Classes
Drop-in classes deepen the skills that support the work of Spirit House.
Drop-In Classes deepen the skills that support the work of Spirit House and are organized to accommodate all levels of expertise from novice to advanced.
For instance, students who have never picked up a drum will learn how to keep a simple beat in partnership with more advanced students who will be either sharpening their ability to create more complex rhythms or learning how to shift energies in the group setting.
Students with no experience singing (outside of the shower) will learn to find and hold a note in conjunction with those who will be harmonizing and creating a “container” to hold and channel Spirit. This is truly a collaborative exercise in learning.
All classes are ongoing allowing the student the time needed to develop “muscle memory” through repetition. Consistent attendance and practice is recommended.
Increasing the level of proficiency with any or all of the disciplines outlined below will greatly enhance the journey towards Embodying the Sacred.
Class Instructors are either Masters in their field or Facilitators who have completed at least two years of Practitioner training at Spirit House.
Schedule: Classes are offered on a weekly basis.
Cost: $20 drop-in or $60 per month with a Skills Class Pass.
*Sessions, Courses and Classes are managed on the Momence platform. You will be redirected to create a Momence account, log in, and book.
Breath and Bandhas
Instructor: Justin Levy
Proper use of breath in conjunction with specific muscle contractions known as bandhas is a key to connecting to Spirit in our body. In this class you’ll learn how to use the Mula and Uddiyana bandhas and 4 stages of breathing to anchor and lift energy and unwind karmic knots known as granthi. The process combines breathwork, meditation and trance to awaken Kundalini energy, open deeply held internal chords, and shift stuck patterns in the body. This work focuses on breathing into the abdomen to help feel into emotions that have been walled off and shut down.
All Levels:
No experience is needed. Breathing and bandhas can be done in a seated, standing, or laying down position.
Drumming
Instructors: Kip LaVie and Justin Levy
Discover how to connect to the drum as a living being with its own voice and spirit.
Bring the drum of choice or shakers to class.
Beginner:
Learn to count beats and produce and maintain a solid rhythmic structure known as “clave”.
Intermediate:
Learn the basics of syncopation through immersion into more complex rhythmic patterns, explore the interplay between structure and improvisation, learn how to listen to the other drummers and feel the rhythms in the body through dance and layering in vocals while drumming.
Advanced:
Connect to the Spirit world and learn to shift energies in the room and in others through the drum.
Vocalizing
Instructor: Dov Rubin
Discover a new way of connecting to Spirit through vocalization. You need not be an experienced singer with a trained voice to join this class.
Classes will begin with deep breaths and warm-ups to connect to our bodies, especially our vocal cords. We will sing songs from the Spirit House songbook and engage in improvisational exercises that produce both pleasing harmonies and buzzing discord. Over the course of these vocal meditations, you may find yourself entering a state of trance and exploring realms beyond the purely physical.
Beginner:
Recognizing and synchronizing with keys and practicing simple melodies.
Intermediate:
Harmonizing and developing song structure.
Advanced:
Blending voices to create a “container” for Spirit to rejoice.
Yoga
Instructor: Diane Hall
The goal of yoga practiced in this class is to engage and release energy blocks or “bandhas” with yoga movements and breathwork. Sequences are designed to encourage energy flow as the body is opened, stretched, and lengthened. The resulting uncoiling of energy can provide a pathway to direct attention and intention to unconsciously held beliefs, patterns, and identities. The engagement of bandhas is a fundamental element of breathwork at Spirit House, beginning with the Foundations courses.
All Levels:
Variations for each position will be provided. Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves while also practicing within their physical limitations.
Rhythm & Movement
Instructor: Justin Levy
Rhythm is a language that anyone can learn. It is mathematical and involves numbers and counting. It is also somatic because you’ll learn how to feel rhythm in your body and surrender into and let it move you. As you gain confidence in learning the language of rhythm, you’ll learn how to improvise and explore your own rhythm. This involves exploring the poles of structure and improvisation and overcoming our culturally ingrained resistance to rhythm.
All Levels:
No experience required. You will learn how to count basic rhythms and work with syncopation. Come to class prepared to move.