Autumn Equinox Workshop, dimanche a Paris Yoga

Summer in a Jar
Originally uploaded by bemusedbonnie

Having grown up on a farm in upstate New York, autumn is in my DNA as the season of labor-intensive harvest, hearty bounty, and careful preparation for winter. After a decade + hiatus in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the summer-fall-winter seasonal changes require little more than stocking another sweater in your yoga bag for when the SF fog rolls in on your bike ride between work and class; as opposed to stocking the root cellar for vegetable sustenance in the middle of February when everything green is under a foot of snow ~ I'll admit I got soft.

Moving back to a four season climate that more resembles a NY winter than a CA one and year one in France being the coldest winter in 20 years, I had to tap into my (thin-skinned) reserves, restock on wool sweaters and coats, and prepare to freeze my ass off. Since no matter where I am, I teach a seasonal practice, I actually enjoyed the dramatic harshness of distinct seasonal change. It all felt very natural (and cold); memories and connection. Each year for the last four, little by little, when the chilly winds, long shadows, and burnt amber light of autumn appear, my memory becomes more distinct and sweet recollections of childhood come to mind.

Over the course of hundreds of years, my Northern clime ancestors (mostly the women) learned a thing or two about how to avoid scurvy and other ghastly winter diseases ~ preserve, preserve, preserve. So in the fall, I remember participating in the annual canning and freezing fest at Daterra Farms: jams, jellies, compotes, sauces, pickles, breads, soups...and the smells, oh la la. All so that in the deep, dark of February, a simple visit to the cave or freezer would result in un petit goût d'été. You felt like you were eating the sunshine that brought it to life in the first place. Canned August peaches poured out of their Mason jars over vanilla ice cream in February is ALL prana, baby.

So, this Sunday at Paris Yoga, we're going to celebrate the transition from summer to autumn by stocking away some of that yoga peach compote into our Divine root cellar, to pull out in the bleakest part of winter when our practice is lacking in vitality and our bodies feel heavy, weak, cold, and depressed. (How's that for an over-the-top yoga metaphor?)

Our autumn practice conditions us, prepares us, preserves us to be able to handle a harsh winter without succumbing to every last cold, flu, or crankiness in the air. It also brings a bit of levity when the heaviness of winter makes us take ourselves too seriously ;-)

This will be a core awakening, strength building, humor required workshop. It is not for absolute beginners. Bring water.

See you dimanche ~
Autumn Equinox Workshop
10h30 - 12h30
Paris Yoga, 9 rue Magellan
Metro - George V

Yoga Gratuit & La Fete du Jardins Partages a Paris

This Saturday, 22 September (the equinox), is the Paris-wide, (portes ouvertes) celebration of le jardin partager and urban agriculture and their vital contribution to this ultra-urban existence.

So, if you think Paris urban terroir is all cobblestone, concrete, bridges, Haussmann, and overly ornate parks ~ think again. There are reclaimed parking lots, railway beds, and other derelict spaces that for years have been thriving as community gardens, mini-farms, and vibrant gathering places for the young/old, rich/poor, artists/suits, yuppies/bohos, natives/immigrants... They have been cobbled together with few resources; donations, sweat, and unbridled creativity. They shine with eye popping colors, awe with Burning Man-scale sculptures, and buzz with high-frequency vibrations. We share seeds, tips, produce, stories, ideas, labor, meals, music, heartbreak, and laughter. These little pockets of love tucked in hidden corners all over (mostly northern) Paris are how many of us non-urbanites survive the less-than-forgiving intensity of our dear city of light and get back to the source.

Given that I dedicated 15 years of my professional life to all things SUSTAINABLE, URBAN, AND AGRICULTURE, my participation is pretty natural. It is an honor to have become the unofficial yoga teacher of the les jardins partages dans le 18eme!

I have been asked by my beautiful friend, Cyril, to contribute to the weekends' festivities by offering a *free* all levels yoga class en plein air in Jardin du Ruisseau for their "Happy Culture" fete at 16h, THIS SATURDAY.

Jardin du Ruisseau is located at 

Rue du ruisseau - Entrée sur le pont enjambant la voie ferrée à coté du n°110 750018 Paris. 

Metro 12 - Jules Joffrin. 

Join us and discover a Paris beyond the cliches ;-)

Tapis is required! None are available. 

Belle Rentree a Tous!

Autumn in Paris
Originally uploaded by brunotto [Still very busy...]

