June 2021 at Oyster Bay Yoga

Breathe Deep

breathe oyster bay yoga june 2021

Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,

Happy June! I mentioned to a few of you that as soon as we got the OK to safely remove our masks at the studio, we’d do a pranayama-themed month. And here we are! We are now operating as “mask optional” for those of you that are vaccinated. And this month we’ll explore more deeply one of the limbs of yoga that sometimes gets overshadowed by asana (postures): pranayama (breathwork)!

Prana = breath, vitality Yama = control, regulation.” Prana is the cosmic force without which nothing moves or functions.” -Swami Satchidananda. When we practice pranayama, or breath control, we practice channeling this energy to revitalize ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Pranayama is also a gateway into deeper states of meditation and I look forward to hearing about your experiences with it this month! As with our asana practice, listen to your internal cues over any cue an instructor gives, and approach your pranayama practice mindfully and slowly.

We’ll discuss sutras 2.49-2.53 where Patanjali expands on the practice of pranayama in class this month, and Martha will be sharing her wisdom with us in a Pop-Up Pranayama class on Sunday 6/13 in Oyster Bay.

We have got two GREAT workshops for you this month as well. Yoga Nidra with Nancy on Friday 6/11 in Oyster Bay, and Transformational Breath with Rebecca Parker on Sunday 6/27 in Glen Cove. Scroll down for more info, and register early, they’re both sure to sell out.

In the remainder of our newsletter you’ll see our Pose of the Month, Sutra of the Month, Oil of the Month, and Monthly Challenge Winner for May. Plus a full listing of the upcoming events. I look forward to seeing you again at the studio very soon.

Be well,

Amy

Pose of the Month

Utthita Parsvakonasana:

Learn the technique of this posture, and make it your own. It’s a favorite of mine for opening the side body, and creating some space to breathe!

Sutra(s) of the Month

sutras 2.49-2.53 on pranayama oyster bay yoga

Sutras 2.49-2.52 give us a basic framework for understanding when and how we should begin a pranayama practice. We’ll dive deeper into this in our practices this month.

Oil of the Month

Our June OOTM is:

Worry Free Blend

worry free essential oil of the month oyster bay yoga

“Worry Free Essential Oil Blend combines Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Ylang Ylang Complete, Australian Sandalwood, Peru Balsam, and Roman Chamomile to create a powerful relaxing blend. Reach for Worry Free when life's chaos, worry, and anxiety 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

Click here to learn more about Worry Free

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

An Offering

oyster bay yoga referral rewards

Bonus Referral Rewards!

Did you know you can earn $ for every friend you refer to our studios? For a limited time, we’re increasing our referral rewards to $50. That means when you refer someone who signs up for auto-renew, or yearly membership at either or both studios, you get $50 toward your own membership dues. And, as an added bonus, this month we’re opening up the referral program to EVERYONE. If you’re not a member, and you refer someone who signs up for membership, you’ll get a $50 account credit to use toward ANY purchase at the studio. And if you ARE a member, and you’d like to receive your rewards as an account credit, rather than put it toward your membership dues, you can do that through 6/30/21!

Do you know someone who would LOVE the studio? Invite them to sign up for their 1st week of classes for $15 today!

Outdoor Yoga @ Mill Neck Manor

Come enjoy your practice outside on the beautiful grounds of Mill Neck Manor. Our weekly outdoor classes have begun:

Mondays at 10:30am: Gentle Flow with Diana Singh

Tuesdays at 9:15am: All Levels Flow with Ruth Tranter

Wednesdays at 6:00pm Sunset Flow with Sydney Matuszak

Classes are held in the “Sunken Garden,” just outside the historic manor house. Upon arrival at Mill Neck Manor, proceed to the security booth and let the attendant know you’re there for the yoga classes. From the security booth, drive up the long driveway to the fork, and take the left fork where you’ll see a parking lot. Once you park, walk toward the manor house and you’ll come upon the sunken garden.

