4yoga

Each month, every newsletter is a marker that we are in a different place than we were last month.  Sometimes external circumstances have changed; other times something internal has shifted.

The river of life flows on carrying us through the whitewater of emotional upheaval and then pooling into still, calm places. It reflects the light of the sun and moon. Our practice of hatha yoga (often using the metaphor of sun/moon energies), which uses physical poses to balance energy and increase awareness of our bodies, can ultimately help us to find our center–the place inside where we can weather (witness) the constant change of this river of life and not be tossed about by it. Being thrown off course by changing circumstances in our lives is inevitable. However, we can find stability by mastering the ability to pull back into our center, the core of who we are. It is like moving into the eye of the hurricane, or sitting in the center of a spinning wheel.

Here is a centering practice to become familiar with. Stand in Mountain Pose.  Be aware of the dimensions of length, width, and depth in your body. Connect with your dignity as you stand firm and tall, your past and your future as you sense your back and front, and your connection to your community as you sense the side body and the ability of the arms to reach out.  Now, connect with what you care passionately about.  Bring your awareness about two inches below the navel center (the center of gravity in the body) and “embody” this sense of what you stand for.  Feel centered in this space.

Returning to the river of life metaphor, the kindergarten rhyme comes to mind:  “row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.”  Happy June!

To review the June schedule, please see the calendar section of this site.  Although we have placed the Beginner’s class on hiatus for the summer, we continue to welcome new students at any time.  We especially invite students who are beginning or returning to their yoga practice to join us for either of the Gentle classes (at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays) or either of the Basics classes (at 9 a.m. Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. Sundays).

Please remember that if you arrive at The Pots Place after a class has begun, you can still join us.  Just go to the back door (look for the blue building) and press the buzzer next to the door; the teacher can then let you in from the studio.

On a housekeeping note, we have accumulated several lost or forgotten items at the studio (e.g., black pants, black socks, ivory wrap).  If you think any of these items is yours, please check for and claim it this month.  Kathie has asked us to donate unclaimed items to Goodwill at the end of June.