In-Person Workshops and Classes
Tara is honored to be a guest teacher at several studios in the Washington, DC area and beyond.
She teaches two weekly in-person classes on Friday evenings at Uplift Yoga.
You can also find Tara in-person at an upcoming retreat or a training, as well as at the workshops/events listed below.
Joint Care and Conscious Rest Yin and Restorative Day Retreat
with Machelle Lee and Tara Lemerise
Roots & River Yoga
17 W. Potomac St.
Brunswick, MD 21716
Saturday, January 4, 2025, 1-5:30 pm with optional potluck to follow 6-8 pm
Day retreats create a meaningful pause to step out of the day to day responsibilities and reset. Through yoga practices and community connection Machelle and Tara invite you to join us in creating a sacred space to wind down slowly and deeply pause to reveal calm, clarity, and joy.
In this day-retreat, Tara and Machelle will co-lead a full-body, gentle yoga practice to untangle tension in the body and the mind. Machelle will then guide you through a nurturing Yin Yoga practice designed for the support of the joints, ligaments, and fascia of the shoulders, low back, sacrum and spine while reading mediative texts to soothe your soul.
After a break, Tara will guide you in winding down even more through a series of propped Restorative Yoga poses. With calming music and very little talking, Restorative Yoga consists of doing less in order to receive more. The practice soothes the nervous system, quiets the mind, and releases deeply held tension within the body in a completely passive way.
The combination Gentle Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga will move progressively into a profoundly relaxing afternoon to remember the gift of who you are a little more clearly!
After our long afternoon practice, we will hold an optional POTLUCK at the studio from 5:30-8:00pm for some time to talk, laugh, and foster communication connection. Dishes to share can be brought to the studio to stay cool in our fridge or warmed in the microwave.
Pranayama and Meditation Immersion
Roots & River Yoga
17 W. Potomac St.
Brunswick, MD 21716
Saturday & Sunday, January 18-19, 2025, 1-6 pm
Pranayama - the breath practices of yoga - is one of the most deeply powerful but underused and misinterpreted set of yoga tools. Despite being identified as one of the limbs of yoga in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and in other yoga texts, most yoga classes and even 200 hour teacher training programs do not spend much time, if any, on this important and impactful aspect of yoga.
If you are seeking a deeper engagement with the subtle energy body, some experiential anatomy including a deeper understanding of the nervous system, and some inspiration to advance your yoga practice and/or teaching, this immersion is your opportunity to expand your yoga experience beyond the postures.
This two-day 10-hour immersion includes the following:
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History and purpose of pranayama
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The framework for the movement of energy in Hatha Yoga, known as the vayu
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Anatomy of the nervous system, respiratory system, and circulatory system
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Practice with the foundational pranayama techniques, as well as several of their variations
You will also have the opportunity to explore the accessible and powerful approaches to meditation that naturally evolve from pranayama practices. You will learn the history of meditation and learn the appropriate way to use mala beads to support your practice.
Each session includes some asana to prepare you to sit comfortably, lecture, reflection, and discussion. We will have ample time to practice with the breath and the inner workings of mind, along with some optional practice teaching for anyone who wants to incorporate more pranayama in their classes.
All curious folks are welcome. No specific yoga experience is required to participate in this immersion. 10 CEUs with Yoga Alliance are available for registered yoga teachers.
Secrets to a Satisfying Shavasana
Yoga Center of Columbia
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 1-3 pm
It can be easy to dismiss shavasana as that easy pose at the end of class where you just lie down on the floor. You can even be tempted to skip it altogether. However, shavasana is the most essential pose for teaching you how to access the feelings of ease you find on the mat in your busy and often stressful life off the mat. The fullest expression of shavasana requires relaxing your body and quieting your mind in a very complete and profound way. To do this effectively, you need preparation and practice.
In this workshop, you learn a little bit of the theory of Restorative Yoga and a few stories from the tradition about shavasana. Plus you'll get some very practical ways to support your body to make every shavasana satisfyingly sweet.
