3-Hour Monthly Sessions! A Different Theme Each Month!
Welcome to Immerse: Dragonfly Yoga’s Monthly Satsang, where we blend the mystical world of yoga and the practical side of healing. Get ready to embark on a journey that’s part enlightening, part bewildering, and wholly transformative. So, loosen your chakras, check your ego, and prepare to unleash your inner yogi. It’s time to embrace the metamorphosis of your yoga practice like a dragonfly shedding its old self for something new and fantastic.
Yoga has the ability to change your life. The technique, the community, and the introspection all play a role. There is no better way to experience the benefits of yoga than to immerse yourself in a structured program that, along with attending weekly classes, takes you deeper into all yoga has to offer.
We’re inviting our Unlimited Community Members to join us one Friday evening each month from 6-9 p.m. for a yoga experience grounded in community. The best part of a yoga satsang, or sacred gathering, is the real conversation that happens among community members. Each session begins with an opening ceremony and open discussion based on an optional brief reading that will be sent to you in advance. From there we will dive into the topics listed below, putting the yoga philosophy into action through felt experience and inspiring self-inquiry – without judgment!
Pulling from their decades of teaching knowledge, Alexis and Joe have culled the best and most interesting content to discuss. You’ll leave knowing more about yoga – and yourself!
Click to expand:
JANUARY 3, 2025: Understanding Suffering and Pathways to Change
Yoga invites us to develop awareness, or witness consciousness, which allows us to observe the mind’s patterns more deeply. In this session, we will explore the kleshas—mental afflictions that lead to suffering—as described in yogic philosophy. Through discussion, journaling, and practical techniques, we will work to identify unhelpful mental habits and explore how to create lasting change in the state of our consciousness.
FEBRUARY 7, 2025: Discovering Your Dharma Through Meditation and Reflection
Uncovering your life’s purpose, or dharma, is central to living a meaningful and balanced life. However, unresolved karma and ego can obscure this path. In this session, we will explore meditation techniques that help dissolve karmic patterns and egoic attachments, and we will engage in a process of self-reflection to clarify your dharma. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their purpose and practical tools for ongoing meditation practice.
MARCH 7, 2025: Applying the Ethical Principles of Yoga in Daily Life
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali offers timeless wisdom on calming the mind and achieving inner stillness. In this session, we will examine the yamas and niyamas—the ethical and moral guidelines outlined in this text—and explore how they can be applied to the complexities of modern life. Through discussion, journaling, and yoga practice, participants will gain insight into integrating these principles both on and off the mat.
APRIL 4, 2025: Practical Anatomy for Yoga Practice
Understanding the body’s anatomy is essential for a safe and sustainable yoga practice. In this session, we will focus on the relationship between anatomical structure and movement, specifically exploring how to balance effort and ease in asana. We will identify poses and practices that are particularly beneficial for reducing chronic pain while staying true to yogic principles.
MAY 2, 2025: Balancing the Doshas for Optimal Health and Well-Being
In Ayurveda, the three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—represent different energetic forces that shape our physical and mental constitution. This session will provide an introduction to understanding your dosha and how it can become imbalanced. We will discuss yoga practices and lifestyle adjustments that can bring the doshas into harmony, supporting overall health and well-being.
JUNE 6, 2025: The Power of Breath in Yoga
Pranayama, or breath control, is a foundational aspect of the yoga practice that has the potential to profoundly impact both the body and mind. In this session, we will study classical pranayama techniques, including Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana, and Kapalabhati, as well as the five types of prana (vital energies). Participants will learn how to harness the breath to calm the mind, energize the body, and restore balance.
JULY 11, 2025 (Second Friday!): Meditation vs. Contemplation in Yoga
This session will explore the distinction between meditation and contemplation and their roles in spiritual development. Drawing on the contemplative practices of Quakerism (and Joe and Alexis’ experience with it), we will integrate silent worship with yoga’s meditative techniques. This unique approach offers a deeper understanding of spiritual stillness and presence in both traditions. The session will also include personal reflections on the contemplative journey and how it aligns with yogic philosophy.
AUGUST 1, 2025: Nourishing the Body and Mind with Plant-Based Eating
Ayurveda emphasizes mindful eating as a powerful tool for balancing the body and mind. In this session, we will explore the principles of a plant-based lifestyle in alignment with your unique dosha. In this session, we dive into the vibrant world of eating for your dosha, Alexis and Joe’s work with Peaceful Weight Loss Through Yoga, and the art of eating in harmony with your inner essence – and the rest of the planet. Bring an open mind to new tastes!
