Breath & Psoas Yoga Intensive with Leslie Kaminoff

In 2025 we welcome Leslie again in Amsterdam. Leslie is one of our returning teachers and shares a wealth of knowledge. Every year he returns, we learn more and are inspired and enriched with more depth and intelligence to bring to our practice and daily lives.  This year he will teach about the psoas. This strong and important muscle can cause discomfort or pain when tense or overburdened. Leslie will combine this with a full day of breath-centered teaching.

This workshop is perfect for you if you like to deepen your practice, heal your psoas injury, enrich your breath practice, or expand your teaching skills. Leslie is well known for the book ‘Yoga Anatomy’ which he co-authored and his years of international teaching.

Breath & Psoas Yoga Intensive

‘Asana is how we stabilize our bodies in space… breath is how we mobilize the space in our bodies.’ – Leslie Kaminoff​

Saturday 22 March 
The Most Powerful Breath You’ll Ever Take: Anatomy and Physiology of Breath-Centered Yoga
Our very first breath was the most powerful we will ever take…it transformed our entire physiology from its non-breathing fetal state to that of an independent entity that must oxygenate its blood, seek out its nutrition, eliminate its waste, and navigate a world of gravity and space. For the rest of our lives, we will have to negotiate this intricate dance between our internal and external spaces. A breath-centered yoga practice allows you to take the second-most transformational breaths we will ever take. This is the specific goal of this workshop! Through a blend of asana, vinyasa, kriya, deep relaxation, inspiration, and inquiry, Leslie will lead a series of practices that will positively transform your relationship with your breathing body. It will also address common breathing issues that you or your students experience in daily life or while practicing yoga.

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Sunday 23 March
Better Bending Through Breathing: Exploring the Psoas, Pelvis, and Spine 
Is the practice of yoga asana about moving around in space or about changing the shape of the spine? What role does the breath play in entering and remaining in challenging poses? How can we find new sources of support in our spine, pelvis, and core myofascial structures like the psoas, diaphragm, and pelvic floor? The answers to these questions can transform our relationship to our bodies and to gravity in the most fundamental ways and alleviate the most common sources of back pain.

In this fun and informative multimedia workshop, we will explore the anatomical definition of healthy movement and support from the viewpoint of the body’s full range of possibilities – from world-class contortionists to average citizens, to those suffering from chronic back pain, stress, and postural issues. We will also reimagine and practice several key postures like forward and backward bending, hip openers and twists as well as vinyasas that will employ the breath as a way to enhance and deepen the opening of our bodies to yoga’s full potential.

Leslie’s Teaching Methodology
Leslie’s teaching is rooted in the individualized perspective of his teacher T.K.V. Desikachar, which honors every person’s unique structure, condition, and history. From this training, Leslie developed his anatomically informed, breath-centered approach to teaching and practicing yoga. That means he avoids formulaic systems of observation or prescription when it comes to asana analysis.

During this weekend workshop, Leslie will lead you in asana and breath practices with a strong focus on personal inquiry.

Leslie’s workshops are not very asana-focused, except for the Warrior Series. The classes consist of lectures, demos, and discussions combined with asana practice and movement that allows you to embody what you are learning about.

We encourage you to bring whatever you want to sit comfortably during discussions (cushions, blankets, etc.), but Leslie doesn’t use many props.