Memoir writing is a search to discover truth and healing in our own soul stories. This course enables writers to record their own stories. You will learn nurturing breath techniques along with specific asanas, and guided relaxations designed to open your heart and allow you to release memories from your core. Work will include daily freewrites, memoir vignettes, a study of the form and structure of memoir, and initial organization of your own memoir.

Curriculum

•    Writing as a spiritual practice
•    Maintaining a writer’s notebook & mini notebook
•    Freewriting & ahimsa (non-violence).
•    What is “Memoir”
•    “Peak” experiences, things that changed the course of your life
•    Events of your own life, related to a theme or focus.
•    Yoga asanas for the creative process
•    Turning events into images
•    Overcoming obstacles
•    Universal themes and issues
•    Finding the “heart” of a story
•    Narration

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.

Prerequisite

This course is open to all.

Certification

Course graduates receive certification from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat.

Cost

Tuition fee is US$290 plus 5 nights of accommodation. For accommodation rates see rates.

Arrival and Departure

 The course begins at 11:00am on January 4 and finishes at 6:00pm on January 7.  Please plan to arrive at the Yoga Retreat at least one day before the start of the course and to leave at least one day after the course completion. 

We recommend that you spend at least a few days in the Yoga Retreat before the start of your course. This allows your body and mind time to rest, re-energise and be nourished by the ashram environment. You can then begin your study feeling relaxed and refreshed. You may also wish to stay for some days after the end of the course to allow the learning from your study to integrate more fully into your consciousness within the supportive environment of the ashram. If you decide to arrive early and to stay longer, please register for the Yoga Vacation Program for those additional days. Please see Calendar of Events for guest programs on offer around the time of your visit. Please bring the following to the course: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin). (Note: this novel must be read prior to the course),a memoir of your choice to discuss, a writer's spiral notebook (8 1/2 x 11 inch), previously written journals or notebooks to review, photos or an object to elicit writing about memories, pens, pencils, and a mini notebook (3 x 6").

 Please bring the following to the course: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin). (Note: this novel must be read prior to the course),a memoir of your choice to discuss, a writer's spiral notebook (8 1/2 x 11 inch), previously written journals or notebooks to review, photos or an object to elicit writing about memories, pens, pencils, and a mini notebook (3 x 6").

Reservations