Join us for an April class at The Downing Museum!

Posted on March 28, 2018 by 4yoga

As April draws near, we have opened registration for our upcoming classes at The Downing Museum, where spring is especially lovely! We hope that you can join us to practice in this beautiful space, especially since these classes are available for our usual affordable fee of $5!

To honor the capacity of the gallery, class size is limited; therefore, registration is required.  However, the registration process is quick and easy:  just complete the brief online form at the link below. After she receives the form, Angie will send you a confirmation email; then, near the time of the class, she will email a copy of the museum’s policies.

Yoga@the Museum, taught by Leslie: Sat., 4/14, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/yoga-themuseum

Meditation@the Museum, led by Alice: Sat., 4/28, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/meditation-themuseum

If you click on the link and discover that the class is full, email us at yoga.me@gmail.com to be added to the wait list. In your message, please include your first and last names, your preferred email address, and whether you will bring your own mat.

If you register and later find that you are unable to attend, please email us immediately so that we can offer your place to someone from the wait list.

Should your April schedule keep you from joining us, watch for our May class dates. And the folks at The Downing Museum welcome you to visit the museum and/or the arboretum any time they are open!

Spring at The Downing Museum
(April 8, 2017)

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Attention morning people: new Saturday class at 7 a.m.

Posted on March 26, 2018 by 4yoga

Do you like to get your Saturdays off to an earlier start?  Then Ashley has the perfect yoga class for you!  Beginning on April 7, she will offer a 7 a.m. Basics-level class each Saturday!

In this class, Ashley will draw on her Yoga For All training, which helps her personalize the class to everyone’s needs by using props and modifications.  She looks forward to seeing you at the studio on Saturday mornings!

(And remember that, if you prefer your yoga to happen later in the day, we offer two other opportunities to practice on Saturdays:  at 9 a.m. in a Basics class and at 4 p.m. in a Basics class that concludes with a few Restorative poses.)

New Saturday Class: 7 a.m. with Ashley!

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March 2018 focus and class schedule

Posted on March 1, 2018 by 4yoga

Two foundational practices of yoga are stated in yoga sutra 1.12, where we learn that our thought patterns (mentioned in yoga sutra 1.2) are controlled through practice and non-attachment (abhyasa vairagyabhyam tat nirodhah).

First, let’s talk about practice. A great teacher once declared that all the intellectual knowledge in the world doesn’t stand up to the benefits of an ounce of practice. For example, let’s use meditation as a practice that you decide is worth your investment of time. It is better to set a goal of 5 minutes a day for meditation that is sustainable, rather than 30 minutes that you may enthusiastically intend to do but you cannot sustain.  This is the first step in making meditation a practice:  set an attainable goal and stick to it!  Don’t give up because “nothing happens,” or intense emotions surface, or you are not able to be in a state of bliss.  When sitting in your practice, just notice how the mind wants to slip into the habitual grooves of thinking about work, school, relationships, or to be in any other place in time (past or future) other than now.  This is the practice—to watch the mind and call it back to breath, sensations in the body, present-time emotion, or mantra…to experience what is happening now.

Now we come to non-attachment.  You may think to be successful at this practice would result in you becoming a bland, boring person. To the contrary, success at non-attachment means you are in the world with Everything—not just attaching to the things you love or avoiding what you don’t love.  The world becomes a sensory playground of delight when you don’t have to possess or control it. As a practice, contemplate the meaning of this statement: Love is what’s left when you let go of everything you love.

March updates and special events: 

  • Yoga and Meditation opportunities at The Downing Museum.  Join us in March for springtime at The Downing Museum:  this month Cassandra will teach the yoga class on Saturday, March 10, and Alice will continue to lead the meditation class, which meets on Saturday, March 24.  For details and to register, see this post.
  • Yoga for All Series #3 on Sundays.  To secure one of the remaining spaces in the 3-week March installment of Ashley’s Yoga for All series, which meets on Sundays at 2 p.m., complete this brief registration form.
  • Yoga for All Workshop.  Curious about Yoga for All but haven’t been able to commit to a full series?  Join Ashley on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m.  In this 90-minute workshop, she will introduce the Yoga for All philosophy, lead students through a practice, and offer refreshments and time for Q&A.  Complete the registration form to reserve your space.
  • Opportunities to practice with Debbie.  We are delighted to welcome Debbie Marquette back to the studio for five classes in March!
  • Living Our Yoga Yin class.  On Friday, March 30, Alice and Angie continue team-teaching the Living Our Yoga Yin series, which combines a traditional sequence of Yin poses with exploration of selected yoga sutras.