Please BYO yoga mat and water. A towel is recommended as the grass can be dewey in the morning and evening.

$22 to drop-in / FREE for OBY & GCY members

10 class passes are also available

Click here to register!

Monthly Challenge Winner

Our Monthly Challenge Winner for May 2021 is:

Jean Rogers!

Congratulations Jean! You attended 19 classes in the month of May, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! Awesome job!

Who will be our June winner?

Yoga Nidra Workshop

yoga nidra workshop oyster bay yoga

Yoga nidra is the art of conscious relaxation. You will learn techniques which will allow you to reach new states of conscious awareness with acute perception of both your physical and subtle body. As you practice these techniques you will feel the flow of prana move through physical, emotional, and energetic blockages. The end result is the healing of the body and mind and the expansion of consciousness.

The sessions are done laying down or sitting and are appropriate for EVERYONE, regardless of physical limitations.

Yoga Nidra allows us to heal deeply held patterns of energy in our bodies, manifest health and wellness, and consciously create whatever it is that we want to create for ourselves in this lifetime!

Nourish yourself in the many additional benefits of Yoga Nidra:

✦ Improves functioning of the immune system

✦ Lowers blood pressure

✦ Pain & inflammation reduction

✦ Helps to stabilize blood sugar

✦ Calms & cools the nervous system, while improving & stabilizing mood

✦ It treats insomnia, psychological disorders, & psychosomatic diseases.

✦ Relaxes the mind, relieving stress & anxiety

✦ Helps in enhancing memory & increases capacity for learning

✦ Relieves muscular, emotional & mental tension

✦ Results in increased energy

$45 per person (10% off for OBY or GCY members)

Please dress in comfortable layers and bring your own yoga mat, bed pillow, and small blanket or towel.

Click here to register

Transformational Breath Workshop

transformational breath rebecca parker oyster bay yoga

As humans, we rarely make use of one of the simplest things on earth - the breath. Breathwork is an active meditation which allows breathers to release the chatter of the mind and to become present within the body releasing tension, fear, physical and emotional ailments. In this class Rebecca will hold space for the group to experience whatever comes up.

Breathwork opens up our channels to our inner-knowing, to receiving, and gives us access to perspectives that we were never aware of. The body's process for oxygenating and sustaining life in every cell of our bodies is so automatic that it can be deceptive, but it's one of the most powerful tools for healing, relaxation, and bridging the gap between your mind and body.

You will be guided through a simple rhythmic breath pattern and through that process you will have an opportunity to be in your body in a way like you have never experienced before. The benefits are life-changing, by connecting with your own body's healing power the results are quite instant.

Breathwork is a tool you can add to your "tool kit" and use on a daily basis, outside of class. Come open minded to try something new, and expect to leave feeling lighter and more in tune with your body and spirit.

To attend virtually: please have a space where you can lay flat, and you will not be disturbed.

Optional: Throw blanket, eye mask or eye pillow, and crystals you are working with.

Instructor: Rebecca Parker

Rebecca is originally from Long Island, NY. After struggling with depression, anxiety, and as a product of this various physical ailments she began searching for wholistic healing tools and found Breathwork and its profound affects. The breath allowed her to release stuck energy within the body, heal physical ailments, and process unprocessed emotion. In 2017 she began her company Creating Space (www.creatingspacewellness.com).

As a Breathwork facilitator, she is focused on creating a light-hearted, fun and supportive environment. She applauds her clients showing up for themselves and being open. Her goal is for her clients to leave feeling lighter, clearer and more connected to spirit. It is her belief that there is inner light and healing energy within within each of us.

$40 per person (10% off for OBY & GCY members)

Click here to register

Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates

More new classes to come soon!

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay well.

