Dear Friends,

With the cold weather moving in, all I want to do is stay snuggled under the covers in the morning. I feel gravity pulling me down into the warmth. This time of year, I find that I turn inward more, becoming more introspective. I start to prepare myself for the coming cold by drawing in to my own agni, my internal fire.

How do we keep our inner fire burning brightly, even in the winter? Eating warm foods, getting enough rest, and a daily yoga practice. Ayurveda, the ancient yoga healing art, recommends a daily self-massage before a warm bath or shower at this time of year. Natural nutritionists recommend eating lots of cooked roots, sweet squashes, and soups in the Fall. While in your yoga classes this month, allow your focus to turn inward, finding a softness and stillness within your postures. Within the stillness, you may find your inner strength and beauty, your buddha-nature, the fire that burns up your afflictions.... and you may not. Whatever you find is just as it should be.

Enjoy your journey.

Annie

Circle Yoga
It’s easy to Be here

Budding Yogis’ Teaching Yoga to Kids Certification
Friday, November 3–Sunday, November 5, $450
Fri.: 12:30–4:30 and 6:00–9:00, Sat.: 12:00–6:00, Sun.: 8:30–12:30 and 2:00–5:00
Do you think you might enjoy teaching yoga to children? Or do you think your child might benefit from learning to relax through the non-competitive practice of yoga? This 20-hour workshop is intended for teachers, parents, or anyone interested in learning how to enrich children’s lives with yoga practice. Participants will gain detailed information about how to teach kids yoga classes, how to create theme-based yoga classes and how to teach self-calming and meditation techniques. Throughout the weekend, participants will learn kids yoga poses and yoga games, gain a clear understanding of the age-breakouts for classes, and learn ways to deal with various behaviors including special needs. We will learn through doing, by experiencing kids yoga classes and discussion of what works well with kids. Each student will have an opportunity to plan, observe and/or co-teach a free kids yoga class on the last day of the workshop. We’ll also discuss what it takes to get started teaching and/or start-up a kids yoga business. At the conclusion of the training, all participants will have the opportunity to teach a kids yoga class at Budding Yogis. A Budding Yogis Level I certificate will be given to each participant if all sessions and the practice teaching session are successfully attended. With certified instructors Annie Mahon and Linda Feldman (see www.buddingyogis.com for more information and instructor bios).

Staying Connected to Ourselves and Our Children, No Matter Who is Upset
November 11, 2006, 12:30–3:30 pm, at Circle Yoga
This introductory NVC workshop will be a lively exploration of the basic principles of NVC, a language and consciousness of compassion that can dramatically improve all of our relationships, from personal to professional. This workshop will introduce the basic principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and we'll have the opportunity to apply these principles to the challenging issues that arise with our children and others in our lives. Participants will become familiar with the concepts that will be used during the November 16 and 17 training by the visiting coordinator of the Center for Nonviolent Communication's (CNVCs) Parenting Project, and CNVC-certified trainer Inbal Kashtan. Lead by Lynd Morris, a co-founder of Capitol NVC, a graduate of the 2005 North America NVC Leadership Program led by certified trainers Miki and Inbal Kashtan, and a participant in the 2006 LIFE Program led by certified trainer Robert Gonzales.

Suggested Contribution: $10-$100 or more. This workshop is being offered using the "gift economy" concept of equally valuing the participants' and leader's needs for sustainability: some attendees may have difficulty contributing more than a few dollars, others will be able to joyfully contribute much more. Work exchange may also be available. To Register: Please send your name and a sentence or two about how you heard about this workshop to Lynd@CapitolNVC.org. Directions and more details about this event will be sent to you by email.

Intro to Qigong
Saturday, November 11, 11am–12:30 pm, $20
Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese form of exercise, meditation, and stretching to help bring the body in to balance, health, and vitality (pronounced chee gong). In this workshop you will learn exercises, sounds, and meditations to help reduce stress, and calm the mind and body. You will also learn techniques to bring more energy to the body and enhance its flow. Please wear comfortable/flexible clothes. Eduardo has been studying T'ai Chi and Qigong since 1993. He teaches locally and plans to teach a weekly class at Circle Yoga in the winter session. Eduardo is a Certified Massage therapist, Alexander Technique teacher, CranioSacral therapist, and T'ai Chi and Qigong instructor, and Reiki practitioner.

Intro to Teaching Therapeutic Yoga
Sunday, November 12, 12–5 pm, $75
Therapeutic Yoga is for students with physical conditions (serious spinal problems, arthritis, heart problems, MS, chronic and acute injuries, etc.). Learn to help your special conditions students do yoga safely and painlessly. This workshop will help you recognize common misalignments, learn how to use yoga therapeutically for special needs, help alleviate pain, begin to reverse the effects of chronic imbalances in your students, and gain a working knowledge of anatomy in practical terms through experience. This workshop will also be helpful for health professionals to learn specific yoga-based skills to help their patients. With Jenny Otto, a Senior Anusara Teacher Trainer (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).

Yoga for your Back
Sunday, November 12, 5:30–7:30 pm, $40
This class is for people who are living with chronic back pain or injuries and would like to learn to use yoga to relieve their discomfort. With Jenny Otto (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).

