restorative yoga

Sooo00, this Friday the 6:00 to 7:30 class will be resorative yoga. Its a great way to get ready for an exciting weekend. See you there.

please excuse the mess...

I am currently working on reformatting the blog and apologize for the html mess. Hopefully I will have this fixed soon!!!!

-m

Completely Gratuitous.....

I'm waiting for the cranes to come back, and since I'm not one to sit around this includes mornings on La Chua trail. Technically, Bolen Bluff has always been my favorite, but La Chua is a couple minutes from my house and has what is possibly the best view in town:

Believe it or not there is a huge turtle, two alligators, and about a dozen or so birds fishing in this photo. No cranes yet, but they are on their way.

10.23.09 update: Jen saw them taking off in Wisconson last week!!!! They will be here soon!!

A Yogini Reflects on Football....

I'm so excited (and grateful) to share Ellie's guest post this morning. She's braving the rain and Homecoming parade preparations as I type to teach a wonderful Friday morning class. For those of you who don't live in Gainesville, Gator fans are something to experience. I really can't describe it. Just know that at UF you are not an alumni, you are part of "The Gator Nation".

I know Its been quiet around here, but I have been working on some big changes for the studio website and I'm looking forward to finally sharing them soon. Thank you Ellie for the hand!!!

Last fall, Mike and I had student season tickets to the UF football games. Now, mind you, these season tickets are not easy to get - so when we won the lottery, I was so excited! There is nothing quite like live football - the crowd, the cheers, the adrenaline rush. I had not participated in football since high school. I was really looking forward to college ball. Little did I expect to be confronted with actions so blatantly opposed to my yogic philosophy.

One of the primary principals of yoga is that of ahimsa, or non-violence. It's funny, I had never really thought of football as violent - despite watching the games over all those years and witnessing the physical injuries...until the UF vs. Kentucky game, that is. It was BRUTAL. The Gators were so far ahead in the second half of the game, there was no hope for Kentucky. And yet, the Gators kept tackling, running, passing, scoring. The crowd kept cheering - relentlessly flapping their arms in the Gator chomp over and over and over again.

The chomp takes on a whole new significance when the opposing team is practically bleeding on the field and the band starts that ominous chomping riff.

"It's football, not Sunday church, Ellie," our friend, Brad, proclaimed to me as I squirmed on the bleacher. I could not even stand at that point, let alone cheer.

How could I support such brutality? How could I admit to enjoying football after seeing annihilations - both physical and mental - like this one?! How does football fit into my yogic worldview? After some deep thought, I have come to some conclusions.

Football has many levels - some of which could be seen as yogic. For example, wearing the team's colors and chanting with the crowd - these are actions that help fans find union with fellow fans who were previously strangers - this is very yogic. The word yoga actually means "union" and, to a certain degree, there is some unity with the crowd. (Disregarding for the moment that unity is found in opposing the other team, it is nevertheless, a step toward unity with fellow mankind. Perhaps we need to find unity with some before we can find unity with the whole, and before the ultimate union with the divine.)

The contest of the game is also similar to the opposition found on a battlefield - a storyline familiar to yoga through the Bhagavad Gita. In this ancient text, the main character Arjuna is forced to go to war against friends and some members of his own family. Arjuna becomes filled with doubt and seeks counsel from Lord Krishna. Krishna discusses the principal of dharma, or duty, and universal harmony with Arjuna. He explains that because the soul is eternal, any 'death' on the battlefield is merely shedding the physical body. The soul lives on.

Perhaps like the battle in the Bhagavad Gita, football can teach us about duty and death. By coming together with our team and experiencing small losses represented in a game, we realize that we are not alone as we face what appear to be the great losses. Like Arjuna, we are learning that we have duties to teach us lessons. And, as some yogis would say, that although life appears to be real, it is not necessarily - that like the concrete physical world of football, life is actually a very unreal game - with changing players, wins and losses, and steps toward the ultimate union with the divine.

Life, like yoga, is also about balance. Each person has to decide where they draw their line of non-violence – finding a personal moral and philosophical comfort zone somewhere amid the extremes presented by our societies. It’s about following our inner compass as we navigate between Jainism, vegetarianism, and murder or war.

So, this year, did I re-enter the season ticket pool - did I go for it? You BET! Because "it's great...to be...a Florida gator!"

Get to know a yogi: Lisa

We have such a great group of yogis at Sanctuary I can't help wanting to know more about them and sharing the juicy tidbits. So, I have decided to do a regular segment on the journal called "Get to know a yogi." I know, I know - its creative genius. Actually, its a complete rip off of a blog that journals the events at a store in Denver called Fancy Tiger (AKA my blue heaven).

So, today it's Lisa Remy's turn!

Lisa has been practicing yoga for quite a while. She is a lady so I won't divulge numbers, but the girl has got a practice! She has studied both yoga and Ayurveda in India and the US, and is a licenced massage therapist. Basically, Lisa is very likely to make you feel better even if you didn't feel that bad to begin with. My favorite thing about Lisa is how openly she approaches situations. She will tell you what she thinks and genuinely wants to know what you are thinking too. I asked her a few questions so we could all get to know her a bit better.

melissa: What brought you to yoga?

lisa: Initially just exercise, a way to strengthen and stretch. Then I found other benefits like it was easier to quiet my mind and I realized I was making better choices.

melissa: What is you favorite thing about teaching?

lisa: What is my favorite thing about teaching!?!? (then she made that hilarious aaahhhh sound that she makes - so cute) Well, sharing yoga.

melissa: What do you like to do aside from yoga?

