Inner Light Outer Peace Yoga Blog

Did you know UPS drivers go up and down the steps of their truck over 400 times per day?

Thanks Alessandro for bringing this to my attention.

It was quite encouraging to read this on CNN today. Obama also said: “Our preference would be to get a shelter dog.”

Read my post from Tuesday about Bruno and you will understand why I feel validated by our new President. It’s an issue not likely to arise campaign time but certainly an important act of consciousness and responsibility.

Thank you Obama for setting a good example for the nation by considering a shelter pet to join your family in the White House.

Dew Yoga students contributed to a generous donation for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by practicing Yoga Nidra each month for the last 4 months.

We have decided to choose another charitable cause for the next several months. The next Yoga Nidra “Relax for Charity” will be held Friday, November 21, 6:00-6:45pm. See the Dew Yoga site for more details and information about the highly restorative practice of Yoga Nidra.

Keep reading to understand why this effort will be in memory of my dog friend, Bruno. These are words of my own personal experience and opinions, I share them with you because I personally hope we can evolve as more humane and responsible friends of animals.

This is Bruno.

Last Friday we had to say good bye to Bruno for his health was failing in ways that made it inhumane to extend his life with the marvels of modern medicine. Although he had 8 years on earth, he spent only a few of those in our home.

The story as we were told, is that he was purchased from a breeder and lived quite the pampered life in a mansion on Long Island. Even though he had the full time attention of a live in house keeper and the best medical care available, his human decided he could no longer take care of him and delivered him back to the breeder. Continue reading “Dew Yoga Nidra for Bruno and the Stamford Animal Shelter”

We have yet to recruit Snoopy and Woodstock but there is still time.

Look how talented, creative and handy is Yogini Sue!

She tried to brush it off saying, “it’s just paper-mache” and “I have the time”.

Sorry Sue, but with all the time, newspaper, flour and water in the world I still could not transform my family into a life size Peanuts Halloween special guest starring CowGirl Adorable.

Next year, I know who to call for costume assistance.

Yogini Nancy at the Y asked me about today’s reading from Mary Oliver. Here it is and it also on the Yoga Readings page here.

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on. Continue reading “Inspiration - Wild Geese”

Get Open Hips with Jen
Sunday, November 30, 2008
12 - 2pm

The hips are home to many vital organs as well as the seat of our creativity and sensuality. This post-Thanksgiving two hour session will get the creative juices flowing, and gently open the hips bringing liberation to the lumbar spine and often a release of toxic emotions.

What better time to get open in the hips than this season of thanks and giving.

$35.00/person, please pre-register, minimum 6/maximum 12 participants.

What’s wrong in the world? When will it stop? Can I make a difference? These are questions raised and answered in the book “The Trouble With the Alphabet”. A creative project to raise awareness of crimes and injustices to children around the world. Including dramatic portraits as well as information on 26 different countries and how to volunteer or be active with outreach programs aiming to stop abuses and human right violations.

Visit the website here to buy the book and to learn more. See the video below for a preview.

Meet Virginia.

Sharing a meal with her sisters, she is on the far right.

Virginia is such a light in my week, an eager student, a friendly smile and always a positive attitude. If there was need to exemplify the “beginner mind’ I would think of Virginia who welcomes each class as another opportunity to explore and broaden her horizons. Through difficult times she has held fast to her practice and enthusiasm for learning. As I have gotten to know her, it seems every conversation reveals another fascinating detail be it her immersion in Spanish, care and love of her family, her classes on Film Documentary, her genuine awareness and interest in community efforts and the list goes on. Chatting with Virginia always enriches my day.

I asked her the usual questions…

Q: How long have you been practicing Yoga?

A: I began practicing Birkam Yoga about 7 years ago at the behest of my Spanish teacher who had started practicing yoga. I found the Bikram extremely challenging but continued with it - determined to “be successful” - until early this year when I finally realized that I wasn’t finding joy in my practice. It was exhausting me. I was only able to take one class per week as the heat and the closed in feeling of the room wore me out. So, I started practicing at the Tully Center in Stamford where I found the classes less exhausting . . . enabling me to take more than one class per week and to begin to see some progress and improvement. My first exposure to Kripalu was a class I took on Lighthouse Beach in Chatham, MA (Cape Cod). A few years ago, a Kripalu trained teacher started offering classes every summer morning at 7:30. I fell in love with the classes immediately. I am sure that the early morning sunlight, the beautiful white sandy beach and the mighty North Atlantic are part of what seduced me. But, it was not all. The practice itself was so spiritual and fulfilling. Last summer I went to Lenox for a week of Kripalu yoga practice; that week convinced me. I realized that with the Bikram Yoga I had been fighting with my body and wearing myself out. With Kripalu yoga I had found a way to be at peace with myself.

Q:What fills your time off the mat? Continue reading “Dew Yogi of the Month - Virginia Atkins”

Ann Russell joins the schedule for a 4:00-5:30pm Thursday class. Drop in or add this class to your weekly practice schedule for a wonderful afternoon break in your day. Ann’s incredible presence, soothing voice and expert instruction will guide you through breath work, postures and a blissful relaxation.

Please join us in welcoming her to Dew!

Class begins Thursday, November 6, 2008. You can read Ann’s bio here.

Yogini Di offered this gem of a quote in my inbox today, couldn’t keep it to myself. Thanks Diana.

“As you give love out, it’s received and reciprocated–and it grows. That’s the beauty of it. Love is an energy. You can feed it to people, and they in turn feed it to others, and eventually it comes back.”

—Hill Harper