About a year ago (Oct. 7), I noticed Seaside Yoga Sanctuary while driving by.  “What?! How long has that been there?!?!”, I exclaimed to my daughter.  I took a schedule from the box, and attended the next 6:00 am class.  It was during my fall break (I’m a school teacher), and I was excited about the idea of fitting some yoga into my life.  I have since then made yoga classes a regular part of my life. 

For several years, I had done yoga sporadically in my family room, using a variety of video tapes.  I also tried one of the “sweaty yoga” studios, but the time and location didn’t work for me.  It was hard to get a regular practice going.  Given a choice, I usually opted for a cardiovascular workout instead of  a yoga session.

But now….. why is it easier to get myself to Seaside Yoga Sanctuary, than to unroll my mat and put in a video tape?  Why do I attend every possible 6 am class, even when I’m on vacation?  Why do I leap out of bed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, instead of talking myself out of bed? (I used to belong to a health club, and I had to persuade myself to get there in the early morning on many occassions)  Some possible answers?  The covenience of the mats and props available so all I have to do is get dressed and find my keys and purse.  The personal attention I receive from the instructors, which video tapes can’t provide.  The physical and mental benefits, and the refreshing philosophies to guide my life. ~Constance Constable

“When we forget what we should be, we find what we are.”

     ~ Daniel Levin    

                                 \  Namaste \ 

      Thank you to all of you who attended our open house and anniversary celebration!  We had many new faces joining our regular students and we were truly honored by everyone’s presence.  We look forward to continuing to grow our yoga community and inspire others to learn about yoga.  Our fall schedule brings even more classes to the schedule and a new instructor to the studio. 

      As mother nature transitions into the fall season we can reflect upon our own transitions in life.  Without hesitation the leaves on trees turn colors, the wind becomes more brisk, and the sun begins to set earlier in the day.  Let us be reminded that we too can transition in life by letting go of our attachments to how we think things should be and finding the beauty in how things already are. 

With blessings,

We look forward to seeing you at Seaside Yoga Sanctuary!

Class Updates

• Please welcome Barbara Tudhope from Wellsprings Yoga!  Barbara brings a wealth of expertise in her teaching and practice of yoga.  She will be teaching a Gentle Yoga class on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:45pm beginning Oct. 7th.  We are excited to have her as part of our studio and the addition of her class!
• 4 Week Beginner Series   Tuesdays, 6-7pm  (10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/21)  Cost of series is $45.  Call 899.YOGA or email seasideyoga@sbcglobal.net 
• New evening Hatha Yoga class!  Every Wednesday evening, 5:30-6:30pm with Natalie Lott.
• New class!  Restorative Yoga with Michelle Spencer.  Tuesdays, 12:30-1:45pm
• 6 Week Parental Yoga Series with Michelle Spencer.  Thursdays, 6-8pm                                Series dates 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, & 11/6.  Cost of series is $85 or $16 drop-in
• New! 4 Week Post Natal Yoga Series with Michelle.  Fridays, 11:00-12:00pm                             We encourage you to bring your infant with you to class. 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24  Cost for series $45 or $14 drop-in

Upcoming Workshops

• Autumn One Day Women’s Retreat  Saturday, October 18th, 11:00-5:00pm

         Enjoy a morning practice designed to help balance hormones and address imbalances of the menstrual cycle, menstruation, and menopause.  There will be lunch, followed by meditation, discussion group, and full hour and half restorative yoga practice.

Cost: $95 Advance Registration/ $125 after October 10th

Registration:  Call 831.899.YOGA or email seasideyoga@sbcglobal.net

Save the date!

• Saturday & Sunday, November 1st & 2nd   Yoga with Janet MacLeod
• Saturday, November 8th  Restorative Yoga with Denise Wendler  11:00am -1:00pm

“Yoga is fantastic. I started with Laura’s beginner series, and actually took it 3 times before trying another class. That was about 4 months ago and I’m in better shape now than at any point in my life. Years of going to a gym couldn’t make me as fit as just a couple months of yoga. On top of that, I feel more relaxed and noticed I’m more comfortable standing and walking because my posture has improved. I will never go back to running on a treadmill and lifting weights; there’s a much better way.~Paul

“I have been coming to the Seaside Yoga Sanctuary for about a year. I’ve studied yoga occasionally over the years, but I’ve been impressed by the way the Sanctuary offers so many ways to incorporate practice into my daily life. I’ve taken yoga classes that have challenged me personally; pre-natal yoga classes that allowed me to continue my practice throughout my pregnancy in a safe, informative, and supportive environment; and Mommy & Me classes with my 5 year old that gave me the opportunity to introduce my daughter to yoga in a fun way that was appropriate for her age. I’ve found all the instructors to be knowledgeable and  enthusiastic. The Sanctuary has been a great way to stay with my practice throughout all the changes I’ve been experiencing. ~ Toni Gibbs”

  ”It’s a beautiful studio with great instructors who approach yoga with a holistic philosophy, reminding me that in yoga, balance, strength and flexibility are about more than just the postures.” –PW”

         ”Words fail to convey the total value of yoga.