lisa: To be outdoors, doing anything!, read, spend time with friends and family, good conversation, massage, day dream, contemplate the moon & stars, dance, travel.

melissa: What do you think is easy to guess about you?

lisa: This may be a weird answer, but that I am a vegetarian. I don't know why, but people are always assuming that I'm a vegetarian, which I am, but I don't know how they know.

melissa: What do you think people would never guess about you?

lisa: Hmmm, that I am really very shy. Terrified at times. I just push through it and put myself out there. Also that I was a total tom-boy when I was a kid. Climbing trees, riding dirt bikes, beating up boys, all that good stuff.

melissa: Do you have a favorite/go to pose? What is it? Why?

lisa: Urdva Dhanurasana. It totally rejuvenates me. If I am tired it energizes me. It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Thanks Lisa for being such a great sport and being the first "get to know a yogi." I highly recommend you try Lisa's Thursday hatha class at 5:30 or her new comunity class Wednesdays at noon. The comunity class is free for all city and county employees or $8 for the rest of us. Both classes are at Sanctuary! You can also check our her online journal at www.yogaremy.blogspot.com

Fall is coming so here is the new schedule!!!!!!

This fall we have a new space and the most ambitious schedule yet.  There is more for families, more beginners, and even a class for those of you who have been practicing for a while and are ready to challenge conceived limitations (guess what there are none).

 

monday  

*4:00 to 5:15 pm / Pre natal Yoga / Jen / Please pre register                                                                       

5:30 to 6:45 pm / Hatha / Samantha / all levels

7:00 to 8:15 pm / Beginning Yoga / Leah

tuesday

9:00 to 10:15 / Hatha / Kim / all levels

10:30 to noon / Gentle Yoga / Anisa / all levels

*5:30 to 6:45 pm / intermediate practice / Melissa & Susan / Please pre register

7:00 to 8:15 pm / Ashtanga / Melissa / level 1

wednesday

7:30 to 8:45 am / Hatha  /  Erin / all levels

10:00 to 11:15 am / Yin and Vinyasa /  Melissa / all levels

noon to 1:00pm / Community Class / Lisa / all levels

($8 or free for County and City employees)

5:30 to 6:45 pm / YogaWorks / Susan / level 2

7:00 to 8:15 pm / Hatha Flow / Elisa / all levels

thursday

9:00 to 10:15 am / Hatha / Gretchen / all levels

10:30 to noon / Gentle Yoga / Anisa / all levels

5:30 to 6:45 pm / Hatha  Flow / Lisa / all levels

7:00 to 8:15 pm / Ashtanga / Tom  / all levels

friday

10:00 to 11:15 am / Hatha / Erin / all levels

*4:00 to 5:15 pm / Mommy & Baby yoga / Ellie / Please pre register

6:00 to 7:30 pm / YogaWorks / Melissa / level 2

saturday

10:30 to noon / Hatha Flow / Betsy / all levels

*12:30 to 1:15 pm / Kids yoga / Sarah / Please pre register

sunday

*4:00 to 5:30 pm / Kundalini / Kim / Please pre register

6:00 to 7:15 pm / YogaWorks / Susan / level 1

*series classes

 

Series Classes:

Kids Yoga with Sarah Byrd

Saturdays 1:30 – 2:15 pm  / Sept 12 – Oct 17

6 classes $48 pre registered or $58 day of 1st class

Yoga is a fun, and supportive way for children to develop awareness, confidence, motor skills, and creativity.

Kundalini Yoga with Kim Holton

Sundays 4:00-5:30pm  /  Sept 13 – Oct 4 / Oct 11 – Nov 1 /  Nov 8 - 29 

4 classes for $48 pre registered or $58 day of 1st class

An uplifting blend of spiritual and physical practices, this

 yoga style incorporates movement, dynamic breathing, meditation, and chanting.

 

Intermediate Practice with Susan Perko and Melissa Montilla

Tues 5:30 – 6:45 pm  /   Sept 8 – Oct 13  /  Oct 20 – Nov 24

6 classes for $72 pre registered or $82 day of 1st class

Deepen your practice and work into more advanced poses.

 

Yin Yoga with Melissa Montilla

Tues 5:30 – 6:45 pm / Dec 1 - 22

4 classes for $48 pre registered or $58 day of 1st class

Explore a passive form of yoga that opens up connective tissue

and energy channels through out the body for more flexibility

and greater healing potential.

 

Mom and Baby yoga

Fridays   4:00 to 5:15 pm  / Sept 25 – Oct 6

6 classes for $72 pre registered or $82 day of 1st class

Mom and Baby yoga is a wonderful way to exercise, take care of yourself and connect with your baby.

 

home sweet home....

Just three weeks ago this is what I was doing: obsessing about the implications sea salt gray will have on 2000 lbs of light yellow bamboo floor, and freaking out about wether the lights were too orange or just ugly.

Then, the hydrangeas in my garden completely inspired some purple chairs.

Which you will never see, except for this photo, because not every idea is great.

When three weeks ago turned into two weeks ago those piles of bamboo were transformed into creamy goodness that felt more like sand on the beach and stood on their own with the gray. Incidentally, I consider "the beach" a design principal not just an inspiration.  

Along with another wall, some green went up as well.  There had to be a nod to the old space and I completely love green.

One week ago everything finally fell into place.  

Betsy taught an amazing class and I was so greatful that you all came, and that the lights look o.k. after all.

Finally thais past Saturday we celebrated.  OK so this shot was actually 4th of July, but I felt exactly like a super sparkly explosion!!!

Then on Sunday after cleaning cupcake up off of those floors I parked it here for a while.  

Thank you all so much for making our first week at the Seagle building so amazing.