Events and Workshops
We frequently host special guest teachers, extended classes from your favorite local teachers, music, art and other special events at PPY. If you walk away learning one thing from any of these offerings that is a good and worthy practice, and will boost your daily yoga. Make it a staycation: a regular morning weekend class, grab a healthy bite in the neighborhood and then come back for an afternoon workshop. Instant Day of Yoga Retreat! ~Please scroll down, pre-registration is recommended… 48 hours advanced notice for cancellation required for refund~
For registration assistance ~ please email us at: info@pleasurepointyoga.com
Pay it Forward: Rising International
INSTRUCTORS: Katie Jacobson & Shanie Gill
DATE: Saturday, December 14th
TIME: 2-4:30pm
COST: $25 suggested donation, no one turned away due to lack of funds
Do Yoga. Give Opportunity to women and girls, locally and globally, rising together to lift each other out of poverty.
Pay it Forward is a new kind of charitable event. Local non-profits come together to raise friends and funds for their mutual causes to support a shared desired for equity and justice throughout our community, both near and far! Pay it Forward events happen quarterly where we get to honor a champion organization that’s supporting underserved communities in some way, shape or form. This season’s featured non-profit is Rising International: a local organization that’s changing the game in how we end violence, trafficking and economic disparity in women and girls, everywhere. Learn more about what they do at www.risinginternational.org
When: Saturday, December 14th from 2-4:30pm, arrive on time for the yoga, education and fun! By Donation. Suggested $25. No one is turned away for lack of funds
What: A full, empowering yoga class with an educational talk from a Rising International participant
Who: Katie Jacobson and Shandara Gill will be leading the yoga, Rising International will be leading the dharma!
Why: Because we rise by lifting others, let’s literally rise for Rising International!
Winter Soulstice Candlelit Yin + Live Music Sound Bath
INSTRUCTORS: Katie Jacobson & Jazz Hans
DATE: Sunday, December 22nd
TIME: 6pm
COST: Regular class pricing + donation for musician
Join Katie and Jazz for a restorative evening of yin yoga with a live music sound bath to honor the shift in seasons and align with nature’s rhythms by journeying deeper inward. Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. Solstice, meaning “sun standing still,” invites us to also take a sacred pause. Winter is the ultimate yin energy, a time of introspection, rejuvenation, and receptivity. As we dive into the darkness and transition through this great turning point on the wheel, we also celebrate the return of the light and the growing longer days ahead.
“These are powerful times and allowing ourselves to reconnect with the simple sacred rhythms of being; practice and ritual are the doorway through which we connect back to Life and are reborn.”
Flow with Intention Yoga Mala Workshop
INSTRUCTORS: Becky Quinn & Emily Perry
DATE: Sunday, December 29th
TIME: 12-3pm
COST: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Join Becky and Emily for a workshop designed to get you aligned for the New Year and new decade ahead.
During our Yoga Mala, 108 salutations or Surya Namaskar, you’ll get clear on where you’ve been, and what you want to create in 2020.
Together we’ll flow through sun salutations and journaling prompts to prepare you for your journey into 2020!
Bring a journal, pen, a water bottle, and come prepared to transform!
Regenerate: Yoga Nidra + Acupuncture Designed just for You
INSTRUCTORS: Kayla Copeland & Diana Moll L.Ac.
DATE: Saturday, January 4th
TIME: 5-6:15pm
COST: $50 in advance, $55 at the door
Experience the healing benefits of Yoga Nidra (AKA Psychic Sleep) and Acupuncture
You will be guided into deep relaxation of body and mind while receiving an acupuncture treatment designed specifically for you.
Our workshop will begin with a personalized intake of physically, emotional, and overall wellbeing. Diana will choose points based on this and the balancing points of the season. Kayla will lead you through the deeply healing Yoga Nidra session.
Our session includes optional hot stones to warm the body throughout our session and an after treatment seasonal tea.
Space is limited to 10 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged
Crystal Bowl Sound Journey
INSTRUCTORS: Kim Molloy
DATE: Sunday, January 5th
TIME: 7:30-8:30pm
COST: $15-20 sliding scale
Every first Sunday of the month!
Kim Molloy is a Sound Alchemist divinely gifted with
Sound and Energy Healing. She integrates Theta
Healing, Reiki, and Angelic Healing energies. Kim
channels energy and vibration from the higher dimensions into this earth plane. The Crystal bowls are the vehicle for transmitting these light codes, sounds, and energy vibrations. They are musically attuned to the chakras in the body infusing pure light vibration and harmonic sound waves that resonate into every cell.
