After a recent yoga retreat in Boston, Monica Sizemore, 4th Chakra Photography, was head over heels, or make that heels over head. Retreats can do that!
Monica is a professional photographer and long time yoga practitioner. We first met 2 – 3 years ago in a Community Yoga class. In a very short time she agreed to do the cover shoot for our Yoga/Sitar CD as well as the shoot for the inside booklet.
Needless to say, she did beautiful work!
As you can see from both of these pictures, Monica has an excellent eye – as well as wonderful form.
This second shot here combines so many elements: light, stillness, action, and so much more!
The man’s seated posture is quite good – a nice straight back – and Monica’s wheel pose is very nicely done – on a bench no less. The main difference is that Monica does not smoke cigars.
Please do share with us your yoga pics from your travels!!
Yoga is all about broadening our horizons – physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally, intellectually, morally & spiritually – as we seek out our true place in this cosmos. This short video by the American Museum of Natural History offers an interesting perspective.
Here is how they describe their video:
The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world’s most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. The new film, created by the Museum, is part of an exhibition, Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe, at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan through May 2010.
Here is Cheryl Kerwin, vacationing with her granddaughter, Phoenix, on Jekyll Island GA practicing yoga together.
If you look carefully you will notice that Phoenix is also doing the yoga pose, ardha urdhva hastasana. Check out the shadow under her right foot! She is trying her best!
Actually Phoenix has great interest in yoga – she practices poses regularly and has even come to observe class, silently practicing in her chair while the class is in action.
One other news of note, Cheryl is not just a grandma, she recently became a great-grandmother when another of her granddaughters had her baby, Kylee Ann, born June 25th. Cheryl was present for the birth in Clearwater – both mother and baby are doing fine.
Thanks Cheryl for thinking of us while you were away on vacation!
As Sara (Mon Nite NECC) continues her vacation travels and does yoga at all the hot spots – shown here in Albuquerque, N.M. – a grand question comes to mind.
Who is in greater bliss – Sara or the resident feline?
What is your opinion…
More of Sara’s vacation pics are available here and soon we will create a gallery for the many photos she continues to send us.
When you are on your summer holiday, please send us pics of what’s going on and if you are able to strike a yoga pose or two, even better!
One of our yoginis, Sara Rivers Cofield (Mon nite NECC) sends us these pics from her cross-country cruise which she recently embarked on.
The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville’s premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.
By looking at the picture, you may think you are seeing a Grecian goddess doing a yoga pose – and you are!!!
Here is a shoulder-stand for the ages. The Greeks of old would be hard pressed to keep up.
(All kidding aside, I had no idea such a structure was in Nashville Tennessee! As a 12 yr old I walked up to the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon – it was quite a sight – now I feel even more surprised to know there is an exact replica just a few states away!)
If you look carefully in this next picture you will see a 3-pointed downward dog going on!
Pretty neat to see in front of this awesome architecture!
So when you take your vacation this summer, send us the pics and let us know what’s happening – and yes, include a yoga pose or two!
It was a great place to celebrate and share. I highly recommend it – and hope to get back to Jug Bay this fall for a collective yoga program. It was only the weekend prior that we did yoga at Jug Bay for their women’s day event.
So mom and I had a great time together – talking, taking in nature.
Namaskar! Everyone please meet our new magnolia tree. The planting on Saturday was a real collective effort – everybody did something. Yours truly forgot to have his camera ready. Only after did it dawn on me…
But the universe saw what happened and that’s enough.
Thus far in two Eco-Yoga Days we have planted six trees and shrubs for the hall – and counting. The $225+ from Eco Yoga Day 2010 will go towards further plantings at the hall.
Thanks to everyone for your support and good cheer. Please do welcome our new tree when you come to the hall.
Finally, kudos to Greenstreet Gardens for donating this tree. We have a “Thank You” letter at the hall – many have already signed it – you are welcome to sign it too – the next and final day to sign on is this Wednesday…
As yogis and yoginis, we should know our home and we have many homes. We have our body, our mind, our physical house, our neighborhood, our local community, and yes our planet & universe.
In celebration of Earth Day & knowing our home – i.e. Earth – this week during classes we’ve been reviewing some facts about mother earth.
