We made it! Anyone feeling a little boiled and smoked? I know I do! Also, next Tuesday 8/5 is National Night Out. Get to know your neighbors if you can! Chances are you’ll know if anyone on your block or nearby is hosting something that night. Parking and residential driving might be interesting on this night so be aware. 🌟 Below are some photos from my Ann Arbor trip.
Moon Days this month:
Saturday 8/9- full moon
Saturday 8/23- new moon
First things first:
Above are the moons for July. Full moon this Thursday!
I will be traveling July14th-22nd, so no class on July 15th or the 22nd for Tuesday led class, at Nokomis Yoga. I will put this on the Class Offerings page and notify those of you that I have an email for.
Next, there’s a “new” Mysore Program in town! This is the crew that grew out of One Yoga’s space and is now (literally) down the hall at the Ivy Building. Here’s the new webpage: https://www.aysminneapolis.com/
Check it out! Mostly traditional morning mysore but there’s a couple of differences- Thursday afternoon mysore is offered and no Fridays right now. If you’re intrigued, introduce yourself!
Lastly(is that a word??) I wanted to say that I’m working on a few changes for after the summer this year. I would like to continue teaching as usual on Tuesdays at Nokomis Yoga. I’m working on transitioning this time to a Mysore style( a self- paced practice) class format. I think all my regular people are ready and I am excited to teach this method to new students. Note that there are more details to work out and I will not be switching my teaching focus until September 2025. If you’ve got questions, I’ll see you soon- or you can email me through the Contact Page.
Hello, Folks. Just riding on the mid- June roller coaster that is 2025. I have no better unsolicited advice than keeping your feet on the ground, your eyes open and focus on the messy middle. So far everything in waking life has been one extreme to another and that is not normal, nor should it ever be the norm.
That said, New Moon is on next Wednesday, 6/25. I’m looking forward to it. I am also hopeful that our Tuesday class time is not too much of anything- too hot, too smoky, too rainy, etc. We can concentrate on the middle, together, and maybe find some peace or contentment. Don’t let me forget to tell a couple of stories, if you’re interested and present- why we do Padmasana right leg first, traditionally, and why lots of Ashtanga practitioners observe the Moon Days. (Hint: it has to do with balancing extremes). 😁😁😁.
Until then, practice on……🌚
Hello! I have some things to share, not just the moon phases for each month. I know I haven’t been keeping up on that very well either. Let’s just say I have been trying to keep the faith with everything these days. I have been holding my Tuesday classes as usual, getting up to practice and sit early in the morning before work, eat good food, sleep enough and make time for other enjoyable things. I believe my grief about R Sharath Jois is beginning to soften. I am noticing a lot of imposter syndrome around this (so so much that I won’t get to experience anymore! Ever! And, what’s the next step to take for continuing this lineage/journey?) When will things not feel so sucky and uncertain, everywhere? I’m finally happy to say I’ve got a few ideas to follow up on for the summer, at least.
Finally:
My Biggest But (as Peewee used to say) of 2025 has been how to foster community, share in a sangha and contribute/practice collectively, going forward. The problem for me has been not being available or ready enough to seek or provide this. Too busy, too tired and confused or angry. What is my circus and who are my monkeys? Do I keep up what I have been doing, or is it time to make changes? Obviously, a lot of change has happened without warning.😜 Do I resist this, or do I accept?
What I have figured out is that a small change made can have the biggest impact. Baby Steps, people. Don’t quit, just do the baby steps. The links below are provided for some local Ashtanga relative doings that I am excited about. I am not offering these events personally but I sure would like to attend them and I can definitely recommend them as something all y’all might want to join in on!
Check out the Cheryl Oliver classes on the home page for dates and subjects. I’m interested in the Yoga Sutras but all of it sounds great. We don’t get a lot of in person chanting / Yoga philosophy classes or opportunities here though there are some local peeps who are experienced in this.😊
https://vincentyoga.com/shakti-studio/
And here is where the evolving incarnation of our local Mysore Program is beginning to come together. I don’t have a lot of good info on this just yet but I do know I will be trying out Jamie Bollman’s Thursday evening Primary Series class. Yay! If you check out the schedule, it says 4-5:30 pm. Then again everything is a WIP, so double check. Updates will follow. Here’s Jamie’s web info…
Perhaps I meet you on your mat in public, sometime soon!