Amy

May 2021 at Oyster Bay Yoga

Our Community

oyster bay yoga community

Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,

Happy May! Getting outside, and getting together have never felt so good! This month I want to celebrate the best part of Oyster Bay Yoga, our community…you! I was speaking with a new student the other day, and she mentioned looking at an old photo of the studio in full swing, with 20+ people in the room, and it made me nostalgic for those days. There’s been a gaping hole in my heart (and in the studio itself) since March of last year, but good news came last week from the state. The infection rate is now so low that as of May 15th, we are cleared to move up to 50% capacity! That mean’s 13 spaces in each class instead of just 7. We’ll still maintain our other precautions, and keep you posted as soon as we get further updates. In the meantime, this means we’ve got plenty of room for you to enjoy your favorite classes, together with your yoga buddies again :)

When you step onto your mat this month, think about how your individual efforts, and the energy you bring to your practice, impact every person you interact with in your day-to-day life. Last month we filled our own cups with self care, how can we pour that goodness out into the community now?

It’s been a hard year for many, and I’d like to give back by setting up a series of “community” classes. Free for anyone to attend, in person or online. In lieu of the typical class fees, we’ll be accepting donations for Island Harvest - our local food bank. We’ll also be accepting non-perishable food donations in the provided containers at either studio throughout the month of May.

Additionally, we’ll be hosting a Yoga by the Bay event in Bayville supporting Friends of the Bay later in the month. Stay tuned as we finalize the details.

You’ll also notice a box at the studios with some slips of paper with writing prompts on them. Yoga can feel like an isolated activity sometimes, so this month as we’re contemplating dedicating our energy and effort on the mat out into the greater good, these prompts are there for you to share your intentions and experiences with our community within the studio. At the end of the month, I’m going to collect everyone’s (completely anonymous) answers and display them. Perhaps you’ll be inspired by someone else’s responses, or perhaps you’ll see your own thoughts reflected back in someone else’s handwriting.

I am thrilled to share we’ll be re-starting our outdoor classes at Mill Neck Manor, beginning Monday 5/10. Check out the full schedule below.

And in the remainder of our newsletter you’ll see our Pose of the Month, Sutra of the Month, Oil of the Month, and Monthly Challenge Winner for April. Plus a full listing of the upcoming events. I look forward to seeing you again at the studio very soon.

Be well,

Amy

Pose of the Month

Utthita Hasta Padangustasana: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose

Sutra of the Month

sutra 2.5 oyster bay yoga

In the second book of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Kleshas, or obstacles, are outlined. One of these obstacles is avidya, or ignorance, in it’s many forms. We’ll dive deeper into this klesha this month.

Oil of the Month

Our May OOTM is:

Organic Vetiver

may 2021 oil of the month oyster bay yoga vetiver

“Organic Vetiver is a root oil that is jam packed with therapeutic properties. This oil is known for its abilities to promote relaxation and balance. Organic Vetiver is very popular to use before bedtime to help calm the mind. It has a very strong aroma that has an earthy, woodsy, smoky scent, but is pleasant to the senses.

Vetiver has been used in natural perfumery for years because of its unique aroma and only a little is needed to smell that amazing scent. It is gentle and effective to help skin blemishes, supports a healthy immune system, and a little goes a long way.” -Plant Therapy

Click here to learn more about Vetiver

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

An Offering

Give the Gift of Yoga

In the month of May, share your love of the practice with others, at a discount! Members can purchase gift cards for recipients at member pricing:

You can gift:

Drop-in Classes for $19 (Regularly $22)

1 Month of Unlimited Classes for $109 (Regularly $129)

10 Class Passes for $178 (Regularly $198)

Private Yoga/Pilates Lessons (in-studio) for $89 (Regularly $99)

  • This offer is only available to monthly auto-renew, and yearly members. Gift cards have a 1 year expiration date from the date of purchase.

  • Not available for purchase online, please call, email, or inquire at the front desk.