1. Current Population: 6.6 billion
2. Circumference at equator: 29,901.55 miles
3. Diameter at equator: 7,926.28 miles
4. Average distance from the sun: 93 million miles
5. Time it takes the sun’s rays to reach earth: 8 min 20 sec
6. Average distance from the moon: 238,857 miles
7. Lowest elevation: Dead Sea 1369 ft below sea level
8. Tallest Mountain from base to peak: Maua Kea (HI) 33,480 ft (13,796 ft above sea level and 20,000 ft below sea level). Note: Mt Everest is the tallest mountain 29,028 ft, but does not represent the most elevation gain.
9. Duration of a day on earth: 23 hr 56 min 4 sec. (That is why every 4 years we have a leap year. Add up those 3 min and 56 seconds each day for 4 years and you get one more full day!)
10. How to remember the order of the planets around the sun: My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto – except our dear Pluto has recently lost is planetary status due to “inconsistences” in its orbit.)
Had a wonderful program today at the Nat’l Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection benefit at the Sheraton Hotel in Annapolis.
The 40 participants in my session were lively, contemplative, eager, and spirited all rolled into one. And their balance was terrific. Thanks for being such a great group.
Our session together was part of the annual Rejuvenate events in Annpolis. This was my 4th year participating and it always proves to be a great event.
This year was particularly good because the Sheraton supplied us with such an ideal space – a perfectly shaped and sized room with picture windows on two sides.
Many thanks to Beth Lennon, Pat Major, Nancy Long and the entire Rejuvenate team for this great occasion and wonderful opportunity. Look forward to next year…
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!
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 byfirst 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 toDoctors 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.
As one year ends and the new one rolls in, here at Renaissance Yoga we have much to be thankful for and much to be hopeful about.
Thanks to all of you, 2009 proved to be a most successful year in many respects: New workshops (Intro to Yoga, Eating Healthy, Yoga for Back Care etc), new classes, new sites, new opportunities, and most of all your continued inspired participation and commitment.
As we enter into 2010 I wish to reiterate words shared last night at Community Yoga (Dec 30). Actually, the below message was relayed in story form:
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. When I couldn’t change my town, then as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now as an old man I realized the only thing I can change is myself. Suddenly I realized that if I long ago had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. And their impact could have changed the nation. And I could indeed have changed the world. ~ Unknown Monk (1100CE)
As the above words suggest, one of the most empowering tools we have in life is our own example. That is enough to bring ideas to life. People are always looking for inspiration and a glimmer of light, and there are so many ways that each one of us can personify those ideals: by our skills, by our talents, by our service, and perhaps most of all by simply being human.
We live in an era where many are looking for hope. That hope is not found in computers or technology, nor in money, nor in prestige, nor in grand yachts etc; that hope is found in beating human hearts – like yours.
So remember someone seeking hope is watching – waiting to see your example shine forth. A single person’s deeds are enough to kindle the human spirit and set the entire humanity aglow.
Whether in times of happiness or despair, we should always try to remember the great significance of our own actions and realize that who we are and what we strive to be are sufficient to change the world and spread the message of welfare for all.
I wish everyone a wonderful new beginning as we together embark on this Happy New Year!!
This second shot here combines so many elements: light, stillness, action, and so much more!
Here is Cheryl Kerwin, vacationing with her granddaughter, Phoenix, on Jekyll Island GA practicing yoga together.
As Sara (Mon Nite NECC) continues her vacation travels and does yoga at all the hot spots – shown here in Albuquerque, N.M. – a grand question comes to mind.
One of our yoginis, Sara Rivers Cofield (Mon nite NECC) sends us these pics from her cross-country cruise which she recently embarked on.
Who Am I?
And…
Namaskar! Everyone please meet our new magnolia tree. The planting on Saturday was a real collective effort – everybody did something. Yours truly forgot to have his camera ready. Only after did it dawn on me…
Had a wonderful program today at the Nat’l Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection benefit at the Sheraton Hotel in Annapolis.
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.
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!
Our Tuesday morning yoga classes at St James Parish Hall (Lothian) WILL BE held tomorrow, Feb 9.
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.
Well what a Yoga Day we had!!
And then – amazingly – our 
After that it was back to our yoga practice with 
Teresa Crofoot of 1 Tree Yoga
As one year ends and the new one rolls in, here at Renaissance Yoga we have much to be thankful for and much to be hopeful about.
So remember someone seeking hope is watching – waiting to see your example shine forth. A single person’s deeds are enough to kindle the human spirit and set the entire humanity aglow.
