We hope to see you at the studio in June—read on to learn about the pose of the month and highlights of the June schedule!

June’s post of the month: Utkatasana or Chair Pose

Utkatasana (OOT-kah-TAHS-ah-nah)

utkata = powerful, fierce

asana = pose

“Chair Pose improves balance and can build cardiovascular health and resilience. It particularly strengthens your core, thighs, and ankles.“

“Utkatasana can look simple—like a yogi sitting in an imaginary chair….  [But, as Shiva Rea notes,] ‘Utkatasana immediately engages the strength of your legs, back, and ankles. Here, power is not about domination or control over someone else so much as it is about aligning with the life energy within and around you. At the core level, Utkatasana teaches you how to find your seat of power within your pelvis, at the center of your body.’

“Chair Pose demands strength and stamina in the body, but also focus in the breath and mind. When you are centered and aligned in the posture, you’ll feel like you’re accessing a great well of energy. Utkatasana offers a powerful lesson and a key concept in yoga: Steady practice over time is better than occasional, intense spurts. Consistency in yoga, and in Utkatasana, yields deep and lasting results.”

Source Yoga Journal‘s article on Chair Pose.

—Shigeko

June’s special classes and updates

• Donation class with Shigeko: Sat., June 28, at 9 a.m.  Join Shigeko on the last Saturday in June for this month’s donation class, a Basics class!  We appreciate everyone’s attendance at and support of these special monthly classes, which serve our community in two ways: 1) by providing an opportunity for folks to take a class without paying a fee—donations are entirely optional; 2) by supporting a local non-profit with the fees that are donated.  Shigeko has selected Kentucky Kids on the Block as the recipient of donations to her class.
• Yoga nidra with Shigeko:  Sun., June 29, at 5:30 p.m.  Finding it challenging to unwind? Join Shigeko to be guided into a deeply relaxed state during this month’s 60-minute yoga nidra session.  Want to experience both the invigorating and the relaxing benefits of yoga back-to-back?  Come at 4 p.m. for Carmen’s Basics class and then stay for yoga nidra.
• Wednesday morning Flow class returns.  As promised, we welcome back the 9 a.m. Wednesday Flow class to the schedule this month, with two opportunities, on June 18 and June 25.

Calling all readers:  August book club

Thank you to everyone who attended our May book club meeting to discuss The Extended Mind.  We are excited to dive into our next book, James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and hope you can join us to discuss it on Sunday, August 3, at 1:30 p.m.  Mark your calendars now and come join us in a couple of months. (The Warren County Public Library has copies in multiple formats!)

We look forward to practicing with you in June:  for a full copy of the schedule, please check the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at the studio.