We are pleased to offer live music this Saturday in our yoga classes beginning at 8:00am at Galesville Memorial Hall.

Kindly welcome Mr Gary Peresta and his guitar playing skills. Gary is a seasoned local musician who plays in a number of bands and has performed at numerous community events. He is also commonly seen in our yoga classes.

Come on out for a great morning of yoga and music this Saturday!!

Eco Yoga Day is Sunday. April 25, 2010…see what’s happening.

Our main presentation topic will be bees.

So we will begin with yoga and then transition to this wonderful, hands-on seminar – led by Karen McDonald of SERC – about bees. And then we will have a meditation and sharing circle and hopefully a planting or two.

See here what great things Karen has planned for us….

An Introduction to Bees and Native Pollinators

Bees are an important part of nature, helping flowers turn into fruits and making gardens thrive. Come learn about these fascinating creatures. We’ll explore how they live in their complex hives, feeling their way through many different jobs from raising young, tending the queen, building comb, foraging for nectar and pollen, and making honey. We will also discuss how you can keep native stingless bees right in your own yard. Afterwards we’ll try tasting some different types of local honey and make our own bee box, for native orchard mason bees, that you can put in your garden.

Yoga is appropriate for everyone – bar none. All should have access to the practice and get the benefits. As far as possible, social or economic conditions should not inhibit one from participating.

If because of financial pressure you feel you are unable to attend, then please contact me and we will figure out a way to make it work.

Remember, money is not an indicator of one’s inherent worth; a person’s value is directly related who they are. We all have our unique existential gifts and offerings. We have our inherent quality.

Thanks so much for taking this message to heart…

Our 2nd annual Eco Yoga Day

Sunday, April 25

2:00p – 4:00p

Galesville Memorial Hall

Be Part of the

Bendy Green Team!!

Suggested Donation: $15

What could be better than to do a 2nd Eco Yoga Day!! Last year we did yoga, dialogged about eco-friendly ways of living, made our own green cleaning solutions to bring home, planted a Sugar Maple tree  – thanks to Exterior Image, Lothian – behind the hall, and raised enough money to purchase a high quality hose extension as well as 1 River Birch and 3 Virginia Sweetspires – all of which were planted by the hall. 100% of the monies collected go toward a green project – period.

That is why everyone is saying: Let’s do it again!!!

This year once again Karen McDonald (SERC Community Education Coordinator) will be co-hosting this event with me and she will be treating us to another grand eco-project. She has already shared a list of topics and we are just about to select one – certainly it will be dynamic and exciting!

UPDATE: Here is our topic: Bees….

In addition we will have an hour-long yoga practice as well as a meditation circle.

Plus we have some other goodies up our sleeves – so you’ll just have to be there to find out!

There will also be time for sharing, caring & more!!!

Read all about last year’s event and see the photos!!

Let us know how you can contribute
to this year’s program to make it more green & vibrant!

Our special thanks to the West River Improvement Association for dontating the use of the hall and to Karen for offering her time, energy and special talents.

Restorative Yoga Workshop - Register Now!
Sun, Apr 11, 2:00p – 4:00p
Galesville Memorial Hall
$20 by Apr 1; $25 after Apr 1

New & improved featuring:
Facilitators (approx 5 – 1 student-instructor ratio), new poses & props,
yoga nidra, longer length session, and much, much more.

This program is really all  about responding to what
your body and mind are asking for!!

Ease into spring with a calm – come discover the wonder of restorative yoga. In this gentle session we will use a variety of props to bask in supportive, relaxing poses which enable our bodies and minds to heal, restore and find balance. This a great way to center oneself: physically, emotionally, and mentally. Along the way we will also explore breathing & relaxation techniques. This workshop is for everyone; no prior yoga experience is needed.

Note: All participants will be requested to bring a pillow and a blanket as well as x-tra clothes for layering: sweatshirt etc. If you have an eye pillow then bring that as well, otherwise we will have one for you. All other props will be supplied. A week before the program we will send you a detailed list of exactly what to bring.

YES, I want to register now on-line!!

Or bring your payment to any class.

Monthly Pass Holders: $12.00 by Apr 1

Yesterday, Friday Feb 19, I had the wonderful opportunity to present a yoga session to all the librarians of Calvert County at the main branch in Prince Frederick. It was a 1/2 hr segment during their monthly staff training.

What a great group they were!! There were 40 or 50 of us in total, and just about everyone got on the floor, took off their shoes and socks, and joined in for yoga. Those in chairs were also very much involved in the program as well. Our session aimed at backcare, balance, stretching & relaxation. The librarians put forth a top-notch effort. They were a disciplined and fun-loving group! I look forward to sharing photos in the very near future.

And oh, if you have not been down to the Prince Frederick branch – it is really a site to behold. It is great to see such a magnificent public institution run and staffed by such a great team of people / professionals!

If you would like us to visit your workplace for a day – do let us know!

