February Schedule: 51 classes, 2 yoga nidras, 1 book club!

Posted on January 29, 2026 by mariafrench689

As we wrap up January, we hope everyone is staying safe and warm after the recent snow storms. 

We are excited for all that February holds – with an opportunity to attend the winter book club, 2 yoga Nidras and 51 yoga classes, including a special guest teacher class and a fundraiser class to help cover 4yoga’s annual expenses (details below). We would be honored to see you for one or many drop-in classes – on mornings, afternoons, and evenings – Join us when you can!

February Fundraising: To continue to support our community yoga mission, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 9 am. join Maria for a special Basics class to raise funds to cover the studio’s operating costs. 100% of this class’ fees will support 4yoga’s expenses in 2026. 4yoga operates as a collaborative studio and does not generate a profit. All student fees for regular classes are paid directly to the teacher and the teacher sets aside a percentage to rent the space. Expenses include website subscriptions, studio supplies, and blanket washing.

Can’t attend the class, but want to contribute? See the jar on the counter for cash donations – it will be there for the week before and after the fundraiser.

February updates/ events:

  1. Two opportunities for yoga nidra with Shigeko! We are pleased to continue to offer yoga nidra on two consecutive days this month. Join Shigeko either on Sun., Feb. 1, at 5:30 pm. for an in-person class, or on Mon., Feb. 2, at 5:30 pm. for the virtual class and spend 60 minutes being guided into a deeply relaxed state. (Please note: this will be the same yoga nidra, just offered on different dates in two different modalities.)
  2. Continued evening Basics classes. We are pleased to continue the recently added weekday evening Basics class this month—join Maria and Liz Mondays at 6 pm.
  3. Continued the evening Yin classes. We are pleased to continue the recently re-started weekday Yin class this month—join Maria Wednesdays at 6 pm.
  4. February’s guest teacher:  We are excited to welcome Christy McClendon to teach the 4 p.m. Basic class on Sunday, Feb. 8. 
  5. Winter book club meeting: Come join us on Sun., Feb. 15, at 1:30 pm at the studio to discuss Amy Larocca’s How to Be Well: Navigating our Self-Care Epidemic One Dubious Cure At A Time. Curious about how “wellness” has come to be such a trend—and how effective its treatments are?  Then grab the book (borrow from the Warren County Public Library if you’d rather not buy), read as much as you want, and stop by to discuss. Please bring a snack to share if you can, and know that an RSVP to the Facebook event helps us plan.  Our book club is a free community event and always welcomes new members:  we are happy to see folks whether they practice yoga with us or not.

Other Reminders: 

  1. February closure of The Pots Place: As a reminder, The Pots Place gallery will be closed the month of February, as it is every year, but classes will continue as usual. Teachers will unlock the front door 20-30 minutes before classes start and students can enter the studio as normal. 
  2. Severe Weather/ Cancelation Policy: With winter upon us, we want to remind everyone that class cancellations/ updates due to severe weather will be posted to the calendar page, Facebook, and Instagram at least an hour before a scheduled class starts. During snowy or icy conditions, please only use the front entrance to access the studio as the back steps can become very slick. 

If you have questions about or feedback on our offerings, just drop Angie, Maria, or Uta an email (4yoga.me@gmail.com) or Facebook message or catch up with one of us at a post-class gathering. And, as always, for a full copy of the month’s schedule and descriptions of our class styles, please see the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at the studio.

Last Saturday’s snowy view from the 4yoga studio window (photo credit: Angie Jones)

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Guest Teacher on Sun., Feb. 8: Christy McClendon

Posted on January 28, 2026 by mariafrench689

We are excited to welcome a guest teacher to the 4 p.m. Basic class on Sunday, Feb. 8, Christy McClendon. While many of you may have had the opportunity to practice with her at 4yoga, she also shared her bio below to get to know her better:  

Christy McClendon, MSW, PCC, and 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT200) with Yoga Alliance, brings a grounded presence to her yoga teaching, creating classes that invite students to presence, listen inwardly, and move with steadiness and care. Her approach is to supports students in building confidence, strength, and ease in their bodies over time.

With a background in leadership development, coaching, and contemplative practice, Christy is especially attuned to how people arrive and settle. Her classes invite resets, leaning into edges, tuning into spaciousness, and welcoming of where each student is in their practice.

Christy believes yoga is not about perfect shapes, but about learning how to be present with ourselves—on the mat and in daily life. She is honored to practice alongside the 4 Yoga Community and to offer yoga as a steady, supportive rhythm in the week.