For a full list of March classes, please see the calendar page–or pick up a hard copy at The Pots Place.  We also post a brief update each morning on our Facebook page, should you find it convenient to keep up with us there.

Accessing studio after class has begun:  Remember that even if the front door is locked when you arrive, you can still join us for class. Just come to the back door of The Pots Place (look for the blue building) and ring the buzzer.  The teacher will then unlock the door remotely for you to enter through the pottery studio.

Daffodils at The Downing Museum

Daffodils at The Downing Museum (Feb. 24, 2018)

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Sign up for March’s @the Museum classes!

Posted on February 24, 2018 by 4yoga

In preparation for March, we have opened registration for our upcoming classes at The Downing Museum, where spring is beginning to make itself known! We hope that you can join us to practice in an especially beautiful space, especially since these classes are available for our usual affordable fee of $5!

To reserve your space, use the link(s) below.  After you complete the form, Angie will send you a confirmation email; then, near the time of the class, she will email a copy of the museum’s policies.  If you do not receive the confirmation message, you have not submitted the form—please complete it again.

Yoga@the Museum, taught by Cassandra: Sat., 3/10, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/yoga-themuseum

Meditation@the Museum, led by Alice: Sat., 3/24, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/meditation-themuseum

If you click on the link and discover that the class is full, email us at yoga.me@gmail.com to be added to the wait list. In your message, please include your first and last names, your preferred email address, and whether you will bring your own mat.

If you register and later find that you are unable to attend, please email us immediately so that we can offer your place to someone from the wait list.

Should your March schedule make you unable to join us, watch for our April class dates. And the folks at The Downing Museum welcome you to visit the museum and/or the arboretum any time they are open!

Daffodils at The Downing Museum (Feb. 24, 2018)

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February 2018 focus and class schedule

Posted on January 31, 2018 by 4yoga

The first three yoga sutras are like reading the inside cover of a book; they give you an overview of what is to follow. First, you have come to pick up this book. Second, you discover the task is to master, integrate, still, and regulate the thought patterns of the mind field. Third, you learn that the goal of these practices is to rest in the awareness of your true self and not the false identities of the small ego. Then you become the witness and master of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, not the slave to them.

As a starting practice to master the patterns of the mind field, understand that your mind can be in one of these five states (from the lowest to the highest): disturbed, dull, distracted, one-pointed, and mastered. At any given moment, ask yourself this question: what state is my mind in now? Awareness of the current state will help you to remove the obstacles to moving up to the next level. The condition of your body—including diet, fitness, and illness—can all impact the state of your mind. When the body is healthy, it is not an obstacle to the higher states of mind.

Here we are deep in winter hibernation, hopefully feeling successful in those resolutions to be healthy in the new year. No matter where you are, you can start now to tune in to your body and take care of it with the goal of having a focused and peaceful mind.

February updates and special events:

  • Book Club: Why Buddhism is True. Join us in the lounge on Sunday, February 18, at 1:30 p.m. for what promises to be a lively discussion of Robert Wright’s recent book, led by Cassandra. We’ll provide hot tea; please bring a vegetarian snack to share.
  • Yoga for All Series #2 on Sundays. To secure one of the remaining spaces in the February installment of Ashley’s 4-week Yoga for All series, which will continue meeting on Sundays at 2 p.m., complete this brief registration form.
  • Yoga and Meditation opportunities at The Downing Museum. Join us for our ongoing monthly classes at The Downing Museum. This month Leslie will teach the yoga class on Saturday, February 10, and Alice will continue to lead the meditation class, which meets on Saturday, February 24.  Register at these links:  Yoga@the Museum, Meditation@the Museum.
  • Saturday-afternoon Basics/Restorative class continues. At 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Chie continues to enhance our weekend schedule with this hybrid class that begins with a more active yoga practice and concludes with relaxing, restorative poses.
  • Living Our Yoga Yin class. On Friday, February 23, Alice and Angie continue the Living Our Yoga Yin series, which combines a traditional sequence of Yin poses with exploration of selected yoga sutras.