Starting Tomorrow, Fri Feb 12 at 9am, all our regularly scheduled classes are back in action. Put those snowy, blizzard blues behind and get yoga-ing all over again!!

Here is our schedule…

Due to the ongoing weather patterns – snow accumulation and wind – we will not be having class today in Galesville, surprise, surprise…

Keep up your home practice – hope to see you soon!!

Till then stay warm and dry – and keep the snow at arm’s length just like Kay’s kitty!!

Our Tuesday morning yoga classes at St James Parish Hall (Lothian) WILL BE held tomorrow, Feb 9.

The new snow will not fall till afternoon – mother nature’s promise!!

So come on in…

all are welcome…

8:30am Absolutely Abs

9:00am Continuing Yoga (i.e. gentle yoga)

Look forward to having you there!

Well, while the big snow storm – approx 28 inches – forced us to cancel classes, this fellow made it out in the aftermath of the storm to do a pose or two.

Click here to see more photos.

This is actually the road but I was not too worried about cars coming from either direction. My car was basically immobile and so were most vehicles on this day.

As you can see I was going nowhere fast. My car is at the end of the driveway with the front end facing the “road”. I would have needed a snowmobile or reindeer to get anywhere.

Amidst all this purity and serenity you would have thought a sublime yoga teacher like myself would have achieved perfect peace, i.e. the grand samadhi.

But it was not meant to be…

After hanging around outside for 20 min or so, I went back in only to realize an hour later that I could not find my keys – i.e. a key ring that has keys to all the major and minor halls, studios, and community centers in the area. I was at a loss as to whether I brought them out with me or not. I searched my messy room – nope not there.

The panic began to mount…

I put all my clothes back on and ran back out into the snow. One neighbor had already “gotten out” with his 4×4 and if my keys were out there they had to be found before the snow got disturbed.

I went to my handstand spot. I did not see anything. I got down on my hands and knees and started to scrounge around – even dig. I was losing hope wondering how I would ever find them – as I got up off my knees I saw the tip of a metal piece out of the corner of my eye. I stuck my hand down and alas my whole key chain was there! Never happier…

Skipped all the way back into the house and vowed never again to do handstands with unzipped pockets, especially when mother earth is blanketed with snow ensuring not a sound could be heard!

Click here to see more photos.

Due to the great blizzard – perhaps the biggest snow fall in modern history here in the Capital region – we will not be having classes this morning.

I know, surprise, surprise…

While most rational people canceled events for today 24hrs ago, I thought to just wait and see.

Well now the waiting is over and the seeing is done: No Class

Do stay warm and dry as far as possible…Hope to see you soon!!

Yesterday, marked our first ever Restorative Workshop, and 23 participants braved the snow and made it in for the experience!

Restorative Yoga is the practice of bringing your mind and body into a state of balance through very gentle postures – supported by props – held for longer periods. It is a time to be still, quiet, and delve inside. Even then there is the occasional hurdle – as some will attest with regards to the standing/seated wide angle series! By and large though restorative yoga is a soothing program of restful poses that help to recharge oneself. In its totality it is a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual journey towards enhancement – with each participant having their own unique experience.

With bolsters abound, straps around, blankets covering, chairs side by, and eye pillows on top, we step by step embarked on our endeavor. It was new to some of us, like seeing an old friend for others, yet in the course of things we all experimented and found renewal and peace in our practice.

As a facilitator, it was a joy to partake and I also walked away with new and better ways of doing for next time.

This is something we do wish to offer more of and I hope everyone will come out and experience first-hand the joy and serenity inherent to a restorative yoga practice.

Well what a Yoga Day we had!!

View all the photos…

There was yoga (of course), great music performances by our local elementary schoolers led by their music teacher Ms Cheryl Logan, a raffle extraordinaire (thanks to all of you!) and other joys like yogi tea (thanks Michelle!), frosted vegan “yoga day” cupcakes, certificates & organic apple juice which we totally forgot to serve – that’s how much fun we were having!!

All in all more than 100+ people stopped in for Yoga Day!

Our gentle yoga class got it all going at 8am – 20+ participants were on board and ready to set sail in their yoga journey. We calmly progressed through our moves and sequences. Some of the attendees were new, some were experienced, yet all moved together. A neat start to the morning – bending, breathing, extending & ideating.

After class we talked for a moment about nandan vijiana (aesthetic science) and how to make the world beautiful through artistic expression – including music.

And then – amazingly – our 4th & 5th graders from Lothian Elementary and Shady Side Elementary performed!! And you can hear some of what they did by listening to the podcast below.

(Right now I can only get one sound file into a blog post – I have 14 short sound files and I will continue to try and get more up onto the site .)

Suffice to say here that our young musicians. were AWESOME!

There were strings, flutes, clarinets – all for our listening enjoyment. They did great…They more than deserved their certificate of participation and vegan “Yoga Day” frosted cupcake.

