yogi fashion

(from left to right: Alex Ferm, Laruga Glaser, Amanda Yee, Kyrsten Randles, Pati Young)

Last Friday night, 5 of our yogis participated in the 2006 Short North Salon Showcase: Summer Hair and Fashion Show at Skulley's. It was quite the event! 5 salons were featured, including Max the Salon, Q Salon, Salon Lofts, Waldo's on High and HairColorXperts. The proceeds from this evening of high style and fabulous hair benefited CD101 for the Kids.

Free Kundalini Yoga Chant!

Sadhana in celebration of Yogi Bhajan's Birthday
Saturday, August 26 from 5:30am to 9am

Join your fellow yogis for a very special celebration commemorating Yogi Bhajan's blessed birthday. Lift your spirits and start your day with sadhana, when we will chant long Ek Ong Kars for 2.5 hours. Yogi Bhajan always said that if we do this chant/prayer on his birthday, all of our prayers and dreams will manifes! It is a very transformative experience.

Schedule:
5:30 - Door open
5:40 - Tuning/warmups
6:00 - Guru Ram Das, worldwide chant for peace
6:20 - 8:50 - Ek Ong Kars

Details:
Bring water and something comfortable to sit on (zafu or pillow). Wear comfortable clothing. If you have questions, please contact Donna Francis at 314-973-0563 or gr8donna@yahoo.com.

"Whatever you are, you are. Be proud of it." -YB

Namaste Ya'll

So, no doubt you've heard the term "Namaste" spoken by teachers and students at the end of a class. And perhaps you've noticed that certain movements seem to go along with it...closing the eyes with hands in prayer, a bowing of the head or body, a general demeanor of respect and acceptance. But what does "Namaste" mean? Literally translated, it means "I bow to you." It is accepted as a humble greeting straight from the heart. The gesture is representative of the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us. To learn more, click here.

New to yoga and not sure where to start? Confused as to why all those postures you hear about have animal names? Want to do something good for your body, mind and spirit? We have a 6-week Intro to Hatha Yoga session beginning Monday, August 21. This class will introduce students to basic postures and alignment, as well as various breathing techniques used in yoga. Participants will learn associated anatomical movements and grow to understand their own bodies, including its strengths, weaknesses and limitations. Students will gain the knowledge and confidence necessary for participating in a variety of yoga styles. This class meets every Monday night at 7:30. Cost for the 6-week session is $75. Call 614.265.9642 to begin your own yoga journey.

FYI: Donna's 9:30 Vinyasa and 11:30 Pranayama/Yin classes are cancelled on Sept. 16 due to the Dianne Kadonaga anatomy workshop!

general info

We're having a clothing sale!
All pants, skirts and tanks are now 20% off!

* The Moving Within workshop with Michelle Stobart scheduled for this Saturday has been cancelled.

Wanting to heat up your yoga practice? There's another Teacher Training information night this Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Be sure to check it out!

September Events:
Dianne Kadonaga's Experiential Anatomy of the Spine: Sept. 16-17
Music & Movement as Good Medicine: Sept. 29

Many thanks to Duncan and Zdenka for all of the beautiful flowers they have brought to the studio this summer!

Yoga Night Out!

Click here to see pictures from Marylaura's going away party at Spagio's! Apparently, things can get pretty crazy when a bunch of yogis go out for drinks and dancing on a Thursday night...

It's hard to believe August is here already, ushering in the official "dog days of summer." (Curious about where that term originated? Click here.) Nothing beats these warm evenings when the sun appears to want to hang in the sky forever, coloring the western horizon in brilliant shades of purple, orange, and red. Take off your shoes and take a stroll through the grass. Make a conscious effort to remember the way the blades feel against your bare soles. Notice the scent and hues of the moment, of summer. Then, when Columbus is bundled up in the midst of a February freeze, you'll be able to recall a slight bit of summer, of the freedom of endless heated days, and hopefully take an edge off the cold.

New faces, New places

All aboard!



It's time for two more familiar faces to embark on new places. Later this month, Marylaura, a Balanced Yoga instructor, will be moving to France and Nicky, our Tuesday night front desk volunteer, will be leaving for Singapore. We wish you both the best of luck in your transatlantic endeavors! You will be missed.

It's not too late to register for Michelle Stobart's Moving Within workshop coming up Aufust 19th! For more information, please visit our website or look at the "Workshops!" post from July 10th. Call 614-265-9642 to register.

Starting in September, we will be adding a new Mysore class on Monday and Wednesday mornings. The Kundalini yoga class at 7:30 pm Mondays will become a core yoga class. Karen Milligan will take over Marylaura's Friday 9 am Vinyasa class and Wednesday evening Pilates will become a regular, on-going session taught by Robin Anderson.

It's time for more weekend entertainment ideas!