New Year – Best You Yet Reboot
INSTRUCTORS: Alisha Slaughter
DATE: Every Sunday in January
TIME: 10-1:30pm
COST: $160 for full series (includes yoga), $130 for full series (unlimited pass holders only), $48 for a drop in (includes yoga), $35 for nutrition drop in only
Restorative Yoga + Live Music w/ Girish
INSTRUCTORS: Leslee Bassin
DATE: Saturday, January 11th
TIME: 6-7:30pm
COST: $30 in advance, $35 at the door
The Self-Love Tour
INSTRUCTORS: Self-Love Tour
DATE: Saturday, January 18th
TIME: 8:45am
COST: $159 until January 6th – to sign up, click here
The Self-Love Tour is an amazing day designed to unleash all of you from the inside-out in a loving atmosphere. Movement, dance, and pivotal life-guiding tools seamlessly come together in this phenomenal experience. The event fuels your confidence to practice new habits, track new goals, implement accountability, and build your self-love muscle.
By the end, you’re inspired with joy, clarity and a new plan because you naturally unfold your heart with more compassion and love— for your body, your process, and the visions you imagine for yourself…
Restorative Yoga + 432hz Sound Healing
INSTRUCTORS: Magnolia Rasak and Shane Thunder
DATE: Saturday, January 18th
TIME: 3-5pm
COST: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Come return to balance with Magnolia Rasak and Shane Thunder as they guide you through restorative yoga and healing sound bath w/ gemstone bowls, planetary and elemental gongs, and many more instruments. This fusion of gentle yoga and vibration will expand your heart and invite you to sink deeper into the present moment. We will journey through a series of slow and gentle poses to soften and stretch before dissolving into a long and deep savasana.
You will be guided into a state of deep relaxation, as we open ourselves to conscious states beyond the physical realm. The combination of yoga and sound unifies the body, mind and spirit into a potent force of healing. Come share your presence as we move, breathe and flow to the sweet vibration of sound.
Shane Thunder and Magnolia Rasak have been offering their co-creation of yoga and sound for the past 5 years at festivals, retreats, and yoga studios throughout California and the US. By combining an eclectic blend of yin, restorative, hatha, and vinyasa flows with the healing vibrations of 432hz gemstone infused crystal bowls & elemental gongs a unique healing experience awaits the body, mind, and spirit. Shane and Magnolia’s return to balance collaborations accelerate the body’s ability to drop into a state of deep relaxation, and rejuvenation, while allowing a deeper connection into the heart space. Participants will feel more grounded, aligned, and cleansed after this powerful combination of sound vibration and yoga.
For more information about who we are and what we offer, please visit: magnoliarasak.com and spiritmetacine.com
Kids Yoga / Art Day Camp! 
INSTRUCTORS: Ilana ingber and Caitlin Berry
DATE: Monday, January 20th
TIME: 9:30-2pm
COST: $100; if you would like to extend the day from 2-3:30pm it will be an additional $25
Peace Warrior students will:
- Build inner and outer strength
- Increase flexibility and creative thinking skills
- Explore breathing exercises, flowing sequences, balancing poses, martial arts
- Express themselves through art exploration
Caitlin is a creative arts educator focused on weaving a longtime practice of yoga and mindfulness into classes and programs for kids. She brings several years of art curriculum development for a national innovation education company, many summers at camp, and over a decade of experience in childhood education with a strong focus in the arts. Caitlin has trained and studied Ayurveda and yoga in the U.S and India, and holds Ayurveda Health Counselor and 200hr yoga certificates. She is a strong believer in the importance of play, movement, and creative expression for self-development and building healthy communities. Caitlin has a serious case of the travel bug, loves costumes, dance parties and desserts, and can’t wait to explore, create, and grow with the PPY kids!
YoMassage
INSTRUCTORS: Meghan Robinson CMT, ANMT and Shea Nelson CMT
DATE: Saturday, January 25th
TIME: 5-6:30pm
COST: $45
YoMassage
INSTRUCTORS: Meghan Robinson CMT, ANMT and Shea Nelson CMT
DATE: Saturday, February 8th
TIME: 5-6:30pm
COST: $45
Valentine’s Day Kids Yoga / Art Day Camp! 
