Author: Love Yoga Studios
Holiday Meditation tips & the Meditation Challenge with Paul Watts
Guest post today from our Meditation guide and Restorative Yoga Instructor, Paul Watts. (If you’d like to receive Meditation tips and resources from Paul on a monthly basis, email us at Love@LoveYogaStudios.com)
Hey Meditators, Happy Saturday!
First, I got a question on books for meditation and progressing in a meditative practice. There is a lot of material out there but if I had to recommend two, they would be “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle and “The Places that Scare You” by Pema Chodron.
Tolle essentially teaches mindfulness; the power of living in the moment. The first part of the book is an extraordinarily practical guide on how you start integrating mindfulness into your life. Much of the book is presented as answers to questions from his lectures. Questions from skeptics, frankly and most of the questions are ones I’ve wondered myself over the years. Variations on “this isn’t working, what now?” 🙂 The second half of the book gets a bit “spiritual” and he has his own brand of what enlightenment might mean. You might resonate with what he’s saying or not. But I cannot recommend the first half of the book enough.
Pema Chodron is a Western teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. . . she’s probably the third most recognized teacher of Buddhism in the west after the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. Her book “Places that Scare You” is also a practical guide for how to use a meditative practice to start tackling some of the bigger issues you’re facing. She has what the Japanese Soto monks call a “grandmotherly kindness” in that she mixes kind wisdom with a blunt vocalizing of the truth. Check out her videos on YouTube.
You can find both books at the Albany and Corvallis public libraries.
Lastly, it’s another couple of weeks until the next Meditation Workshop at Love Yoga. But I’d like you to consider joining me in a 30 day Meditation Challenge for the month of November. Starting Nov 1st and for the full month, commit to meditating every day. November is a perfect month for these challenges (which come up periodically). We’re changing seasons, changing routines and heading into the end of the year and what might be a stressful time for many of you. Four weeks of meditation and you’ll be more centered and calm when gathering with friends and family at Thanksgiving.
I’m going to do the challenge myself so I’m inviting you to join me.
As always, I hope you are well,
Paul
New Fall Classes at Love!
What’s New? Weekend Classes, Pre-Natal, Noon classes and 45 minute classes!
Happy Birthday Love Yoga!
Taste the Difference with Whole Body Wellness!
Join us for a fun and inspiring presentation with Trisha Mandes! She’ll demonstrate simple ways to get more greens, love what you eat and still lose weight or maintain your optimal weight for a healthy, happy lifestyle! Presentation includes a variety of Taste Tests! Sign up below:
Seating is limited, so you’ll need to click here to sign up and reserve your space!
It’s not just a T-Shirt, It’s a Way of Life!
Karrin Mayer, RYT200
I have always had a deep belief that my purpose, my higher calling in life, lies within facilitating positive growth in others. As an educator, what an inspiration it was to guide young minds. As a counselor, what an honor it was to guide those in recovery.
This is when yoga entered my life. I discovered how closely the principals of yoga aligned with the principles of recovery. So, I began to utilize yoga as a part of group therapy. This is also when I began my own personal practice of yoga.
When this light bulb turned on, all I could think was, “Yoga, where have you been all my life?!”
What a revelation it was for me to realize that everything in life is impermanent except for me. This means that I am not fragile. This means that I have the ability to stay positively curious. This means that I can take what I’ve learned from my practice into my life and benefit from both.
I started feeling like I have a new super power, yoga! How could I not want to share even a fraction of what yoga has given me with you? Yes, that’s right, my purpose, my higher calling, has led me straight to you. So join me on this beautiful yoga journey.
P.S. You’ll get toned and tight too.
Class Times:
Heated Power Yoga: Mondays/Wednesdays at 6:00am
Heated Power Yoga: Wednesdays 5:30pm.
Click HERE for full schedule and class descriptions.
Jen Hayes, RYT200
Jen (she/her) is a cheeky, neurodiverse, and queer Vermonter who has dreamed of teaching yoga since she started practicing in 2010. She began her practice as a teenager in a small studio run by a woman named Penny. They were introduced so Jen could attend yoga classes to gain high school gym credit. Penny’s strong, grounding, and playful classes kept Jen coming back to the studio through her college years. She would leave the studio feeling nourished in the mind, body, and soul, or “like being wrapped in a warm hug”.
A giver at heart, Jen wanted to enroll in a yoga teacher training (YTT) so she could bring the energy of “Penny Yoga” to others.
Though it took her 13 years to start, Jen finished her 200-hour YTT in 2023 at LOVE.
As a teacher, she incorporates playfulness, grounding, and lots of heart openers into moderately paced flows with opportunities to slow down, modify, and rest. She takes joy in seeing a room of people choosing their own variations and modifications to align with their own body’s needs. She encourages people to approach their practice with curiosity, rather than judgement, and hopes people leave their mat feeling more connected with themselves. Jen uses props and essential oils in every class.
When she’s not here at LOVE, Jen can be found chasing bees, admiring flowers, and working on her dissertation at OSU.
Class Times:
Vinyasa Flow: Mondays/Thursdays 7pm
Click HERE for the full schedule and class descriptions
Three Schedule Updates!
Three Quick Reminders for upcoming schedules:
- Sunday, June 29th, No 5pm class – (Teacher Training Day in Portland!)
- Friday, July 4th, Studio Closed – Open Saturday (5th) and Sunday (6th) for regular classes.
- Next KIDS Yoga class: Saturday, July 12th at Noon
Oh! and Check out the new Love Tees & Tanks!
Stop by today at our Summer Celebration!
SUMMER SOLSTICE & OPEN HOUSE PARTY!
Today from 4-7pm Drop by Anytime and Check it Out!
Win Tee shirts, Yoga Classes
& get Specials on Summer Passes!