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Dearest Yogis and Yoginis,
It is June. Already. We're all riding the June wave of rain-sun-clouds-rain. July will come, and summer will be here for a while. In the meantime, things are changing. June-- things shift. School lets out. Summer vacation starts. Bikes replace cars. Picnic tables take the place of fire places. Tank tops trump turtlenecks. You might feel out of sorts, trying to figure out what your new patterns will be, how your days will shape themselves. You know what I'm going to say-- let your yoga practice help shape your days, ground you through the transition from Spring to Summer. We look forward to seeing all of you practicing this summer. Take advantage of the long days to practice at 6:15am. Just try it. Yoga before a day of glorious Seattle sunshine is one of the best combos around.
Hopefully lots of you took advantage of our May Specials and bought mats to support the Guatemala Project. We'll have another fabulous fundraiser on Sunday, June 6th at 10am. Practice at Capitol Hill and be a part of the first ever round-robin class. All the teachers will teach the same class. All proceeds will go to the Homeless Animal Fund at the Rainier Veterinary Hospital.
Last week Beth, Frankie and I took two days off and went to Whidbey Island to "retreat." We talked about how our year has gone, what we'll plan for the future, and a myriad of other topics. On hour ten of our marathon meeting, sipping wine in the parlor of our bed and breakfast, Frankie reminded me that, when we opened our Capitol Hill studio 9 years ago, our blue-prints were drawn on a cocktail napkin. A cocktail napkin!!! We've come a long way people. Thanks for helping us make it happen.
This morning at Shoreline, Val, one of our students who helps us by cleaning the studio and does amazing work in our community, turned 50. At the end of the class in an impulsive moment (that will likely never happen again), I sang happy birthday and was joined by a fabulous choir of 30 voices, all lying in Savasana, all singing their hearts out to Val. What a moment. What a supreme gift to be a part of that. We are continuously grateful to all of you for being a part of The SweatBox community. Who knew a cocktail napkin could lead to all of this! Thank you.
Namaste,
Laura and Frankie
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Everything I know about Life I Learned Doing Yoga
By Karolina Letunova
Yoga has taken me on a rebirth journey. Initially, the struggle was mostly physical, building strength and persevering through extreme soreness, breathlessness, near blackouts. Then slowly, awareness of my mental patterns surfaced and my yoga practice became a microcosm of my human experience. I had much to let go of, self-undermining thoughts, stress and suppressed emotions locked in my body. My struggles through yoga postures highlighted how I live my life. As if I were washing for gold, clarity came as sweat poured.
Fear Shrinks, Courage Grows
When I am afraid, I can do less - every time. I diminish my own strength. Any kind of undermining thought is really fear. "I can't bend that far," thought or felt, immediately translates into physical restraint and into less than I am truly capable of in that moment. Yet when I give it a chance, my body pleasantly surprises me. When I'm open and curious, I can do more than before - every time.
Strength is in Surrender
Within and in between postures, a balance of strength and softness is needed. The more I can soften parts of my body while keeping other parts strong, the deeper my posture is (so true for all postures involving backward bends). The more I push myself in a posture, the more deeply I can relax after it, and the stronger I can be in the next one. I have to experience the lows - allowing myself to soften, to relax, to let go - to hit the highs of concentration and strength. Life is short and we don't get any of it back. I'm already in class wearing exercise clothes. So I pull harder, try harder, go for better than my best. How far can I go in that amount of time? Through full surrender to the experience, I find strength to do it.
Peace is Inside
No matter what happens, I am in control of how I feel. I can stay cool in a sweltering room, I can stay calm under pressure. Noticing that I get to separate my reaction from the environment is liberating. I was especially delighted to realize that I can find extra energy when I drop the resistance. First, noticing myself resenting the sweat pouring in my eyes, or perhaps the subtle mental rumbling of "it really is too hot today," or resenting myself for not being strong or flexible enough. Then just dropping my resentment, letting it go as I notice it and replacing it with acceptance of everything in the present moment. Along with the gift of energy comes the gift of compassion for my own limitations.
Accept What Shows Up
Some days are about pushing physical limits to the utmost, others are about delving deeper into inner calm. My body is smarter than my mind, if I give it space it leaves what's not working behind. To stop doing and thinking about something allows me to leave the worst behind and to carry the best forward. Sometimes we just need to set what's troubling us aside for a while and come back stronger. I may feel the need to do consecutive days of yoga or escape to other things for a while. All of it is right, all of it is ok.
