November 2023 at Oyster Bay Yoga

Gratitude

Dear Oyster Bay Yogis,

Happy November. This month our sutra of the month is 2.33, where Patanjali offers us the tool of pratipaksha bhavanam. In my opinion, one of the most practical suggestions in all of the yoga sutras. “When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite [positive] ones should be thought of.” Satchidananda speaks about not only changing your thoughts, but changing your environment as being particularly effective in releasing disturbed thinking patterns. Try physically moving to a different location, and feel the shift in your inner environment (get to the studio, go for a walk, go to the beach). Or maybe, switch up who you’re surrounded by and feel the influence of those people (phone a friend, get a date on the calendar with people you love to be around and let their energy infect you in the best way possible. What does this have to do with gratitude? Gratitude takes practice, but when we’re doing it right, it creates strong emotion within us. I encourage you to write down what you’re grateful for, but take it one step further, and let the emotion of gratitude burn away negative thoughts that cause us stress. This month, come see us at the studio, it’s still the best way I know to practice pratipaksha bhavanam and cultivate peaceful thoughts.

See you on the mat,

Amy

Pose of the Month

Eka Pada Galavasana: Flying Pigeon

 
 

This month at the studio we breakdown
Eka Pada Galavasana: Flying Pigeon.
Learn how best to practice this pose in any class all month long!

Sutra of the Month

 
 

Patanjali's teachings in Sutra 2.33 emphasizes the practice of substituting negative thoughts with positive ones when the mind becomes disturbed or overwhelmed by undesirable, harmful, or unwholesome thoughts. In essence, it encourages individuals to consciously replace negative thinking patterns with constructive positive ones. This practice helps maintain mental clarity and emotional balance, ultimately contributing to a state of well-being and inner peace.

Oil of the Month

Our November OOTM is:

Worry Free

 
 

“Worry Free Essential Oil Blend combines Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Ylang Ylang Complete, Australian Sandalwood, Peru Balsam, and Roman Chamomile to create a powerfully relaxing blend. Reach for Worry Free when life's chaos, worry, and stressors get to be too much, to help promote a tranquil state of mind. Especially great to use before bed to help calm a racing mind, Worry Free is a safe, natural way to ease into sleep or calm your mind.” -Plant Therapy

Enjoy 20% off your purchase of Worry Free essential oil all month at the studio.

Monthly Challenge Winner

 
 

Our Monthly Challenge Winner for October 2023 is:

Jeanine Schwartz

Congratulations Jeanine! You attended 17 classes in the month of October, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! Great job!

Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community. We love having you in class!

Who will be our November winner?

Happy Thanksgiving

 
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The studio will have some schedule changes for the Thanksgiving holiday. The schedule is as follows:


Wednesday, November 22nd: 6:00pm & 7:15pm classes will be canceled
Thursday, November 23rd: The studio will be closed for Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 24th: There will only be one class on this day. Sign up now for our 75 minute Post-Thanksgiving Flow Class at 10:30am with Peggy Adair.


We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving with your friends and family! 🍁

Follow us to stay connected for upcoming events and news

 
 
 

Events

 

Pajama Yoga

 
 

Friday, November 3rd
6:30pm-7:30pm
with Diana Singh

Bring your little ones (ages 4-10) dressed in their pajamas to a fun and interactive yoga class! Class includes gentle stretches, games, and stories to help them wind down and prepare for a peaceful sleep. And to top it off, we'll provide milk & cookies for a sweet treat before bed. Don't miss out on this cozy and enjoyable experience!

Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.

$20 per child

Touch the Ground: Ayurvedic Half Day Retrat

 
 

Sunday, November 5th
12:00-4:00pm
with Nancy Rich

Journey into the world of Ayurveda and learn how to heal and stayed balanced this season through our five senses with Nancy Rich, ERYT-500, Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist and graduate of The California College of Ayurveda. Delight in a blissful, half day retreat filled with Ayurvedic education, including: seasonal diet and herbs, aromatherapy, chromotherapy and other sense therapy practices.  Enjoy a grounding afternoon of slow yoga, pranayama (breath practice), yoga nidra, nourishing lunch and treats to take home. 

