Our 3rd Annual: Eco Yoga Day

Sun, Apr 17, 2p – 4p

Galesville Memorial Hall

$15 Donation (All proceeds go towards a local green project)

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Come celebrate the Earth Day season with our 3rd annual Eco Yoga Day. This is a time to engage in plantings, participate in a community, and recognize our inherent connection to the earth. Along the way we will do yoga and meditation to attune our bodies and minds to nature’s calling.

This year our theme will be: Biomimicry. This is a pioneering field wherein nature serves as the inspiration for all kinds of human activity including building construction, technology and so much more. After discussion this emerging arena with Karen McDonald (Environmental Educator), we will plant some heirloom seeds in newspaper pots that we make. This would be mimicking nature’s process by using seeds that can be harvested again and again (not just store bought seeds). We may also plant flower seeds that could be germinated and then planted around Galesville Hall later.

We will begin the afternoon with a short yoga session. In past years, we have always done tree plantings as well. Our gratitude to both Exterior Image (Lothian) and Greenstreet Gardens (Lothian) for donating trees in years past.

So come on out for this great, local, community gathering.

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Also take a look at pics and read about our past Eco Yoga Day events:

Eco Yoga Day 2010 ~ Eco Yoga Day 2010 Pics ~ Eco Yoga Day 2009

Eco Yoga Day was a big hit, with both humans and bees. We learned about bees, tasted their wonderful honey, and in turn our friends the bees got new homes. See two of the finest shown here.

Our yoga practice segued into an Eco think tank led by Karen McDonald of SERC. She taught us all about bees native stingless bees and how they make their way in the world. Lots of fascinating material was presented and we do have extra handouts available. Just ask.

Then people of all shapes and sizes got to work constructing their bee houses – sturdy structures made of wood. Our gratitude to Bob Smith for creating these beautiful kits so on Eco Yoga Day even the youngest of participants was able to engage fully.

Once the construction was done it was a-decorating- we go!! Builders turned into artists to create charming bee houses. Here is but one of the many designs that were put forth.

These bee houses are designed for native stingless bees and during the presentation Karen gave us all kinds of tips and strategies for ensuring they are able to live a comfortable life in these bee homes. After all, everyone in this universe needs a home.

And that was the overall theme of Eco Yoga Day: Creating a healthy human home by harmonizing mind and body, creating a sustainable home on earth by living in harmony with nature, and offering a home to some our friends the bees.

By this way all can find their place in this universe and live peacefully.

In follow-up to Eco Yoga Day, we will be doing a tree planting – complements of Greenstreet Gardens – this Saturday, May 1, at Galesville Hall – 9:00am!! All funds from Eco Yoga Day will go towards more plantings… Thank you everyone!!

Photos From This Year’s Eco Yoga Day -   Eco Yoga Day 2009

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.)

In observance of  Earth Day (Apr 22), we can all reflect on the words of one great yogi. The below para is describing a yogic dance yet it also is a metaphor for how we are to live on this earth. The more we take it to heart, the better off we will all be.

“You are on this earth. You are to do all worldly duties, all psychic duties, all spiritual duties, but your [[pressure]] on the Earth should be minimum. You should give least pressure on the Earth so that the Earth may not think you are a liability to the Earth. Be an asset. So, by touching the Earth with this portion [the toe tip], you are giving minimum pressure. That’s why you are to touch the Earth with that portion. Yes, with the [[dhae]] portion.” – Yogi Sadguru