Outdoor Yoga @ Mill Neck Manor

outdoor yoga at mill neck manor oyster bay yoga

It’s back! Come enjoy your practice outside on the beautiful grounds of Mill Neck Manor. Our weekly outdoor classes begin the week of May 10th and include:

Mondays at 10:30am: Gentle Flow with Diana Singh

Tuesdays at 9:15am: All Levels Flow with Ruth Tranter

Wednesdays at 6:00pm Sunset Flow with Sydney Matuszak

Classes are held in the “Sunken Garden,” just outside the historic manor house. Upon arrival at Mill Neck Manor, proceed to the security booth and let the attendant know you’re there for the yoga classes. From the security booth, drive up the long driveway to the fork, and take the left fork where you’ll see a parking lot. Once you park, walk toward the manor house and you’ll come upon the sunken garden.

Please BYO yoga mat and water. A towel is recommended as the grass can be dewey in the morning and evening.

$22 to drop-in / FREE for OBY & GCY members

10 class passes are also available

Click here to register!

Monthly Challenge Winner

Our Monthly Challenge Winner for April 2021 is:

Debra Hudak!

Congratulations Debra! You attended 19 classes in the month of March, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! You rock!

Who will be our April winner?

Say Goodbye to the Waitlist

Some good news came from the state last week, and as of May 15th, the infection rate is now so low that we are able to increase our capacity to 13 students per class! We will maintain all other precautions and keep you updated on any further changes as they come through. This change should prevent us having to resort to a waitlist for the majority of our classes. Space is still limited in-studio, and we’re still going to strongly encourage pre-registration online at oysterbayyoga.com/schedule, but we look forward to getting you into all of the classes you’d like to attend without issue!

Click here to check out the class schedule

Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates

More new classes to come soon!

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay well.

Amy

Ways To Be Kind To Yourself: Self Care Edition

Hi Oyster Bay/Glen Cove Members!


My name is Sydney Matuszak, and I currently teach yoga over in the Glen Cove Studio! I was first introduced to the studio to help cover Amy’s maternity leave, and I can’t wait to meet more of the members of this wonderful community throughout this year. 

April’s theme of the month is Self Care, and throughout this past year, and amid college, I felt the need to further develop how to take care of myself. Beyond the human necessities: receiving adequate nutrition daily, drinking more water than what seems like the above recommended amount and getting a good, uninterrupted night’s rest. I have found additional ways that help ground and balance myself in times of hardship and stress.

  • Less screen time… Being Intentional with my Time:

Over the winter months, I found myself scrolling on social media apps often and losing time on the internet searching random things. Perhaps it was boredom or maybe not knowing what to do with my time between work, family caregiver responsibilities and limited time with friends and family. 

My way to combat this was to get intentional with how I’m spending my down time and finding more hobbies I enjoy. So far I’ve explored “painting by numbers” painting, reading more books, practicing editing videos, increasing my personal home yoga practice, enrolling into a cooking course and educating myself in unfamiliar topics. 

As the springtime rolls in, I may even take up gardening, skating, biking, exploring arboretums, completing puzzles, and taking my dogs to the dog park. When I enrich my time with new experiences, I find that my mood lifts, my mind fog lessens, and I feel more and more like a well-rounded personal despite the shutdown’s pause on social gatherings.

unnamed-1.png

  •  5 minute mindfulness hydration exercise.

Let’s play this scene in our minds: it is a lovely spring day, 75 degrees, you had just gotten out of a morning yoga class, feeling ready to take on the day. You take off your mask, hop in your car, and grab your water bottle. You open and take a big gulp. Over the course of the next five minutes, I encourage you to acknowledge the sensations you feel when taking that first sip of water and how it changes over the course of 5 minutes.  You feel the water travel down your throat and land in your stomach. Feeling the coolness sit in your mouth, acknowledging the temperature change. Feeling refreshed.

