Looking for an engaging book and stimulating discussion? Join Alice for the May book club meeting!

Posted on May 3, 2020 by 4yoga

Here’s a special invitation from Alice to join her as we re-start the 4yoga book club on Sun., May 17, at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

This seemingly uncomplicated book called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz addresses some of life’s most difficult challenges and offers guidelines to a life of freedom and happiness. The first agreement teaches us the power of our words. We can create, ease suffering, and communicate compassion and love. Or we can destroy, cause suffering, and reject with indifference.

Focusing just on the first agreement, I have found references to the power of our words in countless cultures and spiritual texts. One that comes to mind is the Sufi saying, “Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate, ask yourself ‘Is it true.’ At the second gate ask, ‘Is it necessary.’ At the third gate ask, ‘Is it kind’.”

For most of us as we go about our days, we likely do not give much thought to our words. What would our life look like if we practiced the first agreement, “Be impeccable with your word,” and let our words pass through the three gates?

Let’s talk about this and the other three agreements at the 4yoga Book Club on Sun., May 17 at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

The Four Agreements

New to Zoom? No worries! Just click on this link to go directly to Alice’s meeting. Using video is optional, and you can even participate via the “chat” feature if you encounter any audio challenges. We look forward to discussing the book with you soon!

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Welcome May (2020): 11 classes and 2 special events!

Posted on May 1, 2020 by 4yoga

As we bid farewell to April and prepare to welcome May, please check out our options to practice together, albeit remotely, during the month ahead. We will bring you eleven new yoga classes via Facebook Live and two special events via Zoom, as listed below.  We appreciate our teachers, who continue to volunteer their time and expertise to allow us to provide studio classes during this period.

Thursday Restorative or Yin classes, 5:30–6:40 p.m.

  • May 2:  Restorative with Chie
  • May 14:  Yin with Leslie
  • May 21:  Restorative with Angie
  • May 28:  Yin with Sydni

Saturday Basics classes, 9–10:10 a.m.

  • May 2:  Sydni
  • May 9:  Beshka
  • May 16:  Shigeko
  • May 23:  Leslie
  • May 30:  Chie

Sunday Spiritual Warrior classes, 9–10:10 a.m.

  • May 10:  Cre
  • May 24:  Cre

Book Club and Meditation (both hosted by Alice on Zoom at meeting links below)

  • Book Club:  Sun., May 17, 1 p.m., via Zoom.  Come together to discuss The Four Agreements—read more about the book club here or let us know you’re coming on the Facebook event page.
  • Meditation:  Sat., May 23, 11 a.m., via Zoom.  Alice will create a Facebook event for those who like to keep up there.

In addition to our studio offerings, please check out the teachers below, who will be developing and offering additional classes independently.  Please contact them directly to learn about what they are offering for May:  we look forward to seeing what they provide!

We hope that you are staying well, and we look forward to connecting with you as much as possible in May on Facebook and Zoom!

Fountain Square at Dusk
April 30, 2020
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Carmen offers recorded Basics class!

Posted on April 23, 2020 by 4yoga

Although she was scheduled to teach the Thursday-evening class on April 23, Carmen had a conflict arise that prevents her from doing so. However, she generously shared a practice that she had previously recorded so that we can share it with our community! Here is that practice, where she uses a chair for support and concludes with a guided meditation.

We hope that you enjoy this class with Carmen, whatever day and at whatever time you choose to practice!

Basics class

Carmen teaches Basics with a chair and concluding with a guided meditation.

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Training Thursday: Carmen completes master class with Leslie Kaminoff!

Posted on April 9, 2020 by 4yoga

During this period of social distancing, some of our teachers are taking advantage of online opportunities to take classes and complete training with advanced teachers in different geographic locations. We are happy to share the news of their ongoing learning with our community!

On April 4, 2020, Carmen Herrera took a 1.5-hour master class with Leslie Kaminoff via Zoom. She described the experience as “an interactive exploration of some of the most prevalent ideas about how to coordinate body and breath movement.”  In the session, Carmen noted that Kaminoff “shared four decades of anatomical research and his studies with modern yoga master T.K.V. Desikachar.”

  1. even from very early on in our lives, breath pattern becomes habitual…due to our circumstances, life events etc. These patterns can trap us, limit us, impede us.
  2. what sometimes results from this habitual breath pattern(s) is bad space, lack of “freedom” or “new- space.” Point is not to get stuck in any one way.
  3. encouragement as a teacher, to adopt or continue to have an inquiry-based practice in order to address the different ways everyone experiences not just a pose but the breath itself.

When asked about the main lessons she learned from the class, Carmen relayed these points:

Carmen noted that this briefer training reviewed and reinforced her previous, 2-day workshop with Kaminoff and reinforced her own practice as she “move[s] toward a more explorative, individual-focused teaching method.”  Overall, she “love[s] knowing that of each of us are unique and the explorers of our own bodies working on fine-tuning our skills of observation, considering that as living beings, we are always “changing.”  Thus our practice and approach must be aware and adaptable to meet those constant changes. This is a fantastic way to empower the practitioner.”

