Photo by Adam Dietrich

John Perkins,  founder of the Pachamama Alliance, and shamanic leader opened his evening lecture at The Yoga House on  January 2012 with enthusiasm and enlightenment. Literally, he lit up the sky.

Blue Spirit and their sister group, The Omega Institute, will be continuing their public-learning program, entering into their fourth year; A five-session series of lectures by world-renowned spiritual speakers will be taking place at the Yoga House every Monday starting January 7th.

“We're just putting this information to the community,” said Blue Spirit's marketing manager, Bhajan Kaur. “We want to help people learn more techniques, to offer this free to the community or visitors so that they can go out into the world to experience their own spiritual well-being before spreading it to others.”

Kaur said that “These lectures and lessons are things which people can apply to their lives immediately, to give them more awareness of the present moment and a daily base of goals to work from, and follow through on. It gives them tools to use everyday to achieve those longer-term resolutions.”

Students are advised to bring a relaxed and open mind, as well as some more practical instruments, according to Kaur.

“It's always good to bring a notebook and pen,” she said. “Come to each class with comfortable clothing where the body can move.”

Classes begin on January 7th, at the Yoga House, sessions are expected to start at 7:30PM, and will continue every Monday until February 11th.

Monday, January 7th
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) - Dawson Church, PhD
Used by millions of people, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) have been proven successful in many scientific studies and work on a variety of health concerns and psychological problems, even those that have been resistant to other methods. Self-healing with EFT works by using a combination of acupressure points, along with advanced psychological methods, to produce quick relief from even long-held distress. Discover how to apply EFT to improve your own life in minutes and experience dramatic emotional healing.

Monday, January 14th
Callings: In Search of an Authentic Life - Gregg Levoy
Callings are urgings from deep within that tell you what it will take to make your life “come true.” They point you toward awakenings, course-corrections, and powerful authenticity. Gregg Levoy, author of Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life, shows you how to take a creative approach to the challenges of listening and responding to life’s callings. You learn to clarify your callings, work with resistance, and identify who and what can help you make your callings a reality.

Monday, January 21st
Relationship as Spiritual Practice - Judith Ansara, MSW, and Robert Gass, EdD
Do you long to create loving and satisfying relationships? Join internationally renowned consciousness teachers and creators of ‘Sharing the Path’ workshops for couples, Judith Ansara and Robert Gass, for an enlivening and practical training in the art of embracing relationship as a spiritual practice. As you learn to bring your heart, mind, body, and spirit into your relation-ships, you will delight in increased intimacy, connection, and joy. Singles and couples are welcome.

Monday, January 28th
Achieving Peace Through Higher Consciousness - John Perkins
John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and Shapeshifting, quit working for the World Bank and the United States government when he realized he was part of a system that creates an unsustainable world. His work with shamanic cultures around the world taught him that now, in this time prophesized by the Maya and many others, we have the opportunity to change. This week, he leads us on shamanic journeys to expand our consciousness and shape-shift our institutions.

Monday, February 4th
Waterfall Qigong: Free Fall of the Laughing Stream - Steven Michael Pague
A staff member of the Omega Institute, Steven Michael Pague has been
co-directing Omega’s winter programs for more than 25 years. A gifted group facilitator and educator, he works with The Tracking Project, sharing its programs of natural and cultural awareness with people all over the world. He is a certified instructor in Chinese Movement & Healing Arts with the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi. He is also a musician and songwriter. Pague’s music can be heard on the CD The Wheel of This Moment.

Monday, February 11
Longevity & Beyond: Living Fully in This Moment - Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD
Physician and cofounder of the Omega Institute, Stephan Rechtschaffen, teaches holistic approaches to time, longevity, nutrition, stress reduction, and well-being. These interests have drawn him to living in Costa Rica and envision and direct the retreat center Blue Spirit in Nosara. Rechtschaffen is the coauthor of Vitality and Wellness and the author of Timeshifting, a book that has been translated into 15 languages, and focuses on one’s relationship to time and stress amidst the quickening pace of modern life.