New Late Spring Yoga Sessions will start in April!

Here's some information about class dates/times and places to try out some yoga!

Classes offered:

Monday:

Dynamic Journey Massage and Wellness (1103 W Burnsville Parkway, Burnsville) from 12-1pm.  $55 for 6 weeks. Class dates: April 21-June 2 (no class Memorial Day 5/26).

Monday:

Advent United Methodist (3945 Lexington Ave, Eagan).  April 21-June 2 (No class Memorial Day 5/26). Class time is 4:30-5:30pm. Session cost is $50.

Tuesday:

Glendale United Methodist Church ( 13550 Glendale Rd, Savage). Class meets from 4:30-5:30pm. Class dates: April 22-May 27. Cost is $50.

Thursday:

All Saints Lutheran Church (3810 Lexington Ave, Eagan). Class time is 7-8pm and class dates are: April 24-May 29. Cost is $50.

*Classes held at church sites include a short bible verse/devotional as part of final relaxation time.

 Have specific concerns or questions? Contact Karen: karenyogam@gmail.com or 651-681-1672

My new habit

Yesterday I wrote about the idea of giving a new healthy habit a try as spring approaches. I figure I need to practice what I preach, so in the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you all now that my new habit will be an effort to get a daily meditation practice started. I made a rather feeble attempt to begin daily meditation in January, but the effort didn't seem to stick. I am hoping that by declaring it a bit more publicly that I will renew my dedication to establishing this new habit and daily practice.

I am going to track my efforts on a calendar as well so that I can see my progress and get back on track if things start to slip. I'll give an update later to let you all know how it is going......

Feel free to share with me if you decide to start a new healthy habit. We can support one another on the path to better well-being!

Peace!

Feel Good

We have just over one week remaining in the month of March and Spring has arrived, at least according to the calendar. Why not use the upcoming change of season to start a new healthy habit?? Maybe it'll be something small like drinking more water or trying a new fruit or vegetable that you've never tasted. Maybe you'll get back to walking regularly outdoors or getting more sleep at night.

Decide that the Spring of 2014 will be your time to put health and wellness at the top of your to-do list. Make an effort to treat your body with the kindness and respect it deserves and then pay attention as you begin to enjoy feeling better than ever. You deserve to live with a sense of vitality and wholeness. You deserve to feel good physically and mentally. Do some things now to improve your well being. You'll be so glad that you did!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I am not Irish, although I can get away with saying I am since my hair is red and my skin is full of freckles! I really enjoy the celebration of St Patrick's Day I suppose because it is a day of celebration and fun in the middle of what is usually a dreary and cold  month of March.

Here's a little Irish poem for all of you:

May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

March Madness

March is a tough month in Minnesota....we get the occasional glimpse of springtime weather, and then typically get hit with more snow and cold. Spring can be slow to arrive and winter can feel endless.

What to do?? Yoga!! Seriously, yoga is not exercise for me....but a practice that helps me find peace of mind. Returning to the mat is what helps me find clarity about what's really important and helps me move beyond feeling crabby or impatient with the little things in life.

If you've been away from yoga for awhile, or if you have never taken a step to try it out....March is probably about the best time to start. Actually....any day or time is the perfect time to try something new.

Do something out of the ordinary in March.....Go a bit "mad"....get out of whatever rut you may have been in this winter and start fresh. Breathe....do something new....roll out the yoga mat and begin.  Contact me if you need more information or reassurance to get started!

And the survey says.....

As many of you know, I did a survey of current and former yoga students of mine last fall. It was great to get so many positive responses and ideas about what people like about the practice of yoga.
If you missed the opportunity to take the survey, or even if you did complete it....please know that I am open to and appreciate your feedback! My goal has always been to provide a yoga experience that leaves students feeling refreshed and renewed.

Here are some of the results and comments from the survey....email me or respond here on the blog if after reading you think of other comments or ideas that you'd like to share!

A few Yoga Moodra Survey results:

81% of you feel comfortable and welcome in class.

89% of you agree that the intensity level of the class is "just right."

47% responded that you would be interested in a half day retreat.

Many of you listed words such as peaceful, relaxing, serenity, and well being to describe what the practice of yoga brings to your life.

As always....I am so delighted to be your yoga teacher each week! Yoga has been a gift and a healing practice for me, and it is my hope that I can provide a yoga experience that is meaningful and healing in the lives of my students! Thanks for your participation in class.

Peace, Love, Happiness, and Good Health!

Wishing

I have been thinking lately about the passage of time and how I spend my time. More specifically, I have been thinking about how to be more mindful and aware in the present so that I don't look back and say to myself "Where did the time go?"

It's a pretty daunting task to try to fill up and really live in each moment. With the seemingly endless winter, I often find myself wishing for summer and warmer days. Wishing for things to be different doesn't change anything, and it often wastes time and energy that I could be using to really do something more productive in the here and now. It is human nature to seek pleasure and try to avoid discomfort and pain...I guess that explains my frequent fantasies about running away and moving to a warmer climate! As much as these thoughts entertain me and allow me to escape briefly...they are ideas that take me out of the present moment and leave me feeling dissatisfied with the present.

I am seeking out my yoga mat as a spot to work on being patient and accepting of what is by enjoying the breath and by trying to let go of my knee jerk response that tells me to try to escape and avoid anything that I deem uncomfortable or unwanted. I do think that yoga helps me to "mellow out" and let go of things that take up time and space in my day. Yoga helps me stay present and more content each time I let go of wishing for circumstances to change.

Today I'll try to be aware of the cold, how the wind feels, noticing the beauty of the sun against the cold blue of the winter sky without trying to change it (I wouldn't have much luck doing that anyway!) and simply accept the gift of this moment in time. I'll try to use my time well and see if I can bring some warmth to myself and to others with a smile or a kind word. Instead of wishing for things to be different, I will work to create moments of peace and joy right now.