GIVING GOLD
An ONLINE COURSE
NEXT DATES TBD
If interested in this course & have questions, contact Heather HERE
An exploration of public speaking, finding your authentic voice and the tools to weave a universal heartfelt theme into every element of your personal and unique offering to the conversation.
(For YA certified yoga teachers, this counts as 20 hours towards YA continuing education - 12 hours together, 8 hours of individual study)
Brief Description
During this course we will explore the art of public speaking. How we can draw out of our personal life experience something universal, and then - in both an inviting and humorous way - offer it to our audience as a golden nugget. We will look at the tools necessary to communicate to a wide audience with clarity, precision and gentleness, welcoming all minds into a conversation exploring tangible yet elevated material. We will use the formulas suggested for Ted Talks as well as spiritual teachings in yoga classes as they help to the dots of the mind to the physical body, sequence and more. Every one of us has had revelations about life - no matter how mundane or exhilarating our lives have been. We all have something to offer. It's a muscle we build.
Who would want to take the course?
Open to anyone interested in refining their public speaking skills, their teaching skills (not necessarily yoga, though this will be the form through which we discuss many of the tools) as well as their general sincere communication skills. You will leave the course with more clarity around your authentic voice, what your personal life experiences have to offer the grander global conversation and how to share that to a wide audience.
Further Details
During this course we will explore the art of public speaking. We will look at the tools necessary to communicate to a wide audience with clarity, precision and gentleness, welcoming all minds into a conversation exploring tangible yet elevated material, while connecting the dots of the theme or main focus of your topic to all other aspects of life. This course filters down through a series of exercises what we truly want to say and offer to our listeners, so we always have something to give them, instead of just taking their time. Each one of us has a unique set of experiences that always relates to the universal human experience. When we use our personal stories to tap into something bigger than us, we can move mountains together, get to the root of our interconnectedness with each other, and in a short time, uplift the minds and hearts of our listeners, and in turn, ourselves. Bridging the gap between our lives and others in one of the most profound experiences we can have, and you don’t have to have any extraordinary life experience to do just that. If you’re breathing, you have something to offer the global conversation. This training guides you to find out just what that gold nugget is!
Topics Include
Distilling your insights down to one throughline.
Getting clear on what your gold nugget is. What you will offer your listeners.
Verbs & vocabulary good for bridging the gap between your personal experience and the universal human experience.
Tools to explain tough concepts when you are talking about sensitive material.
The do’s and don’t of telling stories about yourself: how it is useful & how it can be unnecessary.
Deciphering your point into ONE sentence.
Power of repetition & simplicity.
Working with stage fright, fear of public speaking and how to speak from the heart even when you are nervous.
Being clear about why this is relevant to everyone in the audience.
Talking to the most pessimistic person in the room.
Sussing out your own personal take on something ancient, poetic, &/or probably not to be tampered with - how to make old texts relevant and bring them to modern day thinking/understanding.
Encouraging curiosity and inquisitiveness vs. telling people what something is, what truth is or isn’t.
The Art of Languaging: Intonation, Breath Work, Cadence, When to Be Silent, how to Project.
Using the Voice to make your point land the right way.
Weaving the Theme: Linking your golden nugget throughout the arc of your talk.
GIVING GOLD was initially designed to help yoga teachers with their opening spiritual teachings, as well as how they weave philosophy throughout class. As a Jivamukti Yoga teacher, Heather spent years focusing on the spiritual theme of class, teaching various yoga texts during an asana practice, and how to refine these tools to the broad audiences attending vinyasa style classes. Sometimes these talks can be too dogmatic, or seem like a waste of time to the students, whereas, if done well, can be the most uplifting part of someone’s day. Her goal was to maintain this art of the spiritual teaching as yoga gained popularity, and to offer the tools that worked for her (and some insight into what doesn’t work as well) in her many years as a public teacher.
Using both tools from a combination of her own experience, what she learned from her yoga teachers, as well as the tools from “Ted Talks”, Heather’s Giving Gold has been a successful addition to both yoga teachers toolbox as well as anyone who is interested in finding their voice, getting over the fear of public speaking, and developing more clarity within themselves about their particular purpose and offering to the world.
REQUIRED READING:
How to Give a Ted Talk by Chris Anderson
An Offering of Leaves by Ruth Lauer-Manenti
TESTIMONIALS:
I decided to take Heather’s ‘Giving Gold’ after teaching yoga for almost 10 years and in desperate need of a refresher. (That said, the course would have been just as valuable to me - if not more - as a newer teacher.) On a personal level, this course helped grow my self-confidence along with the ability to conceive of new ideas and connect the dots in a dialogue that was previously more scattered.