For an opportunity to practice with Carmen this month, mark your calendar for her abbreviated Gentle class followed by Yoga Nidra, which she will offer at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs., April 23, 2020.  She will stream the class from her Facebook page, and we will also share it on the 4yoga page.

Kaminoff’s book on anatomy is a staple in many yoga teacher trainings
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Financial update while in-studio classes are suspended (and more than you wanted to know about 4yoga operations!)

Posted on April 6, 2020 by 4yoga

We are enormously grateful to be part of the Bowling Green yoga community, however and wherever we are able to be together:  on our livestreamed classes, through your comments on our Facebook posts, and via email and Facebook messages.  Thank you for helping us all remain connected during this socially distant time!

Several of you have been kind enough to inquire about the studio’s finances and how to help 4yoga weather the storm of suspending in-studio classes.  Fortunately, our business model allows us to be minimally impacted by the current situation:  as an organization, 4yoga has always relied on your donations to the “kitty” (the jar on the kitchen counter).  

For in-person classes, your class fees have gone primarily to your teacher for that class, with a small amount (on a sliding scale) distributed to Kathie Downs, owner of The Pots Place.  Angie uses the money from the kitty to pay the website fees and buy supplies from the studio, but neither she nor the studio itself takes anything from those funds. 

One of the ways that we have been able to maintain the $5 class fee is because of our simple financial process:  as a studio, we collect and record Kathie’s monthly payments but otherwise do not manage money.  This method works very smoothly for our in-person classes, but it also leaves us without a comparably easy process for online classes.

Therefore, our online class model, developed in consultation with teachers at our Zoom meetings, is to continue to offer the 4yoga online classes at no charge.  Teachers are generously donating their time for those classes, which we much appreciate.

As we noted in our April message, individual teachers are now also offering what we’re calling “independent classes” that they arrange and share on their own platforms.  Those teachers will make their own decisions about class fees—if any—and payment options.

Should you voluntarily decide to compensate any teacher for a 4yoga class during this period (again, not expected), we encourage you to reach out to that teacher directly if you have her contact information.  If needed, you may also mail a check to the studio (c/o The Pots Place, 428 East Main Avenue, BG, KY 42101):  please make it out directly to the teacher (preferred) or, if for multiple teachers, to Angie (include a note about how to distribute the funds). 

Again, we appreciate your inquiries about how to keep supporting 4yoga at this challenging time.  In turn, we will continue to support you in your home practice until we are able to return to the studio!

A particularly creative class fee
January 2020
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Training Thursday: Sydni completes Yin Immersion at Sanctuary in Nashville

Posted on April 2, 2020 by 4yoga

For this installment of Training Thursday, we bring you news about Sydni Elhubishi completing a 15-hour training at Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville back in late February/early March!   She spent a weekend being immersed in the study of Yin yoga with Elizabeth Stewart, RYT 500.

When asked for her biggest takeaways from the training, Sydni responded: “in Yin, the point is to be uncomfortable, but a manageable level of discomfort. We are asking tissues that are potentially stubborn, tight, or ‘set in their ways’ to change. It may have taken a long time for them to become what they are, so being patient as we ask them to change is important in this practice.”

She also appreciates the mind-body connection of the practice “because it’s all about the sensations you feel and how you handle those sensations. It is also a difficult practice because of the lack of movement. The question is ‘Can I sit and be with this discomfort without running away from it?’ It is a deep mental practice, as well as a physical one. ”       

For students beginning or returning to their Yin practice, Sydni suggests, “find your edge, or your wall, and make friends with it. Thank your body for the feedback it is giving you in whatever shape you’re in and be grateful for the connection you have with yourself. Let your mind steady and, as always, breathe deep.”

We are excited for Sydni to add her new Yin credentials to those of several of our other teachers!  To enjoy a Yin class with her, mark your calendars for Thurs., April 9, at 5:30 p.m., when she will be teaching via Facebook Live.April

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April (2020) class schedule and independent options

Posted on April 1, 2020 by 4yoga

Welcome to April!  I think we’ve all agreed to call off April Fool’s Day this year, right?!

After spending the latter half of March offering as many online classes as possible, we at 4yoga are adjusting our plan for April.  We will bring you two new classes each week—on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m.—via Facebook Live.  You will have the option to take each class live or to work it into your schedule at another time, and we’ve listed those classes below.  Teachers are volunteering their time and expertise for our studio classes during this period.

Saturday Basics classes, 9–10:10 a.m.

  • April 4:  Cre
  • April 11:  Heather
  • April 18:  Leslie
  • April 25:  Shigeko

Thursday meditative-style classes, 5:30 p.m.