Sharing my experience is my way of saying to each of you "Thank you for practicing." I need you. Together we co-create the space for all of our transformations, from seemingly insignificant to life-changing.
May your yoga be a struggle so your life is joyful. May your spring be the best yet.
Namaste,
Karolina
Karolina can be found practicing at the Capitol Hill studio.
Do you have a personal story to share? Please email Laura. |
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Become a friend of The SweatBox to keep up to date on all the cool stuff that's going on around here! |
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Stumped for Birthday? Father's Day? Graduation?
Not any more......
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For the summer, June 1st- September 6th, we will operate our
SUMMER SCHEDULE.
The following classes at Capitol Hill will NOT be offered during the summer months--
- Monday 9:30am
- Friday 9:30am
- Sunday 4:00pm
The following classes will not be offered at Shoreline during the summer months---
- Monday 9:30am
- Wednesday 9:30am and 6:30pm
- Friday 4:30pm
- Saturday 4:30pm
Take this opportunity to practice at a different time. Try the 6:15am classes. They're great in the summer! |
Tune-Up Seminars and Consultations
Tune Up Seminar
During this two-hour tune-up session, you will have the opportunity to examine postures in greater detail with senior Bikram Yoga Teachers and SweatBox owners Laura Culberg and Frankie Grausam. Please bring three postures to focus on to the seminar. You'll have time to explore a minimum of those three, as well as participate in the posture questions of the other attendees.
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR JUNE 13th CLINIC AT SHO3RELINE- 5 SPACES LEFT
Or, sign up for JULY 11th Clinic at Capitol Hill. All Clinics from 12:30pm-2:30pm Cost: $30 per person
Pre-registration is required - please register with your teacher at the front desk or email Beth Shafer at sweatboxmanager@yahoo.com or call 206-860-YOGA and leave a message for Beth.
Private Consultations: $60
Treat yourself to a 45-minute private consultation! In this session with Laura or Frankie, you will have carte blanche to ask questions and make clarifications about your Bikram Yoga postures and your practice in general. This is a session specifically geared towards helping you deepen your own practice. If you have specific postures that you want to talk about in depth or if you have physical limitations that may require postures to be adjusted for your needs, schedule a consultation.
To schedule a consultation, please email Beth Shafer at sweatboxmanager@yahoo.com or call 206-860-YOGA and leave a message for Beth. |
June 6th- Fundraising Class for Rainier Veterinary Hospital
KERMIE CLEM and OLIVE PETUNIA
Have you been missing Frankie's class? Never had a chance to practice with Nikki? Love to see Kristen's Triangle and Gary's Balancing Stick? Come to our first-ever round robin class. The SweatBox teachers will tag-team teach a class to raise funds for the Homeless Animal Fund at Rainier Veterinary Hospital (Where our dear teacher Kristen moonlights with her true love- animals).
Come make a contribution or practice on your regular package.
Rainier Veterinary Hospital has been in it's present location on Rainier Avenue South since the 1930's. Many of you know Dr. Heino, a legend in the veterinary community, who began working at the clinic in 1959 as a kennel assistant. 50 years later he's still here! Dr. Kung bought the practice in 2008 and continues to serve the community, caring for animals who are stray, surrendered or otherwise abandoned through the Homeless Animal Fund. This fund covers surgeries, vaccinations, medications and food. We find homes for these creatures through a network of volunteers, family and friends. Petunia was left in a box by the dumpster and is now enjoying suburban life in Kenmore. Clem and Olive, siblings, lived at the clinic for nearly a year before going home with teacher Lene. Kermie was found in an alley at 4 weeks of age, eyes shut tight with infection, and is now a robust youngster living with teacher Kristen.
We want to see you there!
When: Sunday, June 6th -10am class
Where: Capitol Hill SweatBox
What: Suggested donation $15
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Save the Date- Sunday, July 25th
The First-Ever SWEATBOX OUTDOOR Yoga Class
Do Eagle Pose with the Eagles!
Practice yoga under the sun, with a view of the Olympic Mountains and the glorious Puget Sound.
Where: Richmond Beach
When: Sunday, July 25th 4:30PM
Cost: Free
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The SweatBox in Your Community
In May, The SweatBox raised money for multiple community and non-profit groups:
- The Guatemala Project
- The University of Washington Global Medical Brigades
- Doctors without Borders
- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk
Thank you for helping The SweatBox support people and communities in need. |
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June Featured Product
2 tubes of Nuun for $11
for the month of May
(20 % savings- regularly $14) |
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