January 2015 focus and class schedule

Posted on January 7, 2015 by 4yoga

Indeed, the light is slowly returning to lengthen our days. That is such a comforting thought to have as January moves us deeper into winter: “The sun a spark, / hung thin between / the dark and dark” (from John Updike’s poem, “January”). Hibernation is the natural response to the flurry of merry-making and overindulgence you may have experienced in the last couple of months.

In child’s pose or a seated forward fold, embody the sensation of being a seed planted deep in the cold, dark earth, silently gathering resources that it will need to eventually strive for the light. Just stay there as long as it takes to feel the impulse to move. Be in your whole body with your breath and resist the nagging judgments of the mind. Allow sensation in the body to guide you, random thoughts to surface, intuition and inspiration to come. Have the courage to follow those intuitive hits, especially if they are guiding you to reach out to someone.

Off the mat, give yourself that push to bundle up and go outside for a brisk walk. Trails at Lost River Cave or in other park settings provide natural beauty for you to experience the subtle colors of winter. Cultivate gratitude and acceptance of all that is true in the moment, inside and outside of you.

We look forward to sharing the warmth of this community in the classes offered this January, and we are pleased to announce four special events, one change in class time, and one new teacher.

Special events:

  • New Year’s Day class and potluck brunch: To kick off 2015 with yoga, join Kim at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day for a mixed-level holiday class. Mixed-level classes are accessible to everyone, with the teacher offering modifications and variations of poses to accommodate all students. After class, we invite everyone to stay for a casual, potluck brunch. We will provide a variety of hot teas and juices. Feel free to bring anything you care to share–or just to stay and enjoy the company, even if you don’t have an opportunity to bring anything.
  • Restorative class: If you find yourself in need of some extra relaxation in the new year, mark your calendars for Friday, Jan. 16, when Susan Polk will offer a full class of Restorative yoga at 5:30 p.m.
  • Talk/meditation session: For the monthly discussion and meditation session, join Juanita on Friday, Jan. 23, immediately following the Yin class. There is no charge for this session, and everyone is welcome to learn more about meditation and its benefits and to experience a short meditation.
  • Exploration in Trust workshop: On Saturday, Jan. 24, two visiting teachers will offer a 3-hour workshop that combines yoga, meditation, and reiki. This workshop runs from noon–3 p.m. and is limited to the first 15 students to register. The cost is $30, and more information is available on the flyer. Sign up at the studio or send us an email to reserve your spot.

Change in class time: The Sunday Basics class will now begin at 4 p.m. (instead of its previous 4:30 p.m.) for the remaining winter months.

New teacher: We are also delighted to introduce (or, for many of you, re-introduce) Frances Strickler. Frances will teach the 9:30 a.m. Gentle classes on Tuesdays in January; she has been practicing yoga since 1999 and became a certified yoga instructor in May 2014. Frances has been teaching mixed-level classes at the Franklin Presbyterian Church and Franklin Community Education and has also taught gentle wellness classes at Harmony Therapeutic Yoga. Currently a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Frances is retired from SKYCC as a counselor and psychology instructor. Since her certification in May, Frances has attended continuing classes in Jackson and Memphis, Tennessee.

For a full list of January classes, please see the the calendar section of this site or a hard copy available at The Pots Place.

Additional useful information:

  • Inclement weather policy: If we need to cancel class because of winter weather, we will announce that cancellation at least one hour before the beginning of the class, and we will share the cancellation notice both via email and on Facebook. If you would like us to add a supplemental email address for you so that you receive these notices quickly (e.g., if you want both your work and home addresses in our list), please let us know.
  • Accessing studio after class has begun: remember that even if you are running late when the gallery downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class. If the front door is locked, 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.

Happy 2015 from all of us at 4yoga!

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Sunday Basics Class now at 4:00 p.m.

Posted on January 4, 2015 by 4yoga

During the winter months, we will hold the Sunday afternoon Basics Class at 4:00 p.m. We hope you can join us either as new student or a regular student wishing to end the weekend with a class that is suitable for everyone.

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Restorative yoga class this Friday (12/12) @ 5:30 p.m.

Posted on December 10, 2014 by 4yoga

Do you feel rushed or anxious at this time of year?  If so, perhaps a restorative yoga class is just what you need, and Susan Polk is offering one this Friday, Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m.  About this style of yoga, Susan says:

This yoga class uses props for comfort, which puts the body and mind at ease to bring you back to your natural sense of well-being.

Restorative yoga turns on the healing relaxation response by combining gentle yoga poses with conscious breathing. Each pose is held for longer than a few breaths–up to ten minutes or sometimes longer. The stillness allows the body to drop even the deepest levels of tension. Props are utilized so the body will have the right support in a pose which makes it effortless, so the body can fully let go. 

