Principle-Based Partner Yoga - Immersion in Colorado June 20th - 23rd

Facilitated by Elysabeth Williamson, founder of PBPY and assisted by Lara Barber, teacher/ practitioner of Partner Yoga for over 10 years.

25hrs CE credits through Yoga Alliance

Investment: $395 through May 20 / $495 after
Returning participants: $295

ABOUT:
The Principle-Based Partner Yoga™ Level I Training / Immersion is an opportunity to explore and develop skills that elevate our human potential, including our innate capacity for trust, compassion and creativity.

This visionary art expands the traditional practice of Yoga into the realm of relationship and authentic relating with others. The program is not just for teachers but designed for everyone with a sincere interest in Partner Yoga.

As global culture becomes more technology driven, the need for embodied, heart-centered relating becomes more imperative.

This first of its kind training includes an in-depth curriculum and a comprehensive Training Manual. The tools and techniques presented are invaluable skills for anyone (1 year Yoga experience required) seeking to live a more embodied and connected life.

Graduates leave the training with greater physical, emotional and spiritual understanding of the power of partner practices to deepen their individual practice.

Participants also receive inspiration to access their innate heart wisdom that imbues all relationships with greater authenticity.

For those wishing to facilitate the practice with others, all the necessary tools and guidelines are included in the Training Manual.

For further info or to register visit: www.PartnerYoga.net

What is Embodied Truth?

Illuminate.

Transform.

Restore.

Balance.

"All the pirouettes in the world, all the spectacular feats cannot impress me as much as a simple movement that originates from a deep feeling of aliveness and understanding of the human body. " - Frances Becker 

Woman, you were born into this realm with your body. You were born here, different than a man, with a womb space to birth life and creation. What would your life look, feel, and be like, if you truly connected with your womb, created a loving relationship to your body, and listened to it's innate wisdom?

Embodied Truth is my gift to woman everywhere, inviting us to remember the path of sacred embodiment. For years, I personally over developed my mind and neglected my body's wisdom. In order to fit into the societal norms, recover from trauma, & feel safe in intimacy, I abandoned my body and suffered for years from self sabotage and being unsatisfied. What is your version of leaving yourself? 

We all have stories that we tell ourselves as woman, about not feeling good enough or feeling like too much. For me, it has been a deep idea that I do not belong or fit in. Perhaps for you, you find yourself judging and comparing to others, or hating your body by hurting yourself with addictive behaviors. Maybe it is the way that you stay too long in a relationship that isn't really nourishing you. Maybe you have neglected your deepest desires to be met fully in a loving harmonious relationship. 

Whatever your story, I am here to remind you, that it is here, among the wound, that we have access to our humanity. It is here, that the true healing work can begin. When we face and meet the hard parts of our experience, life can flow with more joy and ease. If we avoid the hard parts of our experience and only go towards what is easy, things will ultimately get harder for us. When we make a conscious commitment to meeting all of life and all of our embodiment we can discover that we will live in right alignment with our soul's purpose and evolution. 

So what is the path way in? 

Through discovering and honoring your embodied truth. 

By connecting with your unique body, listening to her rhythms, and cultivating a sacred intimacy with yourself and your womb space. 

Woman, your Embodied Truth is living inside of you. 

Honoring your body and womb and seeing its wonder, allows you to truly inhabit and own our life through connecting with your instrument and vessel as sacred. 

As a path of remembering, Embodied Truth invites your whole being, all of it's parts, and those parts yet to be discovered, with presence and love. It is important as woman living in today's world to meet ourselves with as much presence and love that we would desire from our closest lover. It reminds us, that we alone, are our life partner, and teaches us to greet, meet, and welcome the light & dark, of our experience to embrace and express more of our authentic selves. While cultivating a deep reverence and respect for our flowing rhythmical feminine, we are also guided towards cultivating our deep inner masculine to hold our selves and our processes as sacred and true. 

Embodied Truth cultivates a women's presence, love, wisdom, & power. 
From what I am discovering on my feminine embodiment path is that ... 

• The empowered woman knows herself inside and out. 
• The empowered woman slows down to pay attention. 
• The empowered woman listens deeply to her hearts longing.
• The empowered woman knows what she needs, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 
• The empowered woman creates in alignment from her knowing and follows her natural impulses and rhythms. 
• The empowered woman has unlimited potential to craft her ideal life from. 

