January 2021 at Oyster Bay Yoga

Happy New Year!

Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,

This year, more than ever, we’re all craving the sense of change that the new year brings. So much is out of our control in the world right now, and it can feel increasingly challenging to meet that lack of control with grace. This month, I’d like our community to focus on, and recommit to the practice of meditation. When we sit to meditate, we can cultivate the feelings of ease, contentment, clarity, and empowerment that are so elusive in our day-to-day during this difficult time.

In your in-studio and virtual classes in January, expect to see some meditation included alongside your asana practice. I’m also hosting a 21 Day Meditation Challenge starting January 3rd. Read more about it below, and register to join. Additionally, we’ll be hosting a few pop-up meditation classes at both studios so that you can dedicate a whole hour to developing your meditation practice. And stay tuned for a pop up class on the practice at hOMe membership page, and in the private Facebook group as well.

In this month’s newsletter you’ll find a pose breakdown of sukhasana, or “easy seat.” Meditation can become frustrating when you’re not seated comfortably, and aligned properly. In the video we’ll share some tips on finding a comfortable seat for meditation.

You’ll also see an interview with Martha Flanagan, where we discuss the many benefits of Kundalini Yoga. We had a lot of fun recording this “podcast” style interview. Martha is a wealth of knowledge!

Our sutra of the month is 1.12, practice and non-attachment. And stay tune later in the month: Peggy has written a blog post for us to help interpret this timeless and timely piece of wisdom from Patanjali.

This month’s Oil of the Month is Organic Bergamot - check out the mood boosting benefits of citrus essential oils, and enjoy 20% off purchase of this uplifting oil in the month of January.

We’re also offering 20% off meditation cushions, and yoga blankets - helpful tools for committing to your meditation practice at home.

Finally, 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. Happy practicing!

I hope that you and your family remain happy and healthy, and I look forward to seeing you all at the studios and virtually. I’ll be gradually returning to teaching in January!

Wishing you all a new year filled with peace,

Amy

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Pose of the Month

Sukhasana: “Easy Seat”

In this video, learn how to sit more comfortably in this meditation posture.

Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about how to sit or lay for a more comfortable meditation practice.

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Teacher Feature

Martha Flanagan

Get to know Martha this month. In this conversation we talk about how Martha got started with yoga, and about her diverse background in teaching and practicing yoga and meditation. We dive into the benefits of Kundalini Yoga, and what to expect in her Kundalini Flow class, which is hosted on Sunday mornings in Oyster Bay. We’ll answer some common questions about the practice of Kundalini and we’ll even try out a few breathing techniques. A must watch!

Get to know Martha this month. In this conversation we talk about how Martha got started with yoga, and about her diverse background in teaching and practicing yoga and meditation. We dive into the benefits of Kundalini Yoga, and what to expect in her Kundalini Flow class, which is hosted on Sunday mornings in Oyster Bay. We’ll answer some common questions about the practice of Kundalini and we’ll even try out a few breathing techniques. A must watch!

Have questions for Martha? Let us know in the comments below, or shoot us an email at info@oysterbayyoga.com, or info@glencoveyoga.com.

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Sutra of the Month

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Oil of the Month

Our very first oil of the month is:

Organic Bergamot

Citrus essential oils are great for boosting your mood. We all need that right about now, right!?

“Organic Bergamot Essential Oil is a favorite amongst essential oil users for it's citrusy, uniquely vibrant scent with a touch of floral, and for its many therapeutic properties. The lovely aroma of Bergamot Essential Oil is known to support mental health and clarity by providing a boost to the mind. It can also help ease feelings of anxiety, especially during times of sadness and grief. USDA Certified Organic Bergamot Essential Oil is gentle for DIY skincare and helps support skin health for acne-prone or oily skin. This essential oil can also be added to massage blends to help reduce muscle tension and give relief from tightness caused by a hard workout.” -Plant Therapy

Learn more about Bergamot here

This month, enjoy 20% off your purchase of Bergamot essential oil at the studios.

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An Offering

In an effort to help support your home meditation practice, in the month of January, take 20% off any purchase of a meditation cushion, or yoga blanket. Both are helpful tools for sitting more comfortably in meditation.

