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 The Art of Living in Harmony
UrbanChi
 Music, Design & Movement

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JOY OF MOVEMENT
Weekly Classes in downtown Mountain View

with Keith Urban
of Stanford University Continuing Studies; Foothill College; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Move from the inside out, with delightful music, and stretching and relaxation inspired by Yoga!

Winter and Spring 2008, classes are every Wednesday at the City of Mountain View Senior Center (for all ages, including seniors!). Also stay tuned for other special classes and community events!

Description
Schedule of Classes
About the Instructor
Directions & Map
Tuition
What students are saying

Class Description
These classes focus on using movement to engage body, mind and spirit in order to awaken the vitality and unobstructed creative energy available when these three aspects of our being are in harmony.

Influential writings on the nature of the body-mind-spirit connection -- from authors such as Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now), Deepak Chopra (Ageless Body, Timeless Mind), Jon Kabat-Zinn (Coming to Our Senses), and the poet Rumi -- will illuminate our movement experience.

We use guided movement explorations, that lead into playful. self-dorected movement improvisation, accompanied by inspiring music. Each class also contains stretching and relaxation techniques from Yoga.

No previous experience is necessary—you don't need to be a dancer or be physically fit to enjoy these classes, but you can experience the freedom and joy of effortless, confident expression -- and the experience of being centered and peaceful -- that come from being in the body.

These classes are appropriate for business and technical professionals, teachers, artists, musicians, new mothers, and for anyone, of any age, wishing to reduce stress, find new resources for creativity in their lives, and re-claim the joy of movement.

Schedule of Classes
Classes are ongoing, meeting every Wed. Check this schedule or email before coming because, rarely, class may not be held on a particular evening.

About Keith Urban
• Lecturer, Stanford University, Continuing Studies Program
• Instructor, Foothill College: Ballet, Yoga, Pilates
• Instructor, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, UC Santa Cruz Extension

Keith Urban, a celebrated modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer, moved to the Bay Area from New York in 2000, and since then has been teaching Modern Dance, Improvisation, and Choreography in the Dance Division at Stanford University; Joy of Movement, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, at Stanford's Continuing Studies Program; Ballet and Yoga at Foothill College; Restorative Yoga and Joy of Movement at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; and Mindful Yoga at Bay Area hospitals.

He was a founding member of Toronto Dance Theatre, and Chair of the Dance Department at York University in Toronto. His own award-winning dance company, Urban and Formolo dance, toured internationally and was the first Canadian-based troupe to teach and perform in the People's Republic of China.

He began his study of Yoga with Sri Swami Satchidananda overthirty years ago, has studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Jon Kabat-Zinn, and has been integrating the principles of Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices with healing movement and expressive movement throughout his career.

Directions and Map
Classes are currently at the City of Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mtn. View, 94040

Tuition

Classes at the Senior Center are, generally, by donation.

Drop in Classes: $15

Discounts: 5 classes: $65, 10 classes: $120

What students and colleagues are saying about Keith Urban's classes:

This class helped me feel that my body was my friend again!
(LA, Stanford Continuing Studies Student, age 33)

"Keith is a wonderful, thoughtful and caring instructor with great taste in music. His class opened my mind, body and spirit. It was an inspiring and moving experience."
(BD, Stanford Continuing Studies student, age 27)

"Keith is a delight to have as one of our colleagues. I have seen his classes and the extraordinary excitement he creates with his students. The projects his beginning students perform demonstrate the depth of the content in Keith's classes. He brings so much experience so generously to his teaching."
Tony Kramer,
Director, Dance Division, Department of Drama,
Stanford University
 
"Keith is a talented and highly experienced teacher with a gift for engaging students in the process of their own physical, creative and spiritual development. He is able to focus on what students need, and provide guidance that speeds their progress. I recommend his classes most enthusiastically.
Angelia Leung
Assistant Chair & Associate Professor,
Dept. of World Arts and Culture,
UCLA