I'm here. I'm alive. I'm breathing long and full and embracing each inhale and each exhale as the blessings they are, while letting illusion fall away like autumn leaves.

I dedicate this rentree to my Mom, the greatest woman who walked the earth.

I hope your summer provided open space, delicious tastes; a little bit of sun time and a whole lot of fun time!

Ready, Get Set, Go...

RENTREE SCHEDULE BEGINS Friday, 31 AUGUST, 18H30 SLOW FLOW AT CENTRE DE YOGA DU MARAIS under the BLUE MOON!

Public Classes ~

Tuesday, 19h30, All Levels Flow, Paris Yoga
Wednesday, 12h30, All Levels Flow, Paris Yoga
Wednesday, 19h, All Levels Flow, YogaYogaParis (New Class!)
Friday, 18h30, Slow Flow, Centre de Yoga du Marais
Saturday, 12h, Bhakti Flow, Centre de Yoga du Marais (Note the new, earlier time!)

Pre-Registered Classes ~

Tuesday, 18h30, Pre-Natal Yoga, Paris Yoga
The pre-natal session will run from 25 September - 11 December.
Contact andy.king@chameleonfitness.net for registration.

Workshops ~

I will be offering monthly workshops at both Paris Yoga and YogaYogaParis; all theme-based working with seasonal changes and other good ideas that come to mind ;-)
Join us one Sunday and/or Wednesday/month to get curious, get sweaty, and go deep.

Autumn Equinox Workshop
Saturday 23, September 10h30 - 12h30
Paris Yoga
Reservations required. Contact info@parisyoga.com

All other workshop dates and times to be announced.

Private Classes ~

I am making changes to my private client teaching schedule this year. I am no longer teaching in-home private sessions. I will be teaching all on-going private and semi-private sessions in either Paris Yoga, YogaYogaParis, or Centre de Yoga du Marais. My private teaching schedule is filling up.
Here are the available time slots for on-going (multiple) private sessions:

- Tuesdays, 15h30 - 16h30, YogaYogaParis
- Wednesdays, 11h15 - 12h15, Paris Yoga

"One-off" sessions are possible at other times.
Contact me if you'd like to know more about how private sessions work.

Retreats ~

Who thinks Yoga & Terroir and Scuba in Zanzibar, during the spring 2013 holidays sounds like a good idea? It is manifesting, oh yes it is.

Hmm... 10 - 14 days of yoga, diving, eating, relaxing, soaking in the magical Indian Ocean and the vibrant Zanzibari culture AND you leave with a PADI certification.

Yeah, sounds pretty good.

My good friend and colleague, Pierre-Francois, documentary filmmaker/photographer/advanced dive instructor, and I have been talking about this for years. We're in the early stages of bringing this long-held vision into reality.

Contact me if you are interested.

Due to the events of the summer, I am NOT returning to California this year for my annual Yoga & Terroir autumn retreat and workshop.

Special Events ~

YOganesha! 2012
Join us at our urban garden, EcoBOX, on Sunday, 2 September at 11 am for a free yoga class to celebrate all things Ganesha and rentree!
Details are in the blog post. MATS REQUIRED.

"Happy Culture" at the Jardins du Ruisseau
I am delighted to have been asked to offer a yoga class (gratuit) for this awesome event celebrating urban agriculture, communal gardens, and biodiversity, occurring right here in Paris, on Saturday, 22 September at 15h.
The event takes place as Jardins du Ruisseau at 110 rue du Ruisseau, 18eme. Metro: Jules Joffrin.
Details are on the Facebook page.

Yoga Festival Paris 2012
On 19, 20, and 21 October, Paris will host its first *non-commercial* yoga festival, showcasing the cross-section of yoga now being offered in our beautiful city and the dynamic people who have fostered its growth. The event is sponsored by the independent journal, Sante Yoga, and is being held at the beautifully renovated CentQuatre in the 19eme. Ann Moradian and I will be participating in the event, eager to talk about our offerings, inspirations, and collaborations. More details to come!

Class Cards ~
Class cards purchased from me work at Centre de Yoga du Marais ONLY. YogaYoga Paris and Paris Yoga handle the class card system on behalf of my classes, at those centres.

As the high sun of summer begins to fall into the long shadows of autumn; as the leaves and the flowers begin to wilt and drop - fear not, dread not. This is just a change; a good and necessary change. So, let's flow with it, not resist it, and trust that all is well.