As we begin 2024 together, we want to pause to appreciate the opportunity to be part of a thriving yoga community—and to appreciate you for your support of our studio.  Whether you’ve attended classes, joined us for social events, or interacted with our social media, we are grateful for your role in our ongoing evolution.

The launch of a new year can bombard us with messaging that is not aligned with the study and practice of yoga.  So you won’t see us asking for your new year’s resolutions or proclaiming the need for a “new you” when the calendar changes months: instead, we are beginning the new year with a gentle reminder that yoga can support and strengthen our self-development in many ways.  But one thing yoga does not do is tell us that we are flawed and, therefore, need to be fixed.

If yoga will serve you in January, please join us at the studio!  We are excited to welcome a new teacher, to highlight two guest teachers, and to offer several special classes and events.  For a complete monthly schedule, please see the class calendar page; for more information about what January provides, please read on.

Three new and guest teachers: Maria, Uta, and Iajahnni

• Maria French will offer a weekly Yin class on Friday nights at 5:30 p.m. and also teach a Saturday Basics class.  For more information about Maria and her recent Yin training, check out this post.
• Uta Ziegler will guest teach two Basics classes, one on Tuesday morning and another on Sunday afternoon.  Find out more about Uta’s completion of a 200-hour yoga teacher training here.
• Iajahnni Von will guest teach two Basics classes, both on Monday evenings.  Although you may already be familiar with Iajahnni from his teaching at other area studios and gyms, we’ve shared a full introduction here.

Five special classes: meditation introduction, Saturday Gentle classes, yoga nidra, Sunday morning Basics class

• Move and Meditate:  we have heard your requests for in-person opportunities to learn about and practice meditation, and Angie is excited to offer the first of these special classes.  Join her on Wed., Jan. 3, at 5:30 p.m. for a session that begins with gentle movement, provides strategies and suggestions for developing a meditation practice, and offers two or three accessible, guided meditations.  This class can be completed seated in a chair or seated or reclining on the floor and is appropriate for folks with or without prior yoga experience.
• Saturday Gentle classes:  on the first two Saturdays of the month (Jan. 6 and Jan. 13), join Carmen for a weekend Gentle practice beginning at 10:45 a.m. These classes, like other January Gentle classes, will explore the principle of ahimsa, or non-harming.  (See below for more information.)
• Sunday yoga nidra:  join Shigeko on Sun., Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m. for this month’s yoga nidra session.  Yoga nidra can be practiced sitting or reclining, and no prior yoga experience is needed.  If you’ve already experienced yoga nidra, you are familiar with its many benefits to’ mental and physical health.  If you are curious about this practice or would like to take a deeper dive into research on its effects, see this 2022 journal article.
• Sunday morning Basics class:  if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to practice on a Sunday morning, you’re in luck!  Join Heather on Sun., Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. for a Basics class.

Three special events:  two yoga socials and book club

• Yoga Social #1:  if you’re joining Angie for Move and Meditate on Wed., Jan. 3, save some time afterward to head to Mellow Mushroom to continue the conversation…or just meet us at Mellow for a chance to socialize.
• Yoga Social #2:  after her Monday-evening class on Jan. 15, Heather will host a “souper” yoga social at the studio.  She and Angie will provide a pair of vegetarian soups; please bring a vegetarian appetizer, side dish, or dessert and join us for this casual dinner.
• Book club: whether you’ve already read Demon Copperhead, the Pulitzer-prize-winning novel by Barbara Kingsolver, or are wondering what all the buzz is about, we hope you can join us for our January book club meeting to discuss it!  We’ll gather at the studio on Sun., Jan. 21, at 1:30 p.m. for light snacks and conversation.  Please bring a snack if you can, but the most important thing to contribute is your perspective on the novel.  Here’s a link to the Facebook event, should you want to RSVP there.

One special focus for Gentle classes:  ahimsa

• During January, teachers in the Gentle classes will focus on ahimsa or non-harming.  Explore the first yama this month with Trudy on Mondays, Angie on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Frances on Wednesdays, and Carmen on two Saturdays.  
• In the spirit of ahimsa, Frances and Angie will be sharing some of the lessons from the Brain Longevity Therapy Training program, provided through the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, that they completed in 2023.  (Read more about their experiences here.)  And Angie will continue to draw upon what she learned in the Integrative Yoga for Seniors Professional Training at Duke.

Finally, if January is when you would like to begin a yoga practice or get reacquainted with your mat, please schedule a private or semi-private Intro to Yoga session.  These personalized sessions are available for a special rate of $25:  see the sign-up form for the options available and to begin the scheduling process.

We look forward to practicing with you in the new year, and please let us know of ways we can continue to support your health and the health of our community!