SO what is your Embodied Truth?

Woman, invite you on a journey inward to discovering your embodied truth. 

Different than a cognitive understanding, I invite you inward and down, from your mind, down into your heart, belly, and womb space. Here, and together as sisters, we will reclaim our feminine cycle to honor ourselves and balance the feminine wisdom that our modern culture is so ready to receive. Here, we will birth a new paradigm, where our cycle will no longer be a burden, but a masterful teacher guiding us to our life fulfillment. Here, our feminine magic will be a gateway to more integration and embodiment of our authentic true self.  

Here are some questions to consider on your journey inward? 

What is your body speaking to you? 

Do you take the time to listen to your body? 

What is your authentic expression? 

Are you allowing your authentic self be seen and heard?

What is your life purpose + mission? 

Why are you living?

Do you connect with a higher purpose for being here?

What and who are you aligned with?

What do you dedicate your life towards and for?

What gifts are you ready to offer the world?

What lights you up about living?

What makes you honest?

What wisdom is ready to be heard through you?

How do you envision yourself as a leader?

How do you know yourself to be empowered?

What feminine wisdom is ready to be activated inside of you?

How else can you express your fullness?

What message or lesson wants to be lived through your embodiment this lifetime?

Embodied Truth - (Feminine Embodiment Training) is dedicated to empowering the balanced woman standing in her true authentic power and radiant joy. Through feminine embodiment practices, self-awareness, self compassion,  growing support in sisterhood, and reclaiming and discovering our creative potential, the next generation of woman leaders will remember the wisdom of their sacred womb and intrinsic connection to nature and her cyclical rhythm. 

Some benefits of discovering your Embodied Truth include: 

~ Harness and reclaim your feminine power. 

~ Remember and access great depth of creativity. 

~ Go against the grain to carve your unique path.

~ Live in harmony with your body and nature. 

~ Be more potent and balanced as a woman and leader 

~ Remember and discover the power of self love. 

~ Honor & cultivate deep presence and devotion to yourself. 

~ Learn about the wisdom living inside of your body. 

Illuminate ~ Through presence and devotion, discover your own unique body rhythms

Transform ~~ Harness and reclaim the power, beauty, & wisdom of your sacred embodiment

Restore ~~ Bring health and balance to your womb to live in a state of optimal wellbeing

Balance ~~ Create inner and outer harmony world living in true alignment following your feminine innate wisdom. 

HEALING THE POWER OF SISTERHOOD

If you really knew me, you would know that I have lots of girl friends that I love and adore. If you really knew me, you would also know that it was not always this way for me. Yes, I have always had friends that are woman, but it wasn’t until the last 5 years or so that I really began to understand the power, wisdom, and importance of true, real, meaningful connections with other woman. 

I used to be afraid. I used to judge and compare myself to other woman. I used to feel jealous of that beautiful sister with all of the radiant talents and gifts. I used to compare myself and where I was on my professional or relationship status compared to “her”. I used to feel less than and not equal to my sisters. In turn, this had me feeling very distant and separate from other woman. We would be gathered in sisterhood, and I would always feel little distant and alone. For years, I did not really have a woman with whom I could call my best friend or reach out to in times of need and stress. 

My curiosity, is this; Do any other woman find this to be true? Do any other woman have similar experience? Have you ever felt the judgmental comparison between woman? Have you experienced this in the past and/or are you currently working with any similar patterns in you awareness? 

Over the course of the last 5 years or so, I have been on a deep spiritual quest to balance and awakening my growing power being a woman. I have been consciously cultivating and healing my relationship to the feminine through joining woman’s groups to reading books and taking courses in feminine embodiment. For me, becoming a mother was a huge step in claiming my seat as a woman and required me to extend my regard to other woman, so that I could learn from them, and I could receive the love and support that I needed as I passed through my motherhood initiation. 

In my recent studies, the late Shakti Milan puts forth a radical distinction in her book, Sexual Awakening For Woman, A Tantric Workbook, that I believe is worth talking about together in sisterhood tribe. She refers to this collective judgement and comparison between woman as the “Woman’s Union". Originating from the patriarchal paradigm where men hold the power, and maintain a "power over other” mentality, Shakti describes the fact that woman have internalized this belief and police other woman who are not fitting in with the prescribed norm (especially and specifically in the realm of sexuality). Instead of supporting and uplifting one another, secretly we wish other woman negativity and do not want the other to succeed or do well, or flourish.  Perhaps this is also embedded in our psyche to protect ourselves from loosing our men. If another woman seems threatening to our family/relationship, it is understanding that we would not want her close to us so therefore we outcast her as to not cause us trouble. 

