2013 Mantra

Refinement
Originally uploaded by PHLB - Luc B

Refinement through simplicity.


My teaching theme for the year.
My practice theme for the year.
My raison d'etre for the year.

"Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify,  simplify,  simplify! I say, let your affairs be as two or three,  and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen,  and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail."

Henry David Thoreau

Nouvel An Rentree

roots
Originally uploaded by Michael Cory

(la traduction en français à suivre)

I hope you all had a little quiet time to celebrate, reflect, and hibernate over the holiday season.

2012 was a year of extremes; highs and lows in so many forms. For me it was a year of karmic cleansing, sands shifting, and illusions burning. 2013, by all astrological and Vedic reports, is supposed to be a year of calmer waters; less movement under the feet and more ability to feel grounded, stable, and strong.

A year for taking root.
A year for diving deep.
A year on which to build and grow and explore.
A year conducive for healing, forgiveness, and peace.

S'enraciner et atteindre le ciel.

Sounds good to me. On y va, we start now...

2013 FIRST TRIMESTER SCHEDULE

New Class ~

We have received lots of requests to add another evening class at Paris Yoga.
So, beginning this week at 19h and every Thursday evening, I will be teaching a Hatha Flow level I/II class (very similar to Wednesday 12h30) at Paris Yoga. (This class will not be appropriate for complete beginners.) I'm delighted to offer this as it will complement the Tuesday 19h30 class nicely. Tuesday class will continue to be a more mellow Hatha Flow, perfect for people newer to yoga and those of you more experienced yogis who want to BALANCE your week with both a mellow and dynamic class. Consider that in a slower class you can pay close attention and refine your practice by correcting poor habits that are forming (happens to the best of us). A balanced practice is the most effective practice.

Pre-Natal Yoga Announcement ~

After several wonderful years of teaching pre-natal yoga, I am taking at least a one-year break from both group classes and private sessions. I'll miss the radiant mamas and their brilliant energy, but have chosen to hone my 2013 focus almost entirely on my seasonal Vinyasa Flow method through public classes, workshops, retreats, and intermediate immersions/trainings.
Sharon Bales, certified pre-natal yoga instructor and founder of Yoga for Fertility/Yoga for Life and Whole Woman Workshops, has agreed to take over the pre-natal program at Paris Yoga. You'll be in good hands. If you or any of your newly pregnant friends are looking for weekly pre-natal classes, the program begins 15 Jan and is a 12-week session.
Pre-registration is required. Contact Joelle at contact@parisyoga.com.

IMPORTANT ! Brief Absence 13 Jan - 21 Jan ~

As most of you know, my dear Mom passed on this summer after a brief bout with cancer. I need to return to New York 13 Jan - 21 Jan to lend a hand as my family continues to help my Dad move into the next phase of his life. During this time, I will have replacements for ALL of my classes at Paris Yoga, YogaYoga Paris, Centre de Yoga du Marais, and Big Apple Yoga. Private sessions are cancelled. Merci beaucoup for your understanding and patience.

Public Class Schedule ~

Tuesday, 19h30 - Hatha Flow All Levels - Paris Yoga
Wednesday, 12h30 - Hatha Flow Level I/II - Paris Yoga *
Wednesday, 19h - Vinyasa Flow Level I/II - YogaYoga Paris * (reservations recommended)
Thursday, 19h - Hatha Flow Level I/II - Paris Yoga *
Friday, 12h30 - Bhakti Flow All Levels - Big Apple Yoga France
Friday, 18h30 - Slow Flow All Levels - Centre de Yoga du Marais
Saturday, 12h - Bhakti Flow Levels I/II - Centre de Yoga du Marais * (reservations recommended)

*not appropriate for complete beginners

Workshop Schedule ~

Seasonal workshops will continue to be offered at Paris Yoga and YogaYoga Paris:

A New Perspective for a New Year - Sunday, 27 Jan, 10h30 - 12h30, Paris Yoga *
Winter Restorative - Wednesday, 6 Feb, 19h - 21h, YogaYoga Paris
Bowing Forward, Honoring Self - Sunday, 17 Feb, 10h30 - 12h30, Paris Yoga
Vernal Equinox Flow - Wednesday, 27 Mar, 19h - 21h, YogaYoga Paris *
Spring Wings - Sunday, 31 Mar, 10h30 - 12h30, Paris Yoga

*not appropriate for complete beginners

RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR WORKSHOPS.
Either contact me or the studios directly.

