Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Wow, a blog post! Last time I made one of these was last Fall, as I was sidelined with a knee injury. Time flies.

I looked at the calendar recently and realized that Spring is almost here. Yes, the Vernal Equinox happens on March 20th (which is tomorrow)! Spring is always a time of renewal and new hopes, and our spirits soar as the weather warms. It’s a good time, in my opinion, to take stock of your yoga practice as well.

For me, the Winter consisted of injury recovery as I slowly worked my way back into a regular yoga practice. New Year’s Day saw me doing 108 sun salutations. I was really sore, but it was wonderful! It really jump-started my practice and I’ve settled into a solid routine. I practice three or four times a week and have a set schedule of times that I usually go.

I’ve come to realize that this might be a problem. I love my teachers, don’t get me wrong. But it’s the same teachers, in the same time-slots. Sure, each practice is different but every teacher has preferred ways of doing things and poses that they prefer to teach over others.

I was also reminded recently that a lot of people who practice yoga are at times intimidated about trying something new.

A couple of us were practicing some poses, and another person there just watched us. That’s fine, but I sensed that there was fear in trying something new.

Over the last two weeks I also ran across teachers who are very good at what they teach, but they were hesitant about styles of yoga that they haven’t practiced. They were skeptical of these different yoga styles.

We can get into a rut, even in our yoga practices. We have our favorite teachers, our established time slots, our specific styles of yoga that we do. I know that I certainly have these patterns. For Spring, I’m going to challenge myself not to be in that routine so easily. I’m going to take classes from different teachers. I’m going to explore different yoga styles. I’m going to look for a new goal pose. And I’m going to see if I can shake up my schedule a bit and try to take classes at different times. Sure, it will be a little disruptive, but this will be a great way for me to learn and advance my practice.

I think one of the most important things is to learn from different teachers. I am constantly amazed at the different experiences, almost all of them good, that I have with different people teaching. Even if you stay with, say, Ashtanga, a different teacher could give a new perspective on a pose that’s been particularly challenging to you. I’m not advocating leaving your favorite teachers either. I know you couldn’t drag me away from mine. Still, variety can be really useful and beneficial. When I was first starting yoga, about two months in, I had a substitute teacher instead of my regular one and that was the first time I saw vasisthasana taught. That class has stuck with me and it was one of the first to show me the benefits of shaking things up from time to time.

Whatever you do for Spring, I hope that you find ways to advance and deepen your practice. Enjoy the flowers and the warm weather along with your yoga. Don’t be afraid to try something new from time to time either.

Namaste

John

Ayurveda

How It Can Inform and Deepen Your Yoga Practice

Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences. Yoga addresses all facets of our health and offers us a way of life that is in harmony with our truth. Ayur means life, while veda means knowledge or the study of; this “science of life” can support your yogic practices and all aspects of your well-being.

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health which has passed the test of time for thousands of years – it can be considered the birth of healing practices. Many ancient healing philosophies borrowed from ayurveda, including those of Tibet, Greece, and China. Many modern practices also have their roots in ayurveda, such as reiki, homeopathy, and herbology. Ayurveda’s tenets can be followed during any point in history and in any circumstance despite what remedies are available or not - they appeal to our common sense and emphasize the need for balance as a state of health; this largely explains how the healing science has survived so long and continues to inform us today.

Ayurveda has given us the ability to describe virtually any matter by means of 20 qualities, or gunas. They are organized into 10 pairs of opposites:

Heavy Light
Dull Sharp/penetrating
Cold Hot
Oily Dry
Smooth Rough
Dense Liquid
Soft Hard
Static Mobile/spreading
Cloudy Clear
Subtle Gross

These qualities can describe and categorize the elements, foods, seasons, medicines, times of the day, phases of life, and processes in the body. We all physically consist of the elements. We breathe air (air), there is fire in the body that keeps its temperature level and acids that break apart food (fiery water), our bones and tissues are made of minerals and absorbed matter (earth), and most of our cells are empty space (ether).

Here are the five elements described by the gunas:

Ether/Space: light, cold, subtle, clear, soft, smooth

Air: mobile, dry, cold, subtle, hard, clear

Fire: Hot, sharp, spreading, dry, light

Water: Liquid, heavy, dull (it has a dulling effect), cold, static, smooth

Earth: Heavy, static, gross, rough, dull, hard

We are all made of these elements, yet we are different from one another. We do not all use energy the same, which is where ayurvedic “types” appear. There are three main “types” of energy use in the body, which are called doshas. There is vata (ether and air), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (water and earth. Pronounced, kappa) doshas. Some people have a lighter body frame, tend to be cold, and/or like to do many things at a time (vata dominant), others have more fire in the body – warmer skin tone, penetrating eyes, strong digestion and perhaps a propensity towards anger or irritation (pitta dominant), and others still tend to be of denser build, even temper, and soft, kind features (kapha dominant). All three energetic types are present in the body, but one or two usually dominate your physicality and overall character. There are various questionnaires available to help identify your dosha/constitution, although the best idea would be to have a professional help you.

How does any of that help at all? If you know how you are – physically, mentally, and emotionally, you can help yourself stay in balance. If you know what qualities (what gunas) you tend to accumulate or deplete, you’ll have a better understanding of what activities and responses are most helpful to you. A basic principle of Ayurveda is that opposites heal – like qualities aggravate like qualities. Here are a few obvious examples to help illustrate this: if you have a headache, feel irate, or have a sour/acidic feeling inside the body – what use is a rigorous yoga practice to you? The body is trying to tell you there is excess pitta accumulating and that you should apply the opposite qualities to come back into balance. Take it easy on the exercise, stay away from people who throw you off – in other words, cool down! On the other hand, if you feel stuck to your bed, heavy, down, or cloudy, a faster paced and challenging yoga practice may do you better.

These are all simple ways that elementary Ayurveda can help you immensely! Use the list of gunas to inform your yoga practice and to decide what activities to conquer each day. There is so much more that Ayurveda offers if you’re interested in continuing your research. Every food, for example, has a particular effect on the body (heating, cooling, sweet, etc.). If you have excess pitta, you may think that any cold food will do to help balance you internally – nope! Many meats, yogurt, tomatoes, and oranges actually have a heating effect on the body – aggravating your already pitta aggravated state. Better choices would be melons, minty water, or oatmeal, which are all cooling.