INSTRUCTORS: Ilana ingber and Caitlin Berry
DATE: Friday, February 14th
TIME: 9:30-2pm
COST: $100; if you would like to extend the day from 2-3:30pm it will be an additional $25
Peace Warrior students will:
- Build inner and outer strength
- Increase flexibility and creative thinking skills
- Explore breathing exercises, flowing sequences, balancing poses, martial arts
- Express themselves through art exploration
Caitlin is a creative arts educator focused on weaving a longtime practice of yoga and mindfulness into classes and programs for kids. She brings several years of art curriculum development for a national innovation education company, many summers at camp, and over a decade of experience in childhood education with a strong focus in the arts. Caitlin has trained and studied Ayurveda and yoga in the U.S and India, and holds Ayurveda Health Counselor and 200hr yoga certificates. She is a strong believer in the importance of play, movement, and creative expression for self-development and building healthy communities. Caitlin has a serious case of the travel bug, loves costumes, dance parties and desserts, and can’t wait to explore, create, and grow with the PPY kids!
President’s Day Kids Yoga / Art Day Camp! 
INSTRUCTORS: Ilana ingber and Caitlin Berry
DATE: Monday, February 17th
TIME: 9:30-2pm
COST: $100; if you would like to extend the day from 2-3:30pm it will be an additional $25
Peace Warrior students will:
- Build inner and outer strength
- Increase flexibility and creative thinking skills
- Explore breathing exercises, flowing sequences, balancing poses, martial arts
- Express themselves through art exploration
Caitlin is a creative arts educator focused on weaving a longtime practice of yoga and mindfulness into classes and programs for kids. She brings several years of art curriculum development for a national innovation education company, many summers at camp, and over a decade of experience in childhood education with a strong focus in the arts. Caitlin has trained and studied Ayurveda and yoga in the U.S and India, and holds Ayurveda Health Counselor and 200hr yoga certificates. She is a strong believer in the importance of play, movement, and creative expression for self-development and building healthy communities. Caitlin has a serious case of the travel bug, loves costumes, dance parties and desserts, and can’t wait to explore, create, and grow with the PPY kids!
The Self-Love Tour
INSTRUCTORS: Self-Love Tour
DATE: Saturday, February 22nd
TIME: 8:45am
COST: $159 until January 6th – to sign up, click here
The Self-Love Tour is an amazing day designed to unleash all of you from the inside-out in a loving atmosphere. Movement, dance, and pivotal life-guiding tools seamlessly come together in this phenomenal experience. The event fuels your confidence to practice new habits, track new goals, implement accountability, and build your self-love muscle.
By the end, you’re inspired with joy, clarity and a new plan because you naturally unfold your heart with more compassion and love— for your body, your process, and the visions you imagine for yourself…
The Self-Love Tour
INSTRUCTORS: Self-Love Tour
DATE: Saturday, April 4th
TIME: 8:45am
COST: $159 until January 6th – to sign up, click here
The Self-Love Tour is an amazing day designed to unleash all of you from the inside-out in a loving atmosphere. Movement, dance, and pivotal life-guiding tools seamlessly come together in this phenomenal experience. The event fuels your confidence to practice new habits, track new goals, implement accountability, and build your self-love muscle.
By the end, you’re inspired with joy, clarity and a new plan because you naturally unfold your heart with more compassion and love— for your body, your process, and the visions you imagine for yourself…
The Self-Love Tour
INSTRUCTORS: Self-Love Tour
DATE: Saturday, September 20th
TIME: 8:45am
COST: $159 until January 6th – to sign up, click here
The Self-Love Tour is an amazing day designed to unleash all of you from the inside-out in a loving atmosphere. Movement, dance, and pivotal life-guiding tools seamlessly come together in this phenomenal experience. The event fuels your confidence to practice new habits, track new goals, implement accountability, and build your self-love muscle.
By the end, you’re inspired with joy, clarity and a new plan because you naturally unfold your heart with more compassion and love— for your body, your process, and the visions you imagine for yourself…
FREE! Community Flow
INSTRUCTORS: PPY Faculty
DATE: Sunday, November 3rd
TIME: 12-1pm
COST: FREE!
Free yoga asana class taught by PPY’s 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training graduates. Offered weekly on Sundays from 12-1pm.
Check out our rotating schedule below to see who’s teaching!
Sunday, November 3rd ~ Jeff D’Arpino
Sunday, November 10th ~ Shanie Gill of Yoga For All Movement
Sunday, November 17th ~ no class!
Sunday, November 24th ~Shanie Gill
Satsang, weekly
INSTRUCTOR: Sherry Cassedy
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7:30 – 8:30am
COST: Free and open to all!
