In July, we are highlighting the second niyama, santosha or contentment.  Our yoga practices—including physical poses, breathing exercises, and meditation—can all help us remain present and, as a result, be more content.  Another powerful tool to help develop santosha is to remind ourselves of things for which we are grateful, perhaps as a way to begin or end each day.  Recognizing and being grateful for what we have helps keep us from being as easily distracted by disturbances that interfere with our contentment.

We are excited to share these highlights for the month and hope you can join us for them:

• Independence Day class.  On Thurs., July 4, we will offer our traditional holiday class—please join Uta at 9 a.m. for that day’s practice!
• Donation class.  Join Beshka on Sat., July 6, at 9 a.m. for this month’s donation class!  Our monthly donation classes serve our community in two ways:  1) they provide an opportunity for folks to attend a yoga class without paying a class fee—donations are entirely optional; 2) they support a local non-profit with the fees that are donated.  Beshka has chosen the Barren River Animal Welfare Association (BRAWA) as the recipient of her class’ donations.
• Two Sunday 10:30 a.m. classes.  In a new edition of a Basics class, Heather and Maria will provide a “slow flow.”  This class will include breathwork and sequences, including variations of sun salutations, that move from one yoga pose to another while still allowing for a focus on healthy alignment. Heather and Maria will also provide and demonstrate variations to help students to practice at their own level.  Join Heather on Sun., July 7, and Maria on Sun., July 21.
• Yoga nidra.  Do you find yourself looking for strategies to relax deeply?  If so, please join Angie for a yoga nidra session on Sun., July 7, at 5:30 p.m.  For yoga nidra, participants arrange themselves in a comfortable—often reclining—position and listen as the teacher guides them through a series of meditation practices to relax both body and mind. (For more information about Angie’s yoga nidra training and what motivated her to learn more about this style of conscious relaxation, see this 2021 post on our website.)
• Two Tuesday noon Chair classes.  If practicing from and with a chair suits you this month, join Angie at noon on Tues., July 9, or Tues., July 23.  This 60-minute class may especially benefit you if you are new to yoga or if you would prefer to focus on poses that are seated (in a chair) and standing.
• Yoga social to see Mt. Victor Revue at Mellow Mushroom. To spend time with other yoga folks, head to Mellow Mushroom on Thurs., July 11, at 6 p.m. to see Mt. Victor Revue, a local band that plays a variety of music “with a bluegrass frame of mind.”  Join Heather for her 4 p.m. Basics class that afternoon and then travel with fellow yogis to Mellow Mushroom, or just meet up at the restaurant.

For a complete copy of the July schedule, please check our online calendar or pick up a printed copy at the studio.  

August book club preview:  please remember to pick up a copy of The War for Kindness:  Building Empathy in a Fractured World, our next book club selection.  Then plan to join us for our summer meeting:  Sun., Aug. 4, 1:30 p.m.  (See this post or RSVP to the Facebook event page for more details.)