A few well organized and reputable resources are:

http://www.ayurveda.com/online_resource/index.html

The Ayurvedic Institute’s website – based largely on Dr. Vasant Lad’s expertise in the field.

http://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/dosha/Pitta

Good overview and very clear recipe/ingredient lists for each dosha or guna.

http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/yoga/

This shows the different paces and qualities of practicing yoga for vata, pitta, and kapha types.

“According to Ayurvedic principles, by understanding oneself, by identifying one’s own constitution, and by recognizing sources of doshic aggravation, one can not only follow the proper guidelines to cleanse, purify, and prevent disease, but also uplift oneself into a realm of awareness previously unknown.” – Dr. Vasant Lad M.A.Sc.

- Jessi Hughes

Yoga & Wine at Fabbioli Cellars

Yoga and Wine Fabbioli Cellars

Journey with Yoga on the Wine Trail…

A day, event, moment, week, or year is not a stage set up by a shining sun, ideal weather, or another. Movement, choice, acceptance, and trusting the universe to let us find ourselves when we let go is where we not just find life, but come alive…

See clearly, hear with acceptance, flow with connection, sing by vibration and move with evolved rhythm.

“See” shines the Sun, for the light bleeds colors into your world.

“Feel,” whispers the Moon,“my energy is near and dear.”

“Speak,” sings the birds, “our songs create waves upon which you can dance.”

“Fly,” buzz the bees, “hope is to continue on our flight to help, give, and grow.”

“Breath,” blows the wind, “into the rhythm of time that leads you to your destiny.”

“Flow,” water beckons, “let go, wash it new; ride my current of collected drops and dew.”

Our July journey on the wine trail is a cozy day of introspection. The clouds in the gray skies claim and capture heat from the sun allowing a peaceful entry to meet together not only in body, but ourselves in mind. The mats quietly go down one at a time until the space is completely filled. Closed eyes for meditation, we create space in the room, body, and self.

The quiet entry to the vineyard and calm canvas painted sky is the backdrop release in the vines. Dispersed throughout the rows, some take the path alone. Sweeping through the vines in the freedom of moving meditation or finding peace in the slow rhythm of walking one foot in front of the other – simplicity.

The cool drizzle and gentle blades of grass give way to our bare feet and rise again as each pass slowly letting go to enjoy the deep red grapes hanging gracefully below the leaves that nourish them. The roots below offer strength and a sturdy foundation of life flowing into the ground into a world only they can see. In our practice, it is that place of sacred self that we meet to heal and connect. Like the center of the earth, getting there is a process of entering layers and sometimes shedding them to the pureness of who we are and where our true soul energy lives.

The slow and steady walk onto our mat begins with linking to that soul center as we find our rhthym with breath and body loosing space, time, temperature with journey through asanas…loosing connection to everything and everyone around us allows the space for true self to rise up and then out to make deeper and truer connections with all souls.

“Dance the dance, sing the song…our shadows may may look similar but voice, touch, tone, and spirits are their own. It is that beautiful moment when they flock together, flow, and harmonize… IdentifyInterlinkInhale to riSE…”

Yoga

Our practice focus is the Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura or Third Chakra, and the Root Chakra, Muladhara or First Chakra. The combination is one of combining Fire and Earth elements. Fire is not only heat energy but light as well and the grounding element of Earth replants roots of self.

The heat fills the room as we flow through Moon Salutations (Chandra Namaskara) and a Dancing Warrior heart opening sequences. The three wave flow is based on crafting an intelligent sequence to peak asanas (poses) allow the body to open fully. The kramas (stages) to Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and variations as the main peak asana(pose). The following sequences all lead to working on the navel region through twisting and opening asanas such as Salabhasana (Locust), visiting Uttanasana between sequences, Supta Virasana, and Dhanurasana. Working on balance and twisting the upper region we grew through twisted lunges within Chandra Namaskara and the evolution to a revolved variation of Anjaneyasana – Revolved, Standing Crescent Lunge Chandrasana.

The journey is not over but our asana practice ends in a Savasana with Tribal Winds, a Native American selection, with flutes, power animals, and soft words. Surrounded by foggy windows and the sweet singing crystal singing bowl that vibrates through the air and right into the core of our being to quiet and calm every last movement of mind. Savasana assists visit each of our students with hand blended chakra oils from Blue Moon that have simmered in stones and crystals. The reading follows and reflects directly on our earth connection, growth, giving and sharing…now we drink wine!

Wine

Fabbioli is known well not just for the fabulous wine, but also for their tastings as food and wine pairings. Our tasting was a really fun and energetic presentation by vineyard staff at our own tasting bar. The room still filled with the flowers hand selected for their color relation to the chakras, we tasted and enjoyed the changes that occurred when food was introduced. My favorite is the pear wine with ginger cookie and the Raspberry Merlot paired with locally made chocolate. The detailed description and very thorough presentation of the wine’s own journey to the bottle was so well presented; like taking a food and wine class.

2011 Rosa Luna

Rose’ is a wonderful new summer favorite. Many vineyards are creating them dry which also makes this a nice, crisp, and chilled summer selection. I have really enjoyed tasting the different variations throughout the county this summer. This one is 100% Sangiovese grapes, fermented in stainless steel preserving a crisp acidity with flavors of summer peaches. Their food and wine suggestion is to pair with poultry, white fleshy fish and herb based rubs and sauces.

Light Fare lunch is presented and each student selects their favorite wine to enjoy with fruit, mini hand made sandwiches, and delicious desserts prepared and delivered by South Street Under in Leesburg, Virginia. Please visit their location downtown below Tuscarora Mill or website at: http://www.southstreetunder.com/.

As you well know, our mission is to support local agriculture, business, and farms right here in Loudoun County, Virginia. We were honored to be invited to this vineyard and even more so because Fabbioli Cellars and Yoga 4 Life/Yoga on the Wine Trail’s philosophy is very much lined up – Doug says it best…

“One of my little catch-phrases has been “Get the train going down the track and decorate it while it is moving.” With that is mind; we have started to define the ideals we make in business. Some of these ideals should be obvious for any business and are as follows: good quality products, sound business practices, and the building of great relationships. However an ideal that makes Fabbioli Cellars unique is that this business will continually strive to do a little more for the community, the youth and the Earth. So this brings me to the last of the three “E”s: economics. Some may question the economics point, but I want to make it clear that that is what makes things function. A strong rural economy will slow down land sales to developers and maintain our green community.”