For a full list of February classes, please see the online calendar–or pick up a hard copy at The Pots Place. We also post a brief update each morning on our Facebook page, should you find it convenient to keep up with us there.

Inclement weather policy: during inclement weather, we decide whether or not to cancel classes independently of area school districts’ decisions. If we cancel a class, we publicize that information at least one hour before it begins, and we announce all class cancellations in these three ways:

View from the studio
Jan. 18, 2018

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Register now for February’s @the Museum classes!

Posted on January 28, 2018 by 4yoga

In preparation for February, we have opened registration for our upcoming classes at The Downing Museum! We hope that you can join us to practice in an especially beautiful space, especially since these classes are available for our usual, affordable fee of $5!

To reserve your space, use the link(s) below.  After you complete the form, Angie will send you a confirmation email; then, near the time of the class, she will email a copy of the museum’s policies.  If you do not receive the confirmation message, you have not submitted the form—please complete it again.

Yoga@the Museum, taught by Leslie: Sat., 2/10, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/yoga-themuseum

Meditation@the Museum, led by Alice: Sat., 2/24, 11 a.m.—tinyurl.com/meditation-themuseum

If you click on the link and discover that the class is full, email us at yoga.me@gmail.com to be added to the wait list. In your message, please include your first and last names, your preferred email address, and whether you will bring your own mat.

If you register and later find that you are unable to attend, please email us immediately so that we can offer your place to someone from the wait list.

Should your February schedule make you unable to join us, keep an eye out for our March class dates. And the folks at The Downing Museum welcome you to visit the museum and/or the arboretum any time they are open!

Exhibit at The Downing Museum

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Just added: February Yoga for All series!

Posted on January 27, 2018 by 4yoga

Have you been participating in the January Yoga for All series and would like to continue practicing with Ashley?  Or maybe you would like to begin or to re-start your yoga journey with a four-week series that emphasizes yoga’s accessibility for all bodies?

We are delighted to announce the February series of Yoga for All—see the flyer below for details, and use this registration form to sign up!

February Yoga for All series just added!

For more information about Ashley and her Yoga for All training, check out our Training Thursday post.

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Gentle class returns to Ephram White Park: Mondays at 11:30 a.m.

Posted on January 16, 2018 by 4yoga

We are excited to announce that the Gentle class is making a return visit to Ephram White Park in 2018!  Beginning on Jan. 22 and running for six consecutive Mondays at 11:30 a.m., Angie will offer a weekly, abbreviated Gentle yoga class to the clients of the Warren County Parks & Recreation Department Senior Center.

Mats and all props—including chairs—are all provided, and students who prefer to use the chair throughout class are encouraged to do so.  Classes will initially last 45 minutes and will work up to 60 minutes if students wish.  Because Warren County is paying Angie’s teacher fee, there is no charge to participants.

We look forward to returning to this community center, to sharing yoga with existing friends there, and to making new friends this year!

All are welcome at Ephram White Park!

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Book Club: Why Buddhism is True on Sun., Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m.

Posted on January 12, 2018 by 4yoga

Looking for something to occupy your snow day today?  Why not start our next book for the 4yoga book club?

Our quarterly book club will next meet on Sunday, February 18, at 1:30 p.m.  We look forward to discussing Robert Wright’s Why Buddhism Is True:  The Science and Philosophy of Enlightenment!  If you prefer borrowing to buying, check out the Warren County Public Library, which has both print and electronic audio copies available.

