So far this year, we have enjoyed discussing two books with members of our community: Stolen Focus and Clarity & Connection!
As you plan for fall, be sure to check out our next read: Daniel J. Levitin’s Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives. We will gather in the lounge at the studio on Sun., Oct. 15, at 1 p.m.
Everyone is always welcome to join for our conversations—whether you’re a yoga student or not, whether you’ve ever attended a book club meeting or not. We enjoy seeing both familiar and new faces at these gatherings!
If you prefer to buy the book, it is available for $10-18 online and typically in stock at Bowling Green’s Barnes & Noble. If you prefer to borrow it, Warren County Public Library has two copies in its collection.
We look forward to coming together to discuss how we can all age more successfully, both individually and as members of a community!
To keep up with the October meeting on Facebook, check out its event page.
And special thanks to Heather Kessler for suggesting the book and taking its photo!
Do you like reading books and discussing them? Then join us for the July installment of our (roughly) quarterly book club!
On Sun., July 9, will gather at 1 p.m. in the lounge to discuss Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo. The book features 5 sections: self-awareness, unbinding, the love between us, growing, and a new life. The short passages in each section offer ideas and advice to help readers contemplate their place in the world.
If you prefer to purchase a book, paperback, audiobook, and e-book editions are available. If you would rather borrow it, check out an e-book from the Warren County Public Library.
We will provide a few snacks to accompany our discussion—if you are inclined and able, please bring your preferred beverage and a snack to contribute.
Finally, if you were hoping to attend the 4 p.m. yoga class on Sunday afternoon, do not worry: our conversation will conclude in time for participants to move from the lounge to the studio.
We welcome everyone to come join us on Sunday, regardless of how much of the book you read, and we look forward to learning what passages are most relevant and helpful for you!
As July gets underway, you may be making plans for a quiet holiday at home, an Independence Day gathering with family and friends, or a vacation getaway. Whatever your calendar contains, know that your yoga practice can support you and help you remain grounded in the present. We are pleased to offer several opportunities to gather together this month, both for regular yoga classes and for special events.
Here—in chronological order—are several July highlights!
July 3 and July 4 classes: On July 3 and July 4, we offer a 9 a.m. class each day—come practice with Trudy in Monday’s Gentle class or with Beshka in Tuesday’s Holiday/Mixed-level class! All other classes in July meet as usual: please see the attached PDF or the online calendar for details.
Book Club: Sun., July 9, 1 p.m.* All are welcome to join us in the lounge at the studio to discuss Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo. The short passages in each of the book’s five sections offer ideas and advice to help us contemplate our places in the world. We look forward to learning which passages are most relevant and helpful for you!
Funky Flow: Wed., July 12, 5:30 p.m. By popular demand, Funky Flow returns for July! Join Heather for this fun class where yoga meets dance. (No dance experience is required—just come ready to move and enjoy yourself.)
Sound Bath: Sat., July 15, 11 a.m. If you are looking for a total body experience that allows you to relax into a meditative state while being “bathed” in sound waves, join Beshka for this month’s sound bath! To allow everyone space to recline and be comfortable, space is limited and pre-registration is required. Save your space by completing the registration form: tinyurl.com/4yoga-sound-bath
Yoga Social: Fri., July 28, 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to stop by the studio for a beverage and snack on the last Friday night in July. After socializing, we’ll head over to Circus Square Park to enjoy Ernie Small Blues Band’s performance at Concerts in the Park.
And we also are happy to accommodate your requests to increase the number of times a new class meets and to continue to offer yoga nidra on Sundays.
Saturday Gentle class: Carmen will offer this class twice in July: on Sat., July 8, and Sat. July 22. If you prefer a more gentle weekend practice, please join her on these Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.!
Yoga nidra with Sunday Basics classes: For the third and final month, Shigeko and Angie will provide yoga nidra at the conclusion of the Sunday 4 p.m. Basics classes. If you are looking for something to help you relax deeply, join them for a yoga practice followed by this guided instruction designed to quiet both body and mind.
We look forward to seeing you for ongoing classes, for special classes, and for special events this month!
* Thank you to Frances for catching the error in the start time for book club! We have corrected this post to match the time on the online and printed schedules—1 p.m.
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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