Taking it back to where we began, time after time and it is still the right start…that is what leads you forward, sideways – North, South, East and West – always coming back to center.

Fabbioli Cellars has over 20 years of winemaking experience, their award-winning wines have earned medals at some of the country’s most prestigious competitions, including double gold at the Indy International Wine Competition. The experience of ”Real People, Earth Friendly, Fabulous Wines” is just the beginning of the hospitality you will enjoy stepping into the tasting room. They offer food and wine classes and many others. They are open DAILY from 11-5pm and can be found down Rt. 15 past Leesburg going North towards Lucketts off of the beautiful country, dirt path by turning right onto Limestone School Road. http://www.fabbioliwines.com/

Their wines can be found around the region. The link to the list can be found at their website here: http://www.fabbioliwines.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=71.

Our journey has continued throughout the summer and into the fall. Kim Sullivan is a Wine Passionist who helps to coordinate our Yoga on the Wine Trail events. We welcome you to join us at the following vineyards coming up soon.

All Photographs from this day can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.412783768758020.88989.252543858115346&type=3

“Human giving and trust is the greatest gift of freedom, carefully placing your feet on the earth and a path to be proud of…”

♥ Namaste

Yoga on the Wine Trail – 868 Vineyard / Grandale Farm

When: October 20, 2012 9:15 am – 12:30 pm

14001 Harpers Ferry Road

Neersville, VA 20132

540-668-6000

Cost: $59

Yoga on the Wine Trail – The Barns at Hamilton Station

When: November 10, 2012 9:15 am – 12:30 pm

Where: The Barns at Hamilton Station

16804 Hamilton Station Road

Hamilton, VA 20158

540-338-5309

Cost: $59

Photos by: L. Ward & Kassia Lee Photography

Fabbioli Cellars, Leesburg Virginia in beautiful Loudoun County

Benefit Classes for Michael Joel Hall

Alone we imagine, dream, shine, create.

Together we spark, fuse, flow, grow, transform

…and change the world…

Join heart & hand – mind, body, and soul…

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances. If there is any reaction, both are transformed” – C. G. Jung

Contact

Connect

Collide

August 5th MJH fundraiser – putting kindness into action. via – Peg – Please join together as we practice giving on and off our mats. Please join us as we celebrate community coming together in times of need – join forces in the great unity and spirit of YOGA…pass it on…

More information can be found at these links: (please scroll down for a complete list of classes offered)

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/07/michael-joel-hall-how-you-can-help-update-michael-graglia/

http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2012/07/yoga-community-rallies-after-attack.html

http://pegmulqueen.com/about/2012/07/25/it-takes-a-community/

http://pegmulqueen.com/about/mjh/

The following classes are being offered around the area to support the cause…please join our event on August 4th at Hiddencroft Vineyards and any of the other wonderful studios who have offered a donation class to help.

Hiddencroft Vineyards ad Yoga 4 Life Present:

Yoga on the Wine Trail, Saturday August 4^th, 9:15am-12:30pm

(Lovettsville, VA)

https://yipdeals.com/products/dealDisplayExt/864

August 5th – 108 Sun Salutations

with …

Tova Steiner
Pleasance Lowengard Silicki

Marshall Sanders
Mimi Rieger

Gail Harris

Kevin Waldorf-Cruz

Luke Lukens

Keith Moore

Derek Waddy

Augusta Zoe Hemann

Betsey Poos

Mike Graglia

Complete List of Benefit Classes for Michael Joel Hall:

(past event) Sunday, July 22^nd

DC Shri advanced practice with Mike Graglia

Upcoming events:

Astanga Yoga Studio DC (AYSDC):

Sunday July 29^th, Yin Yoga Workshop with Sookie, 3-4:30pm

Balance Gym Thomas Circle location, on the Roof top

Friday July 27^th, 5:30pm with Kristen Krash

Capitol Hill Yoga:

Saturday July 28^th, 9am Open Yoga with Betsy

Sunday July 29^th, 9am Level 1 with Stacey

*Dana Hot Yoga (Glenside, PA):

Saturday, July 28^th 4:30-6PM

Down Dog Yoga, all 3 locations (Georgetown, Bethesda, Herndon):

Friday July 27^th 6pm

Down To Earth Yoga, Bozeman MT:

4:30 – 6:30 Friday night, July 27^th, Rocket III w/Peg Mulqueen

Embrace Yoga, DC:

Embracing Michael: Weekend Fundraisers & Practice for Michael Joel Hall

Rocket Embrace for Michael Joel Hall
Saturday, July 28
11am-12:30pm
Teacher: Augusta Hemann
Rocket EMBRACE for Michael Joel Hall is a spirited asana class led Augusta Zoe Hemann. This inspiring heart-centered practice will offer flowing postures back bends, hip opening and balancing. Students are also have the freedom to express their giving spirit through inversions like handstands and forearm stands for the first time.

Spiritual Embrace for Michael Joel Hall
Sunday, July 29
1pm-2:15pm
Teacher: Faith Hunter
A Spiritual EMBRACE for Michael Joel Hall guided by Faith Hunter will be a flowing vinyasa class infused with expansive heart openings and a loving expression of devotion. Towards the end of the class, Faith will guide you a Compassion Meditation in honor of Michael Joel Hall.

EPIC, DC:

For the month of July, all proceeds from the commUNITY classes– Thursday, 4pm and Sunday, 11am

extendYoga (North Bethesda):

Friday, June 27, 5:30pm with Allison Rose

Flow Yoga Center, Friday July 27^th:

8:15-9:45pm - Radiant Heart Prana Flow – asana led by Rob Hess with hands on assists plus closing pranayama and meditation led by Greg Marzullo A transformative prana flow heart-centered practice including mantra japa, tantric sutras, heart salutations, a liberating back-bending vinyasa flow and meditation to liberate our natural, healing alchemy of love.

