Monday, May 28, 2012 10am-12pm Open Vinyasa & Restorative 2-hour holiday special at Quiet Mind Yoga
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Women cancer survivors now have their own class, a specially tailored gentle flow and restorative practice that takes place every Friday at 6:30pm. These women share the practice within a safe and nurturing community, which has grown over the two and a half years since I began teaching Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors in Washington, D.C.
I had been teaching yoga for nearly a decade when Tari Prinster, a former colleague from OM Yoga Center in New York City, developed Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors after having fought the battle with the disease herself. I am one of the first graduates of her teacher training program for certified yoga instructors. From June 28 to July 1, 2012, I will assist Tari in this teacher training at Circle Yoga. (While Tari Prinster is in town, she will host a fundraiser screening of the documentary, “Yogawomen,” in which she stars. Stay tuned for more details.)
Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors is supported by an increasing number of clinical studies. Benefits include preventing the onset of osteoporosis, alleviating neuropathy, depression, and cancer-related fatigue; preventing and managing lymphedema, improving the range of motion of the affected areas, reducing stress and anxiety, and the list goes on. Last but not least, women cancer survivors – who I affectionately call “warrior women” – appreciate the opportunity to practice yoga with others who completely understand them. After class, they hang out to share experiences, support and referrals.
Even when a warrior woman feels extremely fatigued, she will come to class. I will guide her into a restorative yoga pose and check on her during class. There is no pressure to do anything; sometimes simply breathing with like-minded warrior women is all she needs. Every warrior woman is welcome.
Hope to see you on Fridays @ 6:30 pm,
Amy Dara
The minimum fee for this class is $10, with the option of donating more.
Lil’ Omm donates 25% of the proceeds to Living Beyond Breast Cancer (www.lbbc.org), which supports and empowers women cancer survivors.
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Registration is now open for OM Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors Teacher Training in Washington, DC!
Starting May 4, 2012, we’ll have *two* weekly 1-hour Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors classes!
Click on Classes for more info.
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Quieting the Mind
Reprinted from Quiet Mind Yoga’s newsletter on April 3, 2012
Meditation looks easy. We sit quietly with a single focus. The focus could be on the breath, a mantra, our third eye, or an image. Yet no matter how hard we try, our mind wanders to the din emanating from the restaurant below the studio to dinner plans after class to the taxes that need to be filed before the middle of this month to reminding our self to call Mom back… Okay, let’s try again. Focus on that one thing….
Quieting the mind takes practice, just like asana and pranayama. Meditation requires discipline, persistence and patience. Just like asana practice comes in many styles – Iyengar, Ashtanga, Prana Flow, Yoga Works, and many more – there are different approaches to meditation. Washington DC boasts many offerings, and Quiet Mind Yoga is pleased to bring you a sampling of these during the month of April.
More and more clinical studies come out in support of meditation. This mind-body practice reduces stress and fear, alleviates mild depression and anxiety, and improves the immune system and brain health. People who regularly meditate are calmer and happier.
We hope you will explore and discover the numerous benefits of meditation.
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New Year’s Yoga Inspirations
Reprinted from Quiet Mind Yoga’s newsletter on January 10, 2012
What does the New Year mean to you, on and off the mat? Do you perceive a year as linear or cyclic? Do you replace the previous year’s calendar with days filled with events and milestones, with a new one whose blank days glow with hope and anticipation?
Do you perceive your yoga practice as linear or cyclic? Does chanting OM at the end bring your practice to full circle? Or do you perceive your practice as starting with centering and ending with savasana? Is your practice an ongoing journey, or do you wonder why your hips feel tighter than the last time you were on the mat, or are you wishing that you could already attain that elusive asana?
Can you let go of the past and the future, and focus on your breath in the present moment? Notice how deeply you can inhale, and how slowly you can exhale. Notice the small sensations in your body’s movements following the breath. Notice where you feel the breath in each asana. In savasana, observe the softness of your slow, deep breath while your body absorbs the effects of asana practice.
What is your typical day like? Do you start off with a stretch and a big yawn, gauging the temperature and the light beaming through the window? Or do you blast out from under the covers into the shower, throw your clothes on, and rush to your tasks? Likewise, how do you approach bedtime? Do you have a ritual that acknowledges the conclusion of your day?
Listen to your body, your mind, and your heart. The answer lies within you.
Approach life off the mat the way you would like to approach your yoga practice on the mat. Try small changes. Light a candle or burn incense in the bathroom during your shower. Or turn all electronics off and sit with a hot cup of tea, and think of ten things that you’re grateful about your day. You will discover that, no matter how frustrating your day was, it went better than you thought.
I wish for you a joyous and luminous 2012, with love and gratitude.
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Click on Workshops to see what’s coming up!
*OM Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors Teacher Training at Circle Yoga
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Yoga on the Steps – Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C.
A FUNdraiser for Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Benefits women cancer survivors who need help now!
To donate, please click here.
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What students say about Amy Dara:
I highly recommend Amy Dara’s yoga classes. Her classes expertly combine mind, body, and breath work. Amy Dara routinely gives her students clear directions and modifications, if needed. Because of her thoughtful teaching style, I have noticed improvements in my own yoga practice. ~ Anne T.
I was brand new to yoga when I first took Amy Dara’s class, and her gentle approach and welcoming nature drew me to the practice, which is now a part of my daily life. Every class left me feeling limber, relaxed, and grateful. Amy Dara left such a positive impact on my mind, body, and soul. I have loved being in her classes for the past year and I want to thank her for being such a wonderful and supportive teacher. ~ Brooke L.
One thing I always remember from Amy Dara’s classes is her saying to “approach it with curiosity.” I like to apply that to life in general! Thanks for being such a great teacher, Amy Dara! ~ Ai-Hui T.
The most interesting and valuable part of this class was the instructor [Amy Dara]… extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and comprehensive in her teaching script and her technique. ~ Blog YogaNat.com
Went to the 5:30 pm class last night and it was fantastic! Amy Dara was a great instructor. She showed us how to make each pose more challenging and encouraged us to push ourselves, but not in an obnoxious way. Amy Dara had lovely energy and I’d like to take more of her classes. ~ C.S.
Amy Dara’s flow yoga class was nice because while I am usually hesitant to try any kind of balancing (for fear of falling into the student next to me), she was patient and laid back enough that I didn’t feel pressured to try anything I was uncomfortable with. Because of that, I think I accomplished more balancing than I have in any other class! ~ Ashley R.
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Like my classes? Always eager for the next private session with me? Please write me a review on betterfly.com!
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Please read my OM Yoga Center blog article on meditation!
Please read my OM Yoga Center blog about teaching the day after 9/11/01.
Please read my Elephant Journal article on being a deaf yoga teacher!
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Please see Classes page for scheduled subbings.
Please see Events page for Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors!
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Click here to check out my Facebook page.
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