"Thank you so much for your gracious accommodation at the Embodied Mind conference this weekend.  Your noontime introduction to "The Joy of Movement" was really an awakening experience for me. The impact of the movements was far greater than mere stretching exercises.  Possibly, the context of the conference contributed.  However, the freedom of the movements and the understanding guidance you shared as each movement was introduced gave me a feeling of being free in space.  
      As a child, I dreamed of being a ballet dancer and could watch dance and feel myself in the bodies of the dancers spinning in the universe with energy, grace, precision, and flow.  My fundamental religious family was bound to eradicate such wanton and evil desires from me.  I rarely danced in any way. During your session today, my head rang with admonitions to, "Sit still!", "Stop fidgeting!", "Act like a lady!"  So I mentally thanked the images and let them pass on. Here I am at age 62 feeling that I finally sense what being a nurtured child might feel like.
     I wish that you had even the simplest of videos or DVDs of your work to carry it beyond your geographic confines.  Thank you for sharing your work with us. The experience was lovely!!"
(-- JM, participant in "The Embodied Mind" conference in Los Angeles, 3/06)

"I'm a huge fan of Keith Urban's "Joy of Movement" classes and I believe that they have contributed to a transformation in my life.
     I look forward to Wednesday evenings, knowing that there is a place where I can be completely free and joyful. It is hard to explain, but in some way, his classes make me feel "at one" with my own spirit.
     Keith creates a comfortable environment where my body, mind and spirit are relaxed and refreshed. The classes leave me with energy and a sense of well-being. A deep calm seems to stay with me throughout the week.
     Keith is a wise teacher and his spirit of acceptance and loving kindness touches his students in unexpected ways."
(WL, Public Relations Consultant, age 30)

"I was surprised and delighted to experience my imagination coming more alive along with my body, as we learned to trust our own movement and the wonderful relaxation techniques. I heartily recommend Keith's courses!"
(Stanford Continuing Studies student, age 60)

"Keith's class is a mind- and body-liberating experience. After class, I always feel relaxed and satisfied!"
(CW, Stanford University graduate student, age 24)

Keith is the best yoga instructor I have had. He creates a comfortable, safe space on all levels - physical, emotional, and spiritual. The atmosphere in Keith's classes is a calming one that allows self consciousness to drop away naturally.
(DP, Mechanical Engineer, age 52)

Keith is a very capable instructor and has worked productively with our group, which has people from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. He also has consistently infused our time together with elements of mindfulness, not only from his perspective as an instructor, but from everyone at his or her own pace over time. That made the observations and insights much more spontaneous and relevant.
(LC, Business Development Manager, age 45, student in Mindful Yoga course)

The class lived up to the name "Joy of Movement." I have been looking for a class like this for years. I do not have an extensive dance background. But, Keith seemed to effortlessly create an environment where I could dance with the freedom, joy and abandon I experienced as a child. This class was an unexpected gift and definitely went beyond my expectations. After five weeks, I wanted more classes.
(LA, Stanford Continuing Studies Student, age 48)

"Keith's class allows me to experience the body and dance in a totally new way, and my overall ability to dance has changed dramatically for the better.
     We have so much fun in class. I really can't recommend it enough.
     Everyone should try this style of dancing at least once in their life. You feel free from the burdens of life during the class. It's just you and the uninhibited dancing."
(Stanford University student, age 19)
 
Gradually I have become much more agile, have better posture and know more about the proper way to breathe. My knees are almost pain-free now, as are my shoulders, and I am thrilled to be able to ride a bike again. I am convinced that Keith's class has been a major factor in my amazing recovery.
(KC, Retired teacher, age 68)

After a long day in a stressful work environment I found this class a great way to unwind and turn my head around, as well as being a fun way to exercise. And Keith Urban makes that easy because he really loves what he does!
(JG, Retail Store Manager, age 60)

"Keith nurtures intuition, helping both experienced and inexperienced dancers to discover their own authentic movement and original 'voice'.
     I especially recommend his class to those who have never danced before, but have been curious to explore movement; Keith's warmth and individual approach provide a safe and vitalizing environment.
     It is rare to find a teacher who can harmonize so much into one class with such sensitivity and wisdom."
(ET, Stanford University student, age 20)