December 2019
747 Madison Ave, Albany
New Heartspace logo
10 Second Street, Troy
I'm really liking the new floor lamps in our Troy studio. Cozy.
News and Upcoming Events at Heartspace
Hello Heartspace friends,

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Whiskers Fundraiser, Yoga with Cats, and to instructor Alexis Stefanacci. We helped raise over $600 and learned a lot about doing yoga with a bunch of cats. Some, will go and hide under the Patanjali statue or the stereo. Others will walk around and rub against you, climb on you, and some will take a nap. Unpredictable creatures - but we love them. So, anyhow, mission accomplished.

We know these next couple weeks will get busy so we hope you'll stay on course with a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and regular yoga practice and connection with your yoga community. We hope to see you soon at the studio. Coming up:


  • Acroyoga, with Team Willco Saturday December 7. 1:15 - 3:15PM. Troy Studio. $25. Fly, base, spot and have fun with fun people.

  • Back-to-Basics Beginners Yoga. Mondays 5-6:15PM with Nadia El-Fawal. New weekly drop-in class. Albany Studio. Begins Monday December 9.

  • Restorative Yoga and Live-Classical Guitar. Friday December 13, 5:30 - 6:45PM. Instructor Samara Anderson and guitarist Terra Stone. Albany studio. Drop in class

  • (Pre) Solstice Sound Journey, Friday December 13, 8:30-9:30PM. Troy Studio. $15.

  • Core Dynamics: Strengthen Your Vital Energy. Master Class with Lauren Toolin. Saturday December 14, 9-11AM. Albany Studio. $30.



  • Nourishing Yoga for Athletes and Others: Shoulder Complex and Whole Body Destress. Saturday December 14, 2-4PM. Instructor Samara Anderson. Albany Studio. $25.


We also have January events listed below including Trauma Informed Yoga Training at our Albany studio presented by Yoga Vidya. Scroll down for more information on this and other upcoming workshops and series from now into January. Or for more info Visit our full listing of workshops and events.

warmly,
Andrew
Heartspace Gift Certificates can be used for class passes or workshops and special events.
Acroyoga, Saturday Dec 7 in Troy,
1:15 - 3:15PM
Acroyoga is an invitation to connect with others through awareness, breath and movement. Come solo or with a partner; either way we'll match you up with others as you move through base, spotting, and flying roles. $25. Click here for more information or to sign up!
(Pre) Solstice Sound Journey, Dec 13. 8:30PM. Troy
Solstice Sound Journey, Friday December 13, 8:30 - 9:30PM. Troy Studio.
Join Andrea Williams, Deb Segel, and Christina Saccoia, aka the Sound Sangha Sisters, for a Solstice Sound Journey that will take you to the realm of rest and rejuvenation in preparation for the Winter Solstice. The Solstice, taking place on December 21st, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Come on out and share your warmth and joyful intentions together at this sangha (community) gathering. While lying down or sitting, allow the sacred sounds of quartz crystal and Himalayan bowls, gongs, rattles, drums, bells, shruti and vocalizations to provide vibrational healing for new beginnings. Mats, blankets, and bolsters will be provided, but feel free to bring whatever makes you feel more relaxed, warm, and cozy.
Each on their own unique sound journeys, Andrea, Deb, and Christina come together with a deep desire to build a creative and compassionate space for the community.
This event is also a celebration for Andrea Williams, a Heartspace Sound Healing Practitioner, as she will be transitioning to Richmond, VA in January 2020. Lite snacks will be offered.  Ticket price: $15.00. Click here to preregister.