As the heat of the summer dwindles and the chill of autumn sets in, the leaves dry and fall from the trees as we welcome the onset of the Ayurvedic season of Vata. Ayurveda is a complete medical science that is derived from the same teachings as yoga and aimed at healing imbalances with the body and mind. The qualities of Vata season are much like those of autumn and early winter -cold, dry, rough, windy and  erratic, as they are both governed by the elements air and space. The aggravating dry and cold qualities of the season often lead to imbalances such as skin issues, constipation, arthritis, insomnia, mood swings, anxiety and excess mental chatter, preventing us from fully enjoying the beauty of the season.  

Simple changes in our seasonal routine can make all the difference in grounding and balancing in the fall and winter months.   

Please dress in cozy layers and bring a yoga mat, pillow and journal. 

Pricing: $155 (10% off for members)

Yin Yoga

 
 

Sunday, November 19th
2:00pm-3:15pm
with Barbara Kataisto

Are you moving too fast?
Doing too many things at one time?
Too much "mind chatter" or just want to slow down?
Yin yoga can provide an antidote for this.

This class will guide you through a series of poses that are primarily done sitting and lying down. The poses are held for 2-5 minutes at a time to allow connective tissues (fascia, ligaments) to soften, lengthen and lubricate. A yin yoga practice compliments a yang practice and allows for a more balanced approach to life.

$25 to drop-in/FREE for members

Post-Thanksgiving Flow

 
 

Friday, November 24th

10:30am-11:45am

with Peggy Adair

Recharge with us the day after Thanksgiving in our All Levels Flow class! It's the perfect opportunity to refresh after your festive Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy a 60-minute Vinyasa flow followed by 15 minutes of peaceful restorative meditation. Feel free to bring a family member along for this nourishing practice! As space tends to fill up fast, we kindly ask you to secure your spot in advance.

$25 to drop-in/FREE for members

Beginner Yoga

 
 

Sunday, November 26th

2:00-3:15pm

with Peggy Adair

Do you want to start a yoga practice but don't know where to start? In this beginner class, we'll start with the basics, developing a better understanding of our body and our mind. You will quickly learn how good yoga can make you feel, physically and mentally, and how yoga can serve you on your wellness journey. Absolutely no experience required. Learn along with other beginners like yourself in a warm and welcoming environment.

$25 to drop-in/FREE for members

Full Moon Movement, Meditation & Gong Bath

 
 

Monday, November 27th

7:15-8:30pm

with Martha Flanagan

Full Moon Gong Meditations allow us to honor the cyclical nature of the moon together. During the class there will be a seated meditation, incorporating mantra, pranayama and mudra, gentle movement to prepare the mind and body for the healing vibrations of the Gong.

Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.

$25 to drop-in/FREE for members

Tween Yoga

 
 

Thursday, November 30th
6:00-7:00pm
with Sydney Matuszak

As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves in a season of transition, where change is in the air. Sometimes, it's easy to fall into a bit of a slump, and that's perfectly normal. Let’s ruffle those leaves off those wet branches and find our center! 

Our class is all about cultivating a sense of grounding and gratitude. We'll explore what we're thankful for and how we can infuse gratitude into our daily lives. We invite parents to bring their tween kids, ages 8-13, to join us on this journey of self-discovery. It's a wonderful opportunity for tweens to connect with themselves and find joy in the present moment.

$20 per child

Healing Hands: Restorative Aromatherapy

 
 

Sunday, December 3rd

2:00-4:00pm

with Nancy Rich & Peggy Adair

Join us for a soothing 2-hour Healing Hands Workshop, a truly transformative experience that will leave you feeling replenished and renewed.

In this workshop, Nancy and Peggy will expertly guide you through the realms of meditation, restorative postures, and gentle movement. But that's not all—prepare to be embraced by the soothing touch of hands-on adjustments and the delightful scents of aromatherapy, enhancing your journey into relaxation and healing. Allow the stress to melt away!

Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.

$55 per person (10% off for members)

Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates

EVENTS

SCHEDULE UPDATES

  • Wednesday, 11/22: 6:00pm & 7:15pm classes will be canceled

  • The studio will be closed on Thursday, 11/23 for Thanksgiving Day

  • There will only be one class on Friday, 11/24 (Post-Thanksgiving Flow Class at 10:30am with Peggy)

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Until then, stay well,

Amy