Anyone who’s taken one of Heather’s group classes knows she has something different to offer than the rest - something more real and raw; A dialogue that’s no-B.S., down-to-earth, accessible while infused with her deep knowledge and studies of the yogic scriptures and Gods. Heather manages to teach a thoughtful & creative physical sequence while inspiring a spiritual inquiry free from the esoteric jargon I recoil from with some other teachers. So it seemed she’d also have a lot to offer as a teacher trainer, which she did! Heather leads the group with the fierce command & confidence her years of teaching have given her while nurturing each individual’s success with her sensitive hand & clear direction.
Giving Gold’s curriculum is condensed and efficient. From a robust manual, suggested inspired readings, to journaling, public speaking techniques, breaking off with partners, to group discussions, to final presentation and supportive feedback. Besides becoming a better teacher the best part is making new friends and spending quality time with Heather. I highly recommend. - Aubrey
The Giving Gold course was such a fulfilling training for me on many levels. I sharpened my public speaking skills and was able to really dive into what makes a yoga teacher, or any public speaker, really connect to their audience. Going through this experience with the other students in the training was such a moving, emotional exercise. We all got to practice being our most open, vulnerable selves in a safe and supportive environment. It’s an experience I will take with me always. - Gillian
Giving Gold exceeded my expectations. Yes, I learned a practical framework and set of tools to improve my ability to speak in public - but this training was so much more. Heather offered a thoughtful approach, provided honest feedback, and helped to hold space for all of us to actually do the work. She's extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the process, and has a genuine interest in helping others find their voice - it was truly an inspiring journey. I valued the time to reflect and work out some of my own past experiences, those stories that will one day make for a great gift to share with others. Perhaps most of all, I was inspired by the group and felt everyone approached the process with an openness and honesty I rarely find in my normal day to day. I highly recommend this training and am grateful to have been part of it. - Matthew
Holy shit, Heather's knowledge and ability to get to the core of pretty much anything is incredible and so admirable. It's so clear that she's put so much time into deep thinking, studying and like she says herself, endless internal debate. Heather is wholly qualified to lead this training, and it felt awesome to feel that power in the room, from a guidance perspective and also straight up inspiration to keep working, keep studying, keep understanding. When Heather talks about finding the gold nugget, the truth of what you're trying to share, she is the queen master of it, and also shares the tools to be able to do this yourself. Disclaimer - it is hard work and what's required is that you (as a student) does it, but it is worth it, and the best part - there's guaranteed massive learning and Heather's got your back through it all. - Maria
ONGOING ONLINE CLASS OPTIONS
Download our Anytime, Anywhere Classes Series to support your daily practice or add onto after a run or cardio workout. Great for all levels. $48 for the 4 class series.
2. Get some personal attention with our Private Sessions via Zoom.
$180 for a one hour session or
$1500 for 10 sessions
(6 months expiration, 48 hour cancellation policy).
3. Get access to our online Simply Listen Library, with over 30 audio only led classes recorded during shelter-at-home in 2020. $80 for access to the library. Turn off the screen and be led through a practice of listening.
MORE DETAILS BELOW
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE CLASS SERIES
~ 2 mellow classes & 2 warming classes ~
Recorded on the North Shore of Oahu, this series of classes is designed to keep you practicing wherever you are in the world, when there isn’t a studio nearby, or when you have very little time to practice during your day and can’t make it to a class.
No props necessary - you could honestly take the classes without a mat.
Feel free to add your own music or we will send you suggested spotify playlists links when you make your purchase.
You can take the classes separately as is, or mix and match them. For example, you could start with the 12 minute mellow and work into the 24 minute warm class or you could start with the 12 minute warm and end with the 12 or 24 minute mellow class. Anyway you want to flip it, depending on how you feel before class, how much time you have and what is happening after class.
Once you purchase this series, we will send you a link with a password that gives you access to download them. Once downloaded, you can access them on either your smartphone or computer, without wifi.
They are great classes if you are traveling - and not on a retreat, with well, us.
For any questions or concerns, please contact us HERE
PRIVATE SESSIONS
Book a private session with Heather Lilleston via Zoom.
$180.00 single session or
book 10 sessions (6 month expiration, 48 hour cancellation policy) for $1,500.00
Contact us HERE for questions.
SIMPLY LISTEN LIBRARY
As we are all on our computers and phones so much more, let’s let the yoga practice be a break from that, and an exercise in listening. We understand still wanting to be led - though we also encourage self-practice where you listen to your own bodies guidance - so how about audio classes with us?
$80 for access to the 30 plus class library
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