By putting our attention to our five senses it is really grounding. It can helps to ease any thoughts that may be building up too much in our minds and landing us in the present moment. I often struggle with being present and not too future-oriented in my daily life, but this exercise helps me to go with the flow and stay in the now rather than completing my to-do list later that day.

  • Spending some time outside in the fresh air: Vitamin D!

I have learned that when I’m vitamin D deficient, my energy feels zapped. The way I’ve found to combat that is to try and find time every day, or every other, to be outside for 30 minutes. Sometimes it’s taking care of outside chores, or walking around talking on the phone in my backyard, or sitting and talking to my family. No matter what, I try to feel the sun on my face and remember to take my supplements that will help me feel good.

  • Listening to a podcast about a topic I enjoy.

I’ve really enjoyed listening to podcasts this month on various topics. This is my alternative to audio books when I want to do something mentally stimulating by not watching tv or listening to music. Some topics that I have been enjoying range from nutrition, acting techniques, unsolved crime mysteries and yoga, mindfulness practices. Yes I know it’s a variety of different topics, but I find that it keeps me engaged and helps encourage me to learn something new learning daily. This is especially important as I’m in a non-structured learning environment post college and always want to keep learning to enrich my mind and perspectives in life.

  • Take a hike!

Getting some exercise in for the day is something I cherish to help take care of my physical health. During spring and summer time, I love to drive to a park or beach to walk and explore Long Island, or go around my neighborhood to get my body moving to increase my cardiovascular health. No matter how you move your body, whether it’s walking, doing yoga or pilates, running, on gym equipment, playing with your kids, dancing, or any other form of exercise, doing what’s best for your body through movement is the main game plan here.

If you’d like to add on a mental component to said nature walk, turn off all distractions and listen to the environment around you. Keying into what’s going on in our surroundings increases our mindfulness, and for me, helps to center my mind and allows me to enjoy our world even more. There is so much we can learn from nature, if we simply listen to it.

unnamed-2.png

  • Constructive Rest:

Sometimes your body needs a rest, perhaps even a nap. Let’s honor our body cues to lay down when needed. Maybe your body is overtired, and when in that instance, I find myself needing to nap. Other times I allow my body to physically rest, yet occupy my mind in different ways. After an hour when I watch an episode of TV or read a chapter of a book, I find myself feeling refreshed and ready to take on what the rest of the day has for me.

Oh, especially when my dogs join me to relax while laying down. It warms my heart to see the puppies sigh with content and snooze while we can cuddle all together. My pack says hello! (Meet my dog family: Lily, Lola then Max; her parents)

1.jpeg

  • Cleaning Trifecta:

Maybe this is a quirk, yet I find extreme satisfaction in what I love to call the “completing the cleaning trifecta” every Friday night or Sunday night. Let me explain. I know as someone who does laundry for four people, it can be tough for these chore tasks to align for myself. Yet I find such joy  when I can climb into bed knowing my body and bed are fresh and clean with no dirty laundry left in the hamper. Such joy helps me end my week on a great note or start a new week on the right foot: either which way, it’s a small win that helps to boost morale and put a small smile on my face.

 Perhaps try it out once? I hope it brings a small smile to your face too, yet if it doesn’t at least a few parts off the to-do list are done for the week and it’s one less thing to plan and think about.

  •  Freshening up:

I know the term Spring Cleaning is being thrown around a lot right now. Yet, doesn’t it feel amazing when you have an organized household and clean living space? Every season I find doing this to my personal possessions, but I’ve never done it for the full house. This year I feel really motivated to help clean up our housing common areas and lessen the stuff around my home.
This month, my task with my grandmother is to go through our linen closet and donate the fraying towels or underutilized linens to an animal shelter or animal hospital. Slowly over the next few months, I know we’ll accomplish more decluttering tasks (like the laundry room, or our overcrowded catch-all storage in the basement). By doing just that, I hope it will allow our home to feel lighter, rather than holding onto something for a rainy day to be never used in over 20 years.

