This workshop is designed for yoga practitioners who would like to improve their flexibility in a playful, supportive environment. During the workshop, students will be guided through a sequence of postures that progressively build towards deeper “backbends”. Nadia uses quotation marks because flexibility is truly a full-body practice; the spine itself is less flexible than many people think. Along the way, Nadia will introduce the core principles of Prana Vashya flexibility and alignment so students understand the role each posture plays in the sequence, including the less glamorous ones. In her own practice, the greatest progress has come from consistently returning to these fundamentals. Cobra is her best friend, and hopefully it will become yours too by the end of the workshop. Within the group setting, Nadia will also offer individual guidance to support each participant in working towards their own flexibility goals.

Gaga is the movement language developed by Ohad Naharin throughout many years, parallel to his work as a choreographer and artistic director (1990-2018) of Batsheva Dance Company. Gaga originated from Naharin’s need to communicate with his dancers and his curiosity in the ongoing research of movement. Gaga classes are predicated on a deep listening to the body and to physical sensations. The instructions are deployed to increase awareness of and further amplify sensation, and rather than turning from one prompt to another, information is layered, building into a multisensory, physically challenging experience. While many instructions are imbued with rich imagery, the research of Gaga is fundamentally physical, insisting on a specific process of embodiment. Inside this shared research, the improvisational nature of the exploration enables each participant’s deeply personal connection with Gaga. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to dance barefoot or in socks. It is advisable to bring a bottle of water and a towel for use after class.