Yoga in the Wild

There is no dearth of yoga studios in Santa Barbara, although the landscape is frequently changing. On the other hand, the possibilities are only as limited as the great outdoors. Wild Yoga Santa Barbara has been hosting events amid nature all around town over the last year, with locations including an all-levels class on East Beach just in front of the public bathrooms in August and under the trees at Oak Park, Wild Sunset Yoga at Franceschi Park, and Wild Adventure Yoga at Inspiration Point following a hike up the Tunnel Road trail. The period poses program meets when the muse strikes, and the next gathering has been set for high noon on Christmas Eve at La Mesa Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean at 295 Meigs Road on the Mesa.

Bring your own mat, blankets, water, props, and comfy layered clothes for the one-hour session, which begins with “checking in with our hearts as we prepare to spend time with family and friends – no matter what holidays we celebrate.” In keeping with the wintertime vibe, the class will be a “really slow, internal-diving flow” to connect with the breath and the center on the day before Christmas. Open to everyone via a suggested donation of $5. More info at www.facebook.com/wildyogasb. 

Holly Jolly Yoga 

Meanwhile, back indoors, some of the yoga studios also have special holiday sessions on tap as well as year-end class package specials. DiviniTree’s Christmas Eve slate starts at 10 am with Shanti Flow with Rachel Wilkins, a special morning offering to bring about a sense of balance and peace, Shanti, during this hectic time. The class begins with a creative vinyasa flow to move, open, and drop into a space of embodied grace, and the practice closes with gentle stretching, restorative and extended deep relaxation. Nicole Inglish’s A Solstice Journey, at 12 noon on December 24, celebrates having “stepped through the armoire” to winter season, a time to nourish ourselves and our dreams, taking time to enrich ourselves away from friends and family, and enjoy equanimity and balance this season with your practice via a supportive well-rounded Vinyasa Flow class good for all levels. DiviniTree, located at 25 East De La Guerra Street, also has an intro month of unlimited yoga for $48 for new members. Call (805) 897-3354 or visit www.sb.divinitree.com.

Santa Barbara Yoga Center maintains its regular schedule on Christmas eve from 9 am until noon – including Iyengar Level 1-2, Integral Yoga Hatha, Yin Yoga and Meditation, Joyful Chair Yoga – before closing early for the holidays. But there’s also a Winter Solstice workshop, “Light Up,” with Amardeep Kaur and Kundalini Yoga & Gongs, slated for the actual solstice day, December 21. Prepare for the longest night of the year by embracing your own personal darkness, opening up energy freeways with Kundalini Yoga (appropriate for all levels), surrendering to the healing vibrations of the three different gongs, and awakening the inner light with mantra and chanting. The 7-8:30 pm session costs $20.

Hypnosis for Insomnia

The longest night of the year might also be a good time to actually get a good night’s sleep, so a special workshop on the subject slated for the evening before comes with perfect timing. Tara Lilley, Certified Hypnotherapist, hosts a special live event at TV Santa Barbara’s studios where you can be part of a live studio audience for a powerful hypnosis session to help increase your sleep success, creating a deep, sound, and restful sleep. Those suffering from chronic insomnia or just looking to improve sleep are invited for what Lilley is calling “the most fun you’ve had talking about sleep” that will focus on the art of self-care and identifying what isn’t working to get people relaxed and calm ready for sleep success.

Lilley is an honors graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, and a member of the American Hypnosis Association (AHA), the Hypnotherapists Union Local 472 since 2004. She also teaches seminars on Emotional Freedom Technique and Advanced EFT (Tapping).

The free session takes place at 6 pm on Thursday, December 20, and is limited to 30 people. Bring a blanket, cushions, and/or warm socks for comfort. Register in advance at www.eventbrite.com/e/free-self-improvement-session-hypnosis-for-insomnia-tickets-52975892320, call (805) 836-0463 or email 805tara@gmail.com. But hurry: You snooze you lose!