8:15-9:45pm – Rocket to the Heart – asana led by Mimi Rieger closing with hands on assists plus closing pranayama and meditation led by Brittanie DeChino The playful and upbeat Rocket systematically promotes heart-felt spirit & freedom within your yoga practice. It works the whole body creating inner and outer balance. You will leave Rocket feeling completely rejuvenated & inspired. All you need is love!

Flow Yoga Leesburg:

Saturday July 28^th, 4 pm vinyasa flow class

Fuse Pilates:

Sunday July 29^th, 3:30pm with Mariska Breland

Georgetown Yoga:

Saturday July 28^th, 9:15am with Molly Dunn

Hiddencroft Vineyards – Yoga 4 Life Presents:

Yoga on the Wine Trail, Saturday August 4^th, 9:15am-12:30pm

(Lovettsville, VA)

https://yipdeals.com/products/dealDisplayExt/864

Happy Soul Yoga (Leesburg, VA):

Sunday August 12^th, 3-4pm

It’s Yoga Puerto Rico:

Wednesday August 1^st with David Kyle

lil omm, DC:

Thursday night, July 26th 730 yoga flow happy hour with Paige Lichens

Little River Yoga:

Friday August 3^rd Teen Yoga (5-6pm) and Power Yoga, 6:30-7:45pm with Carson Calhoun

Saturday August 4^th, Intro to 2^nd Series, 2pm with Tova Steiner

Prana Vibe (Chantilly, VA):

Friday August 10^th, 6:30-8pm Rocket 3 Series with Virginia Lung

Class to be held at 3656 Centerview Drive Suite #6, Chantilly VA 20151

Pure Yoga (East Side), NYC:

Sunday August 12^th, 3-4pm with Isuaro Fernandez

Results Gym (Capitol Hill):

Sunday August 5^th, 2-3:15pm with Kristina (Karuna) Maze

(non-gym members are welcome, as well as members of Results)

Stroga:

Sunday July 29^th, 11am with Scott Westbrook Simpson

Sunday July 29^th, 6:30pm “Flow for a Cause”

Tranquil Space:

The Soul of Yoga is Love (2 Benefit Workshops for Michael Joel Hall)

Saturday July 28^th, 5-6:15pm with Jodi and Anu at Arlington location

Sunday July 29^th, 3:30-5pm with Kevin, Melissa and Dave at the Dupont location

Yoga Chai:

Saturday July 28^th, 9:30am with Naomi Gottlieb-Miller

Yoga District, Bloomingdale location:

Monday 7:45pm

Wednesday 6:30pm

(these are the classes that Michael Joel Hall usually teaches at Yoga District. They will be offered as benefit classes until he is back teaching them.)

Proper Topper:

Friday August 24^th, 10% of all sales at this retail store will be donated to Michael Joel Hall

108 Sun Salutes in Meridian Hill Park, taught by 12 DC Yoga teachers sponsored by Lululemon

Sunday, August 5^th, 5pm

~Namaste

Lara posted earlier about the benefit practice that Yoga4Life had for Michael Joel Hall. I attended a different practice this past weekend that was also a benefit practice for Mr. Hall. If you haven’t heard, Michael Joel Hall is a popular yoga instructor in Washington DC that was attacked while walking home with his partner a couple of weeks ago. He has no health insurance and lost his apartment to a fire a couple of months ago as well. He has to have some reconstructive surgery for his face and, of course, has huge medical bills to pay from all of this.

I’ve never met Michael Joel Hall and, in fact, had never heard of him before. In many respects he is just another person who had some bad luck come his way. Yet, the outpouring of support for this human being has been enormous. Yoga studios around the country have set up benefit practices to raise money. There is going to be a big benefit practice outdoors on August 5, with twelve people teaching a 108 sun salutation class. Hundreds, if not thousands, are expected to show up. I’ll be going for sure.

It warms the heart to see this kind of support. Still, one question that comes to my mind is: why? Why does THIS person’s misfortune move so many people to help? Lots of people have terrible things happen to them, but we don’t hear about it. So what makes this situation different?

I know two people who know Michael Joel Hall personally. Both of them practice yoga with me and both are good people. They were moved by this person, so much so that when this happened and the call went out for help, they jumped in to help without hesitation. Universally, I’ve heard that Mr. Hall is a kind soul that tries to help people genuinely. It would seem that he has touched many, many people simply by being who he is, and by sharing his time and energy with others.

I can’t say that everyone who practices yoga is going to be the best human being in the world. I know I certainly have my flaws. But I think this entire incident shows that those who commit to yoga, for more than just physical exercise, are special people too. The asanas that we practice are just the start of a deeper philosophy and attitude towards life that, while complex at times, seeks to find a way towards enlightenment. That’s a pretty profound purpose but you get a sense that what is happening around Michael Joel Hall holds some valuable lessons for all of us in that quest. It’s not just that another human being needs help, or that it’s the right thing to do. It appears to go to an essence of yoga somehow, and I think a lot of people want to embrace that. To me, it’s certainly worth embracing, and certainly the right thing to do.

If you cannot attend any of the benefit practices, there is a location to make a donation. I’ve put the link below:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=nhDJBpE3ZiF0j6G66zWhjyIGzqrfLPJGJ-xD3iB4o0H8m9ZUSCSXTi0mIqq&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d7283e7f0184a5674430f290db9e9c846

Blessings to you for your yoga practice and life journey.

Namaste.

John

Winds of Change

‎

“When the winds of change blow,

Some people build walls and others build windmills.”

We sit and marvel at the light shows in the sky during a storm, letting the wind flow through us and take our breath away. On clear nights, by the light of many moons, it blows warm air across towns, cities, farm land, and slowly rolls over the mountain tops to cool itself in the valleys below. It is those glorious nights we stare in wonder as the stars and fireflies come together creating the magical moments of summer. It is not always something we can see, it is a force moving energies through the air – the beautiful smells of a summer night, a cool and gentle breeze, or harsh surge of strength….but above all, it carries one very powerful thing….the winds of change…

“I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change

The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”

Storms come as a cleansing time, a time to clean out and clear the earth of things no longer needed as they are. They break branches to make way for new shoots, providing light below for those little seeds on the ground to take flight and ground roots. Many fear the thunder, gusts, crashes of lightning both heard and seen by closing windows, doors, and building walls. There is fear in life changes or perceived ones…loss of power, food, shelter. The safety of life as we know it could be in “danger.” Building walls or resistance to change is natural especially when we don’t know what to expect or life changes seem so far off the path we once envisioned. Knowing that we have a purpose here in this life to teach, love, or touch another soul is hard. Faith, like the energies carried by the wind, is not something we can always see but one we trust. Trusting our intuitions and life path to guide us toward the unknown or down the gravel road closer to self discovery will open doorways in walls we created to walk through even in the deepest and darkest times of fear.

