“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver
Happy New Year friends,
January invites us to slow down, listen inward, and choose our direction with care. Rather than rushing into resolutions, at the studio we’re focusing on Rooted Vision – clarifying what truly matters and allowing our intentions to grow from an embodied place. This month our classes will focus on grounding and supporting clarity through breath and stillness. In Hatha flow, we will build sustained energy by resting in stillness after dynamic movement, while Yin class will invite stillness in longer holds, and deep release for the connective tissues and nervous system. Both offer space to listen inward and reconnect with what feels supportive in your body. Massages with energy work are available as a complementary form of self-care to restore, integrate, and tend to yourself during the slower rhythm of winter.
I’m looking forward to beginning the year together, rooted, present, and aligned.
With warmth,
Michele
✨ New Moon Yoga and Vision Board Gathering
Join us for a cozy afternoon of yoga, reflection, creativity, and connection. After a special new moon yoga practice, together we will create vision boards that reflect not just what we want to do, but how we want to feel and live in the year ahead.
Sunday, January 18
New Moon Yoga Class 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Vision Boarding 2:00–4:00 PM
Class and Vision Board $45, Vision Board Only $36
I’ll provide:
- All vision board supplies (magazines, modpodge, poster board, markers)
- Cheese, crackers, and wine with Vegan options
You bring yourself, scissors and prep work optional. *See Below to Prepare. Sign up: https://www.yogamatka.com/workshops-events/
*Preparing Your Intention for Vision Boards (Optional)
To support you in clarifying your vision, I’ve created a short set of reflection questions you can explore before or after the event. These prompts are meant to help you uncover your values and even draft a simple personal vision or mission statement for the year.
Set aside some quiet time. Center yourself. Free write your answers to each question for about 1-2 mins. Write in your own voice for your own ears. This is just for you.
Reflection Questions & Grounding
- When do I feel most like myself?
- What truly nourished me last year—body, mind, or spirit?
- What drained me that I am ready to release?
Values & Direction
- What values do I want to lead with this year?
- How do I want my days to feel?
- What does “enough” look like for me right now?
Vision
- If I trusted myself completely, what would I move toward?
- What am I ready to grow slowly and sustainably?
- What would alignment look like in my body, my work, and my relationships?
Optional Mission Statement Prompt ( Look to above answers to write)
- “This year, I commit to living with…”
- “My personal mission is to…”
September Newsletter
“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” Unknown
Hi Yoginis,
As we ease into autumn, (or as we in Southern California call second summer )our yoga practice asks of us to listen deeply, soften into change, and embrace the beauty of letting go. Our theme this month will be “Slowly Falling” and will feature backbends, side bends, and some extra attention for our neck and shoulders. Backbends are perfect for autumn because they open our chest, expand our breath, and bring warmth and energy into a season that begins to draw us inward. Exciting news! I will be introducing a gentle yoga class on Thursday evenings. This class will be designed to challenge you but without any pressure on your joints. Basically no vinyasa, no knees, gentler opening of hips and shoulders. I am hoping that this class will give some of you an opportunity to increase your practice from once a week to twice. When you practice twice weekly your muscles are better able to retain strength and flexibility and you gain greater mental clarity and peace.
KEEPING THIS UP FROM LAST MONTH Please read carefully as I am making some changes to the schedule in bold below. I will be eliminating the low/no attended classes for the rest of the year. Wednesday evening Hatha class will become a Vinyasa Flow. Thursday Hatha Flow will become a gentle class. Gentle will be challenging but with no pressure on joints (wrists, shoulders, knees)
SATURDAY LADIES Schedule Changes for SEPTEMBER: Saturday class on August 30, September 6, September 13 and September 20 and October 4th start time 8:30 AM. We have a lot of stuff happening in the fall. Thank you for staying flexible. I will remind everyone the Friday before.
Please sign up for classes at YogaMatka.com
Monday: 8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Cancelled class
Tuesday: 4:00 pm YIN Yoga, 5:30 pm Vinyasa Flow*
Wednesday: 5:30 pm Hatha Flow Class change
Thursday: 4:00 pm YIN Yoga, 5:30 pm GENTLE YOGA YIN Cancelled class
Friday: 8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Cancelled class
Saturday: 9:30 am Hatha Flow
Brief class descriptions:
Vinyasa Flow: Spicy Ashtanga inspired sequence.
YIN Yoga*: Fewer postures, Longer holds targeting the whole body.
Hatha Flow*: Slower vinyasa with some long holds thrown in.
Gentle Yoga: Class will still be challenging but with no pressure on joints, no vinyasa.
Community Builders/ Save the Dates:
*September, Sunday the 28th Kayak the Naples Canals in Long Beach. Must know how to swim. Cost is $8-14 per hour depending on group size. They have singles and doubles. Please let me know if you want to go kayaking so I can reserve.
More info. https://kayakrentals.net/
*October, Sunday 26th Witchy Yoga Details tbd
*November, Apple Picking (looking for a non-Rileys Farm place to pick)
*December, Solstice Sunday 21st Holiday ReGift Exchange and potluck
The address is 1041 East Green Street, Suite 206 (up the stairs). Parking in front of my building is only 1 hour. Please park on Green street between Mentor and Catalina or between Wilson and Michigan to avoid getting a parking ticket. There is also paid parking on Catalina south of Green.