June (2023) schedule: retreat, meditation workshop, and 33 yoga classes!

Posted on June 2, 2023 by 4yoga

In the last few weeks, you may have heard warnings from Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, about the nation’s “loneliness epidemic,” an epidemic caused by a lack of social connection.*  In our role as a community yoga studio, we are grateful that we can provide several ways for folks to connect:  through in-person classes, through Zoom workshops, and with informal gatherings after class.  

For June, we are excited to share both ongoing and new connection opportunities.  Whether you’re looking for a chance to spend time with yoga folks at Barren River Lake, a chance to connect with an experienced meditation teacher, assistance in relaxing deeply, or the convenience of a drop-in yoga class, we have something to support you!

Retreat at Barren River Lake: Sun., June 11-Mon., June 12

To see all the details about our first retreat, check out this post. We look forward to gathering at Barren River Lake on Sun., June 11!

Return of Meditation Made Easy: Sat., June 24, 11 a.m. central, Zoom.

On Sat., June 24, Danny Brewington returns for our workshop series, Meditation Made Easy!  Join Danny for this 90-minute workshop to explore the seventh (crown) chakra.  To allow folks from around the country to participate, we host this series on Zoom.

Description for the workshop:  Enlightenment is not a “thing”: it is a process of removing our own psychological blocks. As we progress upward through the chakra system, we are required to surrender all our subconscious content. Once this content is cleared, we can enter the seventh chakra where our True Nature is revealed, much like clouds clearing in the sky reveal the radiant rays of sunshine.

The greatest practice for developing the seventh chakra is meditation. Meditation is like defragmenting your hard drive—it cleans up your system, allowing you to experience new information more efficiently. In addition, as we enter the seventh chakra and open the awareness even wider, meditation helps us stay centered without getting overwhelmed or lost in the Infinite Field. We can then open fully to our spirituality and experience inspiration.

Join us as we continue the journey through the chakras and on the path to enlightenment.

For more information about the workshop, see this post.  To register, complete this form.

Continuation of yoga nidra in Sunday classes

Thank you for your positive response to the inclusion of guided relaxation at the conclusion of May’s Sunday classes!  Based on that response, Angie and Shigeko will continue to offer yoga nidra for the June classes.  

(Note that, to allow participation in the retreat, there is no studio class on Sun., June 11.)  To learn more about yoga nidra and its benefits, see this post from the Cleveland Clinic.

Welcome back Carmen Herrera

This month we also welcome Carmen Herrera back to teaching at 4yoga.  Come practice with Carmen on two different Saturdays:  on Sat., June 10, for the regular 9 a.m. Basics class, and on Sat., June 17, for a new, occasional, 11 a.m. Gentle class.

Description for the new class: In this weekend Gentle class, Carmen will help students explore both poses and breath with curiosity and mindfulness, approaching their practice from a place of inquiry.  Drawing upon Carmen’s anatomy training with Leslie Kaminoff, this class encourages students not only to pay close attention to feedback from their own bodies but also to adapt their yoga practice to their needs.

* For more information about the loneliness epidemic and what can be done to improve social connections, see the Surgeon General’s press release here or download a copy of the report itself here.

Studio from Fountain Square, May 27, 2023.
Photo credit: Heather Kessler.
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Retreat at Barren River Lake: Sun., June 11–Mon., June 12, 2023

Posted on June 2, 2023 by 4yoga

Have you ever wished that post-yoga conversations over coffee, happy hour, or dinner could last longer?

If so, you’re in luck! With the generous support of a yoga student, we are hosting our first retreat, at her home at Barren River Lake, on Sun., June 11. 

We offer two options for participation:  Sunday only or overnight. 

To help determine which option suits you, please see the below general schedule for each day. Of course, participants are welcome to take part in our scheduled activities or to enjoy relaxing independently—whatever they prefer!

  • Sunday: yoga class with Angie, happy hour with live music and signature cocktails, dinner, and yoga nidra with Shigeko. The investment for Sunday’s retreat is $30.
  • Monday: breakfast and a yoga class with Heather. We have six spaces available for overnight guests, and the investment for this option is $50.

To join us for the retreat, sign up at the studio before or after class: see the bulletin board for the sign-up sheet. (The payment options are also listed on the sheet.)