We hope to see you on Friday evening for an opportunity to relax and restore!
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Downtown events: Fri. 12/5 and Sat., 12/6

Posted on December 3, 2014 by 4yoga

If you plan to attend the Yin class on Friday night or the Basics class on Saturday morning, please be aware that the holiday season will be in full swing this weekend in downtown Bowling Green!  We encourage everyone to leave a little extra time to navigate traffic and street closings and to be prepared to park a little further than usual from the studio.

Friday, Dec. 5:  Downtown Lights Up, 5-8 p.m., and the last 2014 Bowling Green Gallery Hop, 5-9 p.m.  Parking suggestion:  the garage next to the ballpark, at Hitcents Park Plaza, just a short walk from the back door of The Pots Place.

Saturday, Dec. 6:  Bowling Green-Warren County Jaycees 2014 Christmas Parade, 9:30-11 a.m.  Parking suggestion:  a lot between State and Chestnut streets because the parade begins at Main and College and concludes at 6th and State.

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December 2014 class schedule and focus

Posted on December 1, 2014 by 4yoga

wreath_photo_12.01.14

Here we are again, like it or not, at the holiday season!  Even with intentions not to spend too much, eat too much, or drink too much, we often succumb and are thrown out of routines and stress levels increase. Perhaps we can support each other to put self-care at the top of the list this year to increase the chances that we don’t deplete our energy bank accounts.

Using your yoga practice to recharge is a great idea, especially in a yin class.  As you turn your focus inward, breathe deeply and allow the mind to settle with a long, slow exhale.  Be open to receiving grace. Grace, that impulse that comes to us when we cease doing, has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify. Be open to allowing this impulse to light the lamp in your heart and to guide you to actions that are meaningful to you instead of blindly following tradition. Then, trust it.

For December, we are pleased to announce three special events:

  • Restorative class:  If you find yourself in need of some extra relaxation this month, mark your calendars for Friday, Dec. 12, when Susan Polk will offer a full class of Restorative yoga at 5:30 p.m.
  • Talk/meditation session:  For the monthly discussion and meditation, join Juanita on Friday, Dec. 12, immediately after the Restorative class.  There is no charge for this session, and everyone is welcome.
  • New Year’s Eve class:  On New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 31), we offer a mixed-level holiday class at 9 a.m. with Susan Polk.  Come conclude 2014 with a yoga practice accessible for everyone.

Please note that we will take a brief break from classes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; otherwise, we look forward to practicing with you throughout December.  For a full list of classes, please see the attached schedule, the calendar page, or a hard copy available at The Pots Place.

Sandbags now available:  Thanks to the generosity of several students, many from the Gentle class, and teachers, we now have sandbags available to enhance our practice!  Teachers will be offering suggestions in how to incorporate these new props during class, and please ask questions if you would like additional feedback on their use.

Inclement weather policy:  If we need to cancel class because of winter weather, we will announce that cancellation at least one hour before the beginning of the class, and we will share the cancellation notice both via email and on Facebook.  If you would like us to add a supplemental email address for you so that you receive these notices quickly (e.g., if you want both your work and home addresses in our list), please let us know.

Accessing studio after class has begun:  remember that even if you are running late when the gallery downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class.  If the front door is locked, 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.

Happy Holidays from all of us at 4yoga!

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Thanksgiving Day class: 9 a.m. mixed level

Posted on November 21, 2014 by 4yoga

We hope everyone is planning something delicious and delightful for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Many of you already have a copy of our class schedule from our monthly email or from picking one up at the studio, but we just wanted to share a reminder about the classes surrounding the holiday.  We continue our usual class schedule all week with one exception:  the Thursday-morning (Thanksgiving Day) class meets at 9 a.m. and is mixed level.  By “mixed level,” we mean everyone is welcome; Angie will offer options for students to work at their own level.

If you are spending Thanksgiving in Bowling Green, please consider joining us.  And we are grateful for all of you and the whole yoga community here in south-central Kentucky.

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November 2014 class schedule and focus

Posted on October 31, 2014 by 4yoga

“On a bare branch / a crow has settled / autumn dusk.” — Haiku by Matsuo Basho

This month we reframe our use of time to adapt to the shorter days with the “fall back” time change. Perhaps you can pause for a moment in the late afternoon dusk to notice the silhouettes against the sky and in this moment notice that the tendency of your mind is to “fall back” into memory.  Ask yourself, “What am I feeling in this moment?” Sense that feeling in your body and in your breath. Stay with it.

Now, here’s the challenge: notice how the mind wants to take the emotion from the memory and attribute it to a condition or person in your life and project some scenario in the future.  Also realize that the source or memory of the feeling may have nothing to do with what is currently happening in your life, although the mind will want to make it so. As you do asana practice with awareness, you will develop skill in using body sensation to ground you in the present moment as you ride the emotional waves of your life.

For November, we are pleased to announce two special events:

  • Talk/meditation session:  For the monthly discussion and meditation, join Juanita on Friday, Nov. 14, immediately after the Yin class.  There is no charge for this session, and everyone is welcome.
  • Thanksgiving Day class:  We invite you to join Angie for a 9 a.m. mixed-level class on Thanksgiving Day.  Everyone is welcome at a mixed-level class, and we look forward to celebrating the holiday with you.