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21 Day Meditation Challenge

Jan 3rd-23rd 2021

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit

Let’s use the first 21 days of our 2021 to form a meditation practice that will serve us throughout the entire year.

What does it feel like inside your mind right now? Do your thoughts run wild throughout your day? Do you feel like you don’t have any control over what happens inside your mind?

Meditation can absolutely help us clear our minds more efficiently, but it can also help us cope with, and even reframe any distressing, pervasive thinking.

Register for the Challenge

Each week includes 6 pre-recorded meditations you can practice at your own pace. Choose a time that works best for you. The 7th meditation each week will be “live” with Amy on a Zoom call at 7am. You can join in live, or you can watch the recording of the live meditation practice anytime.

No experience required. No special equipment required. Listen in from any device.

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Upcoming Events

Sunday, Jan 3rd: 21 Day Meditation Challenge Begins

Sunday, Jan 10th: Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 2:45pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Sunday, Jan 24th: Pop Up Meditation class with Peggy Adair at 10:45am (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Wednesday, Jan 27th: Pop Up Kundalini Flow with Martha Flanagan at 6:00pm (in-studio & virtual) GCY

Friday, Jan 29th: Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 7pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Balance is Bullsh*t

Let’s get real ladies, we don’t balance, we juggle while balancing on one foot. In fact, I’d bet $100 bucks that the entire idea of work-life balance was invented by a man.

So before you get stressed out (again!)  trying to make it all work -- consider rethinking what having it all looks like.

To get you started, here are 5 ways to manage the BS of balance:

#1. Recognize we can’t have it all -- but we can choose what we want.

Instead of striving for the 50/50 equal balance think of your life as a pie, where you get to choose the slices and how big they are.

Maybe some weeks work will take up the biggest slice, but then other times your family will. When you’re aware of the slices and how big they are you take control.  

#2. Stop trying to be perfect.

Sometimes good enough is much better than perfect. The first draft of the presentation doesn’t have to look like the final product.

Your dinner party can be catered. No one died because their clean laundry stayed in the basket and never made it into the dresser drawers.

#3. Support each other’s choices.

• It’s ok if I don’t want to have kids so I can work on building a huge business.

• It’s ok if you don’t want a big career so you can focus on your family.

• It’s ok if someone else decides to leave their huge job to become a yoga teacher.

• It’s all ok. We need to cheer each other one as we make the brave choices that work for us. The slices of your pie may be different than mine, that’s a fabulous thing.

#4. Embrace the juggle.

Let’s face it -- we’re the masters of the juggle. The key is to not juggle too many balls at once. Decide which ones need to stay in the air and keep your eye on the ball. Drop the balls that don’t matter as much.  

#5. Enjoy the small moments.

There’s no doubt about it, the pressure is on. Going for a massage or going away on vacation may be out of the question.

But we can start to find the space in the small moments. A deep breath. A good laugh.  A chat with a good friend -- these are the things that keep us going.

What does redefining balance look like for you?

Mimi Bishop is a coach, life-change and co-founder of The Resting Mind. Mimi, is a certified life coach and trained at iPEC and is certified in using energy leadership.

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Join us this Saturday, June 1st at 1:30pm for a special workshop with Mimi Bishop of The Resting Mind:

The Resting Mind: Surviving Burnout

Manage your everyday demands without getting pulled under and learn how to embrace busy instead of becoming overwhelmed through the power The Resting Mind, our mind-shifting formula.
The Resting Mind raises awareness and combines energy leadership with brain science to change the hardwiring of your brain. You’ll learn how to optimize your subconscious, which runs 95% of your day, so you’re performing at your highest level.

Join Jackie Ghedine + Mimi Bishop Co-founders of The Resting Mind

$40 per person (10% off for members)

OBY Logo Apparel: Order Here

Men’s Baseball T-Shirt 3/4 Sleeve

Women’s Wideneck Sweatshirt

Women’s Twist Back Tank Top

Women’s Baseball T-Shirt 3/4 Sleeve

Women’s V-Neck T-Shirt

Men’s T-Shirt

Order your shirts by Friday 2/15! Estimated delivery will be 3/1. We will notify you via email when your order is ready to pick-up. Studio pick-up only, no shipping available.

