Upcoming events.
The Path of the Lotus: Earth Flow
The Path of the Lotus: Earth Flow with Brittney Burgess
Friday, November 22
7:15-9:15pm • Brookline
The Lotus Flower moves from the mud, nurtured by the elements until it rises and blossoms triumphantly to float on the water. Like the lotus, each of us needs nourishment from the 4 elements to reach our fullest potential.
Join Brittney Burgess for the first of a 4 part, seasonal yoga workshop series to discover your own capacity to rise from the mud into the light. These workshops will vary from deeply grounding to highly energizing practices inviting you to discover and embody earth, water, air and fire in your practice and your life!
Cultivate the element of EARTH in this first workshop as you bring steadiness and an inner calm to your mind and body. You’ll build stability, create strong roots, and awaken your connection to the earth. This workshop will empower you to slow down, root down and remember how steady you are when you stand in your own strength.
This experience includes an earth element meditation, journal prompts, and a powerful, grounding asana practiced in a lightly heated room to awaken your Muladhara, or Root Chakra.
Cost: $35
Please bring a yoga mat - these are available to rent in studio for $3
FREE - Sacred Circle Gathering
FREE - Sacred Circle Gathering with Emily Peterson
Last Monday of the Month
Nov 25 • Dec 30
7-8pm • Livestream
What would our lives and the world look like if we heard each other with more presence and non-judgment?
This fall, come gather together and practice holding a compassionate space for self and community as we co-create a sacred circle to be heard and held.
Whether you decide to speak or to simply hold space for others, practice presence and non-judgmental awareness with our fellow community members using this ancient circle tradition. Human beings for thousands of years have gathered in circles to talk, share stories, sing, dance, do fire rituals and much more.
No experience necessary. Participation is free.
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Know Your Flow: Vinyasa Skill-building
Know Your Flow: Vinyasa Skill-building with Meredith Evangelisti & Shawna Lemelman
Saturday, December 7
1:30-2:45pm • Brookline
Want to delve deeper into the fundamentals and do more than rush through a sequence?
Join Shawna and Meredith for a 75 minute workshop breaking down the dynamics of vinyasa. In this hands-on class you will get individualized adjustments specifically for your body in the movements we use over and over again in a Flow class. Learn drills to help you smooth out transitions and progress to a proper jump forward/back.
You’ll leave feeling more confident with your flow, and equipped to safely continue to progress in your vinyasa practice.
Cost: $50
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Kundalini Yoga: Meditation for a Calm Heart
Kundalini Yoga: Meditation for a Calm Heart with Daniel Orlansky
Sunday, December 8
12:30-2pm • South End
Prepare for the holiday season with a powerful Kundalini Yoga practice featuring the transformative “Meditation for a Calm Heart.” We’ll begin with dynamic movement and strong breathwork to awaken the Kundalini energy, followed by mudras and inner locks (bandhas) to channel this elevated pranic energy toward inner radiance and higher consciousness. The session will culminate in “Meditation for a Calm Heart,” a breath meditation focused on the heart center (4th chakra), which reduces stress while nurturing calmness and “loving-kindness” for ourselves and others. Open to all levels.
Cost: $30
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Release and Remember: A Winter Solstice Journey
Release and Remember: A Winter Solstice Journey with Emily Peterson & Allison Talis
Saturday, December 14
6-8pm • South End
The body holds our memories, our inherited epigenetic road map, and our present patterning. This workshop works with and through the body to release, untangle, and create new neural pathways towards integration.
We will begin with a guided, improvisational Soul Dance-Movement Practice, that engages somatic awareness to facilitate personal growth, emotional well-being, and collective healing. This welcoming, no eye-contact practice does not require any dance experience. Be prepared to move and sweat- knowing you are in full control of the intensity and pace for yourself.
Next, we will practice a yin sequence to slowly deepen into somatic contemplation of ancestral patterns. We will tap into our innate ancestral resilience and resources. Finally we’ll close with a guided meditation reflecting on our inner light and the hope that lies in the heart of the winter solstice.
Bring a yoga mat (mats are available to rent for $3 in studio), journal, water, and socks and a sweatshirt or even an extra set of clothes, as you might get sweaty. There will be a five minute break in between the movement and the stillness portions to help facilitate warmth and comfort in the yin/mediation practices.
Cost: $55
Foundations of Yoga: A Journey into Asanas
Foundations of Yoga: A Journey into Asanas with Masaaki Okamura
Sunday, December 15
1:30-3:30pm • Porter Square
Unlock the Transformative Power of Yoga!
Join us for an enriching 2-hour workshop designed specifically for beginners, led by the experienced & inspiring Masaaki Okamura. This is your chance to explore the world of yoga in a welcoming and supportive environment, where you'll learn foundational asanas (postures) that promote strength, flexibility, and inner peace.
What to Expect:
Learn Essential Asanas: Dive into key yoga postures, including Mountain Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Chaturanga, Upward Facing Dog and Warrior I. Masaaki will provide step-by-step instructions, alignment tips, and variations to ensure you feel confident and supported.
Build a Flow: Experience the joy of movement as you put your newfound knowledge into practice with a gentle flowing sequence. You'll learn to synchronize your breath with movement, creating a sense of harmony in your body and mind.
Embrace Relaxation: End your workshop with restorative poses and a guided relaxation session. Discover the importance of Savasana, where you'll learn to fully unwind and integrate your practice.
Connect with Community: Join a group of like-minded individuals on the same journey. Share your experiences, ask questions, and build connections that can last beyond the workshop.