Some have learned to live in this place of trust and faith, and have discovered through whatever life challenges lived already that this is going to happen anyway. Perhaps illness or loss has taken them through the walls already or broken them down all together as it no longer serves a purpose. They wait for the storms’ end to wander outside and see what has changed, where it will take them, and what to do with all of the new gifts it has brought. Even in devastation there is a gift to be found under each tree limb, in the light that can now shine brighter into areas of the earth and our lives that has yet to see or feel the warmth of the sun…

“Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”

Dream your dream to life of living your dream…

”Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions” – Albert Einstein

**des·ti·na·tion** - destination - the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey);goal, finish,end, terminal - either extremity of something that has length; finish line, finishing line - a line indicating the location of the finish of a race .

1. The place to which one is going or directed.

2. The ultimate purpose for which something is created or intended.

3. Archaic An act of appointing or setting aside for a specific purpose. the predetermined end of a journey or voyage

4. the ultimate end or purpose for which something is created or a person is destined

………HMMMM, if you asked self? #3 or #4

Destination is not a way of life. There is no, “When I accomplish “____” I will be happy. Certainly not in our yoga practice. You won’t be when you get there if you are worn down, tired, and forgot where you were going in the first place. We were raised around it and have seen or already experienced the list: 1) College 2) Have a career making money 3) Fall in Love 4) Get Married 5) Buy a house 6) Have children. Know anyone who has skipped a step and heard how they feel? It’s great but that’s not always the way it works out. Then what? Hopefully, that all works out and maybe not in order, but it works. Hopefully, when you have done it all it doesn’t take you back to number 2) Make MORE money and start all over. Hopefully, when you get there you are happy with all that you lived along the way and don’t wake up wondering what in the heck you are doing or did.

Dreaming your dream to life of living your dream is knowing and living what is true to your heart, soul, and spirit. Let it happen by allowing the little gifts along the way and signs guide your way like fireflies through the night. They are there AND they are shining. Life’s requirements didn’t come in a brown box with a “To Do” List – we made that. Living doesn’t happen on a Post-It, in a smart phone, or online calendar….it happens while you are making lists, and checking them twice, of what you “want” to do.

It all starts with having faith in yourself…and when you forget, those who have faith in you inhale and riSE… We have a lot more power to walk a little lighter than we think if we stop thinking and start letting things happen naturally. Freeing our mind, letting emotions, feelings, thoughts, and love flow in and out takes practice. Learning to identify what we should keep and what to allow go, freely riding the next breeze coming through happens. It can happen with peace of mind that, with destiny, it will return again if it is intended for us.

We will begin to see, feel and make connections with the natural world around us and how in sync we really are if we allow ourselves to let go. There are moments, times, seasons of fear or uncertainty and sometimes very real lessons for us to learn there. Remember, those special souls connected in your life carry shared faith stand right behind you…in need, all it takes is to stop, slow our pace, and turn around.

“The wind of change
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”

Let your love shine through in all you do…

it spreads and floats like an open flow on the wings of air and waters below…

Contact : Connect : Collide : Completely

Letting go on our mat begins the second we make contact with ourselves…mat included, but not required. Yoga is the practice of releasing emotions, thoughts and fears. Self judgement and expectations slide away as we make way to find a deeper connection with self. We do so in meditation, through asana sequences, bringing breath and body together. We return to asanas in our practice as recognition of revisiting where we are now; in a very different place, yet in the same form. It is something I personally teach and practice myself daily. Each day we leave our houses, jobs, family, or friends and each day when we return home or come back together we are very different – our journey, moments in time, change that and there isn’t a thing in this world that can stop time. Living in the present and recognizing that takes practice for some. On our mats, without distraction, we connect and collide with soul….hopefully, completely.

Flow with the wind,

wake from the storm,

embrace change,

trust the signs,

hope for the best,

and have faith…

the future is on that path just ahead,

even if you can’t see it yet…

build windows, doors, and windmills

not walls…

♥ Namaste

- 1990 power ballad written by Klaus Meine, vocalist of the German band Scorpions

-Loudoun County, Virginia Photographs – Lara Ward

- Purcellville Yoga

5 Things Yoga Has Taught Me in my 20s

Francesca wrote a wonderful blog published in both Elephant Journal & MindBodyGreen titled “5 Things Yoga Has Taught Me In My 20s.” She is off to graduate school to do SO many things that will bring yoga into the world with her social work and beyond. I often think about the people who come into our lives for a reason and season and think…”Wow, we each have a story to write…only mine would be the things yoga has taught me in my 30s.” It goes like the country song, “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.” At each age, stage, krama, of our life we are something different and something new…always growing and always changing. What we learn at each stage is something so beautiful and brand new.

Without Francesca we would not have Yoga for Empowerment still going on here at Yoga 4 Life in our own towns. If not for Francesca we would also not ever seen the beautiful place of Maya Tulum for we would not have ventured there without the courage and inspiration of her youth and enthusiasm. I would like to note that there was NO WAY in my thirty somethings I was staying in a tent in the middle of the desert for 1/2 a month with no ceiling in the bathroom…. BUT, I found huts that suited me and a program like hers, and with her encouragement, that allowed me to venture into this world going far to reach what I was seeking. It is in this place, because of this one beautiful human being, that lives have changed and changed the lives of others…

We will hold a candle lit here at Yoga 4 Life as she spreads her wings wide to fly proudly into her unknown future enjoying each present moment with the excitement, smiling face she always carries, bright spirit, and grounded knowledge. Shine on~~

“I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you, where lies your love, your light, your truth and your beauty. I honor the place in you, where…if you are in that place in you … and I am in that place in me…then there is only one of us.”