For a full list of November classes, please see the calendar section of our website or a hard copy available at The Pots Place.

Please be aware of these upcoming events on Fountain Square that are likely to draw large crowds.  If you plan to attend class on one of these days, we encourage you to leave a few extra minutes to navigate traffic and to locate parking.

  • Friday, Oct. 31:  Scare on the Square, 4-7 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 7:  WKU Homecoming Events, concert at 5 p.m., parade at 5:30 p.m., pep rally at 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 8:  Veterans’ Day Parade at 10 a.m.

Remember that even if you are running late when the gallery downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class.  If the front door is locked, 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.

As a bonus for those of you who haven’t already seen it on Facebook, here is a view from the studio, taken on Oct. 30.

Fall_Fountain_Square_10.30.14

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Thanks to the Daily News for sending photographer Austin Anthony to Laughing Yoga on Friday, Oct. 3!  We enjoyed having Austin join us and appreciate the coverage in Saturday’s paper!

DN_laughing_yoga_2014-10-03

Posted on October 6, 2014 by 4yoga | Leave a comment

October 2014 class schedule and focus

Posted on October 1, 2014 by 4yoga

October is an evocative month; some feel sadness at the bittersweet ending of summer, while others are invigorated by smells, colors, and cooler temperatures.  Change is undeniable. Memories of events that have happened at this time of year can be more powerful due to association with the senses.  What other time of year do we celebrate the mystery of darkness by disguising ourselves and walking right up to strangers’ houses in the dark expecting to receive a treat?  (You can tell that that memory is from “the good ol’ days” before commercialization and fear predominated.)

All matter (including the most subtle forms of matter such as a thought) is subject to change and flux, yet the system of Sankhya philosophy states that the absolute true nature of everything does not change (purusha).  Anything of primal matter that is subject to change is known as prakriti.  Yoga is sometimes called Sankhya-Yoga, because it gives us practical methods to realize through direct experience the truth of this philosophy.

Here is a practice for you:  find a quiet space to be still.  Contemplate something such as a dried leaf on the ground.  It appears to be dead.  Now, zoom in to the cellular structure and you will see all the change of decomposition happening. Zoom in as far as you can imagine.  Change, change, change.  Now zoom out as far as you can imagine by gazing into the night sky and contemplating the expansiveness of the universe, the multiverse.  Again, change and flux.  Where is the still place?  The closest we can get to the experience of pure consciousness and still perceive it is to identify as the witness of this change.

Now, how can this practice and awareness help you to be happier and freer?  When you can experience the drama of your life as much as possible from the witness stance, you can be less reactive to the changes and be able to “go with the flow.”  Sit back, relax, and maybe even make some popcorn balls for the show!

For October, we are pleased to announce two special events and a 10 a.m. start time for one Saturday class:

  • Laughing Yoga class:  Join us on Friday, Oct. 3, at 3:30 p.m. for a laughing yoga class with Susan.  All levels of students are welcome, and you can read more about this style of yoga on our website.
  • Talk/meditation session:  For the monthly discussion and meditation, join Juanita on Friday, Oct. 17, immediately after the Yin class.  There is no charge for this session, and everyone is welcome.
  • Later start time on Saturday, Oct. 18:  To allow time for the downtown roads to be reopened after the 10K on Saturday, Oct. 18, the Basics class will begin at 10 a.m.

For a full list of October classes, please see the calendar section of the site or a hard copy available at The Pots Place.

Remember that even if you are running late when the gallery downstairs is closed, you can still join us for class.  If the front door is locked, 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.

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Props workshop: Sun., 9/21 @ 3 p.m. (no pre-registration required)

Posted on September 15, 2014 by 4yoga

Have you been considering starting a yoga practice but would like extra instruction and assistance in your first class?

Have you been attending Basics classes but wondering how you can use props to enhance your experience of and safety in the poses?

Have you been practicing at home but would like more instruction in how to incorporate props into your practice?

If any of these questions sounds familiar, we extend a special invitation to you to join us for 4yoga’s first props workshop!  What is a props workshop, you ask?  Well, it is a chance for you to work with a team of 4yoga teachers (Kim, Angie, Susan Polk, and Alice) to experiment with using blankets, blocks, bolsters, and straps to enhance your yoga practice.  We will provide instruction on integrating props into seated, standing, and reclining poses and allow opportunities for experimenting and asking questions as we go along.

The details:  the props workshop will take place on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m.  Like other 4yoga classes, no pre-registration is required.  The workshop will last 70 minutes, and the usual $5 class fee will apply.  If you desire an opportunity to try out your new props knowledge immediately, please plan to stay for Alice’s 4:30 p.m. Basics class that afternoon.

If you have any questions, please post them as comments on this post, email us at 4yoga.me@gmail.com, or send us a Facebook message.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday afternoon!

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