If you are unable to make it to an early-June class and still want to sign up, stop by when The Pots Place is open (Tues.–Sat., 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.) and ask the person staffing the shop if you can go upstairs to add your name to the list.

We will follow up with participants via email to provide more details and times for arrival and departure. We look forward to spending time together in a beautiful lake setting soon!

Disclaimer: photo of Lake Mattoon in Illinois, not of Barren River Lake.
June 23, 2022
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Looking to start or restart a meditation practice? Join us June 24 for a Meditation Made Easy workshop!

Posted on May 28, 2023 by 4yoga

Have you been curious about meditation and its benefits? Or maybe looking for more support for your existing meditation practice?

We welcome meditators at all stages to join us for our next Meditation Made Easy Workshop. Our workshop leader is Danny Brewington, who brings decades of experiences as a meditator, yogi, and teacher of meditation and yoga to this session.

This 90-minute workshop takes place on Sat., June 24, 2023, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (central).

To make the workshop easily accessible, we host it on Zoom. To make the workshop affordable, we offer it for an investment of $25.

To learn more, keep reading. If you’re ready to sign up, wonderful!—please register here.

About the workshop:

Enlightenment is not a “thing”: it is a process of removing our own psychological blocks. As we progress upward through the chakra system, we are required to surrender all our subconscious content. Once this content is cleared, we can enter the seventh chakra where our True Nature is revealed, much like clouds clearing in the sky reveal the radiant rays of sunshine.

The greatest practice for developing the seventh chakra is meditation. Meditation is like defragmenting your hard drive—it cleans up your system, allowing you to experience new information more efficiently. In addition, as we enter the seventh chakra and open the awareness even wider, meditation helps us stay centered without getting overwhelmed or lost in the Infinite Field. We can then open fully to our spirituality and experience inspiration.

Join us as we continue the journey through the chakras and on the path to enlightenment.

About the workshop leader:

Danny Brewington is a Tennessee native who discovered meditation in 1987. Now, with more than 35 years of study and practice, he enjoys great powers of concentration, breathing control, and expanded awareness. His understanding of meditation comes from a combination of philosophies, technologies, and life experiences. He hopes to inspire others to transform their lives with the power of meditation.

How to register:

To sign up for the workshop, follow these two simple steps:

  1. complete this simple form.
  2. submit your payment (payment options presented on the form).

Angie will forward you the Zoom link for the workshop the evening before the event.

If you use Facebook and find it helpful to receive reminders from that platform, reply “interested” or “going” on the workshop’s event page. Post any questions you have to the event page and share it with friends who may also be interested.

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Memorial Day Weekend 2023: drop in for a class!

Posted on May 26, 2023 by 4yoga

If your Memorial Day Weekend plans have you in Bowling Green, why not add yoga to your schedule? We would love to see you at the studio—just drop in for any of these three classes:

  • Sat., May 27: 9 a.m. Basics with Shigeko.
  • Sun., May 28: 4 p.m. Basics with Shigeko (this class will conclude with an extended guided relaxation, a yoga nidra practice).
  • Mon., May 29: 9 a.m. Holiday with Trudy (holiday classes are mixed-level classes that combine students who usually attend different categories of classes).

If you are visiting our studio for the first time, you may either use the front door of The Pots Place (facing Fountain Square) or the back door (ring the buzzer so the teacher can unlock the door remotely). We encourage new students to arrive about 15 minutes early, and everyone is welcome to borrow mats and other props (e.g., blocks, blankets, straps) at no additional charge.

Our classes last 70 minutes, and the class fee is $10/class. If you have any questions, just drop us an email (4yoga.me@gmail.com) or send us a Facebook message.

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May 2023 schedule: 36 classes + sound bath

Posted on May 14, 2023 by 4yoga

As we move through May, we are happy to feature not only our regular schedule but also several special opportunities to gather together! 

Sound bath.  Join Beshka for a sound bath on Sat., May 6, at 11 a.m.

A sound bath is a total body experience allowing the listener to relax into a meditative state where they are “bathed” in sound waves. One may feel a range of physical, emotional, and mental sensations throughout their journey in response to the ambient and acoustic sounds of a variety of healing instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes. and tuning forks.  This special event lasts 60 minutes, requires pre-registration, and is $25. (If you missed the April and May sound baths, watch the July schedule for another opportunity!)

