In the last few weeks, you may have heard warnings from Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, about the nation’s “loneliness epidemic,” an epidemic caused by a lack of social connection.*  In our role as a community yoga studio, we are grateful that we can provide several ways for folks to connect:  through in-person classes, through Zoom workshops, and with informal gatherings after class.  

For June, we are excited to share both ongoing and new connection opportunities.  Whether you’re looking for a chance to spend time with yoga folks at Barren River Lake, a chance to connect with an experienced meditation teacher, assistance in relaxing deeply, or the convenience of a drop-in yoga class, we have something to support you!

Retreat at Barren River Lake: Sun., June 11-Mon., June 12

To see all the details about our first retreat, check out this post. We look forward to gathering at Barren River Lake on Sun., June 11!

Return of Meditation Made Easy: Sat., June 24, 11 a.m. central, Zoom.

On Sat., June 24, Danny Brewington returns for our workshop series, Meditation Made Easy!  Join Danny for this 90-minute workshop to explore the seventh (crown) chakra.  To allow folks from around the country to participate, we host this series on Zoom.

Description for the workshop:  Enlightenment is not a “thing”: it is a process of removing our own psychological blocks. As we progress upward through the chakra system, we are required to surrender all our subconscious content. Once this content is cleared, we can enter the seventh chakra where our True Nature is revealed, much like clouds clearing in the sky reveal the radiant rays of sunshine.

The greatest practice for developing the seventh chakra is meditation. Meditation is like defragmenting your hard drive—it cleans up your system, allowing you to experience new information more efficiently. In addition, as we enter the seventh chakra and open the awareness even wider, meditation helps us stay centered without getting overwhelmed or lost in the Infinite Field. We can then open fully to our spirituality and experience inspiration.

Join us as we continue the journey through the chakras and on the path to enlightenment.

For more information about the workshop, see this post.  To register, complete this form.

Continuation of yoga nidra in Sunday classes

Thank you for your positive response to the inclusion of guided relaxation at the conclusion of May’s Sunday classes!  Based on that response, Angie and Shigeko will continue to offer yoga nidra for the June classes.  

(Note that, to allow participation in the retreat, there is no studio class on Sun., June 11.)  To learn more about yoga nidra and its benefits, see this post from the Cleveland Clinic.

Welcome back Carmen Herrera

This month we also welcome Carmen Herrera back to teaching at 4yoga.  Come practice with Carmen on two different Saturdays:  on Sat., June 10, for the regular 9 a.m. Basics class, and on Sat., June 17, for a new, occasional, 11 a.m. Gentle class.

Description for the new class: In this weekend Gentle class, Carmen will help students explore both poses and breath with curiosity and mindfulness, approaching their practice from a place of inquiry.  Drawing upon Carmen’s anatomy training with Leslie Kaminoff, this class encourages students not only to pay close attention to feedback from their own bodies but also to adapt their yoga practice to their needs.

* For more information about the loneliness epidemic and what can be done to improve social connections, see the Surgeon General’s press release here or download a copy of the report itself here.