Do you ever wish time could just slow down? The arrival of August in Maine often makes us wish we had just a little bit longer to enjoy the easy life. Fortunately, we do!
Enter your yoga practice. Each breath is an opportunity to savor the present moment and to access newness and joy. When we fully immerse ourselves in our breath and experiences, time does slow down. Now that’s a neat trick!
Check out our offerings this month – many opportunities to take it slow and enjoy your August moments. Jai!
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SPECIAL CLASSES & EVENTS
LAUGHTER YOGA – FRIDAY AUGUST 5 5:30-6:30 PM
$5 suggested donation. Every first Friday this Summer! With Katie. Donations benefit the Jai Yoga Scholarship Fund. No need to register, just show up!
OUTDOOR YOGA AT WOLFE NECK FARM – TUESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 9 5:30-6:45 PM $16/drop-in
With Jessie. Bring a mat or a blanket to practice with. Visit our online schedule for details, online registration and driving directions. Unlimited drop-ins for members!
YOGA NIDRA – SATURDAY AUGUST 13 2-4 PM $22
Every 2nd Saturday this Summer! With Sue. No experience needed. Members pay only $11!
YOGA ED FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS – SUNDAY AUGUST 21 1-5 PM $85
With Hoa. Sorry, no member discount offered for this class.
KIRTAN – FRIDAY AUGUST 26 5:30-6:30 PM $5 suggested donation
Every fourth Friday this Summer! With Kevin. Donations benefit the Jai Yoga Scholarship Fund. No need to register, just show up!
Ways to Register: 1) Online by following the links on our website 2) Call 207.725.7874 at least 24 hours in advance and leave a message with your NAME, PHONE and which WORKSHOP you want to attend 3) In person either before or after a class or during our office hours – Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-3 PM for Summer.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
FALL 2011 SCHEDULE COMING SOON! – SEPTEMBER 1-DECEMBER 31, 2011
Look for our Fall schedule around the studio and/or online soon!
WELCOME OPERATIONS MANAGER!
We want to welcome Jo-Anne Severy to the Jai family! She joins us as Operations Manager and we are so happy to have her! Look for her bio on the website and her lovely face around the studio soon.
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PRACTICE
REST IS LIKE WHITE RICE: A METAPHOR FROM CHINESE CULTURE
In China, people do not usually mix their side of white rice into their entree, as we often see at Chinese restaurants in the United States. Rather, they reserve their white rice as a side, taking small bites throughout the meal.
The purpose? To space out their enjoyment. To clean their palate before taking another bite of food. To slow down and renew their senses before taking in more information.
By allowing a pause or separation between sensory experiences like taste, touch or smell, we keep our senses and experiences fresh, allowing ourselves to experience newness over and over again.
And, we allow ourselves the chance to assimilate and integrate our experiences so that we may learn, grow and benefit from them as well as enjoy them.
This is the same idea behind savasana (corpse pose) in yoga practice. During this time of rest and simply being, we give ourselves the chance to work with all the new discoveries and changes we’ve made during practice so that they become part of us, contributing to our own self-awareness and understanding.
Without this space between experiences, these moments of rest and rejuvenation, everything runs together; time speeds on and sometimes we end up looking for a black cat in a dark room when we want to make a connection between our experiences and our world.
Rest is like white rice because it allows us time to differentiate one bite from another; to experience the nuances of each moment and to be purposeful with our intentions.
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Namaste,
Jen and the Jai Yoga Family
Jai Yoga
Suite 314 Fort Andross
14 Maine Street
Brunswick ME 04011
207.725.7874
info@jaiyogahome.com
www.JaiYogaHome.com