Retreats ~

Going Back to the Source: Yoga/SCUBA & Terroir Zanzibar!
I will be on retreat in Zanzibar from 2 Mar - 16 Mar.
We are taking yogis, ocean lovers, and adventure seekers to one of the most beautiful islands on earth for a complete yoga, terroir, and PADI certification experience.
All public classes will have amazing replacements during that time and private sessions will be cancelled.

Going Back to the Source: Yoga & Terroir at Les Pres d'Eugenie!
31 May - 2 June, 2013
I am delighted to have been asked to partner with Compagnie des Spas to offer my Going Back to the Source: Yoga & Terroir retreat experience at one of their most elegant locations in the southwest of France ~ Les Pres d'Eugenie. This extraordinary venue is run by Michel Guerard, 3 star Michelin chef committed to a cuisine d'un terroir authentique! Our first retreat weekend at Les Pres d'Eugenie will be a the end of May. The press conference to announce the Compagnie des Spas bien-etre partnerships was 13 Dec at the Hotel Royal Monceau and will be featured in publications in February and March. Formal invitations and more details to follow. We can take 10 lucky yogis, so if this sounds deliciously tempting to you, let me know and I'll make sure you're on the invitation list!

*Class Cards ~

2013 class cards for classes at Centre de Yoga du Marais will be available for purchase this Friday, 5 Jan and Saturday, 6 Jan. Class card options for the first trimester of 2013:

- 6-class card valid for 6 weeks after purchase = €102
- Full trimester class card valid until 6 April (28 classes) = €364
- Drop-in Class = €20 (Drop-in class is €15 for full-time students and the unemployed)

If you are a regular student at Centre de Yoga du Marais and have a class card with me, you can bring a guest and their first class is gratuit!

*(Remember class cards purchased directly from me are only valid at Centre de Yoga du Marais. All of my classes at other studios are handled through the individual studios' payment system.)

Enfin, I just want to offer a heartfelt thank you for your commitment to your practice and your presence in my life. I feel extremely grateful to be on this joy-filled, bumpy, scary, and hilarious yoga/life journey with you.

Let's offer up our intentions together for a year of forgiveness, health, clarity, tolerance, stability, growth, contentment, and peace. Way beyond the physical pose ~ past the struggle and the fear, past the ego and judgement ~ lies a place. This is a quiet, spacious, clear space called Atma. As our Atma begins to shine bright, we radiate onto others, making our personal lives, communities, and the world better places to be.

Here's to cultivating the truest meaning of yoga in 2013!

Pre-Holiday Hibernation Atelier

Hibernation (Color)
Originally uploaded by Nicole Webb

Over-committed? Frazzled? Short-fused? Chronically tired?

Then come hibernate for two hours...

Pre-Holiday Atelier w/Amanda
Sunday 9 December, 10h30 - 12h30
Paris Yoga, 9 rue Magellan
Metro ~ George V

The end of the year can be a source of great fun coupled with anxiety and exhaustion.
End-of-year deadlines, over-consumption, over-spending, family obligations, colder weather, and travel challenges can lead to stress and illness. This workshop will focus on those (semi-restorative/mega-yin) poses and breathing techniques that can keep the nervous system regulated (keep your cool), boost the immune system (stay healthy), and encourage us to make sustainable choices in the flurry of this busy time (consume less, enjoy more).