  • April 2:  Chie, Restorative
  • April 9:  Sydni, Yin
  • April 16:  Shigeko, Restorative
  • April 23:  Carmen, Gentle + Yoga Nidra
  • April 30:  Angie, Yin

Although the studio will host fewer classes this month, your options for practicing will actually multiply because many of our teachers will be developing and offering their own classes.  Some will offer classes similar to what they already share at the studio; others will be teaching at new times, in different styles, or for varying lengths of time!  

We have listed those teachers’ names and, if they’ve provided it, contact information below.  Please check with them directly to learn about what they are offering for April.  We are excited to see what, freed from the confines of the studio schedule, teachers choose to provide!

Finally, since this time when we’re at all being #HealthyatHome is perfect for reading, we are delighted to announce the re-launch of our book club!  We appreciate Alice for picking up this project, selecting the next book (The Four Agreements), and scheduling the next meeting (May 17).  Find out more here, and we will see you for our discussion in May!

Please know that, although our practices will continue to be remote, we want to stay connected with you, especially at this time.  We look forward to continuing to develop our home practices and to “seeing” you from a distance!

View of the Studio from Fountain Square
May 2019
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Return of the 4yoga book club! Join us on Sun., May 17, 2020, at 1 p.m.

Posted on March 30, 2020 by 4yoga

We are excited to announce that, in May, our quarterly-esque book club will meet to discuss The Four Agreements-A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. Please join us at the 4yoga studio second floor lounge, if open, or on Alice’s Zoom meeting (information to be posted at a later date).

Participants are encouraged to begin reading the book and practicing the four agreements now, during this unprecedented time of great challenge. Anxiety, fear, grief and overwhelm can cause us to react in ways that are not consistent with how we want to be. The four agreements are simple, but powerful, tools for living a more peaceful life.

“In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.”

—Amber-Allen Publishing

Alice notes: “Some readers lean deeply into the book on a spiritual level. Others use these agreements as a practical guide for living. Either way, if applied from a place of authenticity, your true nature if you will, The Four Agreements can benefit all of us.”

Alice will facilitate the discussion, and everyone is welcome, regardless of how much or how little of the book you’ve had a chance to read. We look forward to seeing everyone—either in-person or remotely—and discussing the book in May!

The Four Agreements can be purchased online or in stores usually for less than ten dollars. The Warren County Public Library also has copies in both print and digital formats.

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Looking for meditation resources? Listen to Alice’s audio guidance!

Posted on March 27, 2020 by 4yoga

Are you feeling anxious in this period of social distancing? Curious about how meditation can support your wellbeing at this time? Or maybe you’re a regular meditator who is looking for support to maintain your practice at home?

Fortunately, Alice has generously created and shared a pair of brief audio files with our community, designed to introduce you to the concepts of mindfulness meditation and to guide us toward becoming more calm and less anxious.

We suggest that you listen to the brief introduction first and then enjoy the longer guided meditation. We are grateful to Alice for recording and providing these resources!

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation (context for the guided meditation)

Guided Meditation to Increase Calm and Reduce Anxiety

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Training Thursday: Alice completes 150-Hour Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Training!

Posted on March 26, 2020 by 4yoga

As we prepare to host our first online version of the monthly meditation class on Saturday, March 28, it is appropriate that we share an update on Alice’s recent Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Training!  

On March 12, 2020, Alice completed a 150-hour program with Dr. Itai Ivtzan through the School of Positive Transformation.  This training integrated theory, practice, and teaching, including principles of traditional and positive psychology that have significance in the teaching of mindfulness and meditation. Alice particularly noted the importance and value of these concepts in her professional development as a meditation teacher.

In this self-paced, scientific-based program, Alice completed 30 modules with online support from Dr. Ivtzan and his assistant, Ian Kershaw.  She also participated and continues to participate in a private Facebook group with others who have taken or are taking the training, providing ongoing community.  She appreciates her friends who served as her students for many hours of practice teaching as she completed her homework.

When asked for her biggest takeaways from the training, Alice shared these five points:

  1. Confirmed and validated what I learned through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training, my personal practice, and self-study.
  2. Reinforced my understanding that the nature and scope of mindfulness and meditation are more of a foundation for living than simply a regular “practice.”  
  3. Increased my knowledge of what it means to be non-reactive and non-analytical, and learned methods to best apply these concepts in direct teaching. 
  4. Deepened my understanding of “open monitoring,” an extremely effective meditation practice for more experienced practitioners.
  5. Increased knowledge of teaching Mindfulness Meditation to organizations and at work sites.

We hope that you can join Alice on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. for the remote edition of her regular monthly meditation class, which she will offer through Zoom!  To continue to support your meditation practice, we will also share—here on our website—audio files of meditations that Alice generously prepared for our community.

Alice Simpson's meditation certificate
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