For more information about Christy’s background and experience, check out her profile on Yoga Alliance’s directory. We hope you can join us to practice with her on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 4:00 p.m.!

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2025 Donation Class Recap – Thank you for your contributions!

Posted on January 12, 2026 by mariafrench689

In 2025, our teachers continued to offer monthly donation classes* with all proceeds going to a local non-profit of their choosing. In total, $1,523 was raised. Thank you for all your contributions!

Below is the full list of local non-profits for 2025:

*Donation classes mean that donations are optional and student are welcome to drop in without paying.

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Training Thursday – Maria completes Teaching with Compassion, Empathy, and Skill – Trauma Informed Yoga!

Posted on January 8, 2026 by mariafrench689

This past December, Maria French added yoga training to her holiday season! Between December 8 and 12 of 2025, Maria completed Teaching with Compassion, Empathy, and Skill – Trauma Informed Yoga from Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, NC. This five-day, hybrid training provided her with 50 continuing education hours from Yoga Alliance.

Facilitated by Michael Johnson, ERYT-500, and featuring 15 guest speakers (see full list below for background), the training included topics on trauma in the clinical sense, trauma informed yoga, polyvagal theory, somatic practices, compassion, empathy, and resourcing. Maria enjoyed how the training took a holistic approach to understanding trauma through psychology, anatomy, yoga, and Ayurveda. She also found it helpful to hear from many different experts with extensive experience in working with trauma survivors. She is excited to apply knowledge from this training to teaching yoga and to her work as a volunteer advocate at Hope Harbor.

In terms of takeaways, these stick out most to Maria. “Most people will experience or know someone who has experienced trauma. When trauma survivors are feeling activated [also referred to as a trigger] there is a need to have resources to help regulate the nervous system. Trauma informed yoga is a tool to facilitate this through pranayama, asanas, and meditation.”*

Guest speakers list:

  • Cricket Greer and Vishnu Dass– Cricket is an Ayurvedic practitioner, RN, MA, LMBT, and educator. Vishnu Dass is Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and LMT.
  • Dr. Don Salmon– Licensed clinical psychologist, teacher of Effortless Mindfulness and Yoga Nidra
  • Deirdre Smith Gilmer – E-RYT500 and trauma informed yoga teacher
  • Gaia Budhai– Yoga teacher and founder of Synergy center for Yoga and the Healing Arts
  • Janelle Railey – Psychotherapist and yoga teacher
  • Jivana Heyman – C-IAYT, E-RYT500, founder of Accessible Yoga, and author
  • Dr. Joey Marion – Physical therapist and professor at Western Carolina University
  • Dr. Leslie Temme – Yoga teacher at OASIS Recovery Center in Asheville, NC.
  • Shannon Kelly – Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant and Ayurvedic practitioner
  • Dr. Shannon Michael Pater – Doctor of psychology, spiritual director and developer of “trauma-informed spiritual direction”
  • Sean Johnson – Director of Asheville Yoga Center and founder of Wild Lotus Yoga
  • Stephanie Howarth– Somatic psychotherapist and meditation teacher
  • Sierra Hollister– E-RYT 500 and author of Moon Path Yoga
  • Suzanne Martin – Yoga teacher and founder of The Holistic Youth Project.

*Note: Trauma informed yoga does not replace traditional therapy. Please seek a licensed mental health professional if you or someone you know is experiencing trauma.

Resources:

  • National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 988
  • RAINN (national sexual abuse hotline): 1-800-656-HOPE
Maria at the 4yoga studio (photo credit: Keely Nicole Photography)

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January (2026) schedule: 55 yoga classes & 2 yoga nidras!

Posted on January 1, 2026 by mariafrench689

As we conclude 2025 and look toward 2026, we are grateful for all of you and for your participation in our yoga community.  Whether you have attended classes, gathered for special studio events, joined us for social outings, or engaged with us on social media, we appreciate all that you have contributed to help 4yoga thrive!

In marked contrast to the artificial intelligence slop* flooding our feeds and competing for our attention, yoga reminds us to be authentic and to show up honestly for ourselves and others, both on and off the mat.  We would be honored to see you for one of January’s 57 drop-in classes—on mornings, afternoons, and evenings—join us whenever you can!

In the new year, our studio is also practicing authenticity by returning to our roots as an organization run collaboratively by our teachers.  Most of this change will take place behind the scenes, but you may notice teachers taking a more active role in maintaining the studio space that we all share.  You will also notice that Uta and Maria have joined the administrative team, with Uta generating each month’s class schedule and Maria taking over our communication channels.  We appreciate everyone’s willingness to contribute to studio operations, and we are excited to see how this collaborative effort helps the studio continue to evolve!

