Namaste, Sat Nam
My name is Celeste McNeal Wood. I live in Tulsa Oklahoma and I am so very excited to be with you at the Texas Yoga Retreat celebrating our 25th anniversary!
A little about myself….what drew me to yoga is a kind of fun story. The first time I ever experienced Kundalini yoga I was in my mother‘s womb, growing in her belly and experiencing these profound chants in the early ambrosial hours of the Pre-dawn mornings and what’s amazing about it is that I didn’t really grow up doing yoga, but something happened in my 20s where I experienced yoga again and it was the chant: ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO that lit my cells on fire! And helped me Remember why I came here and so it’s beautiful because it has helped inform all of my reality: working with Childbirth and Women’s embodiment and just human natures embodiment of our divine purpose on this planet. that’s what drew me to Yoga, that sound current & the connectivity of our breath inside our body temple.
As you can see, being in nature is very very important to me and I’m excited to share One of my classes is called ceremonial circles – every day altars. really appreciating indigenous and multicultural Different forms of gathering together and experiencing so for me Yoga is deeply communal and this is partly why I love more than anything The Texas Yoga retreat and the experience at the Ashram.
I am currently most passionate about our heart Field- our energy that is deeply rooted in love…the love that connects us all. And I moved by this David Hawkins quote, I’m going to read it to you. He says his research showed him that “one individual who vibrates to the energy of pure love will counterbalance the negativity of 750,000 you are not.” Just breathe into that with me for a moment Because we live in a really interesting time where it feels often like things are spiraling into chaotic division, this chaotic division of separateness, of you and me and us and them and just a lot of death and disillusionment with many of the systems that we’ve been living with. and what is nurturing me is that when we stay anchored in this pure love and for me, yoga is a pathway to experience my light, my true purpose on this planet so when when we stay anchored in that and we have tools, wow, it is the greatest gift to shine our light bright in what seems like some days a really dark dark world.
And you know, one of the things is that I often with my busy life I will have these dry spells of my personal practice where ,ugh, I just don’t feel like getting on the mat and you know one of the main ways that I get reactivated is #one to be of service to teach my Yoga and then to go to a retreat like we’re all going to be gathering together at this beautiful Ashram in Hill country outside of Austin. I absolutely cannot wait to be there with you because it is going to be a reactivation for me and I hope also for you!
And one of the things I most excited to share with you is many tools, fast acting energizing tools, and also the deep rest and restore that can come from sound. I’ll have my gong in every class and just today I want to share (tuning fork sound) how simple it can be to drop in to your breath, to what it is that connects you for being here…For saying YES to come and share This lovely retreat experience . It is a pleasure to drop in and get to know you. I look forward to seeing you on the mat and in our circles together! Sat Nam – truth is your essence. 🙏🏾
Friday 4:00-5:45pm
Roots & Wings: Experiencing & Expanding our Energy Field
This will be a perfect kick off the retreat class to assist you in setting embodied intentions for your time at TYR and the Ashram. This class is designed to help shed layers of ourselves that are required for busy daily life and to step into an energetic, open and receptive frequency to get the most out of our weekend together. With movement and powerful breathwork, we will create an energetic fire ceremony to release and create space for transformation. Bring your journal! You will leave this class feeling rooted in your intentions, expansive in your body temple & ready to be filled up by the Great Mystery of the Universe. Always be prepared for an eclectic array of asana, mantra, mudra, expressive movement and gong relaxation. If you can breathe, you can do this yoga!
Audience Level: Beginner- Intermediate / All Levels
Intensity of Practice: 3-6
50% Asana, 25% Meditation/Journaling, 25% Pranayama
Friday 8:45-10:00pm
Bloom Where You are Planted
Carl Jung said: “He who looks outside dreams. He who looks inside awakens.” This class inspires us to take a deep dive within and inquire, why are you alive during these potent times…what is your passion and deepest purpose? The yoga set will be a self-love filled, recalibration that will leave our mind, body and spirit ready for deep rest and rejuvenation. We will round out our practice with one of the most well-known Kundalini Yoga Mantras for emotional healing and getting back into rhythm with our essential selves. Always be prepared for an eclectic array of asana, mantra, mudra, expressive movement and gong relaxation. If you can breathe, you can do this yoga!
Audience Level: Beginner- Intermediate / All Levels
Intensity of Practice: 3-6
30% Asana, 30% Meditation/Journaling, 40% Pranayama/Mantra
Saturday 9:30-10:45am
The Power & Teacher Within
For generations we have been taught to look outside of ourselves for answers: God, Doctor, or elders…Someone else knows the answers/diagnosis, etc. better. What if this idea was false and everything we seek is already inside of us? Some sort of cosmic joke and when you get it, the laughter is contagious! We will merge ancient yogic practices with simple, energizing techniques to add to our toolbox to help us daily remember and access our autonomy, strength, power & purpose. Practice Mantra that illuminates our connection to the Infinite Creative Source energy deep
within. Always be prepared for an eclectic array of asana, mantra, mudra, expressive movement and gong relaxation. If you can breathe, you can do this yoga!
Audience Level: Beginner- Intermediate / All Levels
Intensity of Practice: 3-6
40% Asana, 20% Meditation, 40% Pranayama/Mantra
Sunday 7:00-8:30am
Ceremonial Circles – Everyday Altars
Drawing on Indigenous and multicultural practices of ritual in a circle, our time together outdoors will be like a sacred integration session woven with breath, song, noticing our surroundings, mantra, spoken reflections, & oracle cards (bring yours and your journal too!) Bring something for the community altar to charge up with our insights and take home with you, even if it is a feather or stone you found on the grounds! Expect to leave this class feeling tapped into your illuminated wholeness and integrated with the many lessons gained over the weekend!
Audience Level: Beginner- Intermediate / All Levels
Intensity of Practice: 3-4
25% Asana, 25% Meditation/Reflective Journaling, 50% Pranayama/Mantra