Why Join This Workshop?
Personalized Guidance: Receive expert instruction uniquely designed for beginners
A Holistic Approach: Explore not just the physical aspect of yoga, but also its mental and emotional benefits
Take Home Tools: Leave with practical skills and insights to continue your practice at home
Cost: $40
Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in & bring a yoga mat (yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3)
Deeply Rooted & Rising: A New Year’s Eve Celebration
Deeply Rooted & Rising: A New Year’s Eve Celebration with Marja Lankinen
Tuesday, December 31
10:30pm-12am • Porter Square
Usher in 2025 by honoring the roots of our past and routing into the New Year with health, wellness, community, and intention. Marja will guide a 90-minute experience that begins with inquiry, introspection, and personal journal-writing and flows into an all-levels vinyasa class focused on the strength of our foundations and the creative play that accompanies growth, adventure, and flight.
All levels and all bodies are welcome. Room will be warm. Bring a notebook, water and a towel.
Cost: $50
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
SOLD OUT: Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica Retreat
Welcome to the BLUE ZONE in beautiful Costa Rica. Blue Zones are regions in the world where people are claimed to live longer than average. Come join me on a journey of self-discovery and renewal at the beautiful Blue Osa Resort.
FroZen by David Magone
FroZen is an innovative cold-acclimation course utilizing the potential health benefits of cold temperatures for overall well-being. This structured program involves three comprehensive sessions. Over the course of the program, you will learn to safely adapt to cold temperatures, practice meditation in the cold, and experience the exhilaration of a cold water plunge in a natural lake setting.
FroZen is more than just a course; it's a pioneering approach to improved health and personal growth, enabling you to not merely endure winter, but to thrive within it.
Lessons will include:
Instruction on the science of cold acclimation
guided breath-work sessions
"no shiver" walk & meditation
group ice-plunge at Crystal Lake in Newton (participants will need their own transportation to Crystal Lake)
This program is contraindicated for pregnant people, anyone suffering from epilepsy, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, coronary heart disease or a history of serious health issues, such as heart attack or stroke. As always, ask your doctor if you have any medical concerns around your participation.
This programming is run by DM Adventures LLC
* this course is not eligible for the YogiPass discount *
* cost includes all three sessions, there is no proration for missing a session *
Getting Up(side Down): Handstands
An all levels experiential workshop designed to move you through gravitational plateaus and take flight. After thorough preparation, we will intelligently work with the wall to support the process of getting upside down. You will leave this workshop with clear steps that you can safely practice on your own to improve your handstands every day!
Deepen into the Water Element: A Winter Shamanic Healing Journey
Deepen into the Water Element: A Winter Shamanic Healing Journey with Emily Peterson
Saturday, January 18
6-8:15pm • South End
Winter is a time for deep reflection and revelation. Just like bears hibernating, we can turn toward a sleepy silence within and connect to soul and Spirit while preparing for renewal.
Go on a sacred, shamanic healing journey by connecting with the element of water, winter’s element, and honor the waters by deepening your understanding of water as a living being. We will support and connect to the waters of the body through a yin practice after which we will do a shamanic movement meditation to connect, embody, and receive messages from the spirit of water.
The journey will end in deep rest as we seed and infuse the waters of the body with our dreams for the year to come.
Bring a journal, water & a yoga mat (mats are available to rent in studio for $3)
Cost: $50
Dive into the Doshas
Dive into the Doshas with Gabriana de Sousa & Kaveri Barros
Sunday, January 19
12:30-2pm • South End & Livestream
Join Ayurvedic Health Counselors Gabriana de Sousa and Kaveri Barros for an afternoon filled with insight and self-discovery! Together, we'll dive into the world of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – the three unique energies that make us who we are.
In Ayurveda, these three doshas represent different qualities that flow through our bodies, minds, and even the environment around us. Whether you're a breezy, fiery, or steady, you'll learn what makes each dosha tick – and how to use that knowledge to create more balance and joy in your life.
You’ll leave this workshop with fun tools to easily spot these energies in yourself, your friends, and even in the world around you. It's all about finding harmony between your unique dosha qualities, and discovering how they work together to make you, well, you!
Don’t miss out on this chance to unlock the secrets of Ayurveda and tap into a more balanced, joyful life.
Cost: $55
No yoga mat needed but feel free to bring a notebook & writing utensil if you enjoy taking notes!
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Mastering the Essentials: Building Strength & Confidence in Yoga (Part One)
Mastering the Essentials: Building Strength & Confidence in Yoga with Michael Ponte
Part 1: Sun Salutations and Standing Poses
Saturday, January 25
1-2:45pm • Back Bay & Livestream
Explore the brilliance of the basics! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, this two-part series is designed to help you build confidence, refine your knowledge, and thrive in Flow or Heated Flow classes.
Over the course of two Saturdays, we’ll demystify the foundational poses and movements that often leave students wondering.
Ever been confused about what your legs should be doing in Warrior 2 or Triangle? Not quite sure about arm and shoulder alignment in Chaturanga or Downward Dog? Now’s your chance to get crystal clear on the foundational moves and ask the questions you’ve always wanted answered.
Join Michael Ponte, one of Down Under’s lead 200 Hour trainers, to release uncertainty and build the confidence to truly enjoy your yoga practice. You’ll leave with game-changing insights and a toolkit of principles to help you unlock the full potential of any yoga class you take.
Say goodbye to hesitation and step into your practice with confidence.
