Women, launch your new year with an upcoming sacred day of yoga,  women's healing circle and an ancient sweat lodge ceremony.

Dr. Keneen McNiven, founder of Conscious Chiropractic and Yoga, both in Mancos and Durango, and specializing in women's issues and empowerment, along with Sunshine Lofton, an iridologist and wholistic wellness coach, are partnering with BJ Galvan, an internationally known Anusara yoga teacher, to sponsor this special workshop, called Sacred Feminine Rising, in the Four Corners area.

This leading edge women-only workshop will be in Durango on Saturday, Jan. 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will culminate in Mancos with the sweat lodge ceremony at sunset, followed by a pot-luck dinner. The cost is $85 per person with 10 percent of the proceeds to benefit the Women's Resource Center in Durango.

"There is an important shift happening in the country and the world today that requires a new, more cooperative and collaborative feminine voice to bring balance to the previously divisive and competitive current paradigm," said McNiven. "Women need to be strong in body, mind and spirit to embody their feminine wisdom in way that helps bring a healthy balance back to community and world affairs".

The event begins with stretching, breathing and custom designed and accessible poses  for women that will  brighten and energize her body, open her heart and inspire her innate women's wisdom through the vehicle of Anusara Yoga, directed by Galvan.

McNiven, who lives in Mancos, said, "No yoga experience is necessary, and all women - any age, size or shape - are welcome. Safety is always emphasized, and modifications are offered for our more limited, stiff, or over-weight participants." McNiven, also known as YogiKeneenDC, is adamant about yoga safety and healthy alignment and can be reached at www.YogiKeneenDC.com or 303-513-8055, if anyone has a health or safety question. She also teaches yoga at Kaleidoscope Wellness in Mancos on Wednesdays and sees chiropractic clients at 164 Frontage Rd. in Mancos.

After the yoga, at 11:30, is a women's sacred healing circle. McNiven and Lofton will both facilitate this time of sharing, healing and exploring current women's issues and challenges. "It is a safe place for women to find their unique and individual voice, re-connect with their essential feminine rhythms and explore current issues and challenges ranging from intimacy and sexuality to health and relationships," McNiven said.

Following the workshop, Lofton who also lives in Mancos, will facilitate  a sacred sweat lodge ceremony in Mancos at sunset. Lofton has been working with people in the areas of iridology, Chinese herbal medicine, nutrition and herbology, sacred sexuality and tantric principles for 30 years. She has also done sweats for 22 years and has been initiated by the Southern Utes to be be sweat lodge facilitator.

"A sweat ceremony is an ancient tradition," Lofton said, "that purifies the mind, body, soul and spirit. It involves prayer and ritual that women of any spiritual orientation can comfortably participate in." Lofton is available to answer any questions women may have about the ceremony. The sweat will be followed by an optional pot-luck.

The workshop begins in room 24 of the the Smiley Building at 1309 E. 3rd Ave. in Durango. The sweat will be at 43900 Highway 160 in  Mancos. (Those who live in Durango can carpool to the sweat and pot-luck)

Space is limited. To register, contact Lofton at 970-759-4000 or e-mail shine@animas.net.