On the summer solstice in this month of June we will receive about 15 hours of sunlight as the maximum length of daylight energizes all plant life to reach maximum potential for growth and expansion.  This energy from the sun is converted by the plants and offered as a source of food, medicine, and beauty for us to sustain the life of our bodies. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and spirit.

The next time you have a plate of food in front of you, especially if not from your own garden, take a moment to contemplate the sensory delight it offers (colors and smells as well as taste).  Contemplate all the human effort that was required to deliver this energy from the sun to your plate.  Considering the planting, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting necessary to bring the food you are about to consume all the way to your plate, especially when the source is from very far away (like China) is kind of mind blowing.  

As we practice this level of awareness, it is a natural response to make your food as fresh as possible and as local as possible. This simple practice of bringing awareness to eating as a source of energizing and sustaining the body vs eating from emotional hunger could have a great impact on your health. 

May all of our actions on and off the mat this month contribute to our growth and expansion to create healthy bodies and clear minds as we pay homage to the joy and life-sustaining energy of our sun.    

To provide even more opportunities to contribute to that growth and expansion, the June schedule includes one special new class, one ongoing new class, a class being offered on a new date and time, and the monthly meditation conversation and practice.

• Special new class on Friday, June 20, 5:30 p.m.:  Laughing Yoga with Susan Polk.  Join Susan this Friday evening for Laughing for the Health of It:  A True Yoga Happy Hour! What better way to end the week than an Intentional Yogic Laughing class based on the science and practice of Laugha Yoga?  This structured class will follow various practices ad research to help you experience the joyful health benefits that can come from laughter paired with yoga.
• Ongoing new class on Fridays at 1:30 p.m.:  Mommy and Me Yoga with Eri Golden.  Are you a parent of a young child who would like to bring your child to yoga class?  If so, Eri has just the opportunity for you on Friday afternoons!  Bring your little one to class to enjoy breathing techniques, basics-level poses, and deep stretches.  This class will help both calm you and your baby and provide a workout for you and your child.  For more details about this class, please see our post on the 4yoga website.
• New class date/time on Thursdays at 4 p.m.:  Eri Golden’s Basics class moves to Thursday afternoons.  Do you prefer an afternoon weekday class or a Basics-level practice?  If so, make plans to join Susan Polk’s Basics class at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and/or Eri’s class at 4 p.m. on Thursdays.
• Monthly talk/meditation session on Friday, June 13, 6:45 p.m.:  Juanita Rodriguez hosts this monthly, informal session to discuss meditation practices and then participate in a brief and accessible meditation.  There is no charge for this session, and it is open both to those curious about and new to meditation and to experienced meditators–all are welcomed.

As always, to review the full month’s class schedule, please see the calendar section of this site or a hard copy available at The Pots Place.

Remember that even if you are running late when the gallery downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class.  If the front door is locked, please come to the back door of The Pots Place (look for the blue building) and ring the buzzer.  The teacher will then unlock the door remotely for you to enter through the pottery studio.