rabbi Myriam Klotz, of the Torah Yoga Teacher Training, co-sponsored with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Diane lives in Jerusalem where she teaches ongoing Torah and Torah Yoga classes live and on the web. Diane has learned Torah since the early nineties in Yeshivas and with private teachers. She is a certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. She is also the director of the Torah Yoga Association.

Elat Chayyim
If you’d like to make a donation to Isabella Freedman,
visit us online or call 860.824.5991 x317.

At Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, we create transformative experiences that integrate ecological awareness, vibrant Jewish spirituality, and social justice. On retreat and on the farm, our programs cultivate community, refresh the soul, and rekindle purpose.

We are located 1 hour from Hartford, CT, 2 hours from NYC, and 3 hours from Boston. Our 400-acre Connecticut Berkshire campus has a ten-acre farm, two lakes, and miles of hiking trails. We provide year-round accommodations for up to 150 guests and serve farm-to-table kosher cuisine.