Flower Power Healing Meditation

       Stretch the beauty of your springtime blossoms out just a little bit more before they fade by making a flower petal mandala. Taking the time to sit and create with nature's mandala, a flower, reminds you of the great beauty, strength and grace that's always around you in the natural world. The time it took for these flowers to blossom is no different from your efforts to create that fab presentation for work, cook that delicious holiday dinner or show up on your yoga mat this morning. We are all creators, creating different things to contribute to the good of this magical and equally difficult world. 

      If you are looking to blossom, pick what your heart desires and with this intention sit with a flower or two. Pull off each petal and place them down into a pattern. Notice what you see, feel and how time disappears. You can add crystals, shells, pebbles or glitter. There is no right way to do this. Simply allow your concentration on the flower help you to dive deeper into yourself. Notice the loveliness unfold.

     Sunday June 9th at ROCA/Rockland Center of the Arts in West Nyack, New York I will be creating a Flower Power Healing Mandala that you just may want to experience. Details are coming soon! In the meantime, do check out the many lovely events that are taking place at www.rocklandartcenter.org 

Happy Spring and Super Moon!

     Today's Full Moon is the last of the 3 powerful Super Moons we've had since the beginning of the year. Today is also the Vernal Equinox, the 1st day of Spring which means plenty of growth and change is on its way. Allow this transformative energy to move through your mind, body, heart and soul. For the next 2 months plant your seeds, clean your closets and let in the light and fresh air. This is a time to see your projects grow while balancing letting the kid inside of you out to play. Enjoy watching the earth and yourself awaken.

This Spring March 4th to a Fit and Fearless You-March Schedule

     It's three months into the New Year and with Spring coming around the corner it's time to revisit your New Year's wishes. In some way it must have included reducing stress in your life. How do you get rid of stress? Cortisol? That stress hormone. Start by moving your body and exercising.

     When I'm practicing yoga and or exercising fitness style my neck and shoulders loosen, my lower back feels free and my mind slows down. With all this space and freedom moving through me, I'm smiling again, feeling confident and floating on a cloud watching my thoughts and emotions move like clouds passing by.

      It's time to get to know your body and take care of it so you can have an inner body healing experience. Practicing yoga and exercising regularly releases stressful emotional blocks and makes your energy move freely throughout you. When you move, you heal yourself, feel good and then you're ready to experience what's next in a calm manner.

     Here's my teaching schedule. I hope I can see you on the mat!


Mondays 10am Level 1 Creative Core Conditioning 1hr 
An upbeat barefoot body sculpting class which focuses on strengthening your abdomen and lower back as well as toning your buttocks, chest and arms.

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY



11:45am Gentle Yoga Flow 1hr 15min
A step up from gentle yoga with easy to follow yoga flow sequences and meditative moments. 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




Tuesdays 9:15am Level 2/3 Vinyasa Yoga 1hr 30min
Vinyasa flow style yoga with Iyengar Yoga style peak pose breakdowns. 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




12noon Gentle Warrior 1hr 30min 
Like a level 1 posture class with Sun Salute variations, restorative yoga, meditation, breath work and no inversions. 

www.bamboomovesenglewood.com Englewood, NJ




Wednesdays 11:45am Gentle Yoga Flow 1hr 15min 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




Thursdays 9:15am Level 2/3 Creative Core Conditioning 1hr 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




12noon Gentle Warrior 1hr 30min 

www.bamboomovesenglewood.com Englewood, NJ




Fridays 9:30am Level 2/3 Vinyasa Yoga 1hr 30min 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY

Valentine's Day Couple's Yoga at Birchwood Center

     This past weekend I led the Valentine's Day Couple's Yoga event at Birchwood Center in Nyack, New York. It was such a joy seeing students I know and their loved ones, who were ages 10 and up practicing yoga together. I could feel the love and healing in the room. There were many moments that touched my heart as I witnessed the partners express patience, respect and compassion towards one another as they moved into postures, held the postures and moved out of them together.

     The most significant teaching of Couple's Yoga is that it takes the spotlight off of yourself when you practice and notice how to relate with greater mindfulness towards your partner. This looking outside of yourself and yoga mat is a powerful practice that hopefully will bring more love into your relationship and our world.