For more information on Andrea and Deb, visit their websites at: https://www.resonant-beings.com and http://deborahsegel.com
Core Dynamics,
Master Class with Lauren Toolin,
Sat Dec 14 in Albany. 9-11AM
This and other Master Class workshops are for anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge of yoga, the philosophy and practice behind this ancient tradition and are offered as part of ongoing teacher training programs but you don't have to be enrolled in the programs to participate. Cost $30 Click here for more information or to sign up this or other upcoming Master Classes.
  • Dec 14: Core Dynamics
  • Jan 11: These Hips Don't Lie
  • Feb 1: A Practice for Peace
  • Feb 8: Cultivating Calm: A Practice of Pratyahara
  • Feb 29: It's Prop-tastic!
  • March 28: Resolution in Action: Bandhas
Nourishing Yoga for Athletes and Other Bodies, Saturday Dec 14, 4PM in Albany: Shoulder Complex and Whole Body De-Stress.
Instructor Samara Anderson
Just in time for the holidays! Join Samara as she guides you into a deep, full body de-stress session and paying special attention to opening shoulders. Whether you're a runner, biker, athlete or anyone who would like to reclaim movement, comfort and function in your body, please join us for this series of monthly workshops with Samara Anderson. Each session will work towards a specific therapeutic goal for the body. Warm the body with a series of flowing movements and postures, and then settle and soothe with longer-held yin yoga to lengthen and restore. Be prepared to learn about the function and form of specific regions of your body and how to nourish and support them with movement and intention.  Cost: $25 per session. 2020 Schedule coming shortly.
Kids Yoga Tuesdays 4PM at our Troy studio. Weekly drop in class.
Meditation on Politics,
Sat Dec 14, 12:30PM. Troy Studio.
Metta Meditation on Politics: Love, Compassion, Peace and Prosperity. Dec 14. 12:30PM Troy studio. Led by Rebecca Magin. By donation.
This meditation offering is open to all genuinely interested in bringing forth and sending out positivity, peace and prosperity to affect our current political scene. Find solace and reprieve from the dichotomous “noise” as we use collective energy fueled by love and compassion with the purpose of manifesting peace and prosperity for all those with a place in our political system, those seeking a place of power and influence, all peoples in America, and, in fact, all humans of the nation of Earth. This meditation will not be in support of any one political party or political figure or candidate but rather with the intention of infusing the current dialogue and future outcomes with goodwill, love and compassion for us all. Inspired by the ancient wisdom of Metta Meditation (loving-kindness meditation) we will unify our focus and determination towards love, compassion, peace and prosperity. Some experience with mindfulness and/or meditation is helpful but all are welcome. Offered by donation; suggested $10. Upcoming dates: November 16 and December 14 .
Coming up in 2020
Trauma-Informed Yoga Training, Saturday January 4, 8AM - 6PM, Heartspace Albany Studio.
Presented by Yoga Vidya School
Heartspace is pleased to co-sponsor the Yoga Vidya school's one-day Trauma-Informed Yoga Training, designed to help deepen understanding throughout the regional yoga teaching community of the complex topic of trauma. This workshop will help yoga instructors to better:

  • Understand trauma, its sources, pathways and triggers from a neurological and developmental perspective.
  • Uncover how sensory processing and neural development influence adaptive or maladaptive responses to stress and trauma
  • Recognize trauma responses in a yoga class and be able to respond appropriately
  • Learn specific trauma sensitive teaching protocols and techniques
  • Apply a model of the subtle (yogic) body in addressing and helping to heal trauma
Gong Bath, Saturday Jan 11, 4PM in Troy
Restore and renew and you let the sounds and resonance of the gongs envelop you. Practice asana, meditate, lay down and rest, sleep, whatever makes sense during the time. No experience required. Led by Jim and Nick Pavoldi of the Gong Lab and Diane Simpson offering chakra bowl vibrations. $25 . Click here to sign up.
Gentle Yoga and Yoga Nidra
4-Week Series Begins Jan 4 in Albany
Easing into the New Year: Gentle Yoga and Yoga Nidra, A Four-Week Series with Victoria Rutledge. Saturdays January 4 - January 25, 2020. 2-3:30PM. Albany studio.
Give yourself the gift of starting your new year with gentle, intuitive movements and deep rest. Join Victoria as you ease your body and nervous system back into harmony. Asana (yoga postures) practice will prepare the body for Yoga Nidra as we travel from the awareness of the physical body to the awareness of the subtle energetic body.
This series is suitable for every level of yoga practitioner. From the very beginner who wants to dive into practice without the stress of rigorous movement, to the seasoned practitioner who wants to experience the benefits of a softer approach.

We will end the class with a balancing sound bath with pure quartz singing bowls to create further harmony in the body. $75 for the series. Single class drop in available depending on series enrollment.
Meditation 101: Four-Week Series
Begins Jan 6 in Troy
Meditation 101: Four Week Series with Meghan Hogan. Mondays 5:45-6:45PM, January 6 - January 27, 2020. Troy studio.
This four-week series will provide individualized instruction describing technique, practical guidance for home practice, wisdom derived from foundational yogic texts and modern research. Cost $70 for the series. For more information or to preregister, click here.
Yoga for Managing Stress and Anxiety
Four-week Series begins Jan 26 in Troy
Mindful Yoga for Managing Stress and Anxiety. A Five-Week Series taught by Bruce Viveka McEwen. Sundays Jan 26 - Feb 23. 3- 4:30PM. Troy studio.
Fear and anxiety are important psychological responses that enable us to avoid danger and prepare for challenging situations. This course will explore evidence-base methods to manage and befriend these emotional responses so that we are able to meet the social, professional, environmental, and other challenges of modern life while becoming less overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Cost $75. For more information on course structure or to preregister, click here.
Heartspace Yoga is honored to win Capital Region Living Magazine's Annual Readers Poll "Bestie" for Yoga Studio category for the sixth straight year, 2014-2019. Thanks to all the readers and voters of the poll, and all our wonderful students and instructors that help to create the vibrant and healing community that we all enjoy at Heartspace. Visit the Bestie Awards at Capital Region Living Magazine.
Heartspace Yoga and Healing Arts | 518.512.3390 | info@heartspacealbany.com | www.HeartspaceAlbany.com
Studio Locations: Troy: 10 Second Street and Albany: 747 Madison Ave. (back right corner of building)