After that it was back to our yoga practice with Yoga for Strength and Fitness. And what a turnout we had – 30+.  There were newbies, oldbies and ones in between and everyone worked hard, played hard, rested hard, and then again lunged forward and did their best. Shavasana, meditation, and a story about a boy saving the starfish reminded us that with inspiration and coordination all kinds of problems can be solved.

Then we were treated to another musical performance by 3rd – 5th graders from Lothian and Shady Side featuring clarinets, flutes, and strings, followed by a grand vocal performance by first and second graders from the aforementioned schools. And how beautifully they sang! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the performances – which were followed by more cupcakes and certificates!

Then came the free raffle – a raffle like no other!! Special thanks to all those who donated a most unique array of items.

Teresa Crofoot of 1 Tree Yoga: Two Yoga Bags, Glass-Beaded Bracelet; Karen McDonald of SERC: Amarylis Plant; Patti Sachs:  Hand-Made Mahogany bowl & 2 rocks from Alaska; Lisa Oswald:  Homemade Jam (2) and Apple Butter;  Michelle Drake: 2hrs Face Painting; Janel Boises: 3 hrs of Creative Child Care; Dona Haske: Silpada Jewelery Gift Cert $25; Holly & Kerry Pierce: Annapolis Symphony CD, Hot Cocoa Kit, Wall Clock, Candle; Laurie Morin of Health, Prosperity & Abundance: Skin Care & Wellness Gift Package;  Nancy Bateman: Karma Free Gift Set featuring Washes, Creams, Soaps, & much more; Kirk Johnson: Hand-Made Hinged Cutting Board; Sharon Brewer of Green Violet Herb Farm: Balms, Salves, Teas, and Lavender; Holly Ross: Candle Holders; Renaissance Yoga: 2 CD’s,  Monthly Yoga Pass.

I think all the winners thoroughly enjoyed their prizes as there were a lot of ooohs & aaaahs!!

That’s right – after an exciting free raffle like that it was time for our relaxation segment of the morning. We did a guided seated meditation followed by a lying visualization, complemented by a personal journey of peace and tranquility.

There were some who even stayed for the entire program!

By that time it was time to pack it all in – and what a morning it was! Lots of free yoga, great giveaways, wonderful music, and your spirited participation.

Plus we also raised a healthy sum of $150 for the Haitian Earthquake victims which was donated to Doctors Without Borders via their on-line donation program on Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 .

Thanks to all for coming in and attending!! We look forward to seeing you there next year!!

Here is a list of all of our musicians:

Shady Side Elementary: Melissa Witte, Sarina LeCroy, Destiny Smith, Morgan Stueckler, Delaney Sancomb, Kate Gott, Ellie Broglie, Joshua Baker, Greg Smith, Katie Bedard, Caterina Grandi, Emilee Williams, Fin von Schilcher, Paula Duck.

Lothian Elementary: Jennifer Potter, Caitlin Brumley, Aaliyah Allen, George Carney, Abby Adey, Grace Barber, Ashely Liston, Madison Collins, Ciara Tongue, Shaun Butler, Sarah Webster, Ava Wishnow.

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

Throughout the course of history, various personalities have dedicated themselves to noble causes in order to help humanity progress.

All too often such people are maligned in their own lifetime, even then they persevere, sacrificing much for a greater cause.

Such personalities are known as seers, rishis, leaders, and well-wishers of humanity. Yogis say that the greatest thing a person can do in life is to work for the welfare of others and set an example by one’s own personal conduct and dealing.

Our deepest respects and homage to Dr King as we once again remember the great cause that he fought so hard to achieve.

On this day of reflection here are a few of his words:

- An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

- Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.

- I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

- I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.

Location Change!!!

Our Saturday Morning Yoga Classes
for Jan 16, 2010
will meet at Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall
204  Owensville Rd (Rt 255), West River

Thanks so much for your understanding. We’ve had ongoing heating issues at Galesville Memorial Hall this week. The situation was resolved, then unresolved, etc etc.  We hope to have everything up and running soon.

Yoga Day Schedule of Events

Sat, Jan 23, 8am – Noon

Galesville Memorial Hall

All  below classes & events are FREE!

8:00am Gentle Yoga

9:20am Music Performance by Shady Side & Lothian Elementary Schools. For more info contact: clogan@aacps.org

9:45am Yoga for Strength & Fitness

10:45am Voice Performance by Shady Side & Lothian Elementary Schools. For more info contact: clogan@aacps.org

11:15am Meditation Circle and Relaxation

Noon: Closing Ceremony & Thank you!

Also Featuring:

* Free Yogi Tea * Raffles * All T-Shirts 1/2 Price

* Yoga CD 40% Off, just $10 * All of You!!

A Call for Raffle Items:
We are accepting give-away type of items to raffle off at this event. This is a great way to promote your business and/or personal skills as well as bring a smile to someone’s face. No item is too small. Please do consider sharing something…Thank you!!!