After long searches here and there, in temples and in churches, in earths and in heavens, at last you come back, completing the circle from where you started, to your own soul and find that He, for whom you have been seeking all over the world, for whom you have been weeping and praying in churches and temples, on whom you were looking as the mystery of all mysteries shrouded in the clouds, is nearest of the near, is your own Self, the reality of your life, body and soul. - Swami Vivekenanda
January 9 th, 2012
SOUL FLOW
New offering at Moksha Yoga Victoria - join Whit on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 3-5pm for this 2-hour special class.
Venture deep with Whit to discover and awaken the subtle energy body through creative high energy movement inquires, paired with invigorating pranayama/breathwork. This practice will begin by cleansing the energetic pathways, releasing holding patterns of stagnant energy and enlivening the organism for an experience designed to deepen our relationship with the creative life force of Prana.From there, this 2-hour inquiry will progress through the many layers of our human experience, incorporating multiple styles of practice including: Hatha, Vinyasa, Self-Awakening Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga. This journey is set upon a foundation of mindfulness and meditation and returns practitioners to the seat of the soul, our True Self.
$20 drop in fee applies for this monthly 2 hour workshop.
January 2 nd, 2012
THE MOSS STREET SESSIONS
Join Whit in the New Year for two intimate, pre-registered yoga classes, alongside a cozy wood burning stove at our beautiful character home studio at Moss & Dallas.
Vinyasa Flow (Level 2/3) - Tuesdays 8-9:30pm (starting January 10th)
Yin Yoga & Meditation - Wednesdays 5-6:30pm (starting January 11th)
Cost: $45 + tax for 4 weekly sessions.
Class sizes are limited to 6 and 8 respectively, allowing us to create a sacred space to work more closely through our practice and personal growth.
If you are interested in joining us for this special experience, contact us asap to hold your spot. Email Whit at awaken_soularchyoga.ca
Happy New Year!
After spending a couple months in Costa Rica teaching at the Nosara Yoga Institute , Whit is back in Victoria. Check out his new schedule!
Follow Soul Arch on twitter!
September 4 th , 2011
Check out lululemon's recent Q&A with Whit...
Meet Whit Hornsberger: Soul Arch Yoga
August 29 th , 2011
Last Urban Yoga class of the summer, this Wednesday, August 31st. Same spot as last week, see link for details.
August 24 th , 2011
Lovely Soul Arch introduction by lululemon...
Urban Community Yoga presents Soul Arch Yoga
Thanks for the love, lulu...see you this evening!
August 22 nd , 2011
Urban Yoga
Join Whit and lululemon athletica for Urban Yoga this Wednesday, August 24th at 5pm in Centennial Square, downtown Victoria. This 60-minute Vinyasa flow class is completely complimentary, and the sun promises to shine, so come yog about it!
August 17 th , 2011
Check out our weekly updated schedule and come join Whit for a class!
About
Whit discovered yoga as a result of an injury to his left knee in his last year of a five year career playing basketball for the University of Calgary. The tearing of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee was, at the time, a devastating end to a successful career as one of the schools all time leading scorers and a blow to a potential future of playing professionally overseas in Europe. Whit was devastated by this setback - his hopes of playing professional basketball had been dashed. But unbeknownst at the time this disappointing turn of events were to open up a three year journey of self-inquiry and introspection.
One month after his surgery, and after completing his Bachelor of Science degree, Whit packed up his bags and moved west, landing in Victoria, B.C. It was here in the peaceful community on Southern Vancouver Island that he began to rehabilitate his mind and body through self-inquiry and yoga. The resulting healing process took the form of a nomadic journey that allowed Whit to contemplate his life purpose outside the realm of competitive sport.
For twenty-two months with surfboards, a guitar and a small backpack, Whit ventured off to travel, a passion he had long held but never materialized owing to his dedicated commitment to sport. Through Central and South America, Australia and Indonesia, Whit's driven personality longed and searched for meaning. Yoga became his refuge and his mat his home (and bed for that matter). Inhabiting a physical body riddled with injury, Whit became disassociated from this manifest realm of his experience, with the pain and suffering imposing a toxic influence on his mind. Returning daily to his mat as his yogic self-inquiry continued, Whit awakened to the incredible healing potential of the yoga path. Through the acceptance and teachings of his suffering, his mind, body and soul began to coalesce, returning to their natural and harmonious temperament. It awakened him to the realization that one day life could be lived free of this emotional and physical suffering.
One morning, sitting in the warm sand of an Australian beach break, Whit's inquiry into his life began to reveal the shallowness that was his life in sport. Recalling all the championships and accolades, he realized that neither had ever brought him true and lasting happiness. And in that moment Whit recognized that helping and giving to others was the key to this sense of self-fulfillment he was seeking.
