Although our yoga practice reminds us to remain in the present, we will begin this month’s message by glancing back, for a moment, to the summer of 2011.  Several local yoga teachers, many recently graduated from a teacher-training program led by Debbie Marquette and Heidi Crocker, started exploring the possibility of opening their own studio.  We could not have foreseen either that those conversations would result in the founding of 4yoga or that the studio would be fortunate to be sustained by our community for 12 years!  

Eventually our larger group became Kim Herald, Erica Jacknin, Kelly Reames, and Angie Jones.  With a decorated shoebox to collect class fees, we launched our vision of an accessible and affordable yoga studio on Sept. 27, 2011, at Dance Images—thanks to Kathy Wise-Leonard, who welcomed us to her studio.  A year later, Kathie Downs generously invited us to move downtown when she purchased The Pots Place, renovating the living room of an upstairs apartment into a yoga space overlooking Fountain Square.

We appreciate all of you who have practiced and taught with us over the years—and we hope to see you in September as we celebrate our 12th birthday with 12 special events!  See the attached PDF for the full schedule, and read below for highlights.

Special classes:  drop in for either of these special September offerings!

• Pink Power Yoga: Wed., 9/13, 5:30 p.m. Feeling inspired by the blockbuster Barbie movie, Heather is offering a new yoga experience this month. Wear your pink and join her where yoga meets cardio: think 80s aerobics class style. It’s sure to be a fun evening! (Edited to add: Heather has created a Facebook event for the class—check it out to let her know you’re interested!)
• Mindful Yoga: Sat., 9/16, 10:30 a.m.  Join Carmen to focus on mind-body awareness, including an emphasis on breath and breathwork as ways to remain present. Beyond the breath, we’ll learn how to redirect attention back to focus when our mind wanders and how to infuse mindfulness into gentle poses.

Post-class outings:  join us as we gather at some of Bowling Green’s wonderful “third places”!

• Coffee with Beshka, Carmen, Frances, Trudy, and Angie at Spencer’s and The Harvest Bakery and Café.  (See schedule for specific dates/times/locations.)
• Happy Hour with Heather on the patio at Micki’s on Thurs., 9/7, at 5:15 p.m.
• Lunch with Carmen at Café Kindness on Sat., 9/16, at 11:45 a.m.
• Night Y’all at Community Farmer’s Market with Angie on Thurs., 9/28, at 5:15 p.m.

October preview:  fall book club meeting.  Our book club will next meet on Sun., Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. in the lounge at the studio.  We will discuss Daniel J. Levitin’s Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, a book that tackles a subject relevant to us all. For more information, please see this previous post or the Facebook event.

We look forward to practicing and celebrating with all of you in September!