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Who gets up early to discover the moment light begins?
Who finds us here circling, bewildered, like atoms?
Who comes to a spring thirsty
and sees the moon reflected in it?
Who, like Jacob blind with grief and age,
smells the shirt of his lost son
and can see again?
Who lets a bucket down and brings up
a flowing prophet? Or like Moses goes for fire
and finds what burns inside the sunrise?
Jesus slips into a house to escape enemies,
and opens a door to the other world.
Soloman cuts open a fish, and there’s a gold ring.
Omar storms in to kill the prophet
and leaves with blessings.
Chase a deer and end up everywhere!
An oyster opens his mouth to swallow on drop.
Now there’s a pearl.
A vagrant wanders empty ruins.
Suddenly he’s wealthy.
But don’t be satisfied with stories, how things
have gone with others. Unfold
your own myth, without complicated explanation,
so everyone will understand the passage,
We have opened you.
Start walking toward Shams. Your legs will get heavy
and tired. Then comes a moment
of feeling the wings you’ve grown,
lifting.
from The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks | |
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 Dear Friends,
Happy Spring! April showers came a little early to Connecticut and the rest of New England. Roads and bridges were washed out, streams became lakes, basements filled with water, mudslides and debris everywhere. Along the shoreline of Connecticut and Rhode Island (which has a lot of shoreline), not only has the rain water caused havoc on land, the tides have also added to the flooding. Water moves and there's no stopping it. Roads and schools have been closed. What a change for this area. Usually it's a snow closing. Just another form of water.
Spring is the time of year for cleansing. Spring cleaning - inside and out. In general, add twists, forward folds and slow flows to your movements that will slowly melt away excess kapha dosha.
Here are some ayurvedic ideas from Melina Meza, RYT-500, BS Nutrition:
It makes sense that many of us are drawn to the idea of cleansing and purging this time of year-it's time to lighten our load.
Here are a few diet adaptations that will help prepare your body and mind for spring:
- Decrease heavy, oily, cold, fatty foods.
- Increase spicy, bitter, and astringent foods (arugula, mustard greens, kale, strawberries, blueberries, and sprouts).
- Increase your vitamin, nutrient and chlorophyll intake with early dark green vegetables and sprouts.
- In general, eat light and eat local.
Now that winter has passed, it's time to start sending some TLC to the liver and gallbladder, which may have been working overtime during the winter with diets heavy in fat, protein, caffeine, alcohol or sugar. In regards to asana, the inner legs and outer leg lines correlate to the meridian lines that feed into the liver (inner legs) and gallbladder (outer legs).
Spring is a great time to deepen your relationship to poses such as Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon), Garudasana (eagle), Prasaritta Padottanasana (wide leg forward bends) and Gomukasana (cow face), as these poses help you connect to and activate the liver and gallbladder meridians. Watch Melina on YouTube.
Last month I asked for a volunteer photographer. For all of you who generously offered your time and talents, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Doug Phillips will start the project with me this week.
In this newsletter, you'll find several workshop and retreat opportunities. Karen Suppies is leading a retreat at Linwood Spiritual Center near Rhinebeck, NY. Karen is a dear friend and wonderful, compassionate yoga teacher.
Laura Marie and her sister Beth are leading a women's retreat on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Laura is an amazing teacher and also a dear friend. If you can get away for this, you'll be glad you did.
Tricia McAvoy and Priscilla Humphrey are offering Thai Partner Yoga this Saturday night at Blissworks. You don't need to bring a partner for this, singles welcome.
But don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth, without complicated explanation, so everyone will understand the passage, We have opened you.
Blessing for a wonderful Easter and Passover. Namaste, Karen
Breathe, you can relax now...yoga heals us
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Click here for the current class schedule. Drop-in and series classes. Join any time.
New! Chair Yoga at Stoneridge retirement community in Mystic. Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Contact Karen for information at 860.204.0797.
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Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra Workshop |
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with Karen O'Donnell Clarke and Anne Nelson
Friday, April 23, 2010
7 - 9:00 p.m.
Are you ready to relax, slow down, take care of yourself? Join us for an evening of restorative yoga poses followed by yoga nidra. The restorative poses are just what you need to unwind from you week. Yoga nidra will leave you feeling deeply relaxed and refreshed. No experience necessary!
- Location: St. James Church, 95 Route 2A, Preston, CT 06365
- Cost: $25
- bring a friend and pay $40 for 2
- Registration: Please register by April 16th to reserve your space. Your payment is your reservation.
- Mail your check made out to: Yoga Heals Us, 129 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339
- Contact: Karen O'Donnell Clarke at 860.204.0797 or email yogahealsus.com
- Bring: Your yoga mat, extra blankets and pillows. Dress comfortably for relaxation.
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Chair Yoga for Every Body:
Basics and Flows |
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 Welcoming Yoga Teachers and Motivated Students
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Chair Yoga can be fun and challenging. Chair Yoga offers an alternative to mat yoga that can be just as challenging. Let's face it, not everyone feels comfortable sitting on the floor. That alone can make yoga inaccessible. However, many postures that are done sitting on the floor can also be done sitting in a chair with better alignment, less pain and discomfort. Chair Yoga also uses chairs for standing. Using a chair for standing poses offers increased stability and often results in better alignment for students who have joint and muscle stiffness.