What do you think about doing a section by section declutter? Have you started to do so in your living space this year?

  • Book recommendation time!


Do you find yourself looking for more ways to expand your self care rituals and knowledge base? This book goes alphabetical through ways to take care of yourself, the whole self: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It has brought new ways to the forefront of my mind and allowed me to change my perspective that sometimes taking on the harder tasks can be a form of self care too. 


“The *More or Less definitive Guide to Self Care” by Anna Borges

unnamed-5.jpg

Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know which self care tips you resonate with the most and which are new to you. I’d love to start a conversation of what tips you have that help you de-stress and what more you can add into your routine to assist in your overall health.

Love and Light,

Sydney Matuszak

April 2021 at Oyster Bay Yoga

Take Care

self care april 2021 oyster bay yoga

Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,

Happy April! This month, our theme is “Self-Care,” and it’s going to be a good one. When I think of self-care, I think of the adage “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” And, I know when I start repeating that to myself as I move about my day, it’s time to carve out some “me” time. For me, one of the most effective ways to take care of myself, physically and mentally, is to get on my mat. And, this month, we’ve got more ways to do that than ever. Inside, outside, at the studio, livestream, on-demand, or in your own home practice - there’s a class for you!

Later this month, I’ll be interviewing Diana, one of our instructors, and we’ll be discussing some of her best suggestions for self care on and off the mat. And Sydney Matuszak is sharing her experience with self care on the blog as well!

We’re also hosting some pop-up classes to help you SLOW DOWN and stop grinding.

I’ve recorded a video showing you how to get into Viparita Karani, our pose of the month, and everyone’s homework is to spend a little time resting in this amazing pose!

Below you’ll see our Sutra of the Month, Oil of the Month, and Monthly Challenge Winner for March. Plus a full listing of the upcoming schedule additions, and pop-up classes.

Be well,

Amy

Pose of the Month

Viparita Karani: Legs Up the Wall

Teacher Feature

Diana Singh

Check out our interview where we discuss what works, and what doesn’t when it comes to taking care of yourself on and off the mat!

PLUS, join Diana for a Pop-Up Gentle Flow for Self Care class at OBY on Sunday, April 25th at 10:45am

Sutra of the Month

sutra 1.3 oyster bay yoga

Swami Satchidananda has an excellent interpretation of this sutra that we’ll share with you this month so that we can better understand our true nature, and through our practice of self care this month, perhaps abide in our true nature a little bit more often!

Oil of the Month

Our April OOTM is:

Organic Blue Tansy

organic_blue_tansy_eo-2.5ml-front_480x480.jpg

“USDA certified Organic Blue Tansy Essential Oil is a luxurious oil that is cherished and valued for its captivating scent and incredible clearing, calming properties. With a rich lush blue hue and a sweet, fresh scent, Blue Tansy provides unmatched support for healthy respiration during allergy season, helps soothe troubled or irritated skin, and supports self-esteem, confidence and enthusiasm year-round. Organic Blue Tansy Essential Oil is produced from a seasonal crop that requires optimal conditions, and therefore available quantities can be limited, which contributes to this value of this precious essential oil.” -Plant Therapy

Click here to learn more about Blue Tansy

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

An Offering

Make your own “Self Care Kit.”

At the studios, we offer a variety of products to support your wellness and your self care practices. This month, we invite you to create your own “Self Care Kit.” A wonderful treat for yourself, or for a friend who needs a little taking care of. Included in the promotion are:

  • Candles

  • Incense & Incense Holders

  • Essential Oils

  • Smudges, Palo Santo & Dishes

  • Brushing Kits

  • Ayurvedic Oils & Tongue Scrapers

  • Journals

  • Eye & Neck Pillows

When you purchase 3 or more items, you’ll get 20% off.

Your kit will come in a Ruth Coffey official tote bag (while supplies last)

Monthly Challenge Winner

Our Monthly Challenge Winner for March 2021 is:

Marie Martin!

