I love this message from Brene Brown. You belong exactly as you are. No need to squeeze, constrict, or shape your self. No need to bend or contort to fit some imagined or implanted (by the culture) ideal. How many of us spent our adolescence (or perhaps our whole lives) trying to fit in? This desire is very human, encoded in our DNA, and reinforced by millions of years of evolution. From our earliest days on the planet, a lonely human was a dead human. We are a social species, and we need each other.
That being said, sometimes we get in each other’s way. If class is full, someone may already be in your favorite spot (I know I have one). Maybe you came early and set up your mat, but you have to move and readjust as others come in.
All of it is an opportunity to practice - a chance to take our asana practice off the mat and into our daily lives. In some ways, yoga is about getting comfortable being uncomfortable. You might have days and even weeks of blissful physical practice, but there will inevitably be bumps on the road: injury, illness, loss, disappointment. How will you respond?
The practice of yoga is one of allowing our selves, our bodies, minds, and spirits to be exactly where we are, and then to get quiet enough to notice as it changes. Not out of a need for betterment or self-improvement, but from a place of kind, curious, compassion for this one particular version of the human condition.
Ilana reminded us this morning that the solar eclipse is a chance to observe and be a part of a “larger-than-human” experience, a chance to put our human concerns into perspective. We are, afterall, simple, individuated specks of star dust making a few trips around the sun before we merge back into the cosmic soup. I aim to be fully awake, alive, and aware of every precious moment.
My friend, Kristi Nelson (Author of Wake Up Grateful) says, “When you see life as a gift, you are always receiving.” This community is a gift. A warm, sunlit room is a gift. The opportunity to be led through an hour of yoga asana is a gift, a chance to deepen our appreciation of the present moment. It is all a gift.
It’s ok to come late or leave early. No one should be rushing to yoga. Plus, a few minutes of yoga practice is better than no minutes of yoga practice. All distractions are reminders to begin again and focus our attention on our own experience: our breath, our bodies, our practice. It is a great privilege to have the opportunity, time, and space to practice together. Thank you for being a part of this community. You belong!
With Love, Love, Love,
Linda
As always, our classes are offered freely to all. No registration required. Donations are gratefully accepted, but not expected. We want the benefits of community practice available to all.
Befriending the Body – with Linda Castronovo
Sunday, April 14, 2024 2:00 – 4:00 PM My Health Matters 1 Mill Valley Road, Hadley
There are a few remaining openings for my workshop at My Health Matters in Hadley on Sunday, April 14 (2-4 PM). It’s a free, donation-based offering called Befriending the Body, a two-hour introduction to the tools of yoga for quieting our inner critics and embracing the bodies we have.
Body acceptance has been a lifelong journey for me, and yoga and meditation have played a big role in my ability to live more comfortably in my body. I am excited to share what I’ve learned with others who want to improve their relationships with their physical home in a gentle and supportive environment.
Maybe you have friends or family members who think that yoga and meditation are not for them. Perhaps their primary image of yoga is one of thin, white women in extreme stretches. Maybe they think they can’t meditate because sitting in perfect stillness with a calm, clear mind is not in their wheelhouse.
In this workshop, I’ll guide gentle movement and breathwork to nurture the body and deepen awareness. We’ll use guided meditations, visualizations, and journaling to befriend the body. No more pushing, straining, or trying to achieve a particular shape. Our minds naturally think and sense. It's what minds do. This is not yoga as exercise (that is, TELLING the body what to do), but yoga as LISTENING to the body.
Befriending the Body is not a quick fix. It’s an introduction to simple tools and practices that have a dramatic effect over time.
Maybe you or someone you know is “yoga-curious.” Maybe you think you “should” do yoga for your bones, or your mental health, or to age more gracefully. This workshop is an invitation to a more accepting, appreciative relationship with your body. No SHOULDING allowed.
Thank you for sending this on to anyone you know who may be interested.
Again, it’s a free workshop, but donations are accepted, and pre-registration is required.
Linda Castronovo (M.S. Exercise Physiology) is a yoga teacher, writer, and retired teacher and coach. A lifelong dieter and CSA survivor, Linda spent years binging and restricting. She used food and exercise to stuff uncomfortable feelings and sculpt, shape, and shrink her body. Thanks to the tools of yoga and meditation and genuine support, she now lives more comfortably in her body.
Meditation Practice Group
Mondays 5:30-6:30 PM Munson Library 1046 South East Street Amherst
Join our instructors for an on-going inquiry into the practice of meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in, interactive class led by various teachers on Mondays at 5:30 PM at Munson Library. Practice breathing, guided meditation, visualization, and gentle movements to deepen your meditation practice and build your ability for mindfulness throughout your day.
Our events are free and open to all. Donations are appreciated, but not expected. No pre-registration is required. So far, donations have not covered the cost of room rental for this class. We will continue to offer this class through the month of April, but will have to discontinue if we can’t increase attendance. Please spread the word!
Move with Tiffany
In addition to Thursday mornings at the Munson, you can find Tiffany all around the valley! Email groundedinwellness365@gmail.com for more information.
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 PM at UMASS
Saturdays 11 AM - Noon at the White Barn in Amherst
More Yoga with Sebastian
More Yoga with Ilana:
Mondays: Kripalu Online Studio, 6:30 am Meditation, 7 am Gentle Yoga
Wednesdays: Serenity Yoga, South Hadley, MA, 9:30 am Classic Yoga
Saturdays: Munson Library, South Amherst, MA 8 am donation-based yoga
Upcoming Workshops at Serenity Yoga (South Hadley) - Registration opens soon!
May 14 - Reiki 101
June 11 - Arm Balancing
June 21 - Solstice Celebration (108 Sun Salutations)
More Yoga with Erin:
Prenatal / Postnatal Yoga Thursdays 4:30-5:45pm at Serenity Yoga & Wellness in South Hadley: in-person OR online (rolling registration through 3/14)
All Levels Yoga Tuesdays 8-9am at Munson Library (Yoga Outside) in South Amherst: donation-based, all are welcome
Yoga Flow Saturdays 9-10am at Central Rock Gym in Hadley: free for members or $15 to drop-in
Midday Yoga Tuesdays 12:30-1:40pm at Serenity Yoga & Wellness in South Hadley
Monthly Partner Yoga Saturday, 3/23 10:15-11:20am at Central Rock Gym in Hadley: must pre-register, everyone is welcome, either solo or pre-partnered
Private Practice: Erin is now accepting clients in-person and via Zoom.
Interested in Other Workshops?
Our two evening classes have only intermittent attendance. Tell us what you’d like to see offered. Interested in an inversion workshop, pranayama, meditation? Let us know.
Thank YOU for being a part of Yoga Outside!
For more information, teacher bios, and an up-to-date calendar, check out our website. You can also find us on Facebook. If you’ve missed past newsletters, you can find them in the Newsletter Archive on Substack. Thanks for being a part of Yoga Outside.
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I love all of this! I wish I was local, but who knows I may show up in person one day:)