• Dublin Irish Fesitval
• The Ohio State Fair
• Short North Gallery Hop (Saturday, August 5)
  

We've been getting some great feedback from those who attended the Capoeira Angola workshop and this weekend's events with Sat Kartar! A Capoeira participant wrote: "The neat thing about attending the workshop was that going into it I didn't have any expectations of what was going to take place, but afterwards found it to be quite interesting. The instructor was very passionate about his practice and knowledgeable. He gave what I thought to be a great introduction to the roots of the dance and was very interested in keeping the storied tradtions. Overall it was a great time and certainly unique." And, writing from my own experience of the Sat Kartar concert, I found the event to be very enlivening. Mike Cohen and his Kirtan group performed extremely well and did a great job of warming up the crowd's chant vocals. Sat Kartar's music was enchanting. Her voice, ability to improvise, and stage presence were strong and inviting. The evening was definitely a success, providing a nice blend of music, meditation, and movement.

Thanks to all who attended! Photos of this weekend to be posted soon!

Here's to the yogi in all of us!

Schedule Update

1. Tuesday night's Ashtanga Modified class is now going to focus on the Second Series of the system. Whereas the first series focuses on forward bends, the second series incorporates postures that put the focus on backbends. Just like before the change, students new to Ashtanga and those with more experience are encouraged to attend. The practice will include many but not all of the postures in the series. Modifications will be given and students will have the chance to work into more difficult postures while building strength and endurance.
2. Anne Downing will no longer be teaching her 8:30 Sunday morning Hatha class. But don't despair, the class will continue! Mike French has enthusiastically agreed to take over the helm.

Have any stories from your summer travels you'd like to share? How about a moment when you realized yoga was changing your outlook on life or the way you moved through the day? We'd love to hear from you. Please send your adventures, jokes, and realizations to info@balancedyoga.net.

Sat Kartar Weekend Offers

Click here for special offers on Balanced Yoga's Sat Kartar weekend.

Print off a coupon, bring it to the studio, and save some money when you come to enjoy these unique events!

Sat Kartar Concert
July 29, 2006: 6:30 pm

(Mike Cohen, a local Kirtan artist, will open the concert.)

Yoga of Sound Workshop
July 30, 2006: 10am - 1pm

For more information on these activities or to purchase tickets online, please visit spiritvoyage.com.

TGIF!

The birds of paradise and other tropical flowers Donna added to the front desk and back studio sure do brighten things up! For those of you in Columbus this summer, they will certainly bring a welcome vibe of exoticism and adventure.

As usual, it has been a busy week at the studio. The new Kundalini class began Monday, Rhonda Austin started her evening Pilates series on Wednesday night, and the first teacher training information session was held. Thanks for everyone who came out to these events, or attended one of our regular classes. I know Donna and the rest of us here feel continually blessed for having such supportive, good-natured and highly energetic yogis! You all make Balanced Yoga into the special place it is, a place where we can come comfortably together and create a moment of joy, of light heartedness and peace in an otherwise busy, chaotic world.

Here's some weekend events around town you might want to check out:

1. BY's Capoiera Angola workshop! Saturday at 3 pm.
2. Picnic with the Pops, featuring Kenny Loggins. A fun evening of food, friends, and music on the lawns of Chemical Abstract.
3. The 27th Annual Jazz & Rib Fest at Bicentennial Park and Genoa Park in the Downtown Riverfront. Free!
4. More interested in cheering on our local sports teams? The Crew is playing Los Angeles at 4 pm on Saturday and the Clippers are squaring off against Pawtucket each day this weekend.

Coming up at BY: a fall schedule with more hatha and ashtanga classes, as well as a new mysore morning class!

Mats, bags, and blocks, oh my!

We recently received a shipment of Modern Union bags, perfect for lugging around your mat, water, clothes, and other yoga accessories in style! We also got more Hugger Mugger super blocks and Tapas mats in a variety of colors: green for love and compassion, blue to represent communication and self-expression, purple for psychic and perception, and red for grounding and abundunce. We're also working on getting our own line of tanks and tees for the studio!

Reminders: The first of the teacher training information sessions is tomorrow night at 7:30. Also, the second 6-week Pilates series (led by Rhonda Austin) starts tomorrow night at 7:30.

Tips to beat the heat:

1. Try scooping up some of Jeni's seasonal ice creams...sweet basil with honey and pinenuts, her spicy fresh ginger, or the always amazing salty caramel! It's a sweet treat!
2. Take a dive into your local community pool or pack up the car for a picnic at Buckeye Lake.
3. Eat light. Fruits, salads, and soups are best due to their high water content.
4. Dress in light-weight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing.
5. Take yoga!

Correction

The Yoga of Sound workshop with Sat Kartar on July 30th is from 10am to 1 pm, not 3 pm as the earlier e-mail stated. Register today by calling 614-265-9642 or go to spiritvoyage.com to purchase tickets online!