In this 2 - part, workshop we'll explore Chair Yoga basics in the morning and Chair Yoga flows in the afternoon, including the Sun and Moon salutations. Sign up for morning or afternoon or both. Many of these modifications can be brought into mainstream classes for students who have specific limitations. Teachers who develop skill with asana modification and adaptive poses are in high demand for teaching special needs populations including a growing segment of the population - seniors and retirees.
Location: St. James Church, 95 Route 2A, Preston, CT 06335
- Time:
- 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Chair Yoga Basics
- 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Chair Yoga Flows
- Location:
- Tuition:
- Part 1 - Chair Yoga Basics $45
- Part 2 - Chair Yoga Flows $45
- Sign up for both: $80
- CEUs for Yoga Teachers + $5 for CEUs if applicable
- Registration:
- Mail your check payable to “Yoga Heals Us”
- Mailing address: 129 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339
Please register by April 24th to reserve your space
- Bring:
- Your yoga gear (I will have some extras as well. Chairs provided.)
- CEUs:
- 6 hours
- This workshop meets the Yoga Alliance standard for Continuing Education. Request a certificate of attendance at registration and add $5 to the registration fee.
- Contact:
- 860.204.0797
- yogahealsus.com
- Presenter:
- Karen O'Donnell Clarke, ERYT500 has been teaching adaptive asana since 1996 for students ages 5 - 93 in mainstream and adaptive classes. Karen has presented Teaching Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis nationally since 2003. She received her primary training from Kripalu and Integrative Yoga Therapy. Karen will be presenting The Art of Teaching Yoga for Every Body at the KYTA conference at Kripalu in June.
This workshop (Basics or both Basics and Flows) will be offered at:
- Yoga for Life Studio in Setauket, Long Island, New York on Saturday, May 22, 2010
- Aledo Yoga & Nia in Aledo, Texas on Saturday, June 19, 2010
- Breathe Yoga Studio in Pensacola, Florida on Sunday, August 8, 2010
- Jai Shanti Yoga in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, August 14, 2010.
Details coming soon - not yet up on these websites. I will have the details at www.yogahealsus.com soon. | |
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 Karen O'Donnell Clarke, ERYT 500
860.204.0797
yogahealsus@yahoo.com | | |
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Donate to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society |
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Click here to read about how you can help stop the devasting effects of multiple sclerosis. | |
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MS WALK: SUNDAY, APRIL 18 |
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at Mitchell College, New London
8:00 am registration
9:00 am walk begins
Rain or shine. 2 ½ or 5 mile walk, easy walking surface. Snacks & drinks will be provided along the route, and a ride to the finish line for anyone who may need it.
MS affects more than 6,000 people in CT; 400,000 throughout the U.S., and over 2.5 million people worldwide. There is no cure yet, but it is treatable with medication (Yoga helps alleviate symptoms).
www.ctfightsms.org
Contact Julie cell # 203-376-0342 with questions.
Not from CT? Check for walks near you at
www.nationalMSsociety.org | |
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Yoga for MS Class in Mystic |
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Mondays at Independence Physical Therapy. Click here for information. | |
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BLUEGRASS GOSPEL PROJECT BENEFIT CONCERT |
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Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 pm
Niantic Community Church,
170 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic, CT
tix $25 / seniors & students $20.
Family friendly event that benefits the prison ministries at York Correctional. | |
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Prasada Spirit Yoga Jewelry |
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Workshops at Blissworks Yoga & Healing Arts in New London, CT |
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Weekend Retreat at Linwood Spiritual Center |
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 How can we find peace?
The answer is in the word; PEACE
Practice
Empathy
And
Compassion
Everywhere
REST AND RENEWAL
April 30, May 1, & 2, 2010
Linwood Spiritual Center near Rhinebeck, NY
This weekend we will explore accessing and cultivating peace through the practice of yoga. Breathing techniques, body awareness, mindful movement, and meditation will be offered daily. There will be time to share, reflect and nourish, explore the grounds, walks by the river and labyrinth, creating space for peace.
Cost $210: Includes meals, small private rooms. For more information about Linwood, visit: www.linwoodspiritualctr.org
To register contact Karen Suppies 203-464-0992 kcsdonanobispacem@comcast.net
Karen Suppies teaches group and private therapeutic yoga along the Connecticut shoreline. Her resume includes creation of The Prayerful Meditation and Movement Series at the Caritas Christi Center in Hamden, CT; private sessions at Beyond Care, a leading weight loss facility in Guilford, CT; and working retreats at Linwood Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck, NY and the Mercy Center in Madison, CT. | |
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Empowerment Yoga: A Retreat for Women |
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November 14 - 21, 2010
Estate Concordia Preserve, an eco-friendly resort, St. John US Virgin Islands
Join Laura Marie and Beth Escardo in this pristine natural setting, where women come together in community to remember and reconnect to their own feminine power. Journey home to your inner Goddess through practices of yoga, guided meditation and visualization, affirmation, ritual, writing, dialoging, sharing and relaxation.
Click here for details. | |
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Sensational Kids Yoga and Synergy Socials at Mystic Aquarium |
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Tuesdays and Thursdays
4 - 5:00 p.m.
Classes include yoga or another sensational transitional activity followed by fun structured activities that will be great socialization experiences for children with special needs and typical developing children.
Summer programs will be offered weekday afternoons at various locations.
I recently completed Every Kid's Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children with Special Needs with Craig Hanueur at YogaWorks in NYC. More tools for the kids!
Click here for information. | |
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Become a Fan of Yoga Heals Us! |
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