Greetings!
 
One troubling aspect of the pandemic and its accompanying isolation is the adverse impact on community. We miss our friends and loved ones for sure, but we also feel limited in what we can safely do to be helpful to those in extreme need.

My family helps out by hosting American Red Cross Blood Drives in our faith community, Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church. The next event will be held at HLUMC (in the Elizabeth Community) this Tuesday, October 27, from Noon until 4:30 p.m. The American Red Cross is extremely careful about sanitizing and sterilizing all exposed surfaces and about entry protocols protect staff, volunteers and donors. Since many large corporations are working remotely and the number of Blood Drives has correspondingly decreased, the need for blood donors is growing. If you would like to consider donating, Click Here and type in HLUMC under "Find a Blood Drive" for details.

Chris, Aidan and I will be at HLUMC all day on Tuesday. We would LOVE to see your dear face (your eyes, anyway) AND promise to take great care of you!

Namaste'

Karen
Join Us on Election Day!
We'd Like to Fill 10 More Slots ...
Can You Help?

This is a time of ultimate challenge in our city, state and nation. In addition to the devastation of the pandemic, our country is facing complex social, racial, immigration and environmental issues of unprecedented scope. The upcoming elections are already discordant and their outcome will impact the future of our nation in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. 

Each United States citizen should make every effort to VOTE! All of us should encourage others to vote and should volunteer, as we are able, to support the privilege of democratic elections and to help others who may have difficulty voting. Yoga for Life also plans to support voters, volunteers and candidates, regardless of party and politics, by spending Election Day in continuous meditation/prayer.

In North Carolina, polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. We would like to commit to having at least one person virtually meditating/praying for the highest good of our city, state and nation throughout this entire period of time. We are establishing twenty-six (26) segments (30 minutes each) to schedule meditation commitments. After registering here and in advance of November 3, you will receive a reminder of your sign up, a Zoom Meeting link for your log in and any additional instructions that might be helpful.
WHO:
You! And Others!

WHAT:
Meditation for the highest good of our local, state and national elections

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 3 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
(30 minute slots)

WHERE:
Zoom Meeting
(Link to be provided)

WHY:
We believe in the power of community.
We believe that love, respect, dignity and democracy MUST prevail.
We believe that mindfulness practices are foundational to the sustained health of our community, state and nation.
to sign up for a November 3 slot,
joining us in this important effort.

All you need to do is meditate/pray.
Yoga for Life Online Class Schedule
October 24-30, 2020
Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.
All Levels Yoga w/Karen

Sunday @ 10:00 a.m.
All Levels Yoga w/Ann

Sunday @ 4:30 p.m.
Deep Stretch Yoga w/Karen

Monday @ 9:30 a.m.
Strength & Sculpt w/Marcy
Tuesday @ 7:00 p.m.
Positively Possible Yoga w/April

Wednesday @ 11:00 a.m.

Thursday @ 8:00 a.m.
[Join at 7:30 a.m. to Meditate.]

Friday @ 11:00 a.m.
Gentle Yoga & Yoga for Cancer w/Karen

Click on the highlighted Zoom Meeting ID listed above to join any class.
If the link does not take you directly to the referenced class,
go to Zoom.us, choose "Join a Meeting,"
enter the listed Meeting ID and use 1234 as the Password.
Click Here to check the Yoga for Life Home Page for updates.

With respect for whatever financial constraints you are facing at this time, Yoga for Life asks that you consider purchasing a Monthly Subscription for your October Online Classes. As your situation allows, please choose an option and attend as many classes as you are able through the end of the month. (Additional instructions appear below.)

If you are financially unable to pay for classes at this time, please join us anyway ... pay later when you can.


Monthly Yoga for Life
Online Class
Subscriptions

Sustaining - $119
Loving - $89
Grounding - $59
Community - $19
Monthly Subscription Made Easy
Each week, Yoga for Life will publish Zoom Meeting IDs for the Online Classes being offered that week. Meeting IDs will be provided in our emails and we will also display Meeting IDs daily on Yoga for Life's Home Page.

It will be helpful to Yoga for Life in managing this process if you would purchase your Monthly Online Class Subscription in one of three easy ways:

1/ Make a Zelle transfer to 7042936868 in the amount of the Monthly Subscription level you would like to purchase. (This option saves us fees.)

OR

2/ Create a MindBody account (or access the MindBody account you already have) and make your Monthly Subscription purchase there. Click Here and then choose "Register Online" (upper right) to purchase your Monthly Subscription through MindBody.

OR

3/ Mail a check for the amount of the Monthly Subscription you choose and mail it to 1847 Kenwood Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205. Old school still works just fine for us!

That’s all there is to it!
Meet Our New Best Friend, Zoom. Most of you are Zoom experts at this point, but if you're new to the party follow these simple instructions to join our classes.

  • Go to Zoom.us on your smartphone, computer or tablet. (Click Google or any search engine and type Zoom.us in the search bar at the top of the screen.)
  • Create a Zoom account by entering your email address and a Password.
  • Record your Zoom Login and Password somewhere in case you forget it.
  • Download the Zoom application to your electronic device. Once it's loaded, you should see a video camera icon.
  • Go to your practice space with your electronic device 5-10 minutes before your Online Class is scheduled to start. Open Zoom.us and click "Join a Meeting." Enter the Meeting ID provided above and "1234" if a Password is required. Or go to Yoga for Life Home Page to join the class that is about to take place.
Yoga for Life Online Class Q&A
How do I sign in?
Follow the steps above to purchase the Monthly Yoga for Life Online Class Subscription that's right for you. Download the Zoom application (see above) to access your class.
 
My technical skills are limited. Is this for me?
Absolutely! Yoga for Life is simply in a new location – on Zoom. (No matter where you live, we guaranty you will have a shorter commute to join us here!) We will be happy to help you get set up, if needed. You probably also have friends or family who are familiar with Zoom and can offer support. Many people are finding that Zoom is very useful right now for remaining connected to family, friends and neighbors.
 
Will other people see or hear me during the class?
The default setting we have chosen on Zoom for Yoga for Life’s Online Classes will be for both your audio and your video to be OFF. This means that your microphone will be muted and you will not be seen on video (unless you change that setting yourself). You will have privacy and can even practice in your pajamas if you’d like. It is also helpful to keep your video OFF so any activities in your practice area will not be distracting to others in the class. Teachers will "unmute" all participants at the beginning of the class to greet everyone, provide instructions and ask for questions. When class begins, all settings will be returned to "mute" to minimize sound distractions as well. As our Online Classes become better established, the privacy settings may be modified for classes to become more interactive. We will be sure you are apprised of any changes to privacy settings.
 
Any advice for jumping into Yoga for Life’s Online Classes?
To minimize frustration and enjoy your class fully, set up your Zoom account access NOW! It’s easy and it’s free, but new things sometimes take a few minutes to sort out.

Any other advice for enjoying the Online Class experience?
If you don’t already have a dedicated space for home yoga practice, consider setting up a small area where you have room to move and will not be interrupted. Turn off the phone. Mute the sound on your computer. Gather your mat, a couple of blankets, a strap, a bolster, an eye pillow and some blocks. Commit to allowing this to be the same uninterrupted time it would be if we were at Yoga for Life together. Here are a few suggestions for props if you don't have standard yoga equipment at your home.
  • Strap - Bathrobe Tie, Fabric Dog Leash or Long Sleeved Shirt (hold the sleeves)
  • Bolster - Folded Quilt, Chair Cushion or Sturdy Pillow
  • Blocks - Thick Books (For some purposes, e.g., balancing support, a chair seat can be used in place of a block)
  • Eye Pillow - Wash Cloth or Soft Scarf
 
Any final thoughts?
We are all in this together, so please reach out if you are in need of support. We feel privileged to continue offering classes even though we cannot physically share the same space right now. Separate, yet together.