Virginia Frances Schwartz

January 14 – 17, 2010 and February 18 – 21 2010

Course Details

Writing, like yoga, is a healing practice that unites mind, body and spirit. This course nurtures individual writing practice by fusing the yogic principles of meditation, relaxation, positive thinking, power of intent, visualization and yogic breathing with grounding tools such as free writing, use of a writer’s notebook, and developing internal prompts and seeds for growing stories.

This course will investigate and aim to resolve obstacles to writing. Participants will learn how to create a writing discipline, to generate stories, to develop character by accessing their own unconscious, and to draw inspiration from literature.

The course will focus on developing a “yogic writing practice”. A “yogic writing practice” is a writing practice with a spiritual perspective. It increases awareness of the creative mind and helps to develop patience, persistence and self-acceptance.

 This course is designed to also provide an opportunity for insightful 1:1 consultation between the participant and instructor. 

Curriculum

• Setting up a writing practice
• Free writing
• Accessing the creative mind through meditation
• Writing as a spiritual practice
• Obstacles on the writer’s path
• Breathing techniques to access the inner self
• Recording stories
• Generating lists of writing topics
• Visualizations for accessing story ideas
• Taking inspiration from literature
• Creating characters

Daily Schedule

Presenter

Virginia Frances Schwartz is a graduate of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training course. She currently teaches creative writing, with a spiritual approach, at UCLA. She is the author of five Young Adult novels and has trained adults and children in the writing process for the past 25 years. Virginia Frances Schwartz teaches writing through a focus on accessing the creative mind with meditation, breathing, free writing, and self-acceptance.

Prerequisite

This course is open to all.

Certification

Course graduates receive certification from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. 

Cost

Tuition: US$290. Add 5 nights’ accommodation.

For accommodation rates please see Rates.

For arrival details please see How To Get Here. 

Tuition Discounts

Textbooks:        Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande (Pub: Tarcher)

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (Pub: Shambhala).

Other:               A writer’s spiral notebook (8 x 11 inch), pen, pencil, and mini notebook (3 x 6 inch).

Due to the popularity of our special programs and limited space we recommend that you reserve your accommodation with us in advance. For accommodation rates please see Rates.

Please register on line  or print the registration form, fill it in and fax it to the Yoga Retreat at Fax Number: 1-242-363-3783. Then call us to give a credit card deposit and to confirm your reservation at 1-866-446-5934 or 1-242-363-2902.