Dominican Republic

Movement Essentials for Thai Yoga Massage

 

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The sacred dance of Thai Yoga Massage

Giving a Thai Yoga Massage is like leading a partner through an intricate, improvisational dance. To lead the dance well, one must develop a deep kinesthetic awareness of how and where to apply pressure, use momentum, anticipate transitions, sequence movement and communicate non-verbally with a client.

Our Journey through the barrios of the Dominican Republic is a quest to discover the dancer within each of us. Each day we will study bachata and elements of salsa, flamenco, yoga, and Pilates in order to cultivate the rhythm, flexibility, balance, core strength, spatial awareness and subtle communication skills that we need to gracefully lead clients around our Thai Yoga Massage mat.

Although the emphasis of the classes will be on how various concepts and themes apply when giving a Thai Yoga Massage, the curriculum promises to deliver valuable practices and perspectives that will benefit all types of bodyworkers.

Day 1-3: SANTO DOMINGO

Orientation, yoga/massage classes, Colonial Zone walking tour, Bachata/Merengue lesson with Conuco Dancers, dance excursions in Santo Domingo, day-trip to Las Salinas Beach, beach time.

Day 4-5: VILLA MELLA

Meet The Duke of the Bachata and his family, explore Afro-Dominican music (Palos),enjoy a jam session, dancing and country cooking. Morning yoga/massage classes. Explore Dominican agriculture and enjoy fresh coffee and chocolate. Meet a medicine woman and midwife, and explore local medicinal plants. Learn the basics of playing Dominican drums and rhythm instruments, goodbye music jam, drive to Monte Criste.

Day 6:

MONTE CRISTE Explore the Dajabon market on the haitian border. Haitian and DR relations discussion, Haitian dance lesson. Enjoy sunset yoga/massage at Monte Criste beach. Dance excursion (merengue tipico and bachata) in Monte Criste.

Day 7:

SAMANA Visit sugar cane bateyes. Hiatian dance exploration.  

Day 8-9:

LA TERRENAS Morning yoga/massage class, free day at the beach, evening dance excursion.

Day 10:

Drive to SANTO DOMINGO Farewell party

Day 11:

Goodbyes

Sunny Klaber, BS, MS, CMT

Sunny is an internationally-recognized Thai Yoga Massage instructor and avid dancer. Sunny's contagious passion for yoga, dance, Buddhist philosophy and massage strongly influences her approach to practicing and teaching this ancient healing art. Her extensive knowledge of, and respect for, these disciplines creates an environment which honors the sacred roots of Thai Massage, while gracefully infusing it with fresh applications and innovations. To see learn more about El Duque, the inspiration for this integral adventure, please visit www.bachatamovie.com

Adam Taub

Adam is a avid dancer and documentary filmmaker. His recent film entitled "El Duque de la Bachata" (The Duke of the Bachata) tells the story of Joan Soriano, a Bachata Musician from the Dominican Republic, as he struggles to reach his goal of a hit CD and success as a musician. While shooting this film, Adam met many talented musicians and dancers and gained access to a world unseen by most visitors to the Dominican Republic. We are privileged to join him as he is reunited with his Dominican friends and returns to his favorite dance floors.