Renewal

As an avid reader, when I hear the word "renewal" I instantly think of renewing a library book. When we renew a library book, we have sampled the document and made a decision to invest additional time finishing the book. Renewing ourselves, in my opinion, is just that... making an investment in ourselves.

As a wife, mother, working professional, part time university faculty member and a yoga teacher, I am very busy! At times, I have lost myself in the daily grind of working and taking care of my family. In large part, my yoga practice has kept me centered and allows me time to go inward to renew my mind, body and spirit. In particular, I practice restorative yoga at home as a way to invest in myself without the movement I have throughout the rest of my day.

Recently, I went to Canada to spend 10 days in an advanced chakra immersion course with Andoea Judith. I went to learn about chakras, which I did, but I also came home with a profound sense of myself. You see, I spend so much time taking care of everyone else, I hadn't realized I had never taken a vacation alone. The trip was a week of firsts, including a ride on a float plane! As fate had it, I even ended up in a cabin alone for 5 days. I found I actually can sleep 9 straight hours a night, three nights in a row! I made wonderful friends, ate great food, saw beautiful country and learned such valuable lessons about the energy flow in my body. Lessons I now pass on to my students. Most importantly, I learned how to renew my spirit and maintain it. I came home from that trip a happier person.

Ironically, while on that trip, my friend Trina emailed me to ask if I would be interested in auditioning to teach restorative yoga at The Mat! Hmmm... note to self... great things come when we take care of ourselves!

Clearly, nobody can take trips like I just described every time renewal is needed. But, like deciding to renew our library books, we can make the decision to devote time to ourselves. It can be little things, like unrolling your yoga mat under your work desk and placing your bare feet on the mat to get centered in times of chaos. (Yes, I do that!) It can also be a grander gesture to yourself, by making the commitment to attend yoga classes more often or get that monthly membership so you don't talk yourself out of 'your time'.

I hope each of you have a Happy 'Renew' Year. Ponder this: What in your life needs renewal? What is your first step to achieve this? Are you willing to take the steps? May you experience wonderful blessings throughout your renewed investment in yourself. Namaste!

Wendy

Have a question for Wendy? Email her at wendy@ompranayoga.com. You can find Wendy teaching our brand new Mat Restorative class on Friday evenings at 6:30pm. Treat yourself and join her for class!

Upcoming Workshops and Events!

Yoga & You: Take Back Your Life!
with David Romanelli
Friday & Saturday, January 6-7, 2012

If you are feeling overwhelmed, always tired, constantly behind... with never enough time to enjoy time with your kids, family, and self...

You're in need of a weekend to refresh your priorities and revitalize your spirit. David Romanelli presents his brand new workshop experience: Yoga & You, a weekend filled with Yeah Dave's trademarked rockin tunes, exotic chocolate, fine wine, and flowing yoga to convert fear, anger, and anxiety into love, creativity, and freedom! You'll finish with a little fire to TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE one beautiful, funny, and delicious moment at a time. Click here for all the details about this workshop or pickup a flyer in the studio.

Pre-registration is required, either online or in the studio.

Advanced Yoga Studies - Deepen Your Practice!

Advanced Yoga Studies
February 3 - April 28, 2012

Do you want to strengthen your connection to your yoga practice on an emotional, intellectual and spiritual level? Do you want to go on an enlightening journey of self-discovery? If you've been called to deepen your practice, Advanced Yoga Studies is the right path for you. Learn the ancient techniques that make yoga a science and tap into the source that makes yoga an art.

We are thrilled to announce the second session of Advanced Yoga Studies with The Mat Yoga Studio and Treenuh Yoga, created by the desire to answer our students' requests for ways to tap in to the depth of yoga as a system.

Join us for 5 weeks of study to get a taste, or go deeper with the full 10-week program, culminating in a 5-day retreat to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. You can find all the details on our website by clicking right here.

Our full teacher training program will also complete in 2012 with the introduction of AYS Level 3 in early summer. Watch our website and Facebook for dates to be announced very soon!

Be sure to check out what some of the 2011 AYS students have to say about their experience in our inaugural session. You can read their stories by clicking here.

