Dear Friends,
With the azaleas and dogwoods in full glory in Washington this month, I hope you will find the opportunity to rise early, take some time for yourself and experience the serenity and beauty of each May morning as it passes.
Here at Budding Yogis, we are thrilled to announce the opening of our Therapeutic Yoga Program, under the nurturing wing of director Karen Soltes, a licensed social worker with specific training in using yoga therapeutically with children. Therapeutic Yoga will increase self-esteem, improve physical well being, and encourage social growth in children with a wide range of special needs. Classes are by application only and numbers will be limited, in order to give specialized attention to each child. Please call or email the studio to schedule an intake meeting.
At the Circle Yoga studio, we will be celebrating all forms of nurturing this month, from the care and attention we show ourselves, through the practice of yoga, to the love and support shown to us by our mothers, and the many other women who care for us all, physically and spiritually, throughout our lives. Why not consider giving a little of that love back to a female mentor or yourself, through the gift of a Circle Yoga class or workshop, such as the Deep Relaxation workshop on Mother’s Day itself? Upcoming workshops include:
In addition, Circle Yoga continues to host Smiling Like a Buddha: A Ten Week Mindfulness Meditation workshop, every Wednesday through June 15 (no class May 25th), from 7.30-9.30pm at the Circle Yoga Studio site, with Mitchell Ratner PhD, from the Still Water Mindfulness Meditation Center.
For more information about any and all of our classes and workshops, please click on the links to our website to the right of this newsletter.
Please don’t forget that registration for the Budding Yogis’ Summer Yoga Camp and Mindful Learning Camp is continuing, but classes are filling, so please sign up promptly. Both camps are fabulous opportunities for your child to really learn and practice mindfulness and yoga as well as learn other skills. To find out more about our summer camp, workshops, and regular classes, go to www.buddingyogis.com for kids, and www.circleyoga.com for adults.
May the rain bring you new growth,
Annie
Smiling Like a Buddha
Wednesdays, April 6June 15, 7:309:30 pm, $200
Mindfulness meditation is surprisingly simple and remarkably subtle. Over time one develops a relaxed state of awareness that allows for the moment-by-moment direct observation of sensations, feelings, and mind-states. When mindfulness is firmly established, joy, compassion, equanimity and loving-kindness arise. Intended for both new and experienced practitioners, the workshop will explore conscious breathing, developing/deepening a sitting practice, walking meditation, mindfulness in everyday life, transforming anger, nurturing love, mindful movements, and hugging meditation. Participants will be able to share experiences, progress, and challenges within a supportive workshop environment. With Mitchell Ratner of Stillwater Mindfulness Practice Center. See www.stillwatermpc.org.
Deep Relaxation for Mothers (for Mother's Day)
May 8, 2-3:30 pm, $25, with Annette Z
Come celebrate all things feminine this Mother's Day. We will create a sacred space to invoke the energies of the Divine Mother for self-nurturing and self-renewal. The workshop will include breath work, chanting, meditation, and restorative yoga along with deep relaxation.
Intro to Teaching Yoga to Kids
May 15, 1-4 pm, $60, with Linda Feldman and Annie Mahon
This introductory workshop, intended for teachers and parents, is for anyone interested in learning the art of teaching yoga to children. We will focus on making yoga fun for children, using yoga games, teaching specific postures, teaching breathing techniques, guided meditation, and more. Annie Mahon and Linda Feldman are certified instructors of Budding Yogis. See www.buddingyogis.com for bios.
The Yoga of Belly Dancing
May 22, 10–11:30 am, $18 couple, with Cinema Wood
Couples can truly share the yoga experience as we practice classic poses, partner poses and relaxation, making this a perfect Spring treat. With Cinema Wood of Willow Street Yoga.
Couples Massage Training
June 5, 12-2 pm, with Christine Davis
Are you intimidated by the thought of your tiny hands trying to massage your partners large and very tight back? Or is it that your strong hands could learn some gentle sensitivity? Wouldn’t a little guidance on how to best massage that tight place in your partner's shoulder help? Maybe your partner could use some help. In this workshop we will take the time to practice clear and honest communication, verbal and physical. Christine gives plenty of individual attention so each massager can work comfortably and effectively. Good technique combined with loving intention equals an amazing massage. Come practice speaking to each other through the language of touch. Each partner will receive a full body massage. Christine has been a licensed massage therapist for 10 years and her work is most simply described as gentle but deep. She blends a variety of tissue and energetic techniques offering deeply relieving sessions. She and her cat see clients at their Cleveland Park home office.
West African Dance
June 5, 4–5:30 pm, $25, with Christine Davis
No dance experience needed, just the desire to move to a steady rhythm. We will learn the simple version of traditional dances from Guinea West Africa–accompanied by live percussion. Come explore movement from a low (powerful) center of gravity while emphasizing the downbeat. An emphasis is placed on creative _expression offering space to explore ourselves. Connect to your inner pulse as we move to the West African rhythms. Contemporary and traditional music will be used. Move together with a group of likeminded folks! Christine Davis has been studying West African dance since 1994 and has spent time in Guinea studying with her teacher, Youssouf Koumbassa, reknown choreographer and dancer with Les Ballet Africans of Guinea. Christine is happiest learning, teaching and practicing this dance.
Creating The Peaceful Home
June 12, 1–4 pm, $40 each or $70 for two registrants, with Annie Mahon of Circle Yoga and Mitchell Ratner of the Stillwater Mindfulness Practice Center
What makes a peaceful home? Stillness? Grace? Flow? Beauty? Respect? Freedom? Communication? Joy? Caring? In this workshop, we will begin by identifying those aspects of a peaceful home that attract us the most. What is our deepest aspiration for our home and family life? We will learn concrete practices that will help us bring into being the peaceful home that is in our hearts. We will learn how to listen to each other mindfully and have an opportunity to practice listening to each other; share ideas about how to create physical spaces for stillness; practice individual and family calming techniques; learn how to eat together in mindfulness; create daily reminders to be mindful; and share family rituals that nurture stillness, respect and caring. We will end by creating gathas–short mindfulness poems–to remind us of our deep intentions and the actions we can take in specific situations. For parents/caregivers and their children ages 10+. Mitchell Ratner is the founder of Stillwater MPC and Annie Mahonis the founder of Circle Yoga.
Daddy & Me Yoga, Ages 5–10 (for Fathers Day)
June 19, 10-11 am, with Linda Feldman
$18 couple, $12 each additional participant
This class is designed especially for dads and their kids to share the joy of yoga. It will give dads the opportunity to have a special hour with their kids, have some fun and do some yoga. We’ll be doing yoga poses, interactive partner poses, playing yoga games, and of course, relaxing. No yoga experience is necessary. Linda Feldman is a certified instructor at Circle Yoga and Budding Yogis.
Feng Shui for Adults and Teens
June 26, 1–3 pm, $35, with Sonya Green
Would you like to be closer to your sister? brother? children? Are your dirty clothes ruining your chance to find true love? Is school or the office lunchroom a ‘war zone’ for you or your child? Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese intuitive art that seeks to understand the relationship of humans to their environment. Feng Shui seeks to correct negative energy by harnessing positive energy with the intention of promoting better health, wealth and relationships. It is a practical art that anyone can apply to his or her environment. In this interactive, introductory class you and/or your child will learn basic Black Hat Sect Feng Shui that can be applied right away to improve your relationships. Click here for bio.
