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April News
Cultivating The
Heart
 Spring term is underway at
HeartSong and yoga continues to support us all in growing to our fullest
potential.
I have been watching my garden come back to life; there
are
beautiful blossoms, new growth on the perrenials and every day new things
poking up out of the ground. This includes weeds that take over so
quickly!! My intention is get out there and keep up with it all - to pull
the weeds and to decide what needs to come out and what I want to put in
this year. If I let busy-ness get in the way, my garden won't flourish
and
that affects my own personal sense of flourishing as well. When I focus
on
the weeds, I get overwhelmed! There are so many of them. But I find that
when I just get out there and start to pull them and focus on the space
they leave and the way the other plants stand out, there is a quality of
happiness and centeredness that I feel that motivates me to continue on.
My
garden is a love of mine and when it is beautiful it makes my home more
inviting and I feel more peaceful and happy there.
Whether you are a
gardener or not, you have this same opportunity to dedicate yourself to
your happiness every day.
Yoga touches our hearts and opens them to
the possibility of new growth. It also asks us to recognize the places in
us that are shut down or blocked. The practice is like getting out there
in
the dirt, pulling the weeds and making space for the things we want to
grow. It is necessary work to keep things healthy and deeply satisfying
for
the way it helps us to feel more at home within.
In life, what we
put
our attention to will grow. If the heart holds old wounds and resentments
and we fertilize them with our thoughts, fears and actions - this is what
will grow. If on the other hand we hold love, compassion and optimism
close
then these are the attributes that will take root, sprout and blossom.
I read an inspiring interview with Alice Walker the other day. In it
she
said, "We are living in the best time of all to live." She
noted
that there are enormous difficulties and major suffering all around us
but
that this gives us the opportunity to practice cultivating the heart to
see
the potential for love in spite of suffering. She reminds us that is our
responsibility to take action that supports easing suffering rather than
being overwhelmed by it being all around us; to make each moment one that
works toward that end. Do you want to let the suffering take over or do
you
want to make things better?
When the weeds get thick it is better to
get out there and just start plucking them out. One by one is the only
way
and much more effective than just leaving them to another day!
May we make space for the beauty in our lives and may each moment
fertilize what we want to grow!
Namaste',
Leslie
HeartSong Staff
Changes
Hellos and
Goodbyes
 We want to say
goodbye
and thanks to Liza Pollock who has been teaching prenatal yoga at the
studio. She has decided to leave in order to put more attention to her
schooling at The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine where she is
currently
a student. We wish her the very best!
At the same time, we have the
honor
of welcoming Emily Soiney into the community. Emily is a physical
therapist
and wonderful yogini who we are extremely happy to have on staff.
Greetings from
Emily I truly look
forward to teaching and learning from all of my pre-natal students at
HeartSong Yoga. It is an honor to teach expectant mothers yoga to enhance
this miraculous experience. Yoga offers so many benefits during
pregnancy,
but I should think that one of the gems is finding the ability to be
present so that your inner strength and intuition can shine. I will also
look forward to inviting the babies and their caregiver(s) to a class
with
a wonderful sequence called YogaBonding. The class facilitates connection
for baby and caregiver. It is designed to enhance infant's neural
development, social skills, body awareness, and help to regulate
sleep-wake
cycles. YogaBonding is also a great way to maintain a new mom or
caregiver's yoga practice while bringing balance, peace, and joy to an
otherwise hectic time. Plus it helps your physical body feel like it did
before pregnancy! Thank you to Leslie and HeartSong Yoga community for
welcoming me as a teacher and friend!
Partner
Yoga
 Partner Yoga with Matt Hartman and
Leslie
Ellis, Saturday April 28th from 1:00 - 4:00. Partner Yoga is a fun and dynamic practice in which partners
move
together to create yoga poses with two bodies. Attuning to
each other's breath and working with trust and compassion, we celebrate
partnership, friendship and life. Come on your own or with a life partner or friend. Yoga
experience
is very helpful but not mandatory. Be ready to support and be supported,
to
stretch and move together, and most of all to have
fun! If
you plan to come alone please call ahead to make sure we have a partner
for
you!
To sign up for this
event click here
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