Cost: $30
Please bring a yoga mat, yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Part 2: Twists, Backbends, & Forward Folds
Saturday, February 1
1-2:45pm • Back Bay & Livestream
Mastering the Essentials: Building Strength & Confidence in Yoga (Part Two)
Mastering the Essentials: Building Strength & Confidence in Yoga with Michael Ponte
Part 2: Twists, Backbends, & Forward Folds
Saturday, February 1
1-2:45pm • Back Bay & Livestream
Explore the brilliance of the basics! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, this two-part series is designed to help you build confidence, refine your knowledge, and thrive in Flow or Heated Flow classes. Over the course of two Saturdays, we’ll demystify the foundational poses and movements that often leave students wondering.
Ever been confused about what your legs should be doing in Warrior 2 or Triangle? Not quite sure about arm and shoulder alignment in Chaturanga or Downward Dog? Now’s your chance to get crystal clear on the foundational moves and ask the questions you’ve always wanted answered.
Join Michael Ponte, one of Down Under’s lead 200 Hour trainers, to release uncertainty and build the confidence to truly enjoy your yoga practice. You’ll leave with game-changing insights and a toolkit of principles to help you unlock the full potential of any yoga class you take.
Say goodbye to hesitation and step into your practice with confidence.
Cost: $30
Please bring a yoga mat, yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
SOLD OUT: Yoga & Eco-Adventure Retreat to Dominica
Join Rosie for a week of good company, intelligent yoga practice, inspired outdoor activities, and delicious local food at Jungle Bay on Dominica, the “Nature Island of the Caribbean”.
The Art of Assisting
The Art of Assisting with Masaaki Okamura, Kate Heffernan & Ally Hines
Brookline • In-Studio Only
Saturday & Sunday 1:15-8:15 pm
February 8-9, 2025
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience a greater understanding of the art of alignment and hands-on adjustments?
Join Down Under faculty for a revolutionary weekend to explore, learn, and practice what it means to teach with your hands. During this weekend you will delve into the depths of working as a tactical artist in the classroom, learning the ABC's of alignment and assisting, how to read a room, see bodies, and how to direct without your voice. Part lecture, part practice, this weekend will change the way you practice and teach, and the way you communicate with your hands. For students, teachers and those eager to deepen their understanding of the art that is assisting!
Required Props: yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $275
Valentine's Day Partner Stretching & Thai Yoga Massage
Valentine's Day Partner Stretching & Thai Yoga Massage with Daniel Orlansky
Friday, February 14
7:15-9:45pm • Newton
Join us on February 14 for a special Valentine's Day experience: partner stretching and Thai Yoga Massage. Celebrate the holiday of the heart with a friend or partner in a relaxing evening designed to soften and release tension in the body. Through a combination of gentle stretches and soothing massage, this session will help reduce physical tension, improve circulation, ease lower back and neck pain, and leave you feeling more connected, refreshed, and happy.
Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes or yoga clothes.
Required Props: please bring two yoga mats (mats are available to rent for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $75 per couple
Note - only one of the pair need sign up.
Steadiness & Joy: Yoga for Your Entire Life - Retreat to Mexico
How do we create practices that are flexible and sustainable, that evolve as we shift and grow? How do we carry the self we discover on the mat into our lives off the mat?
In this retreat we will take deep dives into the physical practice of yoga, while also exploring how to practice yoga in the realm of daily life.
Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training
This two-weekend intensive (16 hours) is intended for any certified fitness professional or 200 Hour Yoga Teacher. The intention of this training is to:
Provide you with the tools to sequence and teach a 45, 60, or 75-minute Yoga Sculpt class.
Give yourself the ability to incorporate resistance training into your yoga classes safely.
Train you to merge your knowledge of resistance training into a vinyasa yoga flow.
Make yogis stronger and athletes more flexible!
The Winter Wind Down: A Yoga Retreat
Retreat to Maine with Brittney and Sarah for a 3 night, 4 day winter getaway to reconnect, empower, and restore. Savor nourishing meals and unplug in a cozy setting where there are opportunities for both connection and solace.
The Ashtanga School Weekend Intensive
Join Down Under’s Ashtanga Faculty for a full weekend of workshops.
The Art of Assisting
The Art of Assisting with Masaaki Okamura, Kate Heffernan & Rachelle Pierre
Newton • In-Studio Only
Saturday & Sunday 2-9pm
April 12-13, 2025
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience a greater understanding of the art of alignment and hands-on adjustments?
Join Down Under faculty for a revolutionary weekend to explore, learn, and practice what it means to teach with your hands. During this weekend you will delve into the depths of working as a tactical artist in the classroom, learning the ABC's of alignment and assisting, how to read a room, see bodies, and how to direct without your voice. Part lecture, part practice, this weekend will change the way you practice and teach, and the way you communicate with your hands. For students, teachers and those eager to deepen their understanding of the art that is assisting!
Required Props: yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $275
Trance Breathing with David Magone
1:30-4pm • Porter Square & Livestream
This practice will show you how to safely induce psychedelic-like states of awareness without the use of drugs. When used responsibly, these healing practices can be used to release energy blockages, gain deeper insights into different aspects of your life, regulate mood and more.
This session will include an introduction to the healing power of non-ordinary states of awareness, a blindfolded breath-trip set to music and group integration exercises following the breath session.
This practice is contraindicated for anyone suffering from mental disorders with psychotic features, heart problems and pregnant people
This programming is run by DM Adventures LLC
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: The Foundations
Yin Yoga Teacher Training:
The Foundations with Emily Peterson
May 2-4 & June 6-8 • Newton
Fridays: 7:15-9:15pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 2-8:30pm
Foundations of Yin Yoga training will provide 200 Hour Yoga Teachers with the tools and knowledge necessary to lead an effective yin class, while simultaneously deepening your own yoga practice.
