“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.”—The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Once again, we arrive at the New Year—the year that has not existed before, that has yet to be experienced, a blank canvas. As we contemplate this fresh start, it seems natural to set intentions so that we can be the co-creators of our history. Try this: allow yourself to float back to this time last year, the year before, and the year before. It is truly amazing to realize how life evolves and how you can now be in a place you could not have previously imagined. Whether it is a place you like or don’t like, on some level you have said “yes” to where you are. Your power of choice fueled with your will has led you to this exact point in time and space. Please accept all that has happened with deep compassion for yourself.

As you set your intentions for the new year, ask yourself, “What do I want?” Asking this question is like archers knowing what their targets are and aiming their arrows at that target. Each arrow represents your choice at any given time. Is this word I am about to speak or this action I am about to take aimed at my target?

There are quite a few new beginnings happening at 4yoga in January, including a new Curvy Yoga class, a 4-class beginner series, and the first meeting of the book club. Please see the list below for full details, and we look forward to seeing you in 2017!

January updates:

• New Year’s Day class and potluck brunch. To begin 2017 with yoga and friends, join Angie at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day for a mixed-level holiday class. Mixed-level classes are accessible to everyone, with modifications and variations to accommodate all students. After class, we invite everyone to stay for a casual, potluck brunch in the lounge. We will provide a variety of hot teas and juices. Feel free to bring anything you care to share—or just to stay and enjoy the company.
• Curvy Yoga class on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. We invite everyone to join Cassandra for this new weekly class, which begins on Tues., Jan. 3. No prior yoga experience is necessary. The class will emphasize not only the yoga poses (including using props to access the poses safely) but also building and sustaining positive body image. For more information about Curvy Yoga, see its website.
• Beginner series on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Would you like to begin or revive your yoga practice? Sign up for our 4-week Beginner series, where Angie will teach several common poses, share modifications, and answer questions. To maintain a small class size and to allow this class to advance each week, pre-registration using this link is required. If you are interested in a Beginner series but unable to attend in January, please let us know so that we can consider adding another option to the February schedule.
• First 4yoga Book Club meeting on Sun., Jan. 15. Do you like reading books and discussing them? Are you interested in learning more about yoga? Then join Cassandra as she hosts our first book club meeting, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the lounge at the studio! The first book is Cyndi Lee’s May I Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Yoga, and Changing My Mind, and we will brainstorm suggestions for the next book at our first meeting. We invite everyone to bring a snack to share while we talk.
• Monthly talk and meditation session. Alice will host this session on Fri., Jan. 20, at 6:45 p.m. As always, there is no charge for this informal gathering, which provides an opportunity to ask questions about and discuss meditation and to experience a short meditation.
• Restorative class on Sun., Jan. 22, at 5:45 p.m. For a special opportunity to relax deeply this month, join Angie for a Restorative class. For a mini-yoga retreat, take Nicole’s 4 p.m. Basics class and then stay for Restorative, too.
• Return of Living Our Yoga Yin series. In 2016, Alice and Angie team-taught a special yin class that addressed one of the yamas or niyamas each month. They are looking forward to re-starting this series on Fri., Jan. 27, and beginning with the first yama, ahimsa. In this class, the traditional yin asanas remain the same; however, Alice and Angie share thematic readings and teachings to enhance students’ experience and to create conditions that may take them deeper into the mind, body, and spirit aspects of this wonderful gift of yoga.

For a full list of January classes, please see the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at The Pots Place. We also post updates each morning on our Facebook page, along with content from our blog, should you find it convenient to keep up with us there.

Inclement weather policy: during inclement weather, we decide whether or not to cancel classes independently of area school districts’ decisions. However, if we do need to cancel a class, we publicize that information at least one hour before it begins, and we announce all class cancellations in these three ways:

1. an update to the online schedule of classes
2. an email to all members of our list
3. a status update on our Facebook page

Accessing studio after class has begun: Remember that even if you are running late when the shop downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class. If the front door is locked, 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.