Reservations required. Contact Joelle for registration ~ contact(at)parisyoga.com
Atelier avec Amanda
Ressourcez vous avant les fêtes
Dimanche 4 décembre 2011 10h30 à 12h30
40 €
Cet atelier vous prépare pour la période de fin d'année qui peut-être à la fois joyeuse et remplie de stress. L'atelier sera focalisé sur les postures et les respirations qui équilibrent le système nerveux, vitalisent le système immunitaire et nous aident à faire des bons choix. Accessible à tous niveaux, à part grands débutants. Venir avec l'estomac léger et apporter une bouteille d'eau.

New Class at Big Apple!

apples
Originally uploaded by msr

Anyone who knows me knows I love: yoga (life fully dedicated), teaching yoga (reminding students of their inherent awesomeness), apples (precisely those from upstate NY and Normandy), autumn (my very favorite season), Paris (the beautiful seductress), New York City (& hate, but mostly love, especially in autumn), and ambitious, (com)passionate people living their dharma (pour example ~ Janelle Watters Oliel).

That's why when the gleeful, enthusiastic, (oh my goodness, you like her immediately) Janelle asked me earlier this autumn to join her in her dream of bringing a little taste of NYC spirit to Paris in the form of a beautiful brick and mortar lieu s'appelle BIG APPLE YOGA, how could I refuse?

When your initial lunch meeting consists of words and proclamations/exclamations like: "non-dogmatic", "inclusive", "yoga for all", "classes for cancer survivors", and "oh my god, you went to NYU too?", you know you're in the right place.

My inaugural Big Apple Yoga class is this Friday, 30 November, at 12h30 - 13h45. It will be Bhakti Flow, level I/II. So treat yourself to a long lunch break every Friday and feel revitalized for the entire weekend!

Oh, and this week there will be chocolate (I love that too, but not as much as apples).

Big Apple Yoga
20 rue Dussoubs
75002
Metro(s) - Etienne Marcel and Reaumur Sebastopol

Deep Core Atelier - mercredi!

Apple Core
Originally uploaded by robertolsenart

The "Core". Yoga teachers toss that word around all the time, but what does it mean, where is it, and how does it work? And, how does having a weak core translate into a sloppy yoga practice and injuries on and off the mat? (Hint: It has so very little to do with having 6-pack abs.)

This Wednesday at 19h - 21h at YogaYoga Paris, we will learn how to access the innate intelligence that lies in the mysterious core in order to stay strong, balanced, and healthy during the colder, darker months. Fortify from the inside out so that your postures have more integrity, your transitions are smooth, and your winter is a whole lot more tolerable!

This workshop is not for complete beginners. Bring water and a sense of humor!

YogaYoga Paris
6 passage de la Vierge (off of rue Cler)
Metro - Ecole Militaire
Reservations required - amanda@dogayoga.net

Free the Hips - dimanche!

laugh
Originally uploaded by trintrinkurbstompa

Reminding everyone of the cold weather version of the Free-the-Hips workshop this Sunday, 18 November at Paris Yoga, 10h30 - 12h30.

Oh, there will be asana and pranayama and sweat and a big collective sigh of relief.

To prepare, I highly recommend laughing wholly and heartily until tears stream down your face and your knees get weak, at least twice in the next few days. There is no better relief for the too-serious uptightedness that happens to all of us this time of year (which inevitably collects in the hips), than a little comedy relief.

I, for one, laughed myself silly this morning and my pigeon pose has never felt better. Oh, and I'm a lot nicer too.

If you need a head-start, give this a read...The Haters Guide to the Williams-Sonoma Catalog. For the French who don't know what a "Williams-Sonoma" is, that's okay. You'll get it.
(Not for the faint-hearted or overly sensitive ;-)

A dimanche!
Paris Yoga
9 rue Magellan
Metro - George V
reservations suggested - info@parisyoga.net

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