Thoughts from this Morning On Practice

So how is your practice? Many of you who come to the studio have been coming now for over a year and we can see your practice changing. All of you have developed a stonger focus in your efforts. Balance, flexibility, long term natural health, all of these increase as your practice deepens.

How is my practice?

I don't know. I think I will try and watch less TV, pick and choose my news stories, spend more time with friends, and work dilligently to understand "whats next". Perhaps that is the difference in a breakthrough or in no breakthrough in a practice. When you get tired, bored or unwillingly to practice, take a second to stop, do not just breath or count to ten, ask yourself, "What IS next?". It is my opinion, that something is next, something that has been written about in the practice of yoga, the everyday, day in day out practice of asana.

I believe that we can attain incredible peace of mind, and over all well being by extending our yoga practice outside of the studio walls. We can create peace in our homes, in our schools and in our community with yoga. It is my belief that within yoga there is peace for all if we let ourselves have it.

Your practice can be your attention to detail in your daily work. Your practice can be enjoying silence in the morning and the evening as you tune in to your partner, your children, or your friends. Your practice can be having a vegetarian meal or a vegetarian day each week. TRY.

Do what you can, stick with it and continue to practice.

I am posting a video of Iyengar as he explains breathing. We will be reading Iyengar's book, Light on Life, for our first book club meeting at the studio on March 5th at 6 PM.




"The mind is the king of the senses and the breath is the king of the mind, . . ."

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! The studio will be opening back up this evening with our Sunday Karma yoga class starting at 7pm.

There will be a couple of schedule changes this year, so please take a look at the schedule online. No pilates at 7:15pm on Wednesdays, it will be replaced with a Yin Yoga class. Boot Camp will be starting tomorrow morning, January 4th at 6:30-7:30am. Cost is $150.
There will be an adjustment to pilates these next couple of weeks (possibly). As many of you know, Lisa will be working through some family concerns, so Zach and I will be filling in for her. Classes will be held at all the same times, just a different face teaching.

Please email us if you have any questions...info@elkrapidsyogastudio.com.

We look forward to seeing you all very soon!
Amie, Zach, & Lisa

Holiday Schedule

We wish you a very merry holiday season! The Elk Rapids Yoga Studio will be CLOSED Thursday, December 24 thru Friday, January 1st in observance of the holidays. There will be NO 7:15 pilates class Wednesday, December 23, so please plan to attend the 6pm class that evening. As our gift to you, Wednesday, December 23...all classes are FREE. Please come and bring anyone you know!

Wishing you the best this season!
Amie,Zach, & Lisa

No Classes Tonight or Tomorrow AM

Greetings on this wintery evening.

Just wanted to let you know that due to the weather conditions, there will be no pilates classes this evening or tomorrow morning. We apologize for any inconveniences, but it is important for everyone to stay safe.

Thank you!
Amie

New Pilates Classes

Due to popular demand, we will be adding more pilates classes to the schedule in the morning. Come join us for our new times Tuesday and Thursday mornings. New pilates classes start Tuesday, November 17 at 8:45-9:45am with Lisa Lundy.
Passes for pilates at $10 drop in and $80 for a 10-class pass. First class is always FREE. Check it out, you are sure to get a slammin' ab workout! Any questions please contact Lisa at lisa@elkrapidsyogastudio.com
See you there!

Richard Freeman Workshop

Hello!
I want to take the opportunity to thank you for allowing us the time to spend studying with Richard Freeman. We spent the 3rd week in Chicago studying with teacher Richard Freeman. Richard was taught by his guru, Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. It was an amazing week. We spent much of the weekend practicing yoga six hours Saturday and Sunday working through the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga. The week was spent practicing primary series for 3 hours and the afternoon was dedicated to learning the first two chapters of the yoga sutras and chanting. I look forward to sharing the teachings of Richard with you! You can learn more about Richard on his website at http://www.yogaworkshop.com/
Thank you!
Amie
Also Zach has embarked on a spiritual journey to Japan. He will be trekking on the island of Shikoku for a total of 900 miles to visit 88 temples. Access to internet has been difficult for him thus far, however, you can check his progress on his website www.zachmatheson.com Go Zach!

Ashtanga Yoga Demo by Russell Case