10 Reasons You're Ready for a Yoga Teacher Training

BY MELINDA DIORIO / FORM, HERITAGE, INSPIRE, LIFESTYLE / 24 MAR 2016

Has the thought of teaching yoga ever crossed your mind? Do you want to deepen your practice on a physical, intellectual and emotional level? Have you been considering applying for a teacher training for some time now, but just feel that you’re “not ready yet”? You may be more ready than you think…

10 Reasons You’re Ready for a Yoga Teacher Training:

1. You’re Curious About What the Word “Yoga” Really Means. You’ve been going to yoga classes for a while (maybe months, maybe years), and you sometimes hear your instructor in class talking about the Yoga Sutras or the Yamas and Niyamas. You like what they’re saying, but you have no idea what a Yama is! If you’ve been having the desire to dig deeper into the world of yoga philosophy, then a yoga teacher training is the place for you. The word “yoga” can have several translations, but Pantanjali’s Sutra 1.2 tells us that the definition is “quieting the mind chatter”. If you’ve been wanting to live a more peaceful and mindful life, a teacher training can help provide you with the tools to do so.
2. You Have a Passion and You Want to Share It. Whether you’ve been practicing for a few months or several years, you know how you feel about yoga. You LOVE it! You recognize all the benefits it’s brought into your life, and you can’t help sharing your thoughts about it with friends and family. When friends ask you to go to Happy Hour on Friday night, you find yourself suggesting a yoga class instead. It’s a discipline that’s brought you a lot of health and happiness, and you’re eager to stay on the path, learn more, and perhaps share the teachings of yoga with students of your own.
3. You Love to Learn. You consider yourself a “student of life”, but your day job takes up most of your time and you’ve been wanting to get back into a learning environment. Maybe a small part of you misses the days of “homework”, or you love to read and/or journal. Perhaps you’re interested in philosophical discussions. Or you’d love to learn about the mechanics of the body and how the different parts work together in a specific yoga pose. Whatever you’re interested in, a teacher training will impart a wealth of knowledge on you!
4. You’ve Been Waiting for the “Right Time”. Sutra 1.1 says that “Yoga begins NOW.” There’s no better time to begin a teacher training than when it feels right to you. We never regret the things we’ve done in life, only the things we never did. If you’ve been saying, “Someday I’m going to take a yoga teacher training, or “it’s been on my list…” start doing the research for one TODAY. You’ll thank yourself later! In the words of Hugh Laurie, “It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now.”
5. You Meditate or Want to Learn How To. Let’s dispel some rumors about taking a YTT. You don’t have to already have a meditation practice to participate in a training. You DO have to have a desire to add meditation into your life. You will learn how to meditate during the training, it may come easily to you or it may not. Eventually, it will become a new habit – a habit that will have you feeling amazing! You’ll be surprised how quickly it’ll become a part of your daily routine.
6. You Can’t Do a Handstand to Save Your Life… but You’ve Mastered the Art of Child’s Pose. Another big misperception about what it means to be “qualified” to attend a yoga teacher training is that you have to be able to achieve supposedly “advanced” postures like handstand or side crow. Inversions and arm balances don’t make you an advanced yogi! A much bigger indication that you’re ready to attend a yoga teacher training is that you are able to listen to your body. You follow your breath, and you know when to drop into a child’s pose when you need a rest. Yes, you may get closer to mastering inversions and arm balances during the training, or you may not. Either way, it won’t define your capabilities as a future teacher.
7. You Want to Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People. If you’ve been yearning to deepen your practice surrounded by an amazing community of people, there’s no better place than a YTT. You’ll meet people that are as equally motivated as you to learn more about yoga and to share their practice. They will provide you with more inspiration then you could have ever imagined. And they will be there to lift you up when things get challenging. You will spend lots of hours together, and form an inseparable bond. When the time comes to say goodbye at the end, you’ll find you’re leaving with new friends for life.
8. You’re Up for a Challenge. Whether you’re looking into taking a YTT locally or overseas, on the weekends over the course of 6 months, or during a one-month intensive, you’re up for the challenges ahead! You’re willing to step out of your comfort zone, both physically and emotionally. You’re open to embracing new ideas and to trying new things. A yoga teacher training will challenge you in every good way possible. (And even if you don’t think you’re up for the challenge, you’re most likely more ready than you realize!)
9. You’re Ready for a Change in Your Life. If you’ve been feeling like there’s something “bigger” out there, if you’ve been wanting to dig deeper into yourself, if you’re ready to make changes in your life, a yoga teacher training is for you. While many people attend a YTT to become teachers and share their practice with others, many others attend to deepen their own personal practice, without the intention of teaching afterwards. Provided you are open and eager to embrace change, you will begin a yoga teacher training with one mindset, and end it with a transformed one. There will be a shift in your life, it may be subtle or it may be big, but it will be there. I can only describe it as a life-enhancing experience!
10. And You Want to Change the World Too. Have you had the thought that you’d like to be doing something in life that benefits others and/or our environment? It took me years to realize that if we want the make the world a better place for all beings, the best place to begin is with ourselves. Ed and Deb Shapiro, in their book on meditation, Be the Change, say that “When we open to transformation within ourselves, so society also transforms – every change that each individual makes creates a chain reaction that is beneficial to all. Then, instead of focusing on the problems, we can start to live the solutions.” After having completed my yoga teacher training, nothing feels more true than those words. If you want to change the world, begin with changing yourself.