January updates:

In order of chronological appearance, here are additional January updates we are happy to share with you!

  1. New Year’s Day class.  We are delighted to continue our tradition of launching the new year with a holiday yoga class!  On New Year’s Day (Thurs., Jan. 1), join Maria at 9 a.m. to welcome 2026!
  2. In person and online options for yoga nidra.  We are pleased to continue to offer an online option for one of this month’s two yoga nidra sessions.  That online-only session will take place on Mon., Jan. 5; to receive the link, just register here.  Or, if you prefer to experience yoga nidra in person, join Angie at the studio on Sun., Jan. 4, also at 5:30 p.m.
  3. New Monday evening Basics class.  We are happy to offer a weekday evening Basics class beginning in January—join Maria and Liz on Mondays at 6 p.m.  
  4. Return of the evening Yin class on a new day.  We are pleased to return a weekday Yin class to the schedule this month—join Maria on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. 
  5. Thursday class changes.  Frances has decided to limit her regular yoga teaching to Franklin, but we hope to continue to see her when she is available to substitute.  We are excited to welcome Celeste Ross to our teaching staff, and thrilled that she will become the regular teacher of the Thursday Gentle class.  Because Heather’s schedule currently conflicts with her availability for the Thursday-afternoon Basics class, January 8 will be her last chance to teach it for a while.  We appreciate the teachers who will continue to staff that class now and look forward to Heather returning to regular teaching when her schedule permits.

February preview: Book Club Sun., Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars for the next book club gathering on Sun., Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m.  We will discuss How To Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a Time by Amy Larocca, a journalistic-style review of our cultural obsession with wellness and the things we will do to pursue it.  Everyone is always welcome for book club conversations—whether you are currently taking yoga classes or not!  Three copies of the book are available at the Warren County Public Library, and we’ve created a Facebook event for those of you who find it helpful to keep up that way.

If you have questions about or feedback on our offerings, just drop Angie, Maria, or Uta an email (4yoga.me@gmail.com) or Facebook message or catch up with one of us at a post-class gathering. And, as always, for a full copy of the month’s schedule and descriptions of our class styles, please see the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at the studio. 

* Slop is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2025.

A look out the window at 4yoga
(photo credit: Keely Nicole Photography)

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New teacher on Thurs., Jan. 8: Celeste Ross!

Posted on December 31, 2025 by mariafrench689

We are excited to welcome a new teacher to the schedule in January. Celeste Ross will be offering Gentle Yoga the final four Thursdays in January at 9:00 a.m. Celeste has a dedicated yoga practice and has been a part of the 4yoga community as a student for several years. While many of you may have had the opportunity to practice with Celeste, she also shared her bio below to get to know her better:

Celeste is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (an RYT 200) with Yoga Alliance. She acquired the certification from Harmony Therapeutic Yoga in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Loving to take yoga classes anywhere in the world, she has enjoyed consistently attending yoga classes for 12 years and encouraging others in their individual yoga practice.

Her education and work experience include teaching piano, volunteering for MSWHospice, and mentoring others in the California Bay Area computer industry.

For more information about Celeste’s background and experience, check out her profile profile on Yoga Alliance’s directory. We hope you can join us to practice with her on Thursday, January 8, at 9:00 a.m.!

Celeste getting ready to practice yoga

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December (2025) schedule: 44 yoga classes, 2 yoga nidras, & 1 yoga social!

Posted on December 2, 2025 by 4yoga

We’d love to see you in December, whether at the studio, at our all y’all welcome yoga social, or—better yet—both! Read on to learn more about this month’s pose, our regular classes, our donation class, and our holiday downtown yoga social—and know that we invite everyone to join us anytime!

December’s pose of the month:  Viparita Virabhadrasana (or Reverse Warrior) 

viparita = inverted
virabhadra = warrior avatar of the Hindu god Shiva
asana = pose or shape

Reverse warrior pose strengthens the hips and quads, as well as the shoulders and arms.  It also stretches the groins, hips, and obliques and improves the flexibility of the spine. The pose combines a strong foundation through the legs with a sense of openness of the heart and side body. 

From Warrior II, without changing the engagement of the legs, lower the back hand to the back thigh, turn the front palm toward the ceiling, and sweep the front arm up and back; gaze at the inside of your arm or the top hand, if available. Soften through the back shoulder and breathe into the opening created by the bend. Release the pose by coming back to Warrior II.

