I need yoga, and a 2025 New Class Announcement

It's been a long semester at PTA school and frankly. I'm tired. My brain is full and my path is clear, but my emotions are all over the place, and I'm looking forward to a long break this holiday season. What I miss other than "free time" is practicing yoga, as both a student and a guide. My home practice is non-existent except for deep breathing exercises I try to do when I wake up with anxiety in the middle of the night. 

I so enjoy taking a public yoga class; the energy from a room full of people focused on practice, the guidance of another voice, and the space carved out just for yoga are what my practice craves. When I am at home, there are thousand (or more) distractions not the least of which is my computer sitting there waiting for me to log on to study, or the piles of laundry yet to be done, or the groceries in the fridge that cannot assemble themselves into a meal.

What I should more accurately say is more than I miss yoga, is that i NEED yoga. I need to be in a room with people that have at least one thing in common with me: a dedication to yoga, whether that's with me practicing as a student or as a guide.

New Regular Classes at YMCA

You all are aware that I am an huge advocate for the YMCA; I've worked there since 2015 and always enjoy the classes I teach and attend there.

So without further ado, I would like to announce that starting this February 7, I will be teaching the following two weekly classes (at least until June) at the CopleyPrice YMCA on El Cajon Boulevard:

• Friday 11:20-12:15 PM Hatha (mat) Yoga
• Friday 12;30-1:25 PM Chair (gentle) Yoga

Special Class Series at YMCA

Cancelled - will try to reschedule later this year.  

FOUR New Classes! (updated)

Mat Yoga at Copley Price YMCA

The Sunday yoga class I used to teach at the Copley-Price YMCA prior to the pandemic shutdown (thank you Rosa Ruiz) is restarting on Sunday October 10. As the graphic below states, 

This class will be a blend of hatha and slow flow with a bit of workshopping and a focus on functional movement. We'll always get a decent mind/body workout, spend time in meditation with breathwork, and have a nice Savasana at the end.

I'm really excited to be back guiding this class and I hope previous members rejoin and new folks are interested in testing it out. This isn't your average studio flow class to be sure! I recommend bringing your own mat and if you have them, blocks and and a beach towel (or yoga blanket) and strap to help create a sense of ease for different variation of the poses depending on how your body feels that day. The Y does have some props that they clean regularly, but it's never a bad idea to invest a few dollars (if you have them) on your own set.

Here's an example of the kind of guidance I offer, and when and why we'd use props:

See that intense forward fold up there on my fun graphic? Technically that's a standing forward fold I rotated 90°. Standing, there's gravity to help traction the torso over the thighs. Also, the photo was taken 7 years ago, I had been warming up for well over an hour, I had also been practicing very active yoga daily, and that picture was one fraction of a second of a moment in time. Le'ts acknowledge that exacct fold isn't going to happen for my body today. I would absolutely want a blanket under my sit bones and possible one pulled onto my lap into my hip creases. I might not even use a strap around the balls of my feet so that I wasn't tempted to "pull" myself into the posture. 

I hope you are able to come try this class out for size with me! Reminder that the Y offers scholarship memberships!

Update

The following classes are on hold throughout January 2022:

Baby Yoga StoryTime @ City Heights/Weingart Library

• Wednesday December 8, 10-10:45am in front of the Performance Annex

Kids Yoga @ San Carlos Library 

• Wednesdays (starting November 3) 3-3:45pm

Expect movement, songs, library-chosen books, occasion-and-yoga-themed crafts, parent-and-kid partnering, and overall a lot of fun. Please note that this isn't a drop-off class; modeling participation is such an important part, and I do have plenty of caregiver-kiddo partnering to keep it fun for ALL ages! If you are unable to get down to the floor we will have chairs for seating. (If you do need to use your electronic device during class please step out of the room briefly.)

I will have some mats available for lending, but I do recommended having one of your own per child so they have safe space for movement. If we have a group of folks that need mats, we can always consider doing a group purchase to get a warehouse discount. 

No sign-ups or payment needed, just show up and ENJOY!

Coming Soon: Chair Yoga with Age Well Services

• Starting in 2022, Fridays, 12:45-1:45 at Park De La Cruz Recreation Center

New Adaptive Yoga Class starting January 3, 2020

Every Tuesday the Casa de Oro library hosts three Adaptive Yoga classes for Adults with Special Needs at 10am, 11am and noon. The class is open to everyone in the county, whether a client of Regional Center or not. We have regular attendees from St. Madeleine Sophie's Center (who co-sponsors the class), and often have consumers from privte and public programs like Living Independently is for Everyone (LIFE), Stein Education Center, Monte Vista High School, Elite Academy, Unyeway, the ARC, TRACE, and Cool Options to name a few.

I am thrilled to announce that we are starting another class, on Fridays at 10am, to accomodate the enthusiastic attendance, starting January 3. 

The Tuesday 12-12:45 class will no longer meet as of 11/5/2019; we are confident our new Friday class will provide a better opportunity for more people to attend.

As always the class is free, but seats fill up fast so please arrive on time. We have to cap attendance at 25 to ensure the safety and security of everyone; this includes coaches and aides.

The program will be added to the library's calendar by the end of the year. For questions reach out to me at the website email or phone.