Summer has almost arrived!  Thoughts of summer can bring lots of excitement: the days growing longer, vacations planned, BBQ’s being fired up, late night conversations around the campfire, curling up with your favorite book, or the carefree feeling of a summer breeze through your hair.  Our own yoga practice can help us appreciate the change in seasons and activities, as nature has its own pace in life.  Never rushed and never late.  May we enjoy the beauty of each moment in our lives.

 Yoga for Kids!

4 Week Series

 Through games and stories kids begin to explore yoga poses and breath work. In this four-week session kids learn various yoga poses, how to bring awareness to their breath and, most importantly, how to relax. This class is for kids 5 to 10 years old and is intended for kids without their parents. The intention is to give kids their own time to play with yoga and decompress from their hectic day!

Cost: $14 per child/parent, 5 classes/$55 or 10 classes/$100. Each additional child is $5 per class.

“Children come into this world very pure. It is up to the adults to help them stay bright, strong and healthy.”- H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”  Laura Ingalls Wilder

\  Namaste,                

We have a few changes this month with our instructors at the studio.  We say goodbye to both Maya and Danielle as they are finishing with their studies this semester.  Maya graduates from MIIS this month and the studio would like to congratulate her on her accomplishments!  Maya will be leaving the Monterey Peninsula to pursue other endeavors and we wish her the best along her journey.  Danielle will be away for the summer months and returning in the fall for her second year at MIIS.  We hope to have her resume teaching yoga classes when she returns.  A big thank you to both Maya and Danielle for their gift of teaching and sharing their knowledge of yoga!

Danielle’s last class will be on Monday, May 5th.  The Monday 7pm class will continue, with Laura McKinnon teaching.

Please welcome David Barth!  David will be taking over the Thursday evening class from 6-7:15pm.  David has been a long time practicioner of yoga and recently completed his 200 hour Teacher training/Advanced Studies at Yoga High in Salinas.  He also brings a wealth of knowledge of the physical body to his yoga practice, as he is a Certified Massage Practicioner with 15 years of experience.  The format of the thursday evening class will be similar to Maya’s, with incorporating basic alignment principles and breath awareness into the vinyasas.

Upcoming Workshops

Understanding Inversions with John Hayden

Saturday, May 3rd   1:30-4:30 pm  $45

Click on link below for details

http://seasideyogasanctuary.com/blog/?page_id=4

Thai Yoga Massage with Michelle Spencer

Saturday, May 10th  1:30-4:30pm  $45

Click on link below for details

http://seasideyogasanctuary.com/blog/?page_id=4

Yoga with Elise Miller

Saturday, May 31st

Elise Miller is a senior certified Iyengar yoga instructor who specializes in yoga for scoliosis and the health of your spine.

Workshop topic and details to be announced soon.  Please keep checking the events page on our website for the workshop announcement.

Prenatal Yoga with Michelle Spencer

The next six week series begins on May 13th.  Prenatal yoga to be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm.  Cost is $85 for entire series or $16 per session.

6 Week Beginner Series

Next beginner series to start Wed, June 4th.  Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30pm, $65.

Series dates: June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, July 2, and July 9.

Kid’s Yoga: 4 week Series

A yoga class just for kids!  Ages 6-10.

Coming in June…. stay tuned for further details!

Toddler & Me Yoga

To return in June!  Class day & time to be announced.  Call or email the studio if you have suggestions of what time & day to offer this class.

For children that are walking age up to age 5 and their parents.   A fun class aimed at getting young children active in a way that stimulates creativity and imagination, and gets the whole family moving and stretching together. A good way to introduce healthy activity to small children, and allow parents to explore yoga in a fun, whimsical and noncompetitive manner.

“When the asana is correct, there is a lightness, a freedom.  Freedom comes when every part of the body is active.  Let us be free in whatever posture we are doing.  Let us be full in whatever we do.”  B.K.S. Iyengar

     \

Oh Baby!

6 weeks, Begins May 13th

Cost is $85 for the 6 week session

Pregnancy is a transitional time in the life of your family, both physically and mentally. At no other time in your life are there so many opportunities for you to grow along with the change. Women harbor an innate wisdom about this process both within their bodies and within their families. By learning to listen to your body and follow your breath through the practice of yoga, you can learn to become more fully present to your experience of pregnancy, labor, birth and life. With commitment and consistency you will: