Gratitude- Habitat Build Dec 2010

Just a quick note to say thank you friends. Thank you for carving out a large part of your day on Saturday to not just build a home. But to continue to build the foundation of service at the Blue. To Jill, myself and many others at the studio, this piece, Seva, is just as important at the asana, the pranayama, the meditation and the mantra. With your help we brought together the pieces of Yoga and hopefully inspired others to do the same.

Om Shanti,
Carrington

White Friday playlist (and sing-along)

Thanks for all who came out to make a great post holiday flow! Here is the playlist from White Flow on Friday, Nov. 26. If you were there, thanks so much for all the sing-a-long and walk down memory lane. If you missed it, feel free to browse it and have your own memory walk....mmmmm mmmmm good!

~ Yvonne

Kids Yoga at Blue Lotus

The first kids yoga series at Blue Lotus has come and gone. We had a great group of kids and I am grateful for the positive energy they brought to the space each week. Working with kids is like working with soft clay before it has begun to get hard and difficult to shape into anything other than what it is at that moment. There was such a willingness to hear and try new things without judgement of themselves or others. I loved seeing them experience new poses, learn about the power of the their breath and develop new friendships with each other.

Yesterday was the first Tuesday in 11 weeks we did not have class and I missed seeing their smiling faces!

Many thanks for the opportunity!

Jen

Friday's Playlist

Hi Friends,

Wanted to pass along my latest playlist from class on Nov. 12th. Hope you enjoy.

Peace and Om,

Carrington

Retreat to the mountains...

A few weeks ago, seventeen of us packed into our cars and headed west. Although it was just a few hours' drive from Raleigh, it felt like worlds away from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life.

We drove out to the Prama Institute, located in Marshall, NC, about twenty minutes north of Asheville. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s nestled among 150 acres of rolling hills and forest lands strewn with hiking trails, with the French Broad River just five minutes away. Its scenic and peaceful surroundings created the perfect place for us to recharge body, mind and spirit.

Julee and I led yoga practices and meditation sessions, we enjoyed AMAZING(!) food, and the rest of our time was spent lazing in the sun, telling stories by the fire, and exploring the forests and river nearby. You won't want to miss this next time! Our photo album features the brave explorers who followed me down a steep ravine and into the river, but you'll see that fun was had by all.

It was such a great weekend, in fact, that we've already booked two weekends for 2011! Mark your calendar for next year's mountain getaways: June 3-5 or October 14-16, 2011.

Opportunity for Service!

Labor Day is generally a day of rest; a day off from the usual grind, and a chance to relax and enjoy what is usually a workday. Everybody looks forward to a day off, right? But even knowing this, I had no doubt when I got a call from Regina at the Wake County Women's Shelter that she really wanted to have their reception area painted ASAP that I'd have no problem finding enough willing hands to get the project done.

I sent out the all-call, and sure enough, about a dozen enthusiastic "Yes!" responses came back. The folks at the shelter were thrilled, and in a few short hours, we transformed the entire reception area, hall and bathrooms to look like new. What a great way to spend the day. Take a look!

Side note to the project at the shelter: Our fall fundraising "Global Mala" weekend, where we offered a whole day of classes-by-donation brought in over $1000 for the shelter. Thanks to all who taught, attended and donated!

*****

Our next service project is coming up on Saturday, November 13. We'll be participating in the DRA's effort to clean up Moore Square Park. Volunteers are needed to pick up litter, sweep sidewalks, help put together new site furnishings, add mulch, plant shrubs and trees, install pavers, and other repairs.

Join us in taking care of one of downtown Raleigh's precious few green spaces! Blue volunteers will meet at Morning Times (10 E. Hargett Street) at 8am. We'd love for you to join us-- just sign up on our Web Scheduler so we know you're coming.

Yoga Mala!

Four times each year we set up four rows of mats, crank up the stereo and count 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar A to mark the change of seasons. It's an odd practice, I suppose, but it has become a tradition. And it's my feeling that tradition is a good thing; rituals infuse meaning into the motions of everyday life.

Our Summer Solstice mala was a packed and sweaty celebration! Whether you were there for the fun or not, you might enjoy the playlist.

Peace!