New Moon: 11/30 or 12/1 take your pick 💜 then there’s 12/30
Full Moon : Sunday or Monday 12/15 or 12/16
No Tuesday 6pm class on 12/24 or 12/31 at Nokomis Yoga. Be merry! It’s been a long year. Rumor has it there might be a kirtan on the 31st. Stay tuned!
I will also be subbing at One Yoga again, for the Mysore program on Sunday 12/15 and Monday 12/16.
Holiday Bummers: it’s official, I will not be returning to Mysuru in February 2025- much as I had been looking forward to making this trip more of a regular thing in my life. Sharath Yoga Centre will be open December to March but there will be no Sharath to preside or confer with. I’ll have to wait and see what develops in the new year. (I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid of 2025 at this point. )
I will continue on, and teach what I know. 💜
How was everyone’s full moon on Friday??
This week was supposed to be a time of rest, nourishment and wide open space for the subtle and gross worlds, for me. Instead, it has become a time to grieve, not only for this country, but for one of my accepted teachers. 2025 now holds even more uncertainty to sort and process, and we must do these things together. Nobody is an island, even if we’re not all in the same boat.
As I’ve said many times in the past year, Yoga is not about what you’re doing or getting in class. This is a piece of the bigger picture. Are you practicing the Yamas and Niyamas 24/7? Click to visit an explanation of the 8 Limbs of Yoga by Deborah Adele. Are you being a thoughtful, deliberate and good person? Then you’re getting close.🙂 Atha Yoga Anusasanam- Now, the Yoga begins.
New Moon(s!) – November 1, November 30th
Full moon- November 15th
NEWS: Election Day 2024 is nigh. Also a Tuesday. Many of you may have early voted. I am going to be present at the studio for our regular class time, but I decided to switch the format to Mysore Style, or self directed practice. See previous posts/class offerings page for more information on this topic. I felt that this would be a good opportunity for you to decide to come to class and do what felt best, not to worry about trying to feel present /performative when so much is going on this week. You don’t have to make practice an all or nothing deal- come over and move and breathe ! You will find your way. 😄
Hello, Folks! Some updates and reminders! Tonight’s class will feature some free jazz talk about DRISTI. 🙄 The eyes have it. Or, Follow Your Nose. Part of Tristhana- and really the cherry on top of what we do in regular practice. It sounds crazy but keeping your general gaze close to your nose can be a very creative and grounding experience in practice. Talk about rabbit hole! 🐇
Next week (9/24/2024)we will explore Mysore Style/ Self Directed Practice from 6m till 7:30. There’s some info about this on my previous blog post, same on the Class Offerings Page! Don’t worry about fitting in and nailing every posture in the Primary Series sequence . Mysore practice (as it can be called) is a great opportunity to play, learn and practice Yoga regularly. It may feel weird to be moving around not in sync with everyone else or even not hearing the teacher talking as you practice, but here’s where you can experience community and spend time learning about yourself!
Anyway, if you’re interested, great! If not, no big deal. Guided class will be back on the first Tuesday of October. 😜 10/1/2024.
Ok, Folks, we’re in the Spooky Season. : ) Enjoy the fall of summer and (I’m hopeful) cooler temperatures. Things may get spicy but of a sweeter, not fiery quality.
New Moon: Monday 9/2/2024
Full Moon: Tuesday 9/17/2024
NEWS:
This month I will be trying something new! There’s been interest in some self-directed practice(AKA Mysore Style)from some of you, and I’d like to investigate the experience with you all! This month (September 2024) I will be holding a Mysore Style class time on the last Tuesday of the month- 9/24. It will be the same start and end time, and the biggest difference will be not talking everyone through the Primary Series sequence as usual. This opens up the practice time to work on your own but also at your own pace, with the support of a teacher. Try it, you might like it! Don’t worry, I can provide reminders and answer any questions that may come up prior to the day.
Extra Credit: Another idea ready to be implemented is some field trip time! If any of you are interested in going to other practices/classes with me, I’m looking to do some practicing in public this fall. : ) I get alternate Fridays off from work and then there’s weekends, if you have the energy. Let me know!
new moon: 3/10/2024
full moon: 3/25/2024
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