Sunday guided relaxation.  If you would benefit from assistance to relax deeply, join Angie and Shigeko for the 4 p.m. Sunday classes this month.  Each Basics class will conclude with a guided relaxation drawn from their respective yoga nidra training.

Memorial Day holiday class.  If you’re in town on Memorial Day, join Trudy on Mon., May 29, at 9 a.m.  As usual, this morning class will be our only class for the holiday.

Funky Flow class.  Join Heather on Wed., May 31, at 5:30 p.m. for this special yoga experience!  Funky Flow where yoga meets dance! No dance ability needed; the class will feature yoga with a touch of moving to the music!

For a full May schedule, please check the online calendar.

Finally, if you are already looking ahead to your summer plans, please mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

  • Sun., June 11:  overnight yoga retreat at Barren River Lake.  (Details TBA.)
  • Sun., July 9:  1 p.m. book club meeting to discuss Yung Pueblo’s Clarity and Connection, which is available as an ebook through Warren County Public Library.

We look forward to practicing with you soon!

What would a book club book be without a photo in the studio window?
May 14, 2023
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April (2023) schedule: introducing sound bath

Posted on April 26, 2023 by 4yoga


As we work on the May schedule, Angie realized that she forgot to post the April schedule to the website! With apologies for its lateness, then, here is a copy of our April announcement. (Hint: watch the May schedule for the second sound bath opportunity.)

We hope you are hunkered down somewhere safe as March concludes and April begins.  As we look ahead to April, we are excited not only to offer our regular class schedule but to host Beshka as she provides a sound bath on Sat., April 15, at 11 a.m. 

What is a sound bath? A sound bath is a total body experience allowing the listener to relax into a meditative state where they are “bathed” in sound waves. One may feel a range of physical, emotional, and mental sensations throughout their journey in response to the ambient and acoustic sounds of a variety of healing instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes. and tuning forks. 

This special event lasts 60 minutes, requires pre-registration, and is $25. To sign up, complete this brief form [we will reopen the form soon for the May event].  To provide participants with ample space, we will close registration when we reach capacity; however, if the form is no longer available and you’d like to be added to the wait list, just send us an email.

For a full April schedule, please check the online calendar.

Tulips at Fountain Square Park
April 1, 2023
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March 2023 schedule: 34 classes, yoga social, book club continues

Posted on March 5, 2023 by 4yoga

Friday’s weather certainly provided an intense introduction to the month of March!  We hope that you and your families are safe and have power restored—and that any property damage you experienced can be repaired quickly.  

In times of stress and disruption, we may find it especially helpful to turn to or to return to our yoga practice and to connect with members of our community.  If your practice can support you in the days and weeks ahead, please join us at the studio.

In March, we are pleased to offer a full slate of classes, a social opportunity after a Thursday-afternoon class, and another book club gathering.  Everyone is welcome to meet in the lounge on Sun., March 26, at 1 p.m. to continue our discussion of Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus:  Why You Can’t Pay Attention—And How to Think Deeply Again.  If you prefer borrowing to purchasing, check out the Warren County Public Library’s hard copy, e-book, and audiobook holdings.

For a full March schedule, please see the online calendar.  To receive reminders about the book club meeting, please respond on its Facebook event page.

We look forward to seeing you this month!

Early daffodils in Fountain Square
March 2, 2023
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February (2023) schedule: 32 classes + return of book club!

Posted on February 11, 2023 by 4yoga

Being well into the month of February, we have already enjoyed many opportunities to practice together at the studio—thank you to everyone who has joined us for a February class!

With this month’s message, we’re sharing a special invitation to stop by for a class later in the month and to join us for the return of our book club on the last Sunday of the month.  We would love to see you at the studio:  check out the online calendar for all the options.

For the book club, we are happy to offer a chance to gather and discuss Stolen Focus:  Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again on Sun., Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. in the upstairs lounge at The Pots Place.  Heather and Angie are co-hosting and will provide a few beverages and snacks, along with cups, plates, and utensils.  If you are able to bring a snack to share, we would welcome your contribution, but the only thing you need to bring is yourself.

We expect to devote most of the February discussion to chapters 1-9, saving the second half of the book for a future meeting.  However, please join us regardless of how much of the book you have been able to complete.

If you prefer borrowing to buying, know that the Warren County Public Library has the book in three formats:  hard copy, e-book, and audio book.  (Should you find Facebook reminders helpful, check out the event page we created.)

