Creating a Yogic Community: Giving In & Giving Back
A Gathering & Informational Chat
with Fran Benton, Supervisor of the Children’s Program of Family Inn
Hosted by Amy Reed
Sunday, November 9th, 6:15pm
Refreshments will be served.
Fran will join us immediately following the Community class to provide information about the organization and a thoughtful retrospective on how your weekly donations have impacted her children and families in our community.
Attend both the class and gathering, or skip the class and just mellow out afterwards with some amazing Kingstonites as we get to know Fran and the wonderful work she does.
The Community Class
Held each Sunday from 5:00-6:15pm invites you to connect more deeply to selfless service (Seva) and the art of giving. Proceeds from each class benefit The Family Inn Program of Family of Woodstock Inc., a United Way Agency. Teacher Amy Reed encourages students to tap into the root of the yogic philosophy of kindness in thought and deed. It is remarkable what doing for others does for the soul!
with author Emma Silverman Saturday, Nov. 8, 1:30-3:30pm
$25 door / $20 by Nov. 5th
The Art of Relaxation workshop is a gentle, guided flow with massage, adjustments, and juicy yoga postures sure to stretch you into yoga heaven. Join author and yoga instructor Emma Silverman for this incredible opportunity to experience the healing powers of touch and to deepen your practice. This restorative class will guide you into bliss.
EmmaSilverman is the author and founder of the blog The Joy of Yoga. Her yoga journey began with dedicated Iyengar study and, after more than fifteen years of practice, she has also studied Bikram, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Vinyasa Flow. After working at the Kripalu Institute for Yoga and Health (North America’s largest yoga retreat center), she is currently a yoga instructor at Cornell University, with thousands of students worldwide. Her previous book, THE JOY OF YOGA, will be published by Skyhorse Publishing (forthcoming August 5, 2014) and has sold German, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese translation rights. She resides in Ithaca, New York.
Registration for the December class ends Thursday, December 4th.
Come explore yoga with your 2-4 year old, led by Mel Toth, an experienced childhood educator who comes prepared with yoga children’s books, coloring handouts and wonderful ideas to share yoga with your child. Each class is $18. Please preregister for the next single session by Thursday, Dec. 4th.
Space is limited. Preregister today by purchasing your spot!
Melanie Toth (Mel)
Mel’s yoga journey began in her living room over 13 years ago. An educator since 1998, Mel has taught 4th grade, co-authored a strategy book for teachers and served as a tutor and Director of Education for several NY learning centers. From her extensive background in education, Mel brings a solid understanding of how each student interprets information differently and may apply those misinterpretations to his or her body. As such, she strives to make her instruction clear and accessible for students of all levels of experience. Mel’s classes focus on the development of a solid foundation through the use of props, demonstration, description, and encouragement, while exploring basic principles of alignment, balance and relaxation. By encouraging her students to respect their physical limitations while exploring what is possible, Mel aims to help each individual learn how to serve the unique needs of their body. She is forever grateful to her first yoga teacher, Jill Gnassi, whose expert Iyengar instruction taught her how attending to small details could make a huge difference in her life, both on and off her mat.
Our next meditation event is on November 21st, 2014.
Drop-in fee is $13 (or use your membership card).
Leave the week behind and enter your weekend in peace. Join us for this month’s class, where the focus will be shamatha (calm abiding) and metta (loving-kindness) meditation. Deepen your ability to be present, compassionate and loving towards yourself and with others. Our time together includes instruction, inspiration and practice. Developing mindful awareness through meditation allows us to “bloom like the lotus, at home in the muddy water.”
Join us every third Friday for an hour-long guided meditation led by teacher and author Sharon Rosen. No experience necessary. All levels welcome.
According to Sharon, “Meditation helps us to become more present to life. Through the practices, we develop feelings of unconditional friendliness towards ourselves and others. Each month we will explore different aspects of meditation, including mindfulness, lovingkindness, walking meditation and guided body scans. You will leave these sessions inspired, refreshed and with solid tools that you can weave into your everyday life. Please join us and begin or deepen your own meditation journey.”
Preregistration is NOT necessary, but feel free to reserve your spot.
Life is filled with bright, shiny objects that distract us, knock us off track, and keep us from knowing our truest needs. They pull us away from our core values and innate wisdom.
How do we figure out what really works for us?
I believe that we all have the ability to find those answers, even if we can’t always access that wisdom or follow through on it. It has to do with slowing down and listening deeply, two things that are not given much respect in this world of information overload. High speed, next generation wireless networks keep us always plugged in out there but not in here where it helps the most.
The essence of what I teach and embody in my work comes from learning to listen deeply to myself. It’s about paying mindful attention to my body and soul to figure out what works for me. I’ve learned how to give myself what I need to truly flourish and feel strong and vibrant. I feel so grateful to be able to share this learning with you.