—Uta

Holiday Yoga Social: join us at Room 433 on Thurs., Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.

Come enjoy the lights on Fountain Square from the Park Row side of the park on Thurs., Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m.!  We are grateful to Lynn O’Keefe for inviting our community to her event space, Room 433, for December’s yoga social!  

Either attend Heather’s 4 p.m. Basics class and walk across the park together or come directly to Room 433, which is located above Back Down South.  Everyone is welcome, and we will provide a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; please bring a vegetarian snack to share.  

(If you’re able to RSVP, either to one of our teachers or to the Facebook event, we would appreciate knowing you’re coming!)

Other December Updates

In order of chronological appearance, here are some December classes we especially look forward to sharing with you!

  1. Return of the Wednesday-morning Flow class.  We are pleased to return this weekday Flow class to the schedule this month—join Uta and Frances on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.  And, of course, we continue to welcome Flow fans to the Saturday morning 11 a.m. class, as well.
  2. Donation class to benefit The Hive.  Thank you to Uta for offering a second donation class this year—join her for the Flow class at 9 a.m. on Wed., Dec. 17!  Our donation classes serve our community by providing an opportunity for folks to take a class without paying a fee (donations are entirely optional) and supporting a local non-profit organization with 100% of the fees that are donated.  Uta has selected The Hive in BG to receive her donations!
  3. In person and Zoom options for yoga nidra.  We are pleased to continue to offer a Zoom option for one of this month’s two yoga nidra sessions.  That session will take place on Mon., Dec. 29; to receive the Zoom link, just register here.  Or, if you prefer to experience yoga nidra in person, join Shigeko at the studio either on Sun., Dec. 28, or on Mon., Dec. 29, both at 5:30 p.m.
  4. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day classes.  We are delighted to continue our transition of concluding one year and launching another one with a pair of holiday yoga classes!  On New Year’s Eve (Wed., Dec. 31), join Liz at 9 a.m. to bid farewell to 2025; on New Year’s Day (Thurs., Jan. 1), join Maria at 9 a.m. to welcome 2026!

If you ever have questions about or feedback on our offerings, just drop Angie a email or Facebook message or catch up with her at a post-class gathering.  And, as always, for a full copy of the month’s schedule and descriptions of our class styles, please see the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at the studio. 

Throwing it back to January 2024 and Fountain Square’s lights!
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Training Thursday:  Heather earns E-RYT 200 credential!

Posted on November 13, 2025 by 4yoga

In this Training Thursday post, we are excited to share the news about Heather Kessler‘s recent credential upgrade! Heather recently accumulated 1,000 hours of yoga teaching and, as a result, earned the E-RYT 200 designation from Yoga Alliance!

In this credential, the “E” designates at least 1,000 hours of yoga teaching experience, and one notable feature of Heather’s teaching is the variety of locations where she has shared yoga! In addition to her classes at 4yoga, here is a partial list of folks to whom she has brought yoga at locations in and around Bowling Green:

  • Yogis at Harmony Therapeutic Yoga
  • Middle schoolers at South Warren Middle School (an elective class)
  • People at their Airbnbs and workplaces with Mobile Mat Yoga
  • Yogis in her front yard for Pandemic Yard Yoga
  • Folks seeking individual, private yoga at Down Dog BG
  • Miss Kentucky candidates at The SKYPAC

Those fortunate to have experienced Pandemic Yard Yoga were hardy souls, practicing in a variety of weather conditions, including, on a memorable February day, the snow!

Heather leads a special Snowga class for Pandemic Yard Yogis on Feb. 20, 2021.
Photo credit:  Maggie Schmid Shelton.

Earning this credential puts Heather in good company among 4yoga teachers: she joins Carmen Herrera, Liz Heller, and Shigeko Sleeper in holding the E-RYT 200 designation. Please join us in celebrating Heather’s achievement and celebrating our teachers’ experience!

To catch Heather’s classes at 4yoga, join her on Thursdays at 4 p.m. for her weekly Basics class!

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November (2025) schedule: 47 classes, 2 yoga nidras, 1 book club!

Posted on November 3, 2025 by 4yoga

November resets both our clocks and ourselves to standard time.  Fortunately, yoga is one of the tools we can use to ease this adjustment, and we look forward to welcoming you to the studio this month.  Read on to learn more about November’s asana focus and our special classes and events!