Yoga for the Heart
with Shari Friedrichsen
Friday & Saturday, February 17 & 18, 2012

In the collective world as well as our personal life we are faced with grief, losses, heartaches, brokenness and misunderstandings about the heart. Our hearts are hurting and we need to find a way to listen, find the wisdom and compassion that is inherently ours, and allow our hearts to heal. In these workshops, we will use postures and breathing that specifically address the heart itself as well as those structures within us that support the heart.

Don't miss this opportunity to practice with a senior faculty member of the Himalayan Institute. Click here for all the details about these transformational workshops or pickup a flyer in the studio.

Yoga teachers: this workshop will provide you with six continuing education contact hours. Please contact Katie Morgan at katie@thematyogastudio.com for details and to order your certificate.

Pre-registration is required, either online or in the studio.

Holiday Schedule Changes

Saturday, December 31st - New Year's Eve - No 4:00pm class.
Sunday, January 1st - New Year's Day - 11:00am New Year's Class and 1:15pm Group Meditation only. All other classes canceled.
Friday, January 6th - No Mat Restorative class - join us for Yoga & You with David Romanelli!

My Yoga Story - Sheba Kappelman

Sheba has been practicing with us at The Mat (and previously APY Richardson) since July, 2009. We are so grateful that she is sharing her Yoga story with us this month!

Why do you practice Yoga?
Because I love it but I also have a holistic view towards my health and I think yoga actually benefits all systems of my body.

How were you first introduced to Yoga? And, when did you begin your practice?
A friend introduced me to yoga after my son was born as a way to get into shape. He is almost 6 years old now. I did not like it at all in the beginning and could not understand why people chose to practice yoga over other forms of exercise. I found it to be slow-paced and really difficult because I was not flexible and did not sweat too much. So, I pretty much decided to go back to running, lifting weights and things that made me sweat. Four years ago I really hurt my foot and could not run anymore and participate in the fast paced forms of exercises that I loved so I decided to give yoga a shot again. I really did not like it at all in the beginning but kept going because I really wanted to be fit and healthy. At first I practiced yoga and mixed it up with weight training and other forms of exercise. After a year into it I was hooked and all I did was practice yoga. Somehow, my body had become flexible and stronger and I could do so much more and really benefit from practicing yoga. I had been one of those people that could not even touch their toes.

How often do you practice?
I would like to practice every day... but realistically 3 or 4 times a week is what actually happens.

What are a few of the benefits that you have experienced? How does your practice help you in your daily life?
Yoga has become a part of my life. I think the benefits are not something you can quantify and write down. It makes me stronger physically and mentally and makes me more grounded. I don't think of yoga as a class or a workout... to me it just is... I can't go without it for too long.

What is one tip you would give to a new practitioner of Yoga?
Don't quit after a few months. Make a commitment to practice yoga because you will get flexible and strong over time and then you will be hooked just like me.

Why do you practice with us, at The Mat?
I love the instructors. To me that is the most important thing.

What others are saying about Wendy's classes...

"Wendy's classes on Friday are the treat I give myself. I see them as a reward for working hard in all of the others. " -Jamie

"I really enjoy Wendy's luxurious, spa-like class! I love how she guides us into poses and places a sandbag on different parts of the body to help sink deeper into the pose. I can't think of a better way to end a stressful week at work than restorative yoga with Wendy!" -Samantha

"I am SO HAPPY that we have a restorative class on the schedule now and Wendy is just the perfect teacher for this class! If you have never taken restorative, you owe it to yourself to try this new experience in slowing down. Wendy is excellent at both making the poses feel delicious as well as designing a class that will achieve a specific energetic result beyond just feeling wonderful. Hurry into her class... so you can slow down!" -Lisa

Do you have feedback about Wendy or any other teacher at The Mat? Email Becky at becky@thematyogastudio.com.

Visit us at www.thematyogastudio.com for studio information. We look forward to seeing you on The Mat!

The Mat Yoga Studio
670 N. Coit Road, Suite 2381
Richardson, Texas 75080