Pleasure Point Yoga’s Monday morning Satsang is a unique (and free) opportunity to delve deeper into the esoteric teachings of Yoga in the company of one another. It is a great introduction for anyone who is curious to learn more, and an open invitation to revisit and share in the supported space of the Sangha as we deepen our practice. We will be taking up the Yamas and Niyamas starting July 16, exploring each of the qualities as a practice in and of itself. Patanjali calls the Yamas (nonviolence, truth, non stealing, chastity, non hoarding) the Great Vow or Mahavratam. This is a wonderful time to join the circle and you are always feel free to drop in as we share the path of yoga. “Satsang” is a Sanskrit word derived from “sat”, meaning truth, and “sanga”, meaning community. In Satsang, we gather together, in community to seek truth or, more simply, to be with the truth. We create the space with chanting, light, and intention, gentle rituals that help us to dedicate this hour to our study and practice and to one another.
New Class! Inversion Therapy Yoga
INSTRUCTORS: Carissa Nations
DATE: Begins every Monday on November 18th
TIME: 10am
COST: Class passes Accepted (Monthly unlimited, Yearly, 10 class passes) ; $20 Drop In
HeartBeat Dance Fitness
INSTRUCTOR: Danu
DATE: Monday and Wednesday
TIME: 6-7pm
COST: Regular class pricing
LOCATION: Pleasure Point Movement, PPY’s 2nd Studio located a few doors down at 3603 Portola Dr.
Come dance and sweat with us! This hour long adults’ dance fitness class blends high and low intensity dance moves, toning calisthenics and feel good music to work your body and feed your soul. All levels welcome!
Danu Schoeck is back on the Santa Cruz Dance scene and excited to bring you Heartbeat Dance Fitness! This class combines heart pumping cardio dance in hip hop, street jazz and world dance styles with fitness movements to tone and strengthen. Danu is a well known local dance and fitness choreographer and teacher. She has over 9 years of experience teaching dance and fitness classes and a strong belief in movement as medicine. Come see what the buzz is about!
A message from PPY’s Owner (Megan McAllister): Danu is BACK on the Dance Scene and joining the line up of classes at Pleasure Point Movement (Pleasure Point Yoga’s new and forming second studio). Pleasure Point Movement has crafted its class offerings to inspire students to get out of their heads and back into their hearts – – all centered around movement of some sort (stay tuneded for much more!!!). Danu is one of my favorite dance teachers of all time (Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Zumba). Danu is such a talented dancer and a prolific teacher. She may be small in size but her dance moves are HUGE! She is such a light – – her radiant personality, contageous smile, encouraging teaching style, and dope choreography had classes packed when she was teaching!! No matter the level of dance experience, Danu will make it FUN!! Get ready to drop it like it’s HOTT!!!
Monthly Monday Night Yoga for Social Justice Book Club
INSTRUCTOR: Gwen Benjamin
DATE: 1st Monday of every month – Beginning December 3rd
TIME: 7:15 – 8:30pm
COST: FREE!
LOCATION: Pleasure Point Movement, PPY’s 2nd Studio located a few doors down at 3603 Portola Dr..
This monthly reading and discussion group is a safe container to hold difficult conversations about social justice issues in the yoga world. Through examining modern yoga’s relationship to race, class, gender, colonialism, activism, trauma, body positivity, and agency, we will explore a variety of complicated topics that inform the ways in which we in the West consume and create yoga culture.
Each month when the new book is announced, participants will receive a list of guided questions to accompany the readings. The Yoga for Social Justice Book Club is 90 minutes long and open to all bodies, all ways.
Yoga for Social Justice Book Club – Reading List: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rb_8magvutAVN7V_KkXyG319jFADOFmv9K1BjWA1FDk/edit
Monthly Monday Night Yoga Nidra
INSTRUCTOR: Kayla Copeland
DATE: 2nd Monday of every month
TIME: 7:15 – 8:00pm
COST: Regular class pricing
When the body is relaxed and the nervous system is in a ‘resting state’, we are much more apt to heal from within. Sometimes in our busy lives we don’t always have the time to “hurry up and relax” or sometimes finding relaxation itself can be a challenge.
This class is designed to guide you into a deep and conscious relaxation of body and mind, to a place between dreaming and waking. Yoga Nidra is often referred to as ‘Yogic Sleep’. It is said that 45 mins of Yoga Nidra is equivalent in benefits to 4 hours of traditional sleep.
Join Kayla Copeland for a sweet start to your week! 2nd Monday of every month
Monthly Monday Night Kirtan
INSTRUCTOR: Emily Perry & Friends
DATE: 3rd Monday of every month
TIME: 7:30 – 9:30pm
COST: $10-20 Suggested Donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Creativity Flow Yoga & Art Mash Up
INSTRUCTORS: Ilana Ingber
DATE: Tuesdays
TIME: 1-2:30pm
COST: Regular class pricing
Creativity Flow! (Meditation, Yoga, Art making Mash up) ~ For Adults of all ages!
