You often hear me talk about expansion and contraction, and the pulse of your breath, bones, and body in yoga. This pulse we are referring to is known as Spanda.
The word Spanda comes from the Yoga Spandakarika and teaches us that everything in the world is vibration and pulses at different frequencies.
Our yoga mat is the perfect place for us to tap into Spanda. We begin to connect to the beat of our heart, the rhythm of our breath, and the pulsing of our organs, glands, and bones.
By tuning in and moving with the pulsation of this energy in our bodies we begin to tap into our true nature. There are times we feel full and expansive, literally "swollen with light," and times we are contracted and withdrawn, emptying ourselves for something new to fill us back up.
Start to notice the next time you are on your yoga mat where you are full, and where you are empty. Where are you clenching and where are you open. Where can you breathe new life into your body and where should you let go. Allow yourself to tap into your own natural rhythm, your spanda. Then allow that vibration to carry with you off your mat and into your life. As we take our yoga off our mats, we begin to see with clear eyes where in our lives we are contracting and holding onto things that no longer serve us, and where we need to open our hearts and our minds to something new.
"Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you'd be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds wings." -- Rumi
May your heart be open and your life be full,
Sara
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FREE YOGA STRETCH FOR MARATHON RUNNERS
WITH HEATHER DENDY
Preparing the body for a marathon involves thousands of repetitive steps which overtax specific muscle groups. These include the hamstrings, hip flexors, and calves but also the muscles of the outer hips and thighs.
Yoga Stretch helps lengthen out these tight spots, speed up recovery and restore your body to a natural range of motion to help you avoid overuse injuries. On the strength side, yoga stretch helps protect potential weak spots such as the core and spine stabilizers, and muscles of the feet and ankles which absorb two to three times the body weight on every stride.
Bring your mat.
FIRST TENNESSEE PAVILION
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2 P.M.
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NEW EXTENDED CHILDCARE HOURS! $5 PER CHILD
If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else. We want to make that a little bit easier for you, by offering more child-care options.
Child-care is now available:
MONDAY
8:30, 10, 4, 6
TUESDAY
8:30, 10, 12, 4, 6
WEDNESDAY
8:30, 10
THURSDAY
8:30, 10, 12, 4, 6
FRIDAY
8:30, 10
SATURDAY
8:30, 10
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WHIRLY BIRD KIDS YOGA
MARCH 7-APRIL 18
Get ready to twirl, twist, and take flight! In Whirly Bird yoga, children will have a great time learning yoga basics through playful movement and games! Students will gain strength and flexibility and will learn breathing techniques to help calm their bodies and minds
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$75.00 for 6 sessions
Class meets on Wednesdays 4-5pm
No class on 4/1
Pre-K- 2nd grade
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SPARK YOGA
( FOR GIRLS 11-14)
MARCH 11-APRIL 22
SPARK is a Balance class series that helps girls, ages 11-14, recognize their inner light and encourages them to let it shine.
Through yoga, journaling, crafting, quiet reflections, and group discussion, the girls will learn tools that will help them navigate the tween and teen years with gratitude, positive thinking, and confidence.
SPARK is a fun and supportive sisterhood where girls are united with the common goal of honoring their individual differences and sharing their light with the world.
To help encourage generosity and a giving spirit, a percentage of the class cost will go towards sponsoring a sister class offered through a local non-profit.
6 weekly classes.
Class meets on Sundays 5:30-7pm
Classes will be 1.5 hours each
Cost $125
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DO NOT MISS! GUEST TEACHER
GIOCONDA PARKER
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 6-7:30P
Join guest teacher Gioconda Parker for a 90 minute full spectrum Vinyasa Flow class. Sequences will build on one another with options throughout class to help you enjoy a practice that offers you the right amount of challenge to grow your practice and the right amount of fun to keep you coming back.
Gioconda has been practicing and teaching yoga for 20 years, and is still learning something new every day. Her enthusiasm for the practice is contagious and her dedication to yoga comes through in every class. Whether you are flowing in her artfully sequenced vinyasa classes, or moving through the layers in yin, her guidance and support keep you safe, steady and focused. In addition to years of yoga training, she also holds a Master's Degree in Transpersonal Psychology and is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Find out more about her at
www.giocondayoga.com
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EMBODY THE YAMAS WITH MADIA SWICORD
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 11AM - 1PM
75 minutes of Power & Yin
followed by 45 minutes reflective speak-easy.
Yamas are like a map written to guide you on your life's journey. Simply put, the Yamas are an invitation to self-study. The five Yamas guide our intentions & relationships with other people.
Sunday, March 25th, 11:00am - 1:00pm
w/Madia Swicord, LMT, E-RYT 500
$25/person
4 hrs CEU’s available to Certified Yoga Teachers
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PRANAYAMA & MEDITATION 101
BEGINNER'S SERIES WITH HEATHER
MONDAYS, 7:30-8:45PM
STARTS APRIL 16
Join Heather for breath & meditation techniques to enhance your studio & home practice and learn the benefits of pranayama.
BENEFITS ARE:
- Stimulate Brain Growth
- Improve Heart Rate Variability
- Lower Stress Levels
- Alleviate Anxiety
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Alter Gene Expression
- Improve Circulation
- Improve Memory & Cognitive Growth
- Reduce Chronic Pain
- Provides a Sense of Calm & Balance
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DRUMINYASA:
CONNECTING YOGA WITH LIVE DRUMMING
TUESDAY, APRIL 17 6-7:30PM
Feel the rhythms of the drums as you connect breath, heartbeat, mind & body to a vinyasa flow led by
Sara Mingus
to the beats by percussionist Brad Ellsworth of Druminyasa. Melt into the end of your practice with a percussion sound bath to ultimately relax your body and enlighten your mind.
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STRETCHING FOR GOLFERS
WITH HEATHER AND KAT
SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 3-4:30PM
S
Preparing the body for a round of golf involves thousands of repetitive steps and swings which overtax specific muscle groups. Yoga Stretch helps lengthen out these tight spots, speed up recovery and restore your body to a natural range of motion to help you avoid overuse injuries. Join Kat and Heather for a class tailored just for golfers that will prepare you for your next match.
$22 includes mat rental and a beer!
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NEW IN RETAIL!
We are in the process of bringing in a load of new things-including, books, soaps, salves, scrubs, apothecary, and candles, new clothing lines, oil diffusers, protein bars, jewelry, and props! Be sure to check out the retail before or after your next class!
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ON THE HORIZON
Artful Yoga with Heather Dendy & Sara Mingus
Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Hunter Museum
Power Yoga Beginner's Series with Sara
Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m.
May 17-June 21
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MEET HANNAH LANCASTER
NEW Studio Manager
Hannah's love of yoga, life, community, and health is contagious, as is her playful excitement upon which she builds her classes. Integrating thoughtful alignment with fluid and conscious movement allows for her students to steep in the goodness their practice has to offer at that moment. She focuses on the importance of a strong foundation to build quality from our roots and getting to know yourself through humor, movement, energy, and breath. Hannah completed her 200-hour training in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia and is continuously in awe of the humbling openness of the yoga practice. Hannah strives to create a space where her students feel safe and adventurous within the spiritual and physical realms of their practice to aid in conquering their fears on and off the mat. Expect encouragement, giggles, and a wide open heart.
Fun Facts:
-My dosha is Vatta/Pitta
-You can find me doing one of the following when I'm not working at SSY: Biking, snuggling my most perfect creature of a dog, hiking, kayaking, cooking, reading, and traveling.
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