5 Things Yoga Has Taught Me in my 20s

As a 20-something yoga student, instructor, and enthusiast, a recent college graduate, and soon-to-be graduate student, I can confidently say I still have much to learn about yoga and life. However, I am proud to say I think I have finally understood what yoga has been trying to teach me all these years. Of course, these are just the lessons I have been ignoring since I first stepped onto my yoga mat impatiently waiting for my innate ability to stand on my head to show itself after all its years of hibernation. These are just the tip of a very, very large iceberg.

1) It doesn’t matter what you wear.

When I first began practicing yoga, I was very jealous of the students clad in the most expensive yoga clothing money can buy, practicing on a mat that cost five times as much as the one I had bought at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I admit: I do still get jealous of everyone’s matching tank and yoga pant combos, but then I remember: you don’t have to be rich to be happy, healthy, or practice yoga. Those people in my first yoga classes I took? They could barely hold a downward-facing dog for five breaths. If anything, all those expensive outfits did was make every beginner feel uncomfortable because they could barely afford the classes, now they had to go out and buy $300 worth of yoga-related gear and accessories? No, thank you.

Luckily, upon further inspection, it isn’t written in the Yoga Sutras that we are required to wear Brand X to practice happily and healthfully. Your yoga practice and your life is what you make it; don’t complicate it by coveting the latest trends that will not enhance your practice or your life.*

2) Squaring your hips, opening your chest, extending through the crown of your head, smile: little things in yoga and in life make a big difference.

Physically, I know the difference between a Warrior II with the shoulders hugged up to the ears and one with relaxed shoulders. I know that engaging the core can change a Crescent Lunge entirely. However, there are those little things emotionally and mentally that make a difference, too. This goes back to age-old advice and I think it goes something like this: “Always smile at strangers. You never know what they are going through.”

I’ve noticed over the years that I take pleasure in the littlest things. Just yesterday I was talking to someone about how I really love spreadable butter. The way it just melts over toast so effortlessly; it makes me really, really happy. Seems silly, but it’s true. I have seen these little bits of happiness surface more and more as I delve deeper into my yoga practice. I am so pleased when I am walking to class and someone waves at me across the street instead of revving their engine and playing chicken against me and my yoga mat. I take pleasure in going out of my way to open the door for people, comment on their new ability to sit in Crow Pose so effortlessly, and yes, just smile at them on the street and have them smile back.

3) Being uncomfortable isn’t an option in a yoga class, let alone in your life!

Why twist and torque yourself into poses when in the end you know your body is just not quite ready? Why force yourself into situations that you know aren’t right for you? Yes, we are all uncomfortable in the first moments of Pigeon or at a party where we might not know too many people. That’s different than forcing yourself into careers, religions, or more importantly relationships. Life is too short to be uncomfortable and forced. If you don’t like a situation, change it. Our bodies physically lean toward and away from things we like or dislike. Use that to inspire confidence and change in your life and in your yoga practice.

4) Underwear is optional.

5) It’s only yoga.

Yeah, I said it. There is no reason to get your underwear (if you’re wearing any) in a twist when you can’t magically, creatively, and elegantly float into Handstand. Yoga isn’t about getting to the next place; it’s about enjoying the journey of each pose no matter what variation you are in. We can’t enjoy our lives if we are so busy figuring out what we need to accomplish next and how can we get there the quickest. We need to take pleasure in each action we create and each goal we accomplish, so when we look back on our lives we can vividly describe each moment of importance and truth to others and ourselves.

**More power to you if you can afford that expensive stuff, because you do look great.*

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5239/5-Things-Yoga-Has-Taught-Me-in-My-20s.html

About Francesca Budesheim

Francesca is a RYT-200 and has been practicing yoga for 10 years. She will begin her pursuit of a Master’s in Clinical Social Work this fall at the University of Texas at Austin. She hopes to use her knowledge about children, families, and yoga to create yoga programs for women and children who have been abused. Founder of the non-profit, Yoga for Empowerment, Francesca is always searching for new ways to raise awareness about family violence and abuse. Francesca hopes to continue to share her lessons of yoga and life while she fumbles through her 20s with her miniature dachshund, Jerry Garcia, and her fiancé. Keep in touch with her via Facebook, Twitter, or her website.

Facebook: YogaForEmpowerment

Twitter: @fmbudesheim

Website: francescayoga.weebly.com

-Namaste

Mercury Retrodgrade Is Coming

REconsider :: REpair :: REflect :: REconnect

On July 14/15, and lasting until August 7/8, Mercury will be in retrograde and will be in the sign of Leo. This event, Mercury in retrograde, happens at least three times in a year, sometimes four. Mercury retrograde occurs when it appears that Mercury is going backwards in the sky. Of course that isn’t what happens. It’s an optical illusion created because of the different speeds of the orbits of Mercury and Earth relative to each other. Nevertheless, a lot of people dread the time when Mercury goes into the perceived retrograde.

In astrology, Mercury is associated with communication, travel, and commercial activity. When it is direct, as opposed to retrograde, then the influence over these items is generally considered to be good. Any planet in retrograde is considered to be doing the opposite of it’s normal influence. Thus, Mercury in retrograde is normally associated with disruptions in communication, travel, and commercial activity. You can quickly see where that can have a lot of negative effects. Electronics associated with communication will suddenly become unreliable. Misunderstandings grow. Travel is disrupted and schedules become chaos. Conducting commercial activity can be scrambled. Generally, it’s recommended that you don’t sign contracts, plan trips, or buy new communications electronics or other big purchases during this time. If you do have tight schedules, check them twice and expect delays or cancellations. Don’t start new projects or endeavors. Expect hidden and possibly disruptive details to surface during this time.

While most of us dread a Mercury retrograde, don’t let it get you down! Turn this time into a positive. This is a great time to do research, as hidden details will come forward. Just don’t make any decisions yet! It’s also a wonderful time to correct past mistakes or reconnect with a long-lost friend or relative. Take the time to look at mistakes and then start taking steps to correct them. As one site says, “reconsider, repair, reflect, and reconnect.” Slow down, take time to look at how life is going, and rethink some plans if those plans aren’t working as you’d hoped.