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong” Joseph Chilton Pearce
Release fear and come practice creating with non-attachment and non-judgement in the loving PPY environment! This class is a meditation, yoga, art making mash up for anyone who wants to enhance their creative thinking skills and let go of self-limiting beliefs/blocks. Class begins with a warm up (infusing practices from qi gong, kundalini, and hatha yoga). We will center our minds, awaken our bodies, and focus on expanding our second chakra, our creativity center. Students will then be led in creativity enhancing meditations or journal exercises to help heal our relationship with our inner artist/child and open our inner channels of inspiration, intuition, and imagination. Finally students will be guided into an art exploration (or given time to explore art materials freely based on comfort level) in community. Let’s use our art practice as an opportunity to increase our inner friendliness, compassion, and positive self talk muscles. This class is open to beginner artists, recovering perfectionists, and experienced artists. All are welcome!
Bio:
Ilana Ingber, founder of Happy HeART Studio and Happy HeART Teacher Mentorship program, is an expert on teaching mindfulness and creative thinking through art and yoga. She has her masters in Art and Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and her 200-hour yoga certification from YogaWorks. She has been a dedicated yoga practitioner since 2011. Ilana has taught as an educator in public school, private school, museums, as well as yoga studios and national conferences. She has over 1000 students from Kindergarten to adults. She began her career in New York City where she worked for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s Learning through Art Program and Creativity Institute. She later taught at Success Academy Charter School and became the Art Content Lead, providing mentorship and professional development for art teachers across the network of Success Academy schools. Ilana is an active member of the National Art Education Association and has presented at National Conventions on topics such as: Teaching Collaboration Skills through Painting Curriculum, Assessing Creativity, and Infusing Mindfulness Practices into the Art Studio. Additionally Ilana attends neuroscience, experiential education, and mindfulness conferences every year as part of her ongoing learning. Overall, Ilana is most committed to teaching herself and others how to find inner love, joy, and creativity, to create a more compassionate and peaceful world.
Peace Warriors Kids Yoga (all ages 5+)
INSTRUCTORS: Ilana Ingber
DATE: Tuesdays beginning September 24th
TIME: 3:45-5:15pm
COST: $150 for 6 sessions; $30 drop in
LOCATION: 3603 Portola Dr. located a few doors down and to the left of our main yoga studio
Pleasure Point Yoga is excited for the return of Kids Yoga (all ages) with Ilana Ingber! Beginning EVERY Tuesday afternoon on September 24th 3:45-5:15pm
Peace Warriors-in-training will practice cultivating a kind and compassionate inner voice as they are guided through yoga, mindfulness, martial arts, and art activities in a safe and supportive environment. Each week will focus on a different theme.
Peace Warrior students will:
- Build inner and outer strength
- Flexibility and creative thinking skills
- Students will be guided through breathing exercises, flowing sequences, balancing poses, martial arts
- Art exploration
Classes will focus on balancing effort and ease, ending in a deep relaxation. Finally, students will be guided into art exploration as meditation. Through the blend of yoga and art making, students will focus on building self-awareness, confidence, positive self talk, and compassion.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Monthly
INSTRUCTOR: Cat McDaris
DATE: 2nd Tuesday of every month
TIME: 7-8:30pm
COST: FREE! Donations accepted but not expected
LOCATION: Pleasure Point Movement, located a few doors down at 3603 Portola Dr.
New Class! Trapeze Yoga for Tweens (ages 8-12)
INSTRUCTORS: Carissa Nations
DATE: Begins every Wednesday on November 20th
TIME: 4pm
COST: $25
Tribal Fusion Belly Dance (all levels)
INSTRUCTORS: Kaelin Bovee
DATE: Begins every Wednesday Nov. 6th
TIME: 7:15pm
COST: Regular class pricing
This class focuses on American Tribal Fusion technique and isolation drills, use of props followed by combinations. Come learn sensual movement to feel the benefits of moving your body intuitively while stretching and strengthening abdominal muscles. Strong encouragement of your creative expression and a likely boost of confidence.
Bio:
Kaelin began Egyptian Belly Dance at eight years old with Melanie Kareem in Topanga, California. She fell in love with this dance form for its freedom of expression and exotic costumes. She danced professionally in Los Angeles for a few years and went on to study with the highly respected Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes and Gina Bruno. Kaelin still performs but truly enjoys teaching and creating community through dance.