As I have begun to unpack this belief and question its origination over the last several years of my study, I have come to discover that like in most relationships, what I see outwardly is truly a reflection of my internal state. When I catch myself in thought about judging another woman, I have a beautiful opportunity. I can either give my attention and energy towards the idea of separation of power over, OR I can use the moment as a learning opportunity for further self discovery. It can also be useful to understand that what we are uncovering here is also related to what is being held in the collective unconscious. For me, it is more powerful and empowering to take a long slow look in the mirror to discover something unreseolved in my own psyche and that held in the collective unconscious. 

************************************

{A PRACTICE IN TAKING BACK JUDGEMENTS:

TRANSFORMING THE WOMAN’S UNION 

INTO THE SISTERHOOD SUPPORT}

This practice can be done solo, with other woman as a group discussion. After you do the journal work it can be useful to share what you are learning with other woman in your life/circle. In addition, after you complete this practice you will have a leans to see what happens for you in future moments if/when you feel the woman’s union arising inside of you. Pausing for a moment to feel and notice with mindfulness is the first step towards radical empowerment. 

STEP 1: Set aside 10/20 minutes in a quiet space with your journal and pen. 

STEP 2: Light a candle, burn some sage, and settle into an intentional space to be with yourself in this powerful inquire. 

STEP 3: Find a comfortable seat or lye down and begin taking slow deep breaths. Allow your attention to shift inward towards yourself. Scan your body, heart, and mind for how you are doing in this moment. 

STEP 4: Once you feel settled, ask yourself these question: “In what way do I judge and criticize woman? What do I typically judge other woman of and for? Do I typically feel better than or less than other woman?” Come up with your own creative questions that feel aligned with this inquire for you. 

STEP 5: Notice what arrises and take 10 minutes to free write in your journal about everything that arrises from you. Do not hold back. Allow yourself to feel all of it. The key here is welcoming all parts of yourself to be present with our judgement or make wrong. Be as nasty and unedited as possible to really let the energy flow. 

STEP 6: Look back over what you wrote and reread your discoveries. Try to have an open mind and begin to try on the idea that what you see outwardly (your repulsions and judgements) are really all projections living inside of you that you are not wilding to face and own. Ask yourself powerfully, what is it in her/other woman that I either resist or desire in my own life/being? Take a serious look at the judgements and see if you can take responsibility for this aspect inside of you. 

*example: I notice that one judgement I have is that “she” sees to have such a successful career and is so confident! ~ Turning back to own my projections I would start to see that what I see in her is actually something I want for myself. I would love to have a successful career and be confident like her. Perhaps we can shift the focus towards, “wow, she seems so confident and successful. Maybe I could learn something from her!” Instead of making her wrong I can actually celebrate her and her wins. 

STEP 7: Make a commitment to take notice of how and when this comes up for you as you move forward. Again, we are not trying to change or fix anything, just simply bring awareness to the parts of ourself with a mindful awareness. As we notice projections and repulsions in others, we can begin to reclaim the lost parts of ourself that are really speaking through our judgements. 

STEP 8: Share what you are learning about this with your other sisters. Continue to inquire ongoing about this conversation. Comment and share what you are getting from this experience. 

************************************

For me, this process has been a journey back to myself, owning my projections, and awakening the qualities see in other woman that I wish to cultivate for myself has been a deeply rich and rewarding process. Not only am I surrounded by many sisters, aunties, mothers, and daughters the I honor, respect and cherish, I have honestly created a beautiful support of sisters around me. It is my wish and honor to shed light to the conversation of how we have become separated as woman to unify together to illuminate a new paradigm in which we support and uplift one another with joy and reverence. To me, honoring the sacred in the other is a beautiful path of love and grace.

From my sister circle, to the world, it is my wish that all woman begin to remember the importance of seeing each other with honor and respect to birth a new paradigm rooted in shared care and positive regards seeing the best in one another.  Feminine nourishes the feminine in the world, and it is my prayer that we can allow ourselves the joy of sisterhood connection in the unique beautiful way that only we can offer one another.

