Jul 07

Class Schedule for July 8 – July 15

Hello, yogis! Hoping everyone had a great Fourth of July. We had a lot of new faces in the studio this week, and we had an awesome crew come out for this morning’s beautiful Yoga Hike. The air conditioner is proving to be a really nice addition to the studio, especially for evening classes when things are particularly warm.

Below is the class schedule for next week. Almost everything is the exact same as this past week, except we swapped the times of the Core and Empower classes on Thursday morning.

We will soon be rolling out an online registration program for yoga classes, so you will soon be able to quickly and easily secure your spot in class ahead of time through the Stone Turtle Yoga website. This will help us avoid having to turn people away due to classes maxing out.  You will also be able to call ahead to reserve your spot, and don’t worry, you will still be able to walk-in for any class so long as there is room. More on this next week.

One last thing. Something that I think is really important to remember, especially when first developing a yoga practice, is that there is no “final destination” in yoga. The poses are pathways, not destinations, and they are meant to bring us closer to ourselves and to the present moment, not to any particular place. One of my favorite yoga writers is Erich Schiffmann, a prominent modern yogi, who has a great quote about this. He says, “There is no such thing as a “completed” or “ideal” posture. Each posture is an ever-evolving, constantly moving energy phenomenon that is different from day to day, moment to moment, and person to person.” That is what makes yoga unique; it’s all about the process. Your process. It’s about experiencing your path, not trying to reach the end of it. That is why yoga is timeless; it is dynamic and relevant no matter where we are in life nor how long we have been practicing.

Have a great weekend, hope to see you soon! Namaste.

Jun 29

Class Schedule for July 1st – July 7th

Happy Friday, all! Here is the class schedule for next week. Some minor changes from this week as we get as close as possible to nailing down a “permanent” schedule for the foreseeable future.

Please note that the Yoga Hike can get a little buggy, so light-weight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants seem to be the best way to avoid being drawn out of your meditative state by pesky mosquitoes. Bug spray would work too.

After a particularly warm Gentle Yoga class last night, we will be installing an air conditioner in the studio to help us maintain a comfortable climate.

I’ve received more than one comment about people slipping on the studio mats when things heat up during class. This is common in yoga (it took me more than 3 years to find a mat I wouldn’t slip on), and there are a couple remedies. One is to try using a hand towel under your hands during your practice. You can bring in your own hand towel, or I also have some available for purchase in the studio lobby. Another route is to buy a full-length mat towel, which would help if you get sweaty hands and feet. A third route is to upgrade your mat situation with a stickier mat. There are some awesome (and expensive) mats out there, and I can recommend a couple good brands. We carry the Natural Rubber Mat, which is not only very sticky, but also eco-friendly and about $20 cheaper than comparable mats. I’m happy to give other recommendations too, just come find me before or after class.

Below is the schedule. Enjoy the Fourth of July holiday!

Jun 21

September is YOGA MONTH! Free Intro to Yoga Workshop Saturday 9/29

Many people believe they are “too inflexible”, too out-of-shape, or have too poor of balance for yoga. Our answer: You wouldn’t take a Spanish lesson if you already knew how to speak Spanish, would you?

Yoga is most important for those of us who feel unstable, stiff, weak, and/or out of shape. This informative, interactive, and free workshop is an excellent way to learn about yoga in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere, and is designed to show you how yoga can have a positive impact on your life, and help improve your inflexibility and lack of strength or balance. This workshop is open to the public, whether you’ve attended a yoga class before or not. All are welcome, including prenatal and postnatal women, as well as those recovering from surgery or injury.

Schedule:

On Saturday, September 29th from 8:30am – 9:00am, instructor Mariah Frye will hold an information session, where participants will explore the history of yoga, what yoga has evolved into today, the conceptions and misconceptions about yoga,  and how a yoga practice “works”. There will be ample time for questions, answers, and discussion in this open forum.*

From 9:00am-10:00am, participants may partake in a Gentle Yoga class, where they will learn the fundamentals of a safe yoga practice in a beginner-friendly environment. Gentle postures include standing poses, seated and supine poses, plus some light balancing postures. For students who have difficulty with balance, or with getting on and off the floor, chairs will be provided for assistance and the instructor will make modifications to ensure a safe, enjoyable class. Participants will also learn some of the principles of pranayama, or the breathing practice of yoga. This class is open to the public, and you do not need to attend the information session to attend the Gentle Yoga class.

*Participants are invited to attend the Information Session, or the Gentle Yoga class, or both.

We hope you and a friend can make it to this free event! Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Sign up online by clicking here (make sure to click forward to the week of 9/23): https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=29064 or by calling Mariah at 989-302-7928.

You may bring your own mat, but mats and props are provided at no charge. Feel free to bring a water bottle. Dress in comfortable clothing that isn’t restrictive, i.e. yoga/sweat pants and a t-shirt or tank top. Classes are performed with bare feet, but you are welcome to wear socks if you wish. Call Mariah if you have any questions.