In your yoga practice, give yourself permission to stop and look at where you are now. If you’ve been pushing too hard, give yourself a break and ask yourself why you’ve pushed so hard. If you’re not pushing hard enough, try to figure out why and take steps to correct it. Look at the finer details of a pose that’s been giving you problems, and then see if you can make some subtle changes to make it better.

Overall, just give yourself extra time to get somewhere, expect some disruptions, and otherwise hang on. Mercury retrograde, as with so many other aspects, challenges us. Use the challenges to build for the future.

~ Namaste ~

John

Be The Change You Wish To See

We find inspiration in climbing mountains – the views….and then we come down.

It is there, at the base, when we look toward the earth and see the reasons and inspiration to climb back up…

Looking beyond a puddle and seeing reflection, the light in the sky…

We all wander around earth, in society, and our own lives seeing things we want to change, make better, or create. Sometimes it is something within ourselves or a local community. Sometimes, it is that simple and it changes our world. Sometimes, it is that simple and it changes THE WORLD. And, of course, sometimes it takes great dedication and time to do either. What inspires you to do what you do? What has inspired you to wish you had time, the money, or the motivation to do? What can you or or kids do today, this season, this year, this lifetime?

Summer is a time of renewal and regeneration. As the summer sun shines its glorious warmth on earth and us during these months, it is a time to dream, create, and connect with ourselves and our communities. Sway nature’s dance when the wind blows, soak up the sun’s rays, listen to earth songs, flow with the ease of the rivers through the wonderful journey called living…

Yoga 4 Life’s doesn’t have a “mission.” We are growing into our community and tending to our passions; we are many full of passions and passions for many. We have lots to do! As we spread our rays and shine into a summer of walking the earth in meditations or forest, sipping nature’s harvest with our communities, working with empowerment groups, we constantly cultivate our passion centers. That is where change, dedication to community, and giving freely through our practice flows outward making a difference. It is here, in this time, we can all find those inspirations.

trav·el (trvl) v. trav·eled or trav·elled, trav·el·ing or trav·el·ling, trav·els v.intr. 1. To go from one place to another, as on a trip; journey. 2. To go from place to place as a gift or service to. 3. To be transmitted, as light or sound; move or pass. 4. To advance or proceed. 5. To go about in the company of a particular group; associate: travels within a tribe, group, or circle. 6. To move along a course, as in a groove.

traveller – a person who changes location. //traveler -individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul.

The Traveling Yogis takes yoga and meditation out of four walls and into the world. It gives us the ability to be free spirits and souls with those passions reaching far and wide into the county. Who knows? Maybe beyond! Beginning our summer with Yoga for Empowerment, Girls Going Global, working with Girl Scouts, and cheerleaders, youth groups and community center after school programs is just the beginning of Yoga 4 Life. The sparks lit from these experiences send light into children and young adults. Yoga practices, nature walks, spending time on farms, in vineyards and wineries, and among like minded people allows personal growth for any body, mind, and spirit. Meditation walks through the vines, forests, hills, and valleys of Loudoun County is therapudic for us all. It is simple and some choose to be still and take in movement around them while others enjoy the movement, or journey, they experience by traveling among nature’s great beauty. Yoga on the Wine Trail is becoming more than Yoga and Wine in Loudoun County!

Yoga 4: Heart ♥ Hearth Δ Health ♥ Heath Ξ

A very fresh and new thought for us. This is Yoga on the Wine Trail and part farm, opening a winery, organic market, restaurant, and things beyond our current sight yet concept in the works. What we are already doing is bringing it together and along the way will change and grow a lot. The best part is those who are on this “wagon” with us will grow and change because of it! Still developing thought and mind path to make it happen, we will incorporate what Yoga 4 means to us and the world around us.

Beginning with the word acceptance, Yoga 4 is not a “way of life” rather ALL of life beginning with acceptance of oneself and each other. We all do things we would like to change, possibly habits we are used to and like. We are not going to change those, choose to be part of or explore activities where we feel unwelcome, not following a code of ethics or belief system set up by others, or make us feel negative and harmful emotions such as guilt or shame. The universe doesn’t look at Earth and say you can’t stay here unless you “___.” We are all part of everything in this life. We can touch anything and everything that comes in contact with us in this life. We change life around us. Life changes us.

As our Yoga studio and Yoga 4 Life is based off of the four points of Earth, Wind, Water, Fire we combine the earliest ideas of Heart – Hearth – Health – Heath.

Heart (Soul – giver of energy and light – what comes from and resides within)
Hearth (home, humility, humble, hope)
Health (heart & soul combined)
Heath (heath is defined as a tract of open land - covered with low shrubs – like heather) – the Love for nature and the world that flows out when you have Heart, Hearth and Health and you want to share it with the Heath)

We hope to see you all out this summer either in practice, at our local farms and vineyard retreats, the wine festivals, pictures online of the far away lands you journey to, and around town enjoying the beautiful sunshine! Perhaps there is a change stirring in your mind you want to work on too!

A Little Summer Something @ Yoga 4 Life:

The Shine Project is making changes and we want to help. With the Summer Solstice practices and dedications to our passions, community, ourselves, empowerment, and our studio we plan to SHINE rays through the summer from within and take in all of the warmth around us to create and celebrate why we do what we do.

With your support, we will also host a “Change Jar” in the studio and three others – total of 4. You will see us out and about shining in yellow this summer.

The CHANGE 4 CHANGE campaign benefits The Shine Project’s non-profit organization The Shine Scholarship Project. All money collected will help inner city high school students afford their first year of college. Once each jar has collected $100, and it will be put directly into The Shine Project Scholarship Fund.

“LETS CHANGE THE WORLD.”

Please visit www.myshineproject.com and see the difference one person’s dream can grow….

Shine is defined as:
1. to give forth or glow with light
2. to be bright with reflected light; glisten; sparkle.
3. to appear with brightness or clearness.
4. to excel

“I believe that all of us possess talents, skills, and abilities that can be used to literally change the world. I believe that stepping out of your comfort zone to do hard things is what gives meaning and happiness to life.”

The Shine Project is:

Going out of your comfort zone
to bring light to those who need hope.
The Shine Project emulates love, sacrifice, and
CHANGE.

