Dear Friends,
Welcome back! We are busy cleaning up the studio, restocking our book shelves, adding a new bathroom to the second floor studio spaces, and readying Circle Yoga for the start of the fall session. Our adult classes start up September 11, and our family and kids classes start September 18.
I hope that everyone had a very enjoyable break this summer. As I have done for the past nine years, I spent time in retreat with my mindfulness teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in southwest France. I also visited an island near the boundary waters in northern Minnesota with my family. I am coming back feeling refreshed and looking forward to practicing yoga with our regular students, meeting new students, and enjoying our renovated yoga spaces.
I read an inspiring book during my holidays called Natural Capitalism, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in exploring how we can begin to recognize the impact we are having on the environment, as a nation and an economy. The authors, Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, suggest changing our business models to reflect the real cost of using natural resources on both ends of the industrial cycle: what we take in from the environment and what we put out. Looking at the real costs to all of us will motivate businesses to figure out ways to preserve scarce resources, and reduce the harmful impact of our waste products.
This year, I want to look at the impact Circle Yoga is having on the world and our resources. We will be attempting to reduce our energy use, looking at the possibility of using alternative energy, recycling everything possible, and reducing the amount of printing that we do. If you have any thoughts about how we can minimize our negative impact on the earth, or maximize our positive impact, please email one of us, or give us a call.
One other thought. If you really enjoy what we do at Circle Yoga, please visit to http://wusa9.cityvoter.com/TheList.aspx?SCat=745 and vote for us for Best Yoga Studio (under Health and Fitness) in the Channel 9/WUSA9 A-List 2006 contest.
Below you’ll find a list of everything that’s happening this fall at Circle Yoga. Please visit www.circleyoga.com and or www.buddingyogis.com for our complete fall schedule. I’m glad you are there,
Annie
Circle Yoga
It’s easy to Be here
Chevy Chase Day – Open House
September 10, $free
See website or call for more info.
Infant Massage
Monday, September 11, 11 am–1 pm, $30
This workshop is a hands-on instructional forum for babies and their caretakers (mom, dad, nanny, nana, etc.) and is ideal for babies one to six months (alert but not yet crawling). Where the ancient and modern intertwine, learn proven techniques to sooth, calm, and stimulate baby, and begin to establish healthy touch boundaries for both giver and receiver. With Luann Fortune, LMT. Luann is a longtime Northwest DC resident, instructor, and practitioner of massage therapy (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).
Beginning Back-Bending
Sunday, September 24, 2–4 pm, $30
Come and study with Annie's teacher Kate Miller, one of the country's foremost Anusara Yoga teachers. Kate will teach you to open your body and heart with a workshop on backbends. Using the great power of the Universal Principles of Alignment, we will tap into the freedom of the upper back and shoulders. This Anusara workshop is sure to give you the leverage to start moving into a deeper back-bending practice. With Kate Miller (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).
Open House for Complementary and Traditional Medical Professionals and Therapists
Saturday, September 30, $free
See website or call for more info.
Intro to Pranayama
Sunday, October 1, 3:30–5 pm, $20
This workshop will concentrate on developing awareness of breath as a life force and include a gentle progression of simple breathing techniques to more advanced techniques. Suited for those with some yoga experience. With Jill D.
Yoga on the Mall
Saturday, October 7, 8--9 am, $free
The Smithsonian is trying to host the largest yoga class ever in the U.S., taught by John Schumacher (Unity Woods) and Tara Brach (Insight Meditation Center of Washington) with assistant teachers from other DC yoga studios.
Parent/Child African Dance
Saturday, October 7, 1–2:30 pm, $25/couple
Kids LOVE dancing with their parents! Especially with parents who think they can’t dance! In this class you will learn a few very simple steps which are easy to remember so you can bring them home with you. You will be accompanied by a live drummer and the two of you will find the beat of your own drum together. With Christine Davis (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).
FREE Introduction to Meditation
Tuesday, October 17, 7:30–8:30 pm, $free, with Annie Mahon
Learn about mindfulness and basic meditation techniques. Wonderful for people who want to start a meditation practice, and those interested in learning more about mindfulness.
Taking A Good Seat—Hip Openers for Beginner/Intermediate Students
Saturday, October 28, 2–4 pm, $30
Enjoy a practice of hip-openers that will support any seat you chose to take in your life. Kate Miller will guide us through slow therapeutic movements and mindful yoga asanas that will help unblock any pain or discomfort in the low back and hips. The pelvis is the center of the body and when it is in balance the rest of the body can the sing the rewards. With Kate Miller (see willowstreetyoga.com for bio).
Yoga for Depression, A Two–Part Workshop
Saturday, October 29, 1:30–4 pm and Saturday, November 5, 1:30–4 pm, $100
Yoga is an ideal strategy to lift feelings of depression. This workshop will teach you breathing techniques and postures to brighten your mood. This two part workshop will explore a variety of yoga practices, including asanas, breathing practices (pranayama), and meditation that can help bring us back into emotional balance and diminish the symptoms of depression and anxiety. We will look at ways to meet our experience with a heart of compassion and to develop practices that can alleviate suffering, as well as release the impact of traumatic stress that may reside in our body. With Karen Soltes, a clinical social worker and yoga teacher (see www.circleyoga.com for bio).
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).
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).
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).
