Dzogchen Community West Coast

10/31/2025

Experience Tibetan Yantra Yoga: Breath, Movement & Awareness

Join us this November for a special 3-part online immersion into Yantra Yoga, the ancient Tibetan system of harmonizing body, breath, and mind—with an in-person retreat day in Bodega Bay for local participants!

Rooted in an unbroken lineage from the 8th century and brought to the West by Dzogchen master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Yantra Yoga offers profound methods for loosening the joints, clearing energy channels, and deepening the power of breath.

🗓️ Online: Saturdays, Nov 15, 22, 29 — 8:30–10:30 AM PST
📍 In-Person: Sat, Dec 6 — Occidental, CA
💰 $200 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Taught by Luke Karamol, authorized Yantra Yoga instructor, orthopedic massage therapist, and Ayurveda practitioner.
Hosted by Dzogchen Community West.

✨ Discover how ancient breathwork aligns with modern science — and awaken the natural harmony of body and mind.

Registration Link

Experience Tibetan Yantra Yoga: An Immersion in Breath, Movement & Awareness Join us for a special November immersion into the ancient system of Tibetan Yoga…

09/24/2025

09/24/2025

For all of you who knew John Bidleman, he passed last night after a long struggle with cancer. He was a very devoted student of Rinpoche. Dondrubling will be reciting Sh*tro for him Friday Sep 26, 2025 ⋅ 6:30pm – 7:30pm (Pacific Time - Los Angeles) Please check our practice calendar for the zoom link https://dzogchencommunitywest.org/practice-calendar/
Here's a picture of John with Gene, Natalie, and Jey peeking in from behind, at the 2005 Baja retreat

09/22/2025

Blasts from the pasts. We're emptying out our storage unit-and came across historic docs. People put a lot of work into these newsletters-they are so precious.

12/23/2024

OK FYI if anybody else gets the Facebook deletion email, it's a scam-read about it here:

A new scam targeting Facebook users is making the rounds, and you need to be aware of it to protect yourself. Scammers are sending fake messages claiming your

10/23/2024

Highly recommended for practitioners who would like to collaborate by leading ganapujas in their communities

Saturday & Sunday, November 16th & 17th, 2024 Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse Gonpa, 18 Schoolhouse Rd., Conway, MA and online via Zoom

10/18/2024

https://tsegyalgarwest.notion.site/Longsal-Tregch-d-Retreat-with-El-as-Capriles-02944bd1ef9f4ab6a355e6acec765ee6

based on the Upadesha on the Primordially Pure Tregchöd.

10/06/2024

Pictures of Nina and the gang from a Mandarava retreat at our sweet Dondrubling

09/04/2024

Dzogchen Community West Coast
Yantra Yoga Schedule September - November 2024
With Authorized Instructors Luke Karamol and Vicki Sidley

Yantra Yoga is one of the oldest living systems of yoga in the world. It is an unbroken lineage-based Tibetan system of yoga that fully coordinates breath and movement. Yantra Yoga’s unique series of positions and movements, combined with conscious breathing, can help balance your energy and relax your mind, providing a basis for contemplation, contributing to improved health, relaxation, and balance.

Respira has as its central purpose the rediscovery of the importance of breathing well in our everyday lives. It serves to clear the mind, restore vigor to the body, and harmonize the emotions. This practice is a distillation of Yantra Yoga. It is based on a number of breath-based exercises to prepare the student for Yantra Yoga, where working with the breath is fundamental.

Hidden City Ballroom
304 Washington Ave, Point Richmond, CA 94801
Sept 28 12:30-2pm w/Luke
Oct 26 12:30-2pm w/Vicki
Nov 23, 12-2:30 w/Luke and/or Vicki

New in Marin! Suzie’s Studio
425 Irwin St. San Rafael CA 94901
with Vicki
Sundays Oct. 6 - Nov. 23
10:00 - 11:30 am. $15 -$20
For questions call 415 608-6004

Park Yoga
4226 Park Boulevard Oakland, CA 94602
October 19, 3-4:30pm Respira w/Luke

Respira with Luke online - please visit our webpage dzogchencommunitywest.org for the zoom link
Sept 16, 4:30-6pm Respira
Oct 14, 4:30-6pm Respira

07/11/2024

Upcoming Yantra yoga and Respira Method events with instructor Luke Karamol. See website calendar or links below.

Yantra Yoga practice- Saturday July 13 at Park Yoga

Respira: Architecture of the Breath- Saturday July 20 at Park Yoga

Foundation of Yantra Yoga immersion- Saturday July 27 at Park Yoga

Respira Method and complete Breathing weekend course in Knoxville TN Aug. 9-11

06/18/2024

introduction to yantra yoga this Saturday in Oakland at Park Yoga with authorized instructor Luke Karamol. Registration link in comments.

12/18/2023

Complete Series of Courses in the Vajra Dances from the Cycle of Vajra Dances of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

Offered December 2023 - February 2024 in Mexico and California
Led by Carisa O'Kelly, authorized 2nd level instructor

20 - 23 December 2023
Vajra Dance that Benefits Beings
Hosted by Pelzomling, Mexico City
Participation is open to all those interested.
Contact: pelzomling@gmail.com

26 December 2023 - 8 January 2024
Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra
Hosted by Tsegyalgar West, Baja BCS, Mexico
To participate, transmission from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Namkhai is required.
Contact: Jimena at tsegyalgarwestsecretary@gmail.com

10 - 12 January 2024
Vajra Dance that Benefits Beings
Held in Todos Santos, BCS, Mexico
Participation is open to all those interested.
Contact: Jimena at tsegylagarwestsecretary@gmail.com

20 - 21 and 27 - 28 January 2024
Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra, Part I
Hosted by Dondrubling, San Francisco Bay Area
To participate, transmission from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Namkhai is required.
Contact: Kathleen at aha@dzogchencommunitywest.org

3 - 4 February 2024
Vajra Dance of the Three Vajras
Hosted by the Los Angeles Dzogchen Community
Participation is open to those with transmission.
Contact: Sanford at dzcommunityla@gmail.com

Prerequisites:
The Vajra Dance that Benefits Beings is open to all those interested.
The Vajra Dance of the Three Vajras is open to those with transmission.
For those who have not received transmission from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Namkhai, it is recommened to first learn the Vajra Dance that Benefits Beings.
For the Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra, transmission from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Namkhai is required

For more information about Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018) and the Vajra Dances, see the International Dzogchen Community's website, vajradance.net

"The Dance of the Song of the Vajra is a complex symbolic dance connected particularly to the energetic aspect of our existence. Through their sound, all the syllables of the Song of the Vajra are linked to specific energy points within our inner mandala, our body, and our outer mandala, the external dimension of the world. Through sound, color and movement we can coordinate these energy points and create a harmonizing communication on the level of subtle energy."