Finally, please note that The Pots Place is closed this month for its traditional winter break.  As a result, the shop may look quieter than usual when you arrive for an afternoon class; however, our schedule remains the same.

We look forward to seeing you soon for class, conversation, or both!

The Capitol
Feb. 11, 2023
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Return of the book club! Join us Sun., Feb. 26, to discuss Stolen Focus!

Posted on January 14, 2023 by 4yoga

We are excited to announce the return of the 4yoga book club! Thank you to those of you who told us that you missed these opportunities to gather together, to discuss a shared book…and to enjoy some refreshments!

For the reboot of the 4yoga book club, we have selected Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again. Join Heather and Angie at the second-floor lounge at the studio on Sun., Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. For this community discussion, we welcome anyone interested in the book and its topic to join us.

In our practice of yoga and meditation, we work to become aware of where our focus rests—and how often our attention drifts away. We may, therefore, be especially aware of the current “attention crisis” in our culture, where teenagers are able to focus on a task for only 65 seconds and office employees’ attention averages only 3 minutes.

Our book for this discussion reveals 12 causes of the attention crisis and provides strategies for restoring our focus. If you prefer to purchase a book, many formats are available. If you prefer to borrow it, the Warren County Public Library holds print, e-book, and audiobook copies in its collection.

For February’s meeting, we expect to dive most deeply into chapters 1–9; however, we welcome you to attend regardless of how much or how little of the book you have been able to read. We hope you can join us to discuss what has stolen our focus and how we can work to get it back!

If you’d like to keep up with the event on Facebook, please indicate “interested” or “going” on its event page. We will provide a few snacks and beverages to accompany our discussion—if you are inclined and able, please bring something to contribute. Finally, if you were hoping to attend the 4 p.m. yoga class that afternoon, do not worry: our conversation will conclude in time for participants to move from the lounge to the studio for class.

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Welcoming 2023: 38 yoga classes, meditation workshop, social opportunities

Posted on January 4, 2023 by 4yoga

As we greet a new year, we also acknowledge the one that has just concluded.  We know that 2022 provided challenges to many members of our community, and we hope your yoga and meditation practices have supported you as you have navigated those challenges.  

While this transitional period from one year to the next emphasizes the change in the calendar—reminiscing about the past and forecasting the future—yoga calls us to be in the present.  Whether we complete an asana practice, try different pranayama or breathing exercises, or read yogic texts, yoga gives us tools to remain in the now. 

To explore ways you can remain present, please join us in January:  we are offering 38 in-studio yoga classes, a Zoom meditation workshop, and two opportunities to socialize.

January highlights:

  • Meditation Made Easy Workshop.  We are delighted to announce the return of these affordable and accessible meditation workshops with Danny Brewington from Nashville!  If your 2023 plans include beginning, supporting, or expanding a meditation practice, join us on Zoom on Sat., Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. for a 90-minute workshop. This month’s session focuses on the sixth chakra; please see this post for a full description.  To keep up with the workshop and receive reminders, check out its Facebook event; if you are ready to register, click here.
  • Leslie Farewell Gathering.  As we previewed in our December email, we will celebrate Leslie Weigel’s many contributions to Bowling Green’s yoga community with a farewell gathering on Thurs., Jan. 5, after the 4 p.m. class.  Join us in the upstairs lounge at The Pots Place to thank Leslie for her commitment to our community and to wish her well in Connecticut.
  • Yoga Social before Lost River Sessions.  You may have already noticed that Lost River Sessions is back, with its first show of the year on Thurs., Jan. 19, at the Capitol.  We will gather for a yoga social at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy snacks and beverages before strolling down to the Capitol for the concert.
  • New afternoon Gentle class.  To complement our morning offerings of Gentle yoga on Mondays and Thursdays, Angie will teach an afternoon class, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.  If your schedule makes an afternoon class easier to attend, please join her on Tuesdays!

Introduction to Yoga:  If you would like to explore what yoga is and can offer you or would find it useful to have a casual private class before joining open classes, sign up here for an affordable introductory class tailored to your schedule and goals. 

For a complete January schedule, please check out the online calendar.

We look forward to seeing you in 2023 and hope that the new year provides just what you need.

Capitol Alley
Jan. 6, 2022
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