Research has shown that the practice of yin yoga can improve measures of anxiety, depression, and resilience.
This training will verse students in the fundamental concepts of yin—what it is, and how and why we do it. You’ll leave this training with evidence-based strategies to guide your students through growth, (post-traumatic and otherwise) toward the experience of joy.
Throughout the training, you will gain new depths of personal insight and awareness through direct experience of the philosophy behind yin yoga. You will discover methods to amplify emotional and somatic healing gently, and intelligently; then share it with your community.
Prerequisite: 200 Hour YTT is required to take this training. By enrolling you are confirming you have taken a 200 Hour YTT.
Cost: $650
Down Under Teacher Trainings are final sale & do not allow for any cancellations or refunds.Getting Up(side Down): Handstands
An all levels experiential workshop designed to move you through gravitational plateaus and take flight. After thorough preparation, we will intelligently work with the wall to support the process of getting upside down. You will leave this workshop with clear steps that you can safely practice on your own to improve your handstands every day!
Accesible Yoga Training
Accessible Yoga Training with Jivana Heyman
June 13-15, 2025
Friday, June 13th • 6:15pm-9:15pm
Saturday, June 14th • 1:30pm-8:30pm
Sunday, June 15th • 1:30pm-8:30pm
All sessions held at Down Under School of Yoga, Brookline
Want to learn the skills and tools needed to create integrated Accessible Yoga classes where students of different abilities can practice together?
Join the upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online with Jivana Heyman and guest teachers!
In this 40-hour virtual program, you'll:
Learn to design yoga classes where all students can practice together in a way that honors and celebrates people of all ages, sizes, abilities, and experience levels.
Take a deep dive into how to safely and appropriately adapt asana on the mat, chair, wall for a range of physical abilities.
Explore the many ways that yoga can be adapted for students with disabilities or physical challenges, older adults, people with larger bodies, and more.
Learn how to make your classes welcoming to everyone, empower students with agency, and approach students in a trauma-informed way.
...and so much more!
Tiered pricing, payment plans, & partial scholarship are available.
Jivana Heyman (he/him), C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He’s the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body.
Over the past 30 years of teaching yoga, Jivana has focused on welcoming all people to practice and celebrating our individuality and our differences. His work has focused on dismantling ableism in the yoga world, as well as emphasizing the intersection of yoga and social justice. His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition.
Trance Breathing with David Magone
1:30-4pm • Porter Square & Livestream
This practice will show you how to safely induce psychedelic-like states of awareness without the use of drugs. When used responsibly, these healing practices can be used to release energy blockages, gain deeper insights into different aspects of your life, regulate mood and more.
This session will include an introduction to the healing power of non-ordinary states of awareness, a blindfolded breath-trip set to music and group integration exercises following the breath session.
This practice is contraindicated for anyone suffering from mental disorders with psychotic features, heart problems and pregnant people
This programming is run by DM Adventures LLC
The Art of Assisting
The Art of Assisting with Masaaki Okamura, Kate Heffernan & Rachelle Pierre
Brookline • In-Studio Only
Saturday & Sunday 1:15-8:15 pm
October 11-12, 2025
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience a greater understanding of the art of alignment and hands-on adjustments?
Join Down Under faculty for a revolutionary weekend to explore, learn, and practice what it means to teach with your hands. During this weekend you will delve into the depths of working as a tactical artist in the classroom, learning the ABC's of alignment and assisting, how to read a room, see bodies, and how to direct without your voice. Part lecture, part practice, this weekend will change the way you practice and teach, and the way you communicate with your hands. For students, teachers and those eager to deepen their understanding of the art that is assisting!
Required Props: yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $275
Kino MacGregor Weekend Workshops
Join Kino MacGregor for a full weekend of workshops across Down Under School of Yoga studios or via livestream
Learn to Fly: Arm Balances
Learn to Fly: Arm Balances with Meredith Evangelisti
Saturday, November 9
1:30-2:45pm • Brookline
Ready to fly?
In this 75 minute all-levels workshop, you will learn how to achieve arm balances in a progressive and safe way.
See step-by-step drills to enhance your practice and strengthen the muscles needed to fly!
Some of the postures you will learn: Crow (and how to jump back) , Side Crow, Eka Pada (Hurdlers Pose), Chinstand, Headstand, & Bird of Paradise to name a few!
Cost: $40
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Super Led Primary & Conference
Super Led Primary & Conference with Didi von Deck & Kate Bush
Sunday, November 3
7:15am • Brookline
Conference is a beloved Mysore tradition where Ashtanga teachers and students from our 3 Mysore schools (Harvard, Brookline and South End) gather to share food, wisdom and inspiration on practice.
Conferences explore a specific topic related to practice and are a unique opportunity to ask questions about asana, philosophy or any aspects of yoga, and to learn from and connect with colleagues. 3 times a year the Ashtanga communities unite for a communal Led Primary followed by a breakfast conference at our Life Alive Cafe at Harvard Square (winter), South End (summer) and Brookline (fall).
Didi & Kate will be hosting Super Led Primary and Conference on Sunday, November 3rd at 7:15am in the Brookline studio. Sign up for class below to let us know you’re coming & travel afterwards to Life Alive Cafe Brookline (888 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline) for the breakfast conference!
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
FREE Info Session: 300 Hour Advanced Teacher Training
FREE Info Session - 300 Hour Advanced Teacher Training with Justine Cohen & Kate Heffernan
Saturday, November 2
10:30-11:15am • Livestream
Join Down Under lead teachers Justine Cohen & Kate Heffernan for a FREE info session & discussion around what it means to move beyond the basics & enhance your teaching with Down Under's 300 Hour Professional Teacher Training. Join the discussion & stay for a Q&A to answer all your questions about the Professional Teacher Training.
For more information on the training and to find the application, visit https://downunderyoga.com/300-hour-boston-yoga-teacher-training or email Kate Heffernan at educationdirector@downunderyoga.com for more information.
***A Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Sodarshan Chakra Kriya: Cutting Through Darkness
Sodarshan Chakra Kriya: Cutting Through Darkness with Daniel Orlansky
Sunday, October 27
12:30-2pm • South End
Thousands of years old, Sodarshan Chakra Kriya is widely believed to be the most powerful pranayama practice across the many schools and styles of yoga.
It is the simplest kriya but, at the same time, the hardest, and said to cut through darkness, giving you a new start. This workshop will begin with a dynamic breathing sequence from Kundalini Yoga before moving into a full experience of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya.
This practice is not recommended for:
Folks with heart problems
Pregnant people
Those living with mental health conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Check with your medical provider before the workshop if there is concern.
Cost: $30
Please bring a yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Down Under's first public Fitness Audition
Down Under's first public Fitness Audition
Saturday, October 26
1:45-4pm • Porter Square
Calling all instructors of Pilates Mat, Inferno Hot Pilates, HIIT, Strength & Conditioning, Yoga Sculpt, Barre, Bootcamp and Personal Trainers to the first public audition for fitness ever held at New England's finest yoga and fitness school. Down Under is expanding its fitness programming and inviting talented personal trainers and fitness instructors of all styles to come and share your craft.
Each auditioner will have 3-5 minutes to showcase the fitness modality of their choice. Sign up to join & forward your teaching resume & any questions to Down Under Faculty Director Delaney Stone at delaney.stone@downunderyoga.com
Introduction to Energy Medicine Yoga
Introduction to Energy Medicine Yoga with Lauren Walker
Saturday, October 26
12:30-2:30pm • South End
Everything is Energy! - Albert Einstein
Join EMYoga Creator, Lauren Walker, to understand that You are Energy.
Starting with an inspirational lecture you'll learn the evolution of the 9 Energy Systems that make up the body, how they all interact and interrelate, what they do, and how to make them work for You. Then you'll be guided through the Essential EMYoga practice, and experience in your body the difference in your yoga practice when you add in the missing ingredient of Energy. You'll leave feeling revitalized, grounded and inspired!
Cost: $30
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
About Lauren
Lauren Walker is the author of The Energy to Heal, 2022 (Llewellyn), which won the Nautilus Silver award for best Mind/Body publication. She previously published, Energy Medicine Yoga: Amplify the Healing Power of Your Yoga Practice (Sounds True, 2014) and The Energy Medicine Yoga Prescription (Sounds True, 2017). Both books also won the Nautilus Silver award for best Mind/Body publication. She’s been teaching yoga and meditation since 1997 and created Energy Medicine Yoga while teaching at Norwich University. She teaches EMYoga across the US and internationally and has been featured many times in Yoga Journal, Yoga Digest, and published a feature article about her yoga work in The New York Times. In 2016 she was named one of the top 100 most influential yoga teachers in America. For more of her work, see EMYoga.net
Sirsasana the Iyengar Way
BKS Iyengar writes that the ancient yogic texts refer to headstand, Sirsasana, as the king of all asanas. In this workshop we will breakdown how Sirsasana is taught in Iyengar yoga classes, from the ground up. Join Nadja to learn which actions you need to safely do headstand and which poses help prepare the body and mind. Learn the value of using the wall as a tool and how to refine the pose once balancing. This workshop is geared toward yoga students with some experience who are practicing or would like to practice headstand.
FREE Info Session: 200 Hour Teacher Training
FREE Info Session: 200 Hour Teacher Training
Tuesday, October 22
6:30-7:15pm - Livestream
Go beyond drop in classes - Join lead teacher Kate Heffernan and Studio Director Justine Wiltshire Cohen for a FREE information session about our upcoming 200 Hour Teacher Trainings. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers!
For more information & to fill out the application visit: https://downunderyoga.com/200-hour-boston-yoga-teacher-training or email Kate Heffernan at educationdirector@downunderyoga.com for more information.
***A Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Sunday Ashtanga Mysore Open House for Beginners
Sunday Ashtanga Mysore Open House for Beginners with Elliott McEldowney
Sunday, October 20
2-2:30pm • South End
If you’ve been curious about Down Under’s Ashtanga School, here’s your chance to learn more about the program, ask questions, and get pointers for starting a mysore practice with us.
This free half-hour session is designed to demystify the practice and give you the tools to explore this powerful form of yoga. We’ll talk about how the practice is structured, how we move and breathe consistently through the poses, and how to modify for your body, lifestyle, and schedule.
FREE
No mat required.
Sunday Savor & Center: Mindful Eating & Meditation in collaboration with Life Alive
Sunday Savor & Center: Mindful Eating & Meditation with Emma Ayotte in collaboration with Life Alive
Sunday, October 20
1:45-2:45pm • Harvard Square
Luxuriate in the pleasure of truly savoring our food. The art of eating means changing our relationship and approach to food by acknowledging that how we eat is as important as what we eat. While we all find ourselves eating on the go while answering emails or scrolling through social media, mealtimes are a gift and an opportunity to pause, check in, and consciously nourish ourselves.
Join us, the culinary experts of Life Alive and meditation-nutrition experts of Down Under, for a mindful eating meditation that will transform the way you approach mealtimes. This meditation and discussion will help support you in building a meal-time ritual that grounds your mind into intentionality, presence, and nourishment. Session includes:
A mindful eating meditation led by Down Under Yoga and Meditation lead Emma Ayotte
Including tastings of seasonal food and beverages by Life Alive Organic Cafe
First course: cold pressed juice shot
Second course: butternut bisque soup (contains coconut and allium)
Third course: autumn falafel (contains sesame, soy and allium)
Fourth course: avocado chocolate mousse (contains coconut)
Learn takeaways for incorporating mindfulness into every meal
Learn the benefits of slowing down and eating with purpose and intentionality
Cost: FREE
No yoga mat required. Space is limited, please only sign up if you are able to attend!
This event is not eligible for the YogiPass 20% off discount.
Sunday Morning Flow & Fitness Mash Up
Sunday Morning Flow & Fitness Mash Up
Sunday, October 20
7-8am • South End
Faculty Director Delaney Stone and Personal Trainer, Fitness & Nutrition expert Cam Barach welcome in Sunday morning with a Flow & Fitness mash up practice accompanied by tastings of Life Alive’s strawberry lemonade & iced tea.
FREE
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Saturday Afternoon Showcase & Street Party
Saturday Afternoon Showcase & Street Party with Patricia Walden, Natasha Rizopoulos, Gregor Singleton, Masaaki Okamura, Nadja Refaie, Kate Heffernan & Justine Cohen
Saturday, October 19
2-4pm • Brookline
A Panel Discussion with Down Under’s Senior Teachers of 12-20 years exploring the evolution of yoga, its impact on our lives, and the future of our practice. Founder Justine Cohen interviews Patricia Walden, Natasha Rizopoulos, Gregor Singleton, Masaaki Okamura, Nadja Refaie & Kate Heffernan as they share their most treasured yoga philosophy, secrets to taking yoga off the mat and living yoga, and their personal teaching journeys including hardest moments and top secrets for aspiring teachers and serious students. The panel discussion from 2-3:15pm is followed by a celebratory reception with refreshments from Life Alive Cafe in our studio and on our sidewalk until 4pm - a perfect time to connect with fellow students, teachers and panelists in a relaxed, social atmosphere.
FREE though space is limited so please only sign up if you are able to attend.
No mats required.
Saturday Morning Mingle: Flow & Nourish
Saturday Morning Mingle: Flow & Nourish with Jojo Reger
Saturday, October 19
8:15-9am • Newton
Join one of our school’s most beloved leads, Jojo Reger as she celebrates 15 years with Down Under, for a morning of lyrical movement, breakfast goodies, fresh juices & celebratory toasts! Join us after Jojo’s 7am Flow or before her 9am as Jojo, Lyn Starikov (7.30am Heated) and Ann Appavoo (8.45am Iyengar) all host a light brunch in our Newton lobby in between yoga classes to commemorate our 20th.
Breakfast snacks are FREE, join any class by signing up using your class pass.
If you are taking class, please bring a mat, yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Friday Night: An Ashtanga Affair - Practice & a Discussion with DUY Ashtanga Faculty
Friday Night: An Ashtanga Affair - Practice & a Discussion with DUY Ashtanga Faculty
Friday, October 18
7:15-9:15 • Porter Square
Come and learn from and with other ashtanga yoga practitioners! We will do a short practice together, then DUY ashtanga faculty will facilitate a discussion and invite questions.
Didi will lead off with the historical roots of Ashtanga yoga, Kate will address the significance of the ashtanga yoga chants, Elliott will explore how the bandhas and binds help us find alignment from the inside out and Paulina will discuss how to deepen your practice.
All this followed by an ashtanga social with snacks and the opportunity to meet other practitioners in the Boston community.
FREE
Please bring a mat, yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Retreat to Vermont
Join Shawna for a rejuvenating Yoga retreat nestled amidst the vibrant foliage of Vermont this October!
Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of nature as you deepen your practice and nourish your soul. Unwind in 500-acres of tranquil surroundings, indulge in nourishing meals, and connect with like-minded individuals on a journey of self-discovery and renewal.
Getting Up(side Down): Handstands
An all levels experiential workshop designed to move you through gravitational plateaus and take flight. After thorough preparation, we will intelligently work with the wall to support the process of getting upside down. You will leave this workshop with clear steps that you can safely practice on your own to improve your handstands every day!
FREE - Ashtanga Open House for Beginners (Harvard Square)
FREE - Ashtanga Open House for Beginners with Elliott McEldowney
Saturday, October 12
1:30-2pm • Harvard Sq
If you’ve been curious about Down Under’s Ashtanga School, here’s your chance to learn more about the program, ask questions, and get pointers for starting a mysore practice with us.
This free half-hour session is designed to demystify the practice and give you the tools to explore this powerful form of yoga. We’ll talk about how the practice is structured, how we move and breathe consistently through the poses, and how to modify for your body, lifestyle, and schedule.
No mat required.
The Art of Assisting
The Art of Assisting with Masaaki Okamura, Kate Heffernan & Ally Hines
Brookline • In-Studio Only
Saturday & Sunday 1:15-8:15 pm
October 12-13, 2024
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience a greater understanding of the art of alignment and hands-on adjustments?
Join Down Under faculty for a revolutionary weekend to explore, learn, and practice what it means to teach with your hands. During this weekend you will delve into the depths of working as a tactical artist in the classroom, learning the ABC's of alignment and assisting, how to read a room, see bodies, and how to direct without your voice. Part lecture, part practice, this weekend will change the way you practice and teach, and the way you communicate with your hands. For students, teachers and those eager to deepen their understanding of the art that is assisting!
Required Props: yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $275
FREE Info Session: 300 Hour Advanced Teacher Training
FREE Info Session - 300 Hour Advanced Teacher Training with Justine Cohen & Kate Heffernan
Tuesday, October 8
6:30-7:15pm • Livestream
Join Down Under lead teachers Justine Cohen & Kate Heffernan for a FREE info session & discussion around what it means to move beyond the basics & enhance your teaching with Down Under's 300 Hour Professional Teacher Training. Join the discussion & stay for a Q&A to answer all your questions about the Professional Teacher Training.
For more information on the training and to find the application, visit https://downunderyoga.com/300-hour-boston-yoga-teacher-training or email Kate Heffernan at educationdirector@downunderyoga.com for more information.
***A Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
The Backbend Breakdown
The Backbend Breakdown with Abby Keene
Sunday, October 6
12:30-2:30pm • South End
A successful backbend requires anatomical precision and deep bodily awareness. It delivers freedom and emotional suppleness.
This workshop will explore the commonalities of all backward bends– from the subtle layers of the nervous system to the superficial layers of skin and bone. Expect to explore spinal anatomy, the essential ingredients for an injury-free backbend, experiential drills, and an all-levels backbending flow with emphasis on real-time feedback and an open floor for questions and discovery.
Objectives:
Appreciate the anatomy of the spine and its role in a backward bend
Gain a checklist that takes you through the essential ingredients of a safe backward bend
Understand how to integrate healthy backward bends into your daily practice
Cost: $55
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Inner Alchemy: Breath & Meditation Facilitator Immersion Training
Inner Alchemy: Breath & Meditation Facilitator Immersion Training with David Magone
October 5 & 6 • 2-8pm
November 2 & 3 • 2-8pm
December 7 & 8 • 2-8pm
Newton & Livestream
This meditation & breath-work training is open to teachers, and practitioners alike and upon completion, you will be eligible to apply for 36 Continuing Education hours with Yoga Alliance.
Embark on a sacred journey of transformation and become a guide in the transformative practices of meditation and breath-work. Delve into traditional and contemporary techniques, empowering others on their own sacred journeys and joining a community of like-minded individuals on a path of positive change.
This immersive teacher training program invites you to delve deep within yourself, unlocking the profound potential for personal growth, spiritual awakening, and the ability to positively impact the world around you.
Weekend 1: Calming the Mind, Igniting the Spirit
Discover the art of inner stillness as you experience traditional calming meditation practices. Immerse yourself in yoga nidra, experience the serenity of the zen walking meditation, cultivate a tranquil mind through shamatha meditation, nurturing focused awareness and deepening your connection to the present moment.
Weekend 2: Breath, Consciousness, and Expansion
Unveil the transformative power of breath as you journey into the realm of expanded consciousness. Explore the benefits and responsible usage of breath induced psychedelic states of awareness, unlocking doors to profound insights and heightened spiritual experiences. Learn to harness the breath as a catalyst for transformation, discovering the ability to upregulate and downregulate your nervous system & consciousness. As you acquire the skills to guide themed breathwork sessions, you become an agent of positive change, supporting others on their own paths of growth and inner awakening.
Weekend 3: Integration and Empowerment
Integrate your newfound wisdom and create a ripple effect of transformation in your community and the world. Engage in practice teaching exercises, refining your ability to guide and inspire others through meditation and breathwork. Explore advanced breathwork techniques, including powerful trance breathing, expanding your awareness and accessing profound spiritual insights.
Leave this weekend with a sustainable practice and a deep sense of empowerment, ready to help others unlock their inner potential and contribute to supporting your community.
You will be supported by a community of like-minded individuals, sharing the journey of growth, compassion, and collective evolution.
Unlock the Power of Meditation and Breath and become an instrument of transformation, helping to make the world a better place— one breath, one heart, and one soul at a time. Reserve your place today and embark on a journey that transcends the self, illuminates the spirit, and shapes a more harmonious future.
Cost: $1495
Upon completion of this program you may apply for 36 CEU hours at Yoga Alliance
Down Under Teacher Trainings are final sale & do not allow for any cancellations or refunds.
FREE - Ashtanga Open House for Beginners (Brookline)
FREE - Ashtanga Open House for Beginners with Elliott McEldowney
Saturday, October 5
1:30-2pm • Brookline
If you’ve been curious about Down Under’s Ashtanga School, here’s your chance to learn more about the program, ask questions, and get pointers for starting a mysore practice with us.
This free half-hour session is designed to demystify the practice and give you the tools to explore this powerful form of yoga. We’ll talk about how the practice is structured, how we move and breathe consistently through the poses, and how to modify for your body, lifestyle, and schedule.
No mat required.
Insight Society: A Psychotherapy Group
Insight Society: A Psychotherapy Group with Sarah Schermerhorn
Eight Fridays
October 4, October 11, October 18, October 25, November 1, November 8, November 15, November 22
9-10:30am • Back Bay
Insight Society is an 8-week mindfulness-based, group psychotherapy practice. The group structure allows you to gain insight into your relational, behavioral, and cognitive patterns, which often contribute to the challenges of daily life.
Under the guidance of heated flow instructor and licensed psychotherapist Sarah Schermerhorn, LMHC, the group will help you develop mindfulness practices that foster mental health and cultivate effective ways to understand and regulate emotions.
Each session will begin with a 45-minute non-heated vinyasa practice followed by 45 minutes of group psychotherapy.
To sign up for the group, contact Sarah to schedule a 30-minute initial intake session then click sign up below to enroll. The group size is limited to twelve people, so please do reach out to ensure enrollment.
About Sarah
In her life outside of the studio, Sarah is a psychotherapist working primarily with emerging adults and athletes. She also has several years of experience coaching soccer at the collegiate level.
Integrating these two roles into her teaching approach, Sarah is passionate about creatively blending strength, athleticism, and mindfulness into a rhythmic flow that helps students heal, process, and attune to their bodies. She understands yoga as a collection of brief moments that, when gathered together, create a full, steady, and powerful flow. She is an advocate for using yoga as a complementary practice to mental health treatment and self-actualization.
Cost: $1,010
Cost includes the intake session and the 8 weekly sessions & is not able to be prorated for any missed sessions.
Please bring a yoga mat - mats are available to rent in studio for $3
This program is not eligible for the YogiPass 20% off discount.
Ayurvedic Practices for the Fall Season
Ayurvedic Practices for the Fall Season with Rebecca Donato & Tessa Brackett
Saturday, September 28
2-4pm • Porter Square & Livestream
As Mother nature cycles from Summer to Fall, join us to learn what the wisdom of Ayurveda teaches us about this important seasonal transition. You’ll discover how the elemental shifts in the wider environment impact us as individuals, and why this can potentially create imbalances in the mind and body.
You will also learn how you can sustain your health the Ayurvedic way - how to shift your daily routines, lifestyle practices and food choices so that you can thrive this season!
Bring a notebook, no yoga mats needed
Cost: $30
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Falling into Balance: An Equinox Offering
Falling into Balance: An Equinox Offering with Emily Peterson & Max Sass
Sunday, September 22
12:30-2:30pm • South End
This Autumn, when night and day find equal length, experience the harmony of a yang flow led by Max Sass and a receptive yin practice led by Emily Peterson. An opportunity to harvest as a community, this practice will provide you the space for both the light and darkness within you to dance organically. Rest in an extended savasana: finding your zero point, the balance of both dualities, where our divine essence is revealed. During savasana Max will lead a guided journey while Emily accompanies on a drum.
Cost: $50
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
Healing Touch: Partner Stretching & Thai Yoga Massage
Healing Touch: Partner Stretching & Thai Yoga Massage with Daniel Orlansky
Friday, September 20
7:15-9:45pm • Newton
Celebrate the evening with a friend or partner as we stretch and open blocked areas of the body. The partner stretching draws on modern PNF/resistance stretching techniques, while Thai Yoga Massage involves gentle finger and hand pressure, acupressure release points, and comfortable joint manipulations. This is an unbeatable combination, which reduces muscle tension, increases flexibility, enhances circulation, helps alleviate lower back pain, and improves balance and coordination. In the end you will feel more relaxed and energized, guaranteed!
Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes or yoga clothes.
Required Props: please bring two yoga mats (mats are available to rent for $3 at the studio)
Cost: $75 per couple
Note - only one of the pair need sign up.
Trance Breathing with David Magone
Sunday, September 15
1:30-4pm • Porter Square & Livestream
This practice will show you how to safely induce psychedelic-like states of awareness without the use of drugs. When used responsibly, these healing practices can be used to release energy blockages, gain deeper insights into different aspects of your life, regulate mood and more.
This session will include an introduction to the healing power of non-ordinary states of awareness, a blindfolded breath-trip set to music and group integration exercises following the breath session.
This practice is contraindicated for anyone suffering from mental disorders with psychotic features, heart problems and pregnant people
This programming is run by DM Adventures LLC
The Summer Send Off!
The Summer Send Off! With Sarah Schermerhorn
Friday, September 13
7:30-9:30pm • Brookline & Livestream
Enjoy this power packed class to both match, and send-off the excitement of this summer season!
Prepare to sweat from the jump, and pause at the peak of our effort to reflect on what the summer season held. Together we'll meditate on what we hope to leave behind in this summer season, and what we hope to bring with us as we move toward the grounded, earthy energy of the fall. This workshop will offer a creative, fast-paced sequence with variations on sun salutations, twists, balancing efforts, and brief journal prompts. Join us for this unique all-levels workshop that is designed to feel effort-full throughout.
Bring a mat, journal & something to write with.
Cost: $45
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
Ashtanga Intermediate Series: Cleansing the Energetic Body
Ashtanga Intermediate Series: Cleansing the Energetic Body with Didi von Deck & Elliott McEldowney
Saturday, September 7
2-4:30pm • Newton & Livestream
In Sanskrit, the Ashtanga intermediate series is referred to as nadi shodhana, which translates to the cleansing of the subtle energy channels. The poses build on the strength and flexibility of the Ashtanga primary series, offering more opportunity to work with backbends, hip opening, and arm balances. In this workshop we will go through all the poses in the Ashtanga second series, offering attainable versions for each pose, to balance the body and enable the free flow of prana.
Cost: $50
Yoga mats are available to rent in studio for $3
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***
From Stressed to Unstoppable: Unleash Your Inner Superhero, a Retreat - Sold Out
Join renowned yoga instructor and stress optimization expert David Magone for a game-changing weekend retreat at a rustic farmhouse in Corinth Vermont. Unlock the secrets to peak performance, vibrant health, and unshakable resilience!