November’s pose of the month: Ardha Matsyendrasana (or Seated Twist or Half Lord of the Fishes)

ardha = half

matsye = fish

indra = lord or king

asana = pose

Mindfully practicing a twist such as this in yoga can help prevent injury from the tasks we do in everyday life. This seated twist activates small muscles along the spine and stimulates digestion.

Prioritize elongating your spine over a big rotation. Inhale to elongate your spine. As you slowly exhale, think about using your core muscles and twisting from the belly button first. As you ease into your twist, you can then gently turn the head and carry your gaze over the shoulder. You may notice an activation of your back muscles and abdominals as you rotate your spine. Begin with the right leg drawn in first, then complete this pose on the opposite side. 

—Liz

November Updates

In order of chronological appearance, here are some November highlights we look forward to sharing with you!

  1. Four weekend classes continue.  Weekends offer plentiful options to practice!  Select from a pair of classes on Saturday morning (Basics, then Flow) and a pair of classes on Sunday afternoon (Basics, then something more meditative—Restorative, Yoga Nidra, or Yin).  Drop in for one or both classes—if you choose to double up, you can treat yourself to a mini-yoga retreat for only $20! 
  2. Donation class to benefit Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland.  Thank you to Liz for offering a second donation class this year!  To participate in November’s class, join Liz on Sun., Nov. 9, at 4 p.m.  Our donation classes serve our broader community in two ways: 1) they provide an opportunity for folks to take a class without paying a fee—donations are entirely optional; 2) they support a local non-profit organization with 100% of the fees that are donated.  Liz has selected Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland to receive her donations!
  3. In person and Zoom options for yoga nidra.  We are pleased again to offer a Zoom option for one of this month’s yoga nidra sessions.  Receiving the Zoom link for that session, on Mon., Nov. 24, is easy: just register here.  Or, if you prefer to experience yoga nidra in person, join Angie at the studio either on Sun., Nov. 23, or on Mon., Nov. 24, both at 5:30 p.m.
  4. Book club gathers on Sun., Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m.  This month, we will meet to discuss The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté and Daniel Maté. Our book club is very casual—everyone is welcome, regardless of how much or how little of the book you have completed!  And, if you prefer borrowing to buying, know that our friends at the Warren County Public Library have copies available in both physical and audio formats. (If you use Facebook, RSVP to our book club event to receive a reminder of the meeting.)
  5. Thanksgiving Day class.  Thank you to Uta for teaching our traditional class on Thanksgiving Day!  Whatever your plans for later in the day, we hope you can join her on Thurs., Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. for a holiday practice.

If you ever have questions about or feedback on our offerings, please reach out to Angie, either through our Facebook page or at a post-class gathering.  And, as always, for a full copy of the month’s schedule and descriptions of our class styles, please check the calendar page or pick up a hard copy at the studio. 

An unexpected form of “fall color” on Fountain Square Park—roses!
Nov. 3, 2025
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Training Thursday:  Angie earns E-RYT 500 credential!

Posted on October 30, 2025 by 4yoga

Although this announcement isn’t technically reporting on a training workshop, we are excited to share that Angie Jones has recently earned a new yoga teaching credential, the E-RYT 500 designation!

We know that’s a lot of initials and numbers and may sound kind of inside baseball, so let’s explain: “E-RYT” is Yoga Alliance’s designation for “Registered Experienced Yoga Teacher,” and, in this case, the “experience” required is 2,000 hours of yoga teaching. The “500” indicates the level of training a teacher has completed, either a single, 500-hour training program or a pair of smaller programs (typically one 200-hour and one 300-hour).

Angie completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training program in April 2011 through yogaLOFT in Bowling Green, and she finished her 300-hour program in April 2019 through Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville. Her retirement from WKU in December 2024 allowed her to accelerate her yoga teaching opportunities this year, reaching the milestone of teaching 2,000 hours in September 2025. Thank you to all of the students over the past 14.5 years who have joined her for classes!

We are also delighted to note that two other 4yoga teachers had already earned their E-RYT 500 credential, putting Angie in excellent company. Beshka Moore and Frances Strickler are also registered experienced yoga teachers who have taught more than 2,000 hours of yoga and completed at least 500 hours of training.

And while we are celebrating our teachers’ accomplishments, we are proud that five of our teachers hold the YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider) credential.

The YACEP designation allows teachers to offer professional development to their fellow teachers. We recognize Liz Heller, Angie Jones, Beshka Moore, Frances Strickler, and Shigeko Sleeper, all of whom are YACEPs!

Angie looking totally natural and not at all awkward during an April 2025 photoshoot.
(photo credit: Keely Nicole Photography)
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