Parenting From your Heart: Practical Ways to Raise our Children Mindfully
Thursday, November 16, 9:30 am–4 pm
Our children are so important to us, yet we struggle daily to parent in ways we feel truly good about. This workshop will support your intention to share the gifts of compassion and connection-with yourself as well as with your children-and to parent in line with your values. In this workshop, we will explore how we can understand the needs behind our children's behavior, help build our children's trust that their needs matter, shift from power struggles to working on our challenges together, and move from self-judgments to self-compassion for ourselves as parents. Inbal Kashtan, certified CNVC trainer, is co-founder of BayNVC (with her sister Miki), and the Peaceful Families, Peaceful World Project Coordinator for the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Inbal leads retreats, workshops and classes and speaks at conferences around the country, in addition to co-leading BayNVC's leadership program and the Parent Peer Leadership Program. She is the author of Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection, and Choice.

Location: This workshop (and the next) will take place at Crossings in Silver Spring, 8505 Fenton Street, Suite 202, above the Whole Foods Market. Ample parking in nearby county parking garage on Wayne Ave, walking distance from the Silver Spring Metro.

Fees and Registration: Fees are based on a sliding scale $75-$250. Please register in advance: Online Registration, call us at 202.686.1104, or register in person at the studio. For more information about the workshops, email info@circleyoga.com.

Transforming Anger into Compassion
Friday, November 17, 9:30 am–1 pm
Are anger or judgments getting the best of you? Do you want to deepen your capacity to understand and express your intensity? Do you want to see the humanity in all people, no matter what? In this workshop we will explore how to shift our relationship to what makes us angry by revealing the needs behind our anger and behind the behaviors that trigger it, understanding the stimulus, cause and root of anger, taking steps toward full responsibility for our feelings and actions, developing deep self-compassion, and meeting our "enemies" with power and compassion. Inbal Kashtan, certified CNVC trainer, is co-founder of BayNVC (with her sister Miki), and the Peaceful Families, Peaceful World Project Coordinator for the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Inbal leads retreats, workshops and classes and speaks at conferences around the country, in addition to co-leading BayNVC's leadership program and the Parent Peer Leadership Program. She is the author of Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection, and Choice.

Location: This workshop (and the previous) will take place at Crossings Center for Healing in Silver Spring, 8505 Fenton Street, Suite 202, above the Whole Foods Market. Ample parking in nearby county parking garage on Wayne Ave, walking distance from the Silver Spring Metro.

Fees and Registration: Fees are based on a sliding scale $35-$125. Please register in advance: Online Registration, call us at 202.686.1104, or register in person at the studio. For more information about the workshops, email info@circleyoga.com.

Daddy & Me Yoga (5–10 year olds)
Sunday, November 19, 10–11 am, $20/couple, $14 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. With Linda Feldman, Director of Budding Yogis (see bio at www.buddingyogis.com).

Set Your Sails! A Therapeutic Shoulder Workshop
Sunday, November 19, 1:30–4:30 pm, $45
The shoulders have often been referred to as the “wings” or “sacred sails” of the heart. In this workshop we will learn how to balance the shoulder girdle so we can properly set our sails for the winds of Grace to fully support us. Through the use of Anusara principles of alignment, basic anatomy and breathing techniques we will start to tap into the range of motion and freedom we all hold. This workshop will be highly therapeutic and will help those with chronic pain or injuries of the upper limbs and neck. With Kate Miller (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).

Yoga to Relieve Addictions and Compulsions
Sunday, December 3, 1:30–4:30 pm, $50
Our addictions and compulsions are born out our attempts to manage what we believe are unmanageable feelings and emotions. Through a variety of yoga practices, that include asanas, breathing practices (pranayama), and meditation, we will explore ways that enable us to be more present with our range of feelings and to meet those feelings with a heart of compassion, thereby allowing us more freedom in our lives. With Karen Soltes and Annie Mahon (see www.circleyoga.com for bios).

Take your Yoga Practice to the Next Level—A Level 2 (Anusara inspired) Workshop
Saturday, December 9, 3–4:30, $18
If you have been taking yoga at a beginning level for at least one session, and you want to find out what a Level II class would be like, here is your chance. Move your practice into more advanced postures with the support and encouragement of an energetic and qualified teacher. With Naomi Gottlieb-Miller.

Moon Maidens—A Yoga Workshop For Girls (ages 9–15)
Sunday, December 10, 2–4 pm, $25
This workshop is an exploration of power and beauty, an opportunity for girls to learn how to honor this changing time in their lives. We will look back through the history of women, share stories, ask questions , learn how to know and chart our monthly moon cycle (if we have one yet or not) and practice yoga postures and meditation that will help tap into their innate creativity and wisdom. Hosted by Anusara yoga teacher Kate Miller. Kate is dedicated to supporting the connection and gathering of women from all backgrounds (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).

The Power of Rest: Yoga Nidra
Wednesday, December 27, 7–9 pm, $40
Yoga Nidra is a profoundly healing, transformative, ancient practice in which we learn to relax deeply on every level of your being. It releases tension and is more restful than conventional sleep - four times more restful. Research indicates that Yoga Nidra enhances creativity and vitality, as well as being an effective treatment for illnesses ranging from depression to asthma to heart disease. By cultivating relaxation in the delicious state between waking and sleep, you can revitalize yourself in just a few hours. This workshop is designed for anyone curious about Yoga Nidra and open to anyone regardless of yoga experience.We will begin with a brief overview of the practice, continue with a few minutes of gentle stretching to warm and unwind the body and then, for a full hour, the instructor will guide you through a Yoga Nidra session. Taught by Robin Carnes (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).