Cancellation Notice

The Music and Movement as Good Medicine workshop tomorrow night has been cancelled! We apologize for any inconvenience. It is rescheduled to occur Friday, September 29th.

Workshops!

Moving Within: A day long yoga immersion course with Michelle Stobart. This workshop will provide methods for establishing, examining, and transforming a daily practice. It aims to guide and control the fluctuation of thoughts (chitta vritti) into a greater awareness of your inner wisdom and a greater understanding of oneness (yoga).

When: August 19th
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Cost: $100

Yoga and Your Plus-sized Body: Compassion and Empowerment
While it's true that yoga can lead to weight loss, this workshop will focus on modifying the flow of yoga asana to fit the individual participant, as well as developing the mind-body connection. Instructor Julia McSheffery will help participants learn to listen to their body's needs wile moving gently through a meditative flow of poses. Additionally, participants will learn to connect with the breath, using techniques and asana for stress relief, to build energy, and deepen self-discovery.

When: October 1
Time: 1-3 pm
Cost: $30

Please call 614.265.9642 to register.

Thanks to Mike Cohen and everyone who made the Yoga to Live Drumming class and potluck this month a success!

The 6-week Intro to Hatha Yoga series starts this Monday, July 10th at 7:30 pm. This class will introduce students to basic postures and alignment as well as various breathing exercises used in yoga. Students will learn will gain a better understanding of their own bodies, including strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. This class is aimed at giving students the basic knowledge and confidence they need to participate in a variety of yoga styles. Cost: $75.

FYI: Due to the Sat Kartar concert on Saturday, there will be no Yoga to Live Drumming class on July 28th. However, Alex's regularly scheduled Friday Vinyasa class will still take place.

Weekend entertainment ideas:
Shakespeare in the Park
3 actors are performing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged!) Friday-Sunday at 8pm in Schiller Park. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. I attended the show last weekend and had a great time. The performance is witty and packs plenty of laughs. (Read a review) I would suggest bringing a citronella candle, blanket, and some fresh foods to make the evening even more enjoyable.

North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival
Held Friday-Sunday, this event is sure to tickle everyone's tastebuds! For more information, click here.

Yankee Doodle

Happy Independence Day! If you're looking for fireworks, parades, and other 4th of July activities, check out the Dispatch for a schedule of local events.

(Balanced Yoga will be closed for the holiday.)

Spice It Up!

Rhonda Austin will begin teaching a Kundalini yoga class on Mondays from 7:30 to 9 pm starting July 17th. This sytle of yoga "focuses on the controlled release of the Kundalini (serpent power) energy which is found at the base of your spine. The practice involves classic poses, chanting, coordination of breath and movement, and meditation. The emphasis however, is not on the yoga poses, but on the chanting and breathing, which rewards yogis with spiritual transformation and unity consciousness" (info from ABCs of Yoga).

Our studio believes in balance. We like to offer many styles and off-shoots of yoga (everything from Ashtanga and Pilates to meditation and philosophy) in order to give students the chance to balance their practice, to keep their journey fresh and spirited. As they say, "Variety is the spice of life." So go ahead, try something new!

July 5th: Pilates Mat Intensive 6-week course begins. 12-1 pm
July 14th: Music and Movement as Good Medicine Workshop. 7-9:30 pm
July 19th: Evening Pilates Mat Intensive course begins. 7:30-8:30 pm
July 22nd: Capoeira Angola Workshop & Brazilian inspired potluck. 3-5 pm
July 29th: Concert with Sat Kartar; Kirtan with Mike Cohen. 6:30 pm
July 30th: Yoga of Sound Workshop. 10-3 pm

Namaste

Here's to a weekend of peaceful
adventures.

Busy Bees

The studio is heating up with activity right now.

The teacher training program is set to begin in September. It will be a 200 hour, year-long program based in the Hatha Yoga tradition. Students will be exposed to other styles including Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa Flow, as well as the meditation, philosophy, and anatomy aspects of a practice. Sessions will be held the first weekend of each month, Friday night through Sunday. The cost is $2775, which includes 2 anatomy workshops with Dianne Kadanaga and a weekend- long workshop with Todd Norian in December. Donna will host 2 general information sessions with those students interested in pursuing the program. The first will be July 19th at 7:30 pm and the second will be held August 16th at 7:30 pm. (You only need to attend one!) More details should be available on our website soon, but please feel free to call or write with any questions!

Another workshop is set for Saturday, July 22nd! Ed Luna will lead a spirited workshop on Capoeira, Angola, a dramatic dance-art-movement tradition from Brazil. You can learn more about Ed and the philosophy/history of Capoeira at TabcatColumbus. The session will be from 3 to 5 pm. Cost is $35. And be sure to join us for a Brazilian-flavored potluck afterwards!

Don't forgt, Lunch Time Yoga starts tomorrow at noon! It's sure to provide the relaxing break you desire in the middle of your day. See you there!