Congratulations Marie! You attended 23 classes in the month of March, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! We are so happy to have your smiling face back in the studio.

Who will be our April winner?

Props!

props oyster bay yoga

It feels like the right time to bring back the use of our shared studio props. Starting 4/1 we will begin to use the “hard” studio props again. This includes yoga mats, blocks, hand weights, Pilates balls & rings, foam rollers, and lacrosse balls. For now, continue to bring your own blankets & bolsters. And, we please ask that you wipe down any props you borrow with disinfecting wipes that we’ll provide. Thanks for your help keeping everything clean!

As a note, I know many of you have been asking about any update on the mask requirements and class size limits. The state has not lifted any of these restrictions yet, but we will let you know as soon as we hear anything!

Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates

  • New class! Saturdays 10:30am All Levels Flow with Amy Starting 4/4 (Glen Cove)

  • New class! Thursdays 10:45am Yoga Roots with Amy starting 4/1 (Glen Cove)

  • New class time: Mondays 5:00pm Yoga Roots is now at 5:30pm with Sydney Matuszak (Glen Cove)

  • New class! Mondays 7:00pm Pilates with Eliza Tappan starting 4/12 (Glen Cove)

  • New class! Sundays 7:45am Pilates with Beth starting 4/11 (Oyster Bay)

  • Class theme change: Tuesday 6:15am now Flow Level 1 (Oyster Bay)

  • Friday Night Flow: Friday 4/2 5:30pm with Anne Davidson (Glen Cove)

  • Yin Yoga Sunday 4/11 2:45pm with Martha Flanagan (Oyster Bay)

  • Friday Night Flow: Friday 4/16 5:30pm with Anne Davidson (Oyster Bay)

  • Pop-Up Restorative Yoga: Sunday 4/18 4:30pm with Theresa Ruggles (Glen Cove)

  • Pop-Up Restorative Yoga: Friday 4/23 5:30pm with Erica Tymeck (Oyster Bay)

  • Yoga Crystal Club for Teens 12-16 years: Saturday 4/24 with Peggy Adair 7-9pm (Oyster Bay)

  • Yin Yoga Friday 4/30 7:00pm with Martha Flanagan (Oyster Bay)

  • Outdoor Yoga at Mill Neck Manor: Starting late April, weather permitting! Stay tuned for the full schedule (to include some weekday morning, weekday evening, and weekend classes, which are available to both OBY & GCY members and for drop-ins as well).

  • Yoga & Beer at Noble Savage Brewery: Sat 5/1 at 12:00pm

More new classes to come soon!

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay well.

Amy

March 2021 at Oyster Bay Yoga

All Kinds of Strong

tapas oyster bay yoga

Hello Oyster Bay Yogis,

This month let’s get stronger, together! Physical strength is wonderful on so many levels. Unless we’re being intentional about maintaining, and improving our strength, our bodies naturally lose muscle every year. So, let’s see what we can accomplish together with some intentional strengthening in the month of March. When we get stronger, we feel stronger, physically and mentally. When we challenge ourselves, we learn what we’re made of, and we build confidence, resilience, and stability. In our practices this month, we’ll take a holistic approach to strength, and we’ll discuss the concept of “tapas” from the yoga sutras. Tapas loosely translates to “purification through fire.” I’ll break down the most “tapas” posture I know for you in our pose of the month, but we’ll dive a little deeper into what tapas might mean for each of us...hint: what’s tapas for me might not be what’s tapas for you. Keep an eye out for an interpretation of sutra 2.1 later in the month, and ease your sore muscles with our oil of the month: Muscle Aid. Check out our teacher feature with Eliza, our newest Pilates instructor, and learn more about “therapeutic Pilates” and her unique and thoughtful approach to teaching. We’ll be hosting a few pop-up classes with focused strength work you can use in your practice for the rest of the year! I’m happy to also announce the return of Friday Night Flow, and check out a few other schedule additions and changes at the end of the newsletter.

