As of this afternoon (3/16), StillPoint Yoga’s physical studio will be closed indefinitely. All memberships will be suspended.
I am working on getting online classes up as quickly as possible so we can continue our practice together. I will make the information available on social media, the studio website and via email blast as soon as possible.
Now more than ever, we need to rely on our practice. Roll out the mat. Move your body. Inquire. Inhale. Exhale.
In this moment, all is well.
At StillPoint, we are dedicated to building a community of fellow travelers seeking wellness and balance of mind, body, and spirit. Our favorite times are when the space is filled to the rafters with the sounds of shared support, shared laughter and shared silence.
As we move deeper into the unknown waters of COVID19, we are diligently trying to gather real facts and guidance to make informed decisions. Our number one priority continues to be the physical safety and emotional and mental comfort of our students while in the studio. We will be open for MONDAY 3/16, leaving it to each student to make her/his own personal decision regarding comfort levels.
StillPoint is assessing whether to stay open moment-to-moment and this status will be determined daily. Our gatherings are small in size, but we will comply if requested to close or if students numbers are too low.
In the meantime, we are making provisions to offer classes online so that we can continue to practice together. Now more than ever, we must roll out the mat, move our body, follow the breath, and trust our practice. More information and instructions will be coming on these online classes very soon.
Please be aware that both StillPoint and Fitness Empire are being vigilant in disinfecting equipment shared in the facility and the studio. We ask that you also be mindful in wiping down anything you have used. StillPoint encourages all students to bring their own personal props (mat, blocks, straps, etc) if you would be more comfortable.
Om shanti shanti shanti.
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love…” – Dionne Warwick
Not normal. That is my normal today: not-normal schedules, not-normal questions, not-normal fears, and not-normal experiences.
If you are feeling the same, and don’t currently have a steady meditation practice, now might be time to explore sitting quietly, focusing on the presence of your breath and coming to a few moments of peace. I encourage you try a metta meditation, a loving-kindness meditation, drawing yourself in line with healing for yourself and for others around the globe.
If you’re interested, check out Jack Kornfield’s “How to Do Metta” posted on Lion’s Roar this week.
Source:https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lionsroar.com/how-to-do-metta-january-2014/amp/
This month we are exploring inversions at StillPoint- from handstand and forearm stand to legs up the wall and forward bend. We planned for a March focus on inversions weeks ago before the world turned upside down. For a moment this week, I thought, “Oh no. We need to change to grounding poses, add more pranayama, lay longer in savasana, and, and, and…” And then I sat still. I came to my breath. I came to my stillness. I came to myself.
Yes, we do need those things – always. But right now, my world is turning upside down on the daily and, sometimes, on the hour. What I need now is to find my breath, find my stillness and find myself in each moment in every inversion that my world is moving in. My life is a bit upside down. My days are definitely not in their usual balance. I need to root firmly into my foundation and ground. I need to lift and extend and find my breath and my strength. I need to do this right side up and upside down. I need to understand – to know – that in the topsy turvy, I can find stillness, gathering in, extending out, the fullness of an inhale and the letting go of an exhale.
Please come join us this month for inversions – whether that means a forward bend to take your head below your heart or a handstand to take your feet above your head, it’s all here waiting for you. ❤️
StillPoint Yoga Studio will be moving 0.3 miles down the road to 143 Rt 94 in Blairstown . StillPoint will now be located in Fitness Empire on the 2nd floor. (Please note that StillPoint will be renting this space and remains an independent business.) We will officially open in our new location on Tuesday, 9/5/2017. We will be closed for the Labor Day holiday weekend and be holding our final classes in our current space on Friday 9/1.
A quick glance at the calendar assures me that we are fast approaching summer officially. However, the rain and cold of recent weeks has my head thinking spring. Trying to snap my spirit and mind into the alignment with the season, I have stumbled upon a new love – summer in a glass! I have named this concoction “Sun-Kissed” Water in homage to a favorite childhood treat. In my memories, drinking orange soda is intimately tied to endless summer days, neighborhood-wide kick ball games, and laying on the grass with friends sharing our deepest secrets. Today’s me – older certainly, wiser debatable – has left soda behind along with a few other things from childhood… This “Sun-Kissed” water has just the right amount of bright sunny citrus – without the sugar – that it lifts my spirits and places a summer smile on my face despite what the weather may bring!
Sun-Kissed Water
4 drops Young Living Tangerine Vitality Essential Oil (unfamiliar with YL or essential oils?)
12 oz water of your choice (flat or sparkling)
Festive Straw optional
Tired of trying new health and wellness fads?
Well then essential oils are right up your alley! Essential oils have been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, to support wellness and for cosmetic purposes. They have been diffused, used topically and ingested. The first recorded use of essential oils is in Mesopotamia in 3500 BC with the development of the first-known distillation apparatus. Essential oils have been regarded among the treasures of the world. In what, perhaps, may be the best known story in the world, these precious essential oils were two of three gifts worthy of presenting to the new King. Click the image above to enlarge and learn more about the timeline of essential oils and their special place in the history of our world.
To learn more about Young Living Essential Oils, visit our EO web page.
Click here to register.
Why yoga?
Teens face enormous pressure from varied sources today – from academic pressure to the constant presence of social media – in addition to the good old-fashioned general teenage angst of social anxiety, body image issues, shifting moods, and changing hormones. It’s a lot to navigate.
Many teens are drawn to yoga for the physical benefits it can bring, including increased strength and flexibility, injury prevention and increased balance and coordination. What may not be as obvious are the emotional and mental benefits of yoga.
Through the practice of yoga, teens can develop techniques for reducing stress and increasing focus and concentration. A 2009 study to assess the effect of yoga on academic performance of teens in relation to stress found that the students who practiced yoga performed better in academics. (Click here to see study.)
Yoga can also help teens connect with their deeper emotions and develop self respect and acceptance. In many students, this deeper connection with oneself leads to greater compassion for others and our world.
This will be a 6-class series running 3/8-4/12. Series will most likely renew for an additional six classes following the North Warren spring break.) Register today.
“Cash & Carry” Young Living Essential Oils currently in stock at StillPoint Yoga:If you are interested in purchasing or have questions about how to use any oils to improve your health and wellness, reach out to Kate McGuinness via a comment below or email to info@stillpointyoga.net.
All of the above are available for retail price + tax. If you are interested in receiving a 24% on all of your essential oils, consider joining as a wholesale member. There is no selling or monthly minimum purchase required. For more information, check out my Young Living Essential Oils page.
Interested in oils not listed above? We can order for you. To ensure delivery for the holiday, orders must be place by 12/12/2016.
10/24/16 – But wait! There’s more!
StillPoint Yoga Studio’s “Yoga 101: Foundations” series will be continuing with a second six-week session running 11/9-12/14. It will continue to be held on Wednesday evenings from 6-7:15 pm. Whether you are brand new to yoga and looking to learn the foundational poses and elements of a strong and safe practice, or a past practitioner looking to refresh and reconnect after returning from a hiatus, this class is tailored to you.
To register, click here and then click on the Workshops tab or email info@stillpointyoga.net.