I would love to hear how this conversation and practice outlined above has impacted you. Please comment bellow or send me a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stayintouchwithlarastouch/

With Love,
Lara 

EMBODIMENT RITUAL FOR SELF -CONNECTION AND AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION

Take 5-10 minutes for this short practice to help you feel more connected to yourself and your authentic expression. 

Start your day this way or use this as a practice whenever you feel stuck or frustrated with anything. 

1. Turn off your phone and distractions and find a quiet space for yourself to be alone, possibly in nature. Set context by letting your family or roommates know that you are taking a few moments to be with yourself. Remind yourself of a benefit you may receive from taking a moment to slow down and turn towards yourself. 

2. Light a candle, burn some incense, or smudge the space to consciously shift towards a place of ritual and intentionality. 

3. Start standing. Close your eyes and shift your attention towards yourself. Start by bringing all of the attention to your mind and notice the quality of your thoughts. 

4. After a few breaths of noticing the texture of your mind, allow your focus to drop down into your heart center. Here, begin to notice any feeling tones or emotions you may be holding onto in this moment. Without making your experience good or bad, simply notice without attachment. 

5. After a few breaths allow your attention to now drop down further into your belly and pelvis. Notice physical sensations speaking to you. Where do you feel tight? pain? pleasure? Can you feel your feet on the ground under you? Listen to any movements your body wants. Do you want to move? Do you want to become still? Honor your physical body and allow rhythmic movements, shaking, undulations, stretching, etc. Take about a minute to be with your body in honoring your impulses. 

6. Become still. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Take 3-5 slow deep breaths.

7. Ask yourself "what is authentically here that wants to be known". 

8. Allow for the answer to come through you. Choose a creative outlet to express your authenticity in this moment. 

• Some options would be grab a pen and journal and free write for a few minutes, 
• you could also speak out-loud to yourself or into a voice recorder. 
• Another option would be to get some pastels and paper out and draw. 
• You could also put on a lovely piece of music and dance through your body whatever it is you are holding in your experience. 
• If you have a friend or partner to share your authentic expression with, you can ask them to witness you or listen to you speak. 

9. Close your ritual by finding a seated position on the earth. Take a few more slow long deep breaths. Place your hands at your heart center and bow your chin towards your chest. Offer gratitude to your mind~body~heart for its deep wisdom. Thank yourself for taking a few minutes to be with yourself. Bow forward and energetically seal in your practice time. 

Share what you experienced or gained from doing this practice with me!

{The Divine Masculine}

With the return of the Divine Feminine awakening on the planet at this time, to me, it is equally important to consciously cultivate an embodied relationship with the Divine Masculine. In tandem, these two energies will birth true union, a new paradigm, rooted in the deep presence and unbounded, radiant love. Man or woman, we all contain feminine and masculine energies in our being. Connecting to and working with this as a map towards balance has been key for my yogic understanding of subtle energy and awakening on the path of becoming.

In my opinion, true masculine power is wildly misunderstood in our current patriarchal structures. My growing understanding of conscious masculine has less to do with power over and more to do with the power of showing up, staying with, & being a pillar of strength and direction for myself and others. As one of my dear friends and teacher Juliet Haines likes to refer to it, the feminine essence is like the flowing river of life, including all of our life experience, while the masculine essence is represented by the banks of the river. As this image depicts, the edges of the container represent the masculine's deep capacity to hold, to be with, & to penetrate with His presence. Unwavering in His steady commitment to being, He is limitless in His connection to consciousness. Vast open spaciousness allows freedom as an expansive stillness, a presence, a place to let go, & empty and surrenders into. He is also a giving force that protects and directs the flowing feminine lifeforce.

