Let’s have some FUN!
Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,
Happy February! I hope you enjoyed meditating with us in the month of January. It was SO nice for me to come back to my teaching this month, and being able to see you all in the studios and virtually. I can’t wait to share what we have in store coming up. Under normal circumstances, winter in NY can feel heavy, and long, and it feels particularly so with all we’ve been dealing with over this past year. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling a bit more isolated this winter, and I’ve been missing spending time with friends and family, and all the FUN those experiences usually entail. I believe our yoga practice can be both physically and mentally therapeutic, and I know it can be a source of joy, even during difficult times. This month, I am challenging us all to do what feels fun on and off the mat. In your classes, expect to practice some feel-good flows, some postures that lift your spirits, and explore creativity. Let’s take those good feelings off the mat, and spread the good cheer we’re all needing this winter.
In this month’s newsletter you’ll find a pose breakdown of adho mukha vrksasana, or “handstand.” When I think of fun on the mat, I think of handstand. I know this may not be the case for everyone, but it’s important that we approach it with a sense of playfulness, and a sense of humor! Check out a brief video that breaks down this challenging, but invigorating pose.
You’ll also see an interview with Anne Davidson, our captain of fun. Find out what inspires her teaching style as we chat about infusing more playfulness and creativity into our practice.
Our sutra of the month is 1.33, Maitri Karuna Muditopeksanam Sukha Duhka Punyapunya Visayanam Bhavantas Citta Prasadanam. “By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard for the wicked, the mindstuff retains it’s undisturbed calmness.” Stay tuned for a breakdown of this sutra later in the month.
This month’s Oil of the Month is a blend, “Joyful Creation” - an oil that helps clear energetic blocks related to relationships and creative expression. Enjoy 20% off purchase of this oil in the month of February.
We’re also offering 20% off all in-stock logo apparel, just for fun!
I’m pleased to announce the return of our Monthly Challenge! Each month, the student who attends the most classes will get their next month of membership for FREE! This will now be an inter-studio challenge. So, classes you attend at both OBY & GCY (in-studio & virtual) will count toward your total for the month. Scroll down to see January’s winner!
Finally, I’m excited to share some pop-up classes, and events at the end of the newsletter.
I hope that you and your family remain happy and healthy, and I look forward to seeing you all at the studios and virtually.
Lots of love,
Amy
Pose of the Month
Adho Mukha Vrksasana: Handstand
Learn the basic technique…and then play!
Teacher Feature
Anne Davidson
Get to know Anne this month. In this conversation we talk about our studio theme of the month, FUN! Anne brings her awesome playlist, her sense of humor, and her creativity to every class she teaches. She fills us in on what inspires her on and off the mat, and gives us her advice for keeping it light during these challenging times.
Have questions for Anne? Let us know in the comments below, or shoot us an email at info@oysterbayyoga.com, or info@glencoveyoga.com.
Check out Anne’s Spotify Playlist of the month here
Plus, join us for a pop-up “Creative Flow” with Anne on Friday, February 12th at 5:30pm at Oyster Bay Yoga
Sutra of the Month
A favorite sutra of mine, and many others. Patanjali gives his philosophy on relationships with others. Stay tuned for an in-depth look at this sutra later in the month.
Oil of the Month
Our February OOTM is:
Joyful Creation
“The 2nd (Sacral) Chakra is the seat of creation, sensation, feelings and relationships.
Located in the lower abdomen, this chakra is where we connect to our sense of self-gratification and emotional security. In balance, we experience the healthy emotions of pleasure, gratification, intimacy, desire, and passion. These feelings nurture and nourish our sense of creativity, connection, growth, and change. This synergy is called Joyful Creation and is made with the 100% pure, undiluted essential oils and extracts of Coriander Seed, Bourbon Geranium, Sweet Orange, and Jasmine Absolute (sambac). It is a lushly layered and smooth floral scent that continues to unfold as it reaches the senses.
Use this synergy to help nurture inspired creativity, spontaneity, passion, and expansion in the birth of new concepts. It encourages harmony, warmth, and enthusiasm in relationships. Joyful Creation helps to clear energetic blocks related to relationships and creative expression, while inviting a sense of joy and enthusiasm in moving forward toward transformation.” -Plant Therapy
Learn more about Joyful Creation here
This month, enjoy 20% off your purchase of Joyful Creation essential oil at the studios.
An Offering
Just for fun, we’re offering 20% off all in-stock logo apparel at both studios. Treat yourself to a new tank, tee or sweatshirt and represent your favorite place to be :)
Monthly Challenge Winner
Our Monthly Challenge Winner for January 2021 is:
Jeanine Schwartz
Congratulations Jeanine! You attended 28 classes in the month of January, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! Keep rocking your virtual practice!
Who will be our February winner?
What’s New at the Studio?
Improved virtual experience! Thank you for your patience as we launched our livestreaming service this past year. We’re working hard to make the experience better for your home practice. We have recently upgraded our internet speed, added additional lighting, and now have lapel microphones for the instructors so sound quality is much improved as well! If you are having any trouble logging in or accessing the livestreamed classes, please send us an email at info@oysterbayyoga.com or info@glencoveyoga.com and let us know so we can get you up and running, and back on your mat!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Feb 6th: Pop-Up Creative Flow with Erica Tymeck at 10:30am (in-studio & virtual) GCY
Friday, Feb 12th: Pop-Up Creative Flow with Anne Davidson at 5:30pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY
Sunday, Feb 14th: A special Valentine’s Day Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 2:45pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY
Sunday, Feb 21st: Pop-Up Creative Flow with Erica Tymeck at 11:00am (in-studio & virtual) OBY
Friday, Feb 26th: Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 7pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay well.
Amy