“The Shine Scholarship Project is a non-profit that was created by TSP to put our beliefs in action. Its mission is to improve the lives of at-risk teens through service, education, and family involvement. We do service projects with inner city students every other week to teach them the leadership skills that are necessary for them to succeed. The money we raise goes to sending these leaders to college, so they can give back to society.You can read more about how to get involved HERE. And go ahead, let the world see you SHINE.”

Inhale to rise, exhale and fold…we don’t always choose what we inhale from what is around us. It is up to us what we exhale out. Each breath is a choice – sometimes to let go of fear, stress, disappointment, acceptance, self judgement. Then, there are those amazing moments we spread our wings, dreams, hope, love, gifts, and change the world… It is Wednesday…it’s not half over, there is half left to make it happen – Lara Ward…Y4L

IGNITE YOUR INNER FLAME!

— ♥ Namaste

- Loudoun County Yoga and Wine

- Purcellville Yoga – Photographs taken by Lara Ward

- Lucketts, Loudoun County Travelling Yogis – Photograph by Gayle T. Tiller

Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Wow, a blog post! Last time I made one of these was last Fall, as I was sidelined with a knee injury. Time flies.

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I’ve come to realize that this might be a problem. I love my teachers, don’t get me wrong. But it’s the same teachers, in the same time-slots. Sure, each practice is different but every teacher has preferred ways of doing things and poses that they prefer to teach over others.

I was also reminded recently that a lot of people who practice yoga are at times intimidated about trying something new.

A couple of us were practicing some poses, and another person there just watched us. That’s fine, but I sensed that there was fear in trying something new.

Over the last two weeks I also ran across teachers who are very good at what they teach, but they were hesitant about styles of yoga that they haven’t practiced. They were skeptical of these different yoga styles.

Whatever you do for Spring, I hope that you find ways to advance and deepen your practice. Enjoy the flowers and the warm weather along with your yoga. Don’t be afraid to try something new from time to time either.

Namaste

John

Ayurveda

How It Can Inform and Deepen Your Yoga Practice

Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences. Yoga addresses all facets of our health and offers us a way of life that is in harmony with our truth. Ayur means life, while veda means knowledge or the study of; this “science of life” can support your yogic practices and all aspects of your well-being.

Ayurveda has given us the ability to describe virtually any matter by means of 20 qualities, or gunas. They are organized into 10 pairs of opposites:

Heavy Light

Dull Sharp/penetrating

Cold Hot

Oily Dry

Smooth Rough

Dense Liquid

Soft Hard

Static Mobile/spreading

Cloudy Clear

Subtle Gross

Here are the five elements described by the gunas:

Ether/Space: light, cold, subtle, clear, soft, smooth

Air: mobile, dry, cold, subtle, hard, clear

Fire: Hot, sharp, spreading, dry, light

Water: Liquid, heavy, dull (it has a dulling effect), cold, static, smooth

Earth: Heavy, static, gross, rough, dull, hard

A few well organized and reputable resources are:

The Ayurvedic Institute’s website – based largely on Dr. Vasant Lad’s expertise in the field.

Good overview and very clear recipe/ingredient lists for each dosha or guna.

This shows the different paces and qualities of practicing yoga for vata, pitta, and kapha types.

- Jessi Hughes

Journey with Yoga on the Wine Trail…

A day, event, moment, week, or year is not a stage set up by a shining sun, ideal weather, or another. Movement, choice, acceptance, and trusting the universe to let us find ourselves when we let go is where we not just find life, but come alive…

See clearly, hear with acceptance, flow with connection, sing by vibration and move with evolved rhythm.

“Dance the dance, sing the song…our shadows may may look similar but voice, touch, tone, and spirits are their own. It is that beautiful moment when they flock together, flow, and harmonize… IdentifyInterlinkInhale to riSE…”

Yoga

Our practice focus is the Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura or Third Chakra, and the Root Chakra, Muladhara or First Chakra. The combination is one of combining Fire and Earth elements. Fire is not only heat energy but light as well and the grounding element of Earth replants roots of self.

Wine

2011 Rosa Luna

Taking it back to where we began, time after time and it is still the right start…that is what leads you forward, sideways – North, South, East and West – always coming back to center.

Their wines can be found around the region. The link to the list can be found at their website here: http://www.fabbioliwines.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=71.

Our journey has continued throughout the summer and into the fall. Kim Sullivan is a Wine Passionist who helps to coordinate our Yoga on the Wine Trail events. We welcome you to join us at the following vineyards coming up soon.

All Photographs from this day can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.412783768758020.88989.252543858115346&type=3

“Human giving and trust is the greatest gift of freedom, carefully placing your feet on the earth and a path to be proud of…”

♥ Namaste

When: October 20, 2012 9:15 am – 12:30 pm

Where: 868 Estate Vineyards

14001 Harpers Ferry Road

Neersville, VA 20132

540-668-6000

Cost: $59

When: November 10, 2012 9:15 am – 12:30 pm

Where: The Barns at Hamilton Station

16804 Hamilton Station Road

Hamilton, VA 20158

540-338-5309

Cost: $59

Alone we imagine, dream, shine, create.

Together we spark, fuse, flow, grow, transform

…and change the world…

Join heart & hand – mind, body, and soul…

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances. If there is any reaction, both are transformed” – C. G. Jung

Contact

Connect

Collide

August 5th MJH fundraiser – putting kindness into action. via – Peg – Please join together as we practice giving on and off our mats. Please join us as we celebrate community coming together in times of need – join forces in the great unity and spirit of YOGA…pass it on…

More information can be found at these links: (please scroll down for a complete list of classes offered)

The following classes are being offered around the area to support the cause…please join our event on August 4th at Hiddencroft Vineyards and any of the other wonderful studios who have offered a donation class to help.

Hiddencroft Vineyards ad Yoga 4 Life Present:

Yoga on the Wine Trail, Saturday August 4th, 9:15am-12:30pm

(Lovettsville, VA)

August 5th – 108 Sun Salutations

~Namaste

‎

“When the winds of change blow,

Some people build walls and others build windmills.”

Yoga on the Wine Trail, Saturday August 4^th, 9:15am-12:30pm

“I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change

The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”

“Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”

“The wind of change
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change…”