Author’s Note: I completed my YogaWorks teacher training in Bali at the end of October 2015. Prior to applying, attending a YTT and becoming a certified yoga teacher was something I had dreamed of for several years, but I had never felt ready for it. I finally decided, there really was no such thing as “ready” and took the leap. It was the best thing I did for myself in 2015! I began my training with the intention of “deepening my practice” and of becoming a yoga teacher “one day.” I honestly never believed I would be able to lead a class after just one month of training… but I was so wrong. My teachers Alicia Cheung and Oliver Reinsch, along with the YogaWorks format of teaching, provided myself and my fellow students with all the tools and confidence we needed to excel as teachers. As a newly certified teacher, I’m so grateful to have experienced this training, and so excited to share this amazing practice with others.

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Oyster Bay Yoga is thrilled to be hosting a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in partnership with YogaWorks starting in February 2019. 

Meet Maddy: What Community Acupuncture Can Do For You

Madeline Mindich, L.Ac. was introduced to the model of Community Acupuncture while she was a student at Bastyr University. During this time she volunteered with the non-profit organization Integrative Care Outreach to help bring holistic and integrative care to people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in King County, Washington. Specifically, she was involved with running the monthly Community Acupuncture Clinic at ROOTS young adult shelter in Seattle. It was amazing to make holistic care available to everyone, and to experience healing as a community event.

“Very often, healing is something that we embark on alone, and often quietly. Self-care is absolutely needed, and as humans, we are both individual and communal beings.”

Community Acupuncture is an outreach project that makes acupuncture accessible, available and affordable for communities. Instead of people needing to find an acupuncturist, community acupuncture asserts itself as a tool for the community, and individuals-in-community to use towards their healing and vibrancy goals. Wellsprings Community Acupuncture is a mobile clinic that specializes in acupuncture, vibrational healing with tuning forks, the use of essential oils at acupuncture points, herbal medicine recommendations, lifestyle guidance and infrared healing therapies. All of these tools are available for communities to explore and use to their advantage.

When you participate in a Wellsprings Community Acupuncture clinic, you have the opportunity to receive acupuncture for general wellness and individual needs. Although community acupuncture is experienced fully clothed, using points on the hands, arms, feet, legs and head, the acupuncturist is able to choose points that will effect the whole body. Often, the most powerful points are on the extremities! The scope of the acupuncture remains the same with the same benefits— addressing deep issues like chronic pain, digestive upset, neurological issues, hormonal imbalances AND relieving symptoms from the head to the toes like headaches, hot flashes, seasonal allergies, edema and sciatica. When an individual is healthy, they impact the health of their community, when a community is healthy, they can shift the health of the world!

Come GET WELL together and join Wellsprings Natural Health for an Introduction to Community Acupuncture at Oyster Bay Yoga to explore if Community Acupuncture is a tool you & your community would like to use to achieve your health and vibrancy goals!

Click here for more info:

PS: Click here for all the info about our Intro to Community Acupuncture Workshops on Saturday 4/14/18, and  Friday 4/20/18

20 Minute Yoga Sequence to Build Better Balance

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