We welcome everyone to join us, regardless of how much of the book you are able to finish.  Please bring a vegetarian snack to share—we will provide a selection of hot teas, plates and utensils.

Why Buddhism is True
our Feb. 18, 2018 book club book

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January 2018 focus and class schedule

Posted on December 30, 2017 by 4yoga

Now that we have crested the holiday wave, gifts have been exchanged, Christmas lights are turned off, and you don’t want to see another cookie or piece of fudge for a long, long time…we find ourselves again in the trough of that wave. (What comes up must go down.)

Instead of resisting the darkness and absence of activity, use it to light the flame inside your heart.  To help you do so, we are sharing a beautiful mediation/contemplation written by Jack Stucki, subtle energy researcher from Beulah, Colorado.

From the point of LIGHT within the mind of LOVE, may all awaken to that same LIGHT within our own mind.

From the point of LIGHT within the heart of LOVE, may all awaken to that same LIGHT within our own heart.

From the center where the will of LOVE is known, may all awaken to serve the purpose of this will; the purpose of which the awakened know and serve.

From the center where the race of humans is known, let the plan of LIGHT and LOVE work out to engage in dance with the darkness.

Let the power and purpose of LOVE and LIGHT guide our awakening to ONENESS.

We look forward to seeing you in 2018:  for the new year’s holidays, in our ongoing classes at the studio and The Downing Museum, and in our new weekend series and class!

January updates and special events: 

  • New Year’s Eve class.  On New Year’s Eve, Frances will offer our usual holiday schedule, a 9 a.m. Mixed-level class.  Join her to conclude your year with yoga!  Please note that this will be our only class on this Sunday.
  • New Year’s Day class and Potluck Brunch.  On New Year’s Day, Angie will teach at 10 a.m., and then we will gather in the lounge for our traditional potluck brunch to ring in the new year together.  Please join us for class, for the potluck, or for both!
  • Wellness Series on Saturdays.  In January, Cassandra and Angie are excited to offer a 4-week wellness series on Saturdays at 11 a.m.  Each week one of these 90-minute classes will explore another aspect or two of self-care:  Pilates, hatha yoga, mindfulness meditation, Anjali Restorative yoga, somatic (body-focused) meditation, and mindful eating.  To read more and access the registration link, check out this post.
  • Yoga for All Series on Sundays.  Limited space remains in Ashley’s 4-week Yoga for All series, which will meet on Sundays at 2 p.m. and provide an accessible introduction or re-introduction to yoga.  For more information and to register, see this post.
  • New Basics/Restorative class on Saturday afternoons.  Chie enhances our weekend schedule with a new hybrid class combining the best of both a more active yoga practice and relaxing, restorative poses.  Join her on Saturdays at 4 p.m.
  • Yoga and Meditation opportunities at The Downing Museum.  If one of your goals for 2018 is to visit local treasures, join us for our monthly classes at The Downing Museum.  This month Angie will teach the yoga class on Saturday, January 13, and Alice will continue to lead the meditation class, which meets on Saturday, January 27.  For details and to register, see this post.
  • Living Our Yoga Yin class.  On Friday, January 26, Alice and Angie kick off the 2018 Living Our Yoga Yin series, typically held on the last Friday of each month.  As in past years, the classes will be team-taught, offer conventional yin asanas (poses), and address aspects of yoga that go beyond the poses.  In 2018, we are excited to be exploring several of the Yoga Sutras together.

For a full list of January classes, please see the online version of the calendar or pick up a hard copy at The Pots Place.  We also post updates each morning on our Facebook page, should you find it convenient to keep up with us there.

Inclement weather policy:  during inclement weather, we decide whether or not to cancel classes independently of area school districts’ decisions.  If we cancel a class, we publicize that information at least one hour before it begins, and we announce all class cancellations in these three ways:

Accessing studio after class has begun:  Remember that even if the front door is locked when you arrive, you can still join us for class. Just come to the back door of The Pots Place (look for the blue building) and ring the buzzer.  The teacher will then unlock the door remotely for you to enter through the pottery studio.

The studio is waiting for you!

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