Last night in Vinyasa ~ L2...

I get these great messages from you all on a daily basis.  And this
one I just had to share.  Anyone who was in class last night will
surely appreciate:

Wanna hear something funny?  This week in my home practice I
wanted to see what would happen if I practiced a most-hated pose,
which is Vira III.  Hate it especially when the arms are stretched out.
Any balance pose is hard for me since I gave up contacts and practice
half-blind, add the ridiculously anti-gravity arm position, the foot that
wants to sickle, tight hamstrings....the only thing worse is ardha
chandrasana.

So what do you offer me in the midst of my experiment?  A veritable
TRIFECTA of most-hated poses.  Not only Vira III but Hanumanasana
and Agnistambhasana to boot!  (what was that caturanga business...
I'm not even going there.)
Of course! More information for my experiment!!!

Thank you dear neighbor, friend, and teacher for always offering some
jewel or two...whether beloved or not....it's always good.  :-)

shanti shanti,
Stacey

I am sharing this with you because it is such a great reminder that
whatever we need to learn is almost always right before our eyes,
right in front of us, in plain view.  And even the things we like least-
on or off the mat- contain invaluable lessons, when we can show up,
pay attention, and do the work.

Thanks for sharing the journey...

Jill

Third Birthday Fundraiser

Namaste!

Time flies when you're having fun, right? This weekend we will celebrate the end of our third year of yoga in downtown Raleigh. And it has been a lot of fun! But more on that, later.

Last year, our fund raising efforts were directed to the Nepal House Society. During our "Blue Turns Two" fund raising weekend, the blue lotus yoga community raised over $5000 to support a therapy center for abused, abandoned and traumatized children in Nepal. In addition, we donated a percentage of 2009 Wee Boo-tique sales to Nepal House, and recently got this exciting news from Ashwin Sharma, the organization's Chairperson:

Dear Jill
What a wonderful surprise in our mail box today! Thanks to you and your wonderful yogis for all your continued support.

The Nepali team is doing well, we have opened a second therapy location in a community with a number of children with HIV and Aids. We hope that in about 15 months, maybe sooner, to open a school attached to the therapy project to focus on educating girls.

Again thank you, and many blessings Jill

Ashwin

These expansions were made possible, in part, by our amazing and generous yoga community. I've talked with Ashwin about the new center, and how much I'd love to make another trip to Nepal with a group of students to experience the culture and people, as well as lend a hand with some project at the school. Anyone getting a travel bug?

______________________________________________

But that was last year, and now we're three and nearly all grown up. :) This year, we focus our efforts to an immediate crisis a little closer to home. Please join our weekend full of activities and our fund raising project to support MercyCorps. Our goal is to raise $2500 next weekend toward recovery efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Click the link above for the weekend schedule, or visit the webscheduler. To help express our gratitude for your participation in Raleigh's amazing yoga community and our Third Birthday Bash:

• Receive a blue lotus water bottle with every $20 donation

• Get a raffle ticket with every $10 donation, or six tickets with every $50 donation, for a chance to win one of the many gifts donated by local businesses

• Buy a membership or class pass at opening day prices

• Pick up an item in the Wee Boo-tique- everything will be on sale!

THANK YOU for being a part of it all, and see you at the blue!

Peace,

Jill

My first posting on Blue's Blog ;o) -- as promised, below is the link to yesterday morning's playlist. I also wanted to recommend an amazing book, "How Yoga Works" by Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally. The authors creatively intertwine the yoga sutras ("threads" on yoga) within quite an amusing story, all done in layman's terms. Happy reading!

Thanks for making the Blue community a special place to BE.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=352237936

Love,
Michele

A letter, a reminder

I received a letter that every person who is a part of blue lotus should read. Luckily, I was also given carte blanche to share it as I saw fit. Well, I see fit to share in a big way. :)

Many of you know our curly haired, huge smiled, delightful, welcoming Tom. He was one of the original "Peeps" (our work-trade staff) and was a walking, talking advertisement for yoga, for blue lotus, and for the power of community.

He recently moved to Colorado, and for as much as we miss him, his presence is still very much in the studio.

He sent this lovely letter to me, which I am honored to share with you.

Enjoy.

Blessings,

Jill

2009 comes to an end

Namaste!

I can't believe that it was just last December when I was writing to you from Nepal. It seems like much, much longer than that.

It's been such an amazing year at blue lotus, thanks to YOU. We've graduated our first class of RYT-200 teachers from 9 months of transformation, the blue lotus yoga immersion & teacher training program, and have started the next course. Already, the program and our amazing teachers are building a reputation for excellence around the Triangle. If you haven't had a chance to experience a free Community Yoga class at blue lotus, check the schedule and check out Raleigh's newest teachers!

For those who have been asking about a 500-hour training program in Raleigh, stay tuned! We'll have news on the next phase of the blue lotus yoga immersion & teacher training program in the coming months.

It would also seem that our reputation as the best yoga studio in the Triangle-- with the most amazing community around-- is spreading far and wide! Thanks to YOU.

2009 Citysearch Best of Raleigh

Gaiam's Top Yoga Trends (#9)

So as we wrap up the year and the first decade of the new century, I'm full of gratitude. Thank you to the amazing blue lotus instructors who are the best ANYWHERE, and to our dedicated and loving "Peeps" the work-trade staff who keep the studio running smoothly. Even more, thank YOU for your continued support of this studio that so many people in the Triangle call their Yoga Home. I'm awed and inspired by our loving, supportive, devoted student community. It truly makes blue lotus what it is.

Blessings,

Jill

Yvonne' Playlist from Saturday, 11/21

Hi Friends!

Here is the playlist (as requested) from our Saturday morning vinyasa on 11/21. Have fun!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=342129897

thanks for making the blue an AWESOME place to be!

love,
-y
xo

Sunday Sadhana Playlist

This is the playlist from Sunday's YTT Sadhana. Enjoy my friends. ~Carrington

Click here to view...