SEPTEMBER 5, 2025: The Chakras as a Path to Personal Evolution
Chakras aren’t just colors and shapes; they’re your personal Google Maps for spiritual growth, emotion spotting, and energy shifting. We can use the chakras to access energy inside and outside, locate where we are in our evolution, and examine emotions like joy and sorrow before it impacts our physical bodies. In this satsang, we’ll discuss the western psychology associated with the chakras and journal about our own evolution. We’ll talk about how chakra imbalances reflect many illnesses. And we’ll put these energy sources to work through pranayama and meditation.
OCTOBER 3, 2025: Bowing To The Darkness and The Light – Yoga Beyond the Surface
Modern yoga often emphasizes physical postures, but the true depth of the practice lies in its ability to guide us inward. In this session, we will examine the cultural challenges of modern yoga and explore the deeper, often overlooked aspects of the practice. Through discussion and self-reflection, we will confront both the light and shadow sides of yoga, using it as a tool for personal and spiritual growth.
NOVEMBER 7, 2025: Building a Home Practice Using the Koshas
The koshas—layers of the self—provide a framework for understanding the multi-dimensional nature of our being. In this session, we will explore each kosha and its role in creating balance and well-being. Participants will develop a personalized home yoga practice that integrates all five koshas, addressing the physical, energetic, mental, and spiritual aspects of the self.
DECEMBER 5, 2025: Surrender To The Infinite
At the heart of yoga lies the concept of surrender, or letting go of attachment to outcomes. This session will focus on the practice of surrender as a means of achieving true freedom from suffering. We will explore the philosophical underpinnings of surrender in yoga and engage in practices such as yoga nidra and ritual to cultivate a deeper sense of trust in the universe, God, or higher power.
3-Hour Monthly Sessions, In-Studio Or Online (Full Recording Will Not Be Shared)
One Friday Each Month From 6-9 p.m.
EXCLUSIVELY INCLUDED with your Unlimited Community Membership
$108/month recurring (3-month minimum)
Open To All Levels
Rolling Enrollment: Come To One Or Come To All
Once you become a member, you’ll get email updates with links to register for each month’s satsang, along with the readings for each month.
LOOK WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT IMMERSE
Taught me yoga is so much more than just asana (poses). Very unique in all their offerings. Able to use what I learn off the mat (in my life away from the studio). — Steve W.
The satsangs were insightful and lovely. They created a space where learning and growing in community could happen. Highly recommended! — Desiree S.
I believe community and creation of a safe space is always on the top of mind for both Joe and Alexis. The snacks are always a plus for the 3-hour workshops, too. 🙂 — Allison W.
ABOUT ALEXIS RIDGE-SIMEK
Alexis is the founder and owner of Dragonfly Yoga Studio, which she opened in 2005 with the goal of making yoga accessible to everyone no matter what their body type or health condition. From its humble beginnings, Dragonfly has grown into a thriving yoga community, hosting both 200 and 500 HR teacher trainings, nation-wide retreats, and internationally-known yoga teachers.
Alexis completed a 350-hour Hatha Yoga certification program at Eight Limbs Yoga in Chicago in 2003, studying under Gabriel Halpern, Per Erez, and Miguel Latronica. Alexis continually looks for inspiration and information to share with her students. She also has studied with Rolf Gates (500-hour Advanced Vinyasa) and Brandt Passalacqua of Breathing Deeply (Yoga Therapy and Peaceful Weight Loss Through Yoga).
Alexis has over 1,000 hours combined professional training in yoga and meditation, including a certification in teaching Prenatal Yoga from Sweet Pea’s Studio in Chicago. She has studied Vinyasa Yoga under Shiva Rea and Seane Corn and Thai Yoga Massage with Mukti Michael Buck of the Vedic Conservatory. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management from Arizona State University.
ABOUT JOE SIMEK
Joe Simek is an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT 875-Hours), a 500-Hour Level Yoga Teacher, and co-owner of Dragonfly Yoga. He has been teaching yoga for more than a decade. As a seasoned meditator and long-time practicing Quaker, Joe is well versed in contemplative traditions, which he has used to improve his physical health, find sobriety, and deepen his personal and spiritual evolution.
Joe has completed over a thousand hours of yoga training. He studied Yoga Therapy (including 150 clinic hours) and Peaceful Weight Loss Through Yoga at Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy, where he was also a teaching assistant for six years. He also studied Advanced Vinyasa Yoga with Rolf Gates.
Joe has experience bringing yoga to a variety of special populations including emotion support students in Central Bucks School District, young adults at Valley Youth House, patients at Avenues Recovery Center, and clients at the Kin Cancer Center.
In 2016, Joe co-founded The Fiaria Project, a non-profit organization that aids foster children. Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Arizona State University.
Alexis is the founder and owner of Dragonfly Yoga Studio, which she opened in 2005 with the goal of making yoga accessible to everyone no matter what their body type or health condition. From its humble beginnings, Dragonfly has grown into a thriving yoga community, hosting both 200 and 500 HR teacher trainings, nation-wide retreats, and internationally-known yoga teachers.