If you love shavasana already, you'll love it even more after this. If you loathe shavasana, this class just might make you change your mind! Open to everyone and no previous yoga experience is needed. Yoga teachers can earn 2 CEUs with Yoga Alliance just by learning how to rest well!
Joint Care and Conscious Rest Yin and Restorative Day Retreat
with Machelle Lee and Tara Lemerise
Roots & River Yoga
17 W. Potomac St.
Brunswick, MD 21716
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 1-5:30 pm with optional potluck to follow 6-8 pm
Day retreats create a meaningful pause to step out of the day to day responsibilities and reset. Through yoga practices and community connection Machelle and Tara invite you to join us in creating a sacred space to wind down slowly and deeply pause to reveal calm, clarity, and joy.
In this day-retreat, Tara and Machelle will co-lead a full-body, gentle yoga practice to untangle tension in the body and the mind. Machelle will then guide you through a nurturing Yin Yoga practice designed for the support of the joints, ligaments, and fascia of the shoulders, low back, sacrum and spine while reading mediative texts to soothe your soul.
After a break, Tara will guide you in winding down even more through a series of propped Restorative Yoga poses. With calming music and very little talking, Restorative Yoga consists of doing less in order to receive more. The practice soothes the nervous system, quiets the mind, and releases deeply held tension within the body in a completely passive way.
The combination Gentle Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga will move progressively into a profoundly relaxing afternoon to remember the gift of who you are a little more clearly!
After our long afternoon practice, we will hold an optional POTLUCK at the studio from 5:30-8:00pm for some time to talk, laugh, and foster communication connection. Dishes to share can be brought to the studio to stay cool in our fridge or warmed in the microwave.
Myths and Tales Behind the Poses
Roots & River Yoga
17 W. Potomac St.
Brunswick, MD 21716
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1-4 pm
Who is the warrior of Warrior I, II, and III? Eagle pose doesn't look much like an eagle. Why is it called that? And why are the splits named after the monkey god Hanuman?
In this workshop Tara will teach you the Sanskrit names for several yoga postures that will help deepen your understanding of the poses. You'll get some tips and tricks to pronounce Sanskrit words as you learn about the history and philosophy of yoga in a fun and dynamic way.
Indologist Dr. Edwin Bryan always says, "Don't be afraid of Sanskrit." And he's right! Being open to learning even just a little bit of Sanskrit can take your yoga practice (and teaching!) to the next level. This workshop is mostly lecture with some opportunity for journaling and self-reflection, along with some optional practice storytelling. It is suitable for anyone who is curious about the Hindu and Buddhist roots of yoga and CEU's are available for yoga teachers registered with Yoga Alliance.
Rest for All: Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
Roots & River Yoga
17 W. Potomac St.
Brunswick, MD 21716
Saturday & Sunday, May 3 & 4, 2025, 12-6 pm each day
Some of our deepest experiences of connection with our most authentic self (yoga!) happen when we have the opportunity to stop working to control our body and mind and we rest with support, awareness, and intention. Restorative Yoga is a powerful way to experience this shift. Unlike other more vigorous yoga practices intended to build strength or increase flexibility in posture work, in Restorative Yoga we come into stillness for long periods of time in poses that use props such as blankets and bolsters. Unlike Yin Yoga which uses props and passive poses to influence the tissues and joints of the body, Restorative Yoga brings us into spaces of profound comfort, ease, and support.
In this 12-hour continuing education teacher training program, registered with Yoga Alliance, you will learn:
- The history and philosophy of Restorative Yoga
- The anatomy of the nervous system and the physiological responses of relaxation
- Trauma-sensitive approaches to teaching Restorative Yoga
- The five posture families of Restorative Yoga
- How to address injuries, limitations, and other special conditions in Restorative Yoga
- Practice identifying physical and energetic misalignment in Restorative Yoga poses
- skills for physical adjustments and verbal cues and vocal skills to guide students into deep relaxation
- Class planning and sequencing theory
This training is ideal for:
- New yoga teachers who want to continue to learn
- Experienced yoga teachers who want to expand their yoga teaching skills and offerings
- Anyone interested in deepening their understanding and experience of Restorative Yoga