     The next time we offer this event please consider giving it a try and do check into www.birchwoodcenter.com for all the wonderful events they host. Also Rebecca Kittle shown above back bending with me was the most perfect teacher's assistant. I'm so grateful and honored! I hope to see you at the next event!

All About Love! A Valentine's Day Couple's Yoga Workshop at Birchwood Center Nyack, NY

     All About Love! is a Valentine's Day Couple's Yoga Workshop for you and a special person to connect heart to heart in a deliciously sweet yoga practice. This special class is designed for all levels and will be perfect for someone who is brand new to yoga. In this heart opening class you will ground, center, and warm up alongside your partner, followed by easy partner yoga poses that will relax your neck and shoulders and strengthen and stretch your back body. We will conclude our practice with a nurturing restorative pose and final relaxation. Participants are invited to stay for refreshments and community after class.


     This practice is for couples and partners ages 10 and up.


     Saturday February 16th 3-5pm at Birchwood Center in Nyack, NY


     $65 per couple


     Early Bird Special $55 per couple if purchased by February 10th


     Please visit www.birchwoodcenter.com to register

January"s Yoga and Creative Core Conditioning Class Schedule

 
      Happy New Year! Now that we are a couple of weeks into the New Year I'm feeling good about following through with my New Year's wishes to prioritize a little more me time while balancing my family life and daily teachings. Making self care time means some big lifestyle changes. At first it sounds easy enough to do but once you get started it really does require some serious letting go of old ways to blossom a little differently in 2019. I envision myself being successful as I set my morning alarm before the roosters start singing and going to bed shortly after my youngest son. I hope your New Year's wishes come true and add onto your greatness in 2019.

      If you're looking to prioritize self care, stepping into a yoga studio to practice is always a positive move. I'm teaching weekly classes at both Birchwood Center for Yoga and Massage in Nyack, New York and Bamboomoves Yoga in Englewood, New Jersey. I hope to see you on the mat! Here's my weekly class schedule. 
     


Mondays 10am Level 1 Creative Core Conditioning 1hr 
An upbeat barefoot body sculpting class which focuses on strengthening your abdomen and lower back as well as toning your buttocks, chest and arms. 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY



11:45am Gentle Yoga Flow 1hr 15min
A step up from gentle yoga with easy to follow yoga flow sequences and meditative moments. 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




Tuesdays 9:15am Level 2/3 Vinyasa Yoga 1hr 30min
Vinyasa flow style yoga with Iyengar Yoga style peak pose breakdowns. 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




12noon Gentle Warrior 1hr 30min 
Like a level 1 posture class with Sun Salute variations, restorative yoga, meditation, breath work and no inversions. 

www.bamboomovesenglewood.com Englewood, NJ




Wednesdays 11:45am Gentle Flow 1hr 15min 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




Thursdays 9:15am Level 2/3 Creative Core Conditioning 1hr 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY




12noon Gentle Warrior 1hr 30min 

www.bamboomovesenglewood.com Englewood, NJ




Fridays 9:30am Level 2/3 Vinyasa Yoga 1hr 30min 

www.birchwoodcenter.com Nyack, NY


   

Winter Solstice Meditation

       My dark days of December light balancing routine is to walk in the sun whenever I can regardless of how cold it is. Outdoor walking whether it's 5 minutes worth or 1 hour combined with getting on the mat to exercise and practice yoga gives me what I need to take on the coming season of Winter. Yet on the days leading up to the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year, it is a good time to spend some meditative moments in the dark.

       A Winter Solstice meditation you may want to consider is turning off all the lights within your home. Let your computer, TV, cell phone, holiday music and lights rest. It's now time for you and the darkness to get reacquainted, like returning home to the womb.

        Find a comfortable space to sit with an unlit candle nearby and a match to light it later. Once you're sitting and settled in the darkness, take 3 deep breaths. Rest here. The body will slow down and soon the mind will become quiet. If you're having trouble quieting the mind, place the palms of your hands on your belly and let your mind slow down by riding the wave of your breath while it moves in its natural state.

        Soon you will be sitting in stillness with your Goddess or God self. You will feel a healing cleanse come over you while meditating here. Let it wash over you. See it as a deep let go of the past year. Sit with your highest version of yourself until you feel complete. Take 3 deep breaths.

       Light the candle and notice how you feel when the light returns.


Peace and Happy Winter Solstice!