Amy

Pose of the Month

Utkatasana: Chair Pose

Feel the burn

Teacher Feature

Eliza Tappan

Get to know Eliza, our newest Pilates instructor as we discuss this month’s theme: strength. What does strength mean to you? What type of “tapas” are you needing right now? And how can Eliza’s unique teaching style help you build holistic strength?

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

Plus, join us for a pop-up Pilates class with Eliza on Monday, March 15th at 6:30pm at Glen Cove Yoga

Sutra of the Month

oyster bay yoga sutra 2.1

We’ll be taking a closer look at the concept of tapas within our practice this month, but we must take tapas in the context with which it was written by Patanjali - alongside svadhyaya and Ishvara pranidhana. Stay tuned for a full interpretation of this important sutra later in the month.

Oil of the Month

Our March OOTM is:

Muscle Aid Roll On

MuscleAidFrontRollOn_480x480.jpg

“Sore, achy muscles happen to all of us, but our Muscle Aid Essential Oil Blend Blend combines Wintergreen, Camphor, and Scots Pine to help soothe sore muscles, especially after a hard workout. With a minty herbaceous fresh scent, this essential oil blend has a calming, cool effect when used topically on the areas of concern. This blend comes in an easy-to-use roll-on bottle pre-diluted to 5% in Fractionated Coconut Oil, and is most effective when massaged into muscles before or after you work out.” -Plant Therapy

This month, enjoy 20% off your purchase of Muscle Aid Synergy Roll On essential oil at the studios.

An Offering

unnamed.jpg

Pick up a Pilates ball at the studio this month for 20% off. A great tool for adding a little resistance to your practice - it’s nice to have something to press against and focus on to amplify the strengthening work we’ll be doing in March.

Monthly Challenge Winner

Our Monthly Challenge Winner for February 2021 is:

Maureen Jimenez!

Congratulations Maureen! You attended 25 classes in the month of February, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! We love watching you grow in your practice, Namaste.

Who will be our February winner?

4 Week Beginner Yoga Series at GCY

beginner+yoga+oyster+bay+glen+cove.jpg

Join Amy for this 4 Week introduction to yoga. We’ll start with the basics, and each week we’ll progress, 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. You can join in-person at our beautiful sister studio in downtown Glen Cove, or livestream the classes from home.

Standard Admission:

You’ll learn all the basics of yoga, have all your questions answered, and leave the program feeling ready to begin practicing yoga at home or in studio classes.

$74 per person includes

  • (4) 75-min beginner yoga classes

  • In-studio, or livestream access

VIP Admission:

Get lifetime access to the class recordings, as well as a customized private lesson to address your unique needs and interests.

$124 per person

  • (4) 75-min beginner yoga classes

  • In-studio, or livestream access

  • (1) 1-on-1 Private Yoga Lesson with Amy (Can be scheduled anytime after registration, through 4/31/21. In-studio or livestream available).

  • Lifetime access to the class recordings, as well as a recording of your private lesson

Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates

New! Tuesday & Thursday evening classes at GCY are moving from 5:00pm & 6:30pm to 5:30pm & 7:00pm!

Friday, March 5th (& the 1st Fri of every month): Friday Night Flow with Anne Davidson at 5:30pm (in-studio & virtual) GCY

Saturday, March 6th: 4 Week Beginner Yoga Series begins (in-studio & virtual) GCY

Monday, March 8th: New! Weekly 5:45pm Flow 2 class with Erica Tymeck begins (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Sunday, March 14th: Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 2:45pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Friday, March 19th (& the 3rd Friday of each month): Friday Night Flow with Anne Davidson at 5:30pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY

Friday, March 26th Yin Yoga with Martha Flanagan at 7:00pm (in-studio & virtual) OBY

More new classes to come soon!

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay well.

Amy