For years I have been connecting with and cultivating my flowing femininity. Feeling my female essence thrive has been deeply healing, rebalancing, and rewarding and yet, at times I can be swept up and away in her emotions, and unbounded shakti. Cultivating the spaciousness to empty out with the slowing presence of my inner divine masculine allows for a sense of peace and calm. As I am with myself in this new growing way I feel a new possibility to hold parts of myself that were once exiled or avoided. Now, with the ability and capacity to hold my life experiences with my inner masculine presence, I allow time and space to feel deeply without getting lost in the sea of feminine movement.

~~~~~~~

"I am pure consciousness.

I am the Generator, Orchestrator, and Power of Truth.

Source of Guidance, Full of Drive and Intelligence.

Fearless, Discerning, Decisive, and Giving,

I honor the Beloved with my Devoted Pillar of Commitment.

I am Sovereign, King who serves all. Father, Lover, Divine man.

I am a Lingam of Light.

I am fulfilled and free, a rhythmic, primordial power of light.

I am the actions of man as the son of my Father.

Intelligence of Transcendent Love, and Formless Truth I am Enlightenment."

- Attributes of the Divine Masculine from Sacred Relationships by Anaiya Sophia

~•~

(Image: Hindu Tantra "Shri Yantra" representing the union of the masculine and feminine divine.)

The Yoga of Relating - Valentine Partner Yoga Playshop with Lara Barber

The Yoga of Relating

Valentine Partner Yoga Playshop 

With Lara Barber 

Saturday 

February 9th 2019

5-8 p.m. 

FULL CIRCLE YOGA

519 Main Street 

Longmont, CO 80501

Relating is an art form that requires loving presence, attention, and intention.

Create and cultivate intimacy and sacred connection this Valentine's Day with your loved one through the sweet, sensual, and simple practices of Partner Yoga.

Join for a memorable afternoon of pleasure and play. Over the course of this unique "playshop" experience meditation, dropping into connection with self & other, bringing consciousness to include the body in relating, partner yoga practices, relaxing massage and touch, keys for healthy communication, and sweet desserts to top off your special date night.

All levels and abilities are welcome to join.

Include and honor the body~heart~mind~spirit with your sweetie this special Valentine Holiday.

Join with a partner.

Space is limited to 12 couples.

Register in advance to reserve your spot.

Investment is $50 per couple and includes a 3 hour partner yoga workshop and desserts and libations.

__________

Principle Based Partner Yoga™ is an emerging practice that combines the healing power of yoga, conscious touch, and union of self and other. It integrates the body-heart-mind-spirit connection among individuals by combining simple and profound techniques to inspire a deeper awareness in yoga poses & practices.

__________

Lara Barber has been teaching Principle-Based Partner Yoga™ since 2009. She is a passionate yogini and lover of life. Lara teaches classes inspired by her life's study of massage therapy, yoga, meditation & mindfulness, body-centered awareness, shamanism, authentic relating, & tantra. She views the present moment and the body as tools to access great depths of our being. Yoga is an art form that she carves into each practice to restore your body, mind, and soul, to leave you feeling more connected and aligned.

Lara's Touch: 2019 Updated Prices and Packages

Lara Barber  

E-RTY Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher

CMT Certified Massage Therapist 

Private Yoga rates: 60 minutes $100 | 90 minutes $120

Partner Yoga rates: 60 minutes $150 | 90 minutes $200 (Private one-on-one session, Couple's session, Workshops) 

Massage Therapy rates: 60 minutes $100 | 75 minutes $120 | 90 minutes $150

**90 minute sessions are preferred to be able to tend to your self care needs 

~*~


PACKAGE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: 

Private Yoga rates @ 60 minutes $100  *10% discount with purchase of package 

• 3 hours $270 (regular cost $300) 
• 6 hours $540 (regular cost $600) 
• 8 hours $720 (regular cost $800) 
• 10 hours $900 (regular cost $1000) 

Partner Yoga rates @ 60 minutes $150 *10% discount with purchase of package 

• 3 hours $405 (regular cost $450) 
• 6 hours $810 (regular cost $900) 
• 8 hours $1,080 (regular cost $1,200) 
• 10 hours $1,350 (regular cost $1,500) 

Massage Therapy rates @ 60 minutes $100

• 3 hours $270 (regular cost $300) 
• 6 hours $540 (regular cost $600) 
• 8 hours $720 (regular cost $800) 
• 10 hours $900 (regular cost $1000)

***Massage Therapy rates @ 90 minute sessions $150 

• 3 sessions $405 (regular cost $450) 
• 6 sessions $810 (regular cost $900) 
• 8 sessions $1,080 (regular cost of $1,200) 
• 10 sessions $1,350 (regular cost $1,500)

Massage: deep tissue, Swedish, polarity therapy, sports, chair, integrative, Thai Yoga, and Shiatsu
Yoga: Private and group sessions, Vinyasa, Yin, and Principle Based Partner Yoga ~*~ Group discounts and packages available:

Find Lara's Touch on Facebook 

Email me directly to book a session