Describing yoga as the saviour of his soul, Whit had found purpose and his journey began to share these healing gifts of yoga with others.
Eventually Whit returned to Victoria in the summer of 2009 and enrolled in a course of yoga therapy through Pacific Rim College. After completing the diploma, he packed up one more time and returned to his beloved country of Costa Rica to continue his yoga study under the guiding presence of Don and Amba Stapleton at the Nosara Yoga Institute. Three months of deep exploration in the jungle and surf of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica had ignited his passion to guide others in their healing, and on April 8th, 2010 Whit returned to Victoria, at home in his heart's center and founded Soul Arch Yoga.
Soul Arch Yoga
The name Soul Arch Yoga has much meaning behind it. While in Nosara, Costa Rica, some of Whit's closest friends from Victoria came down to live and surf the warm beach breaks of the Nicoya Peninsula. Each day the crew of mates would walk the jungle path to the beach, emerging through the graveyard which sat at the edge of Playa Guiones. In the graveyard is a white arch which became known to the friends as the Soul Arch.
Soul Arch also symbolizes the eternal interplay of the forces of pure being (Shakti) and pure becoming (Shiva) as they continuously arch towards one another in the expression of the universal soul.
Finally, the Soul Arch is a historic surf move glorified by Australian surf legend Michael Peterson among others. Spending almost a year living in the hippy surf town of Noosa Heads, Australia, Whit became heavily influenced by retro board shapes, mustaches and styles inherent of the early 1970s.
Yoga
Soul Arch Yoga - Philosophy
Looking to the outside world for answers to our deepest inquiries is commonplace in western culture. At Soul Arch Yoga we believe that each of us inherently possesses all the tools and teachings required to find our way back home to our truth at the hearts center. Through practices that awaken us to our inner wisdom, Soul Arch Yoga empowers the individual, re-connecting them to their inner teacher through the wisdom of the body. This approach opens lines of communication between the mind and body, greatly expanding consciousness and befriending the soul. The result is an awakening to our highest and truest self, re-establishing our birth right within the interconnected web of life.
Soul Arch Yoga offers a multitude of yoga styles:
Hatha
Vinyasa Flow
Yin
Yang/Yin Flow
Restorative
Self-Awakening Yoga
Performance Yoga Therapeutics for Athletes
Yoga for Surfers
Pranayama (Breath work)
Pranassage (Yoga Inspired Bodywork)
Bodywork
Pranassage is a unique and creative synthesis of yoga postures (asanas) and massage, producing a state of deep relaxation within the receiver.
Through gravity induced pressure, Pranassage realigns the musculoskeletal system thereby increasing the flow of blood, nutrients and energy (prana). Energetic pathways are re-awakened and re-opened, allowing stagnant energy and toxins to release from their holding spots in the body, and making room for the influx of vibrant prana to return to its free flowing temperament. This results in a cleansing and rejuvenating of the body and mind.
As the body and mind begin to enter a state of deep relaxation, the conscious control of movement is slowed down, allowing the movement patterning mechanism of the brain to become re-educated and rewired in its most efficient manner. By becoming the witness to the way in which your body is moved while in this relaxed state, habitual and inefficient patterns of movement are eroded in exchange for fluid, efficient and congruous mobility.
Pranassage is a wonderful, complementary option for those wishing to deepen the effects of their yoga experience or for those simply wishing to integrate the body and mind.
Private sessions are 60 minute or 90 minute in length, and can include a combination of yoga posture work (asanas), bodywork, breath work, and meditation.
Individualized programs combining various styles of yoga, bodywork, breath work, meditation and guided relaxation techniques are also available.
Private sessions are offered in the studio of Upper 138 Robertson Street (see photos under Studio), in your own home and weather permitting in serene outdoor locations within Victoria, B.C.
Yoga Therapy
Guided by a yogic philosophy of health and wellness, yoga therapy is an incredible healing tool for any and all emotional, mental and physical road bumps that we encounter in our day to day lives. Through the application of posture work, breath work, meditation and visualization techniques, yoga therapy programs rejuvenate and guide the body back to a balanced state.
Whit's Schedule
Week of January 23 rd - 29 th
TUESDAY: 6:00pm - 7:20pm / Yin Yoga / Moksana
WEDNESDAY: 9:30am - 11:00am / Self Awakening Yoga / Moksana
THURSDAY: 4:45pm - 6:00pm / Warm Vinyasa Flow / Moksha Victoria
7:30pm - 9:00pm / Yin Yoga / Hemma
FRIDAY: 5:30pm - 7:00pm / Restorative Yoga / Moksana
SATURDAY: 9:00am - 10:30pm / Vinyasa Flow / Hemma
11:30am - 1:00pm / Vinyasa Flow / Moksana
Check back often for upcoming retreats or send an email to join our mailing list and get involved!
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