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Namaste and Happy New Year!
Whether your 2011 was fantastic or terrible, whether you hate to turn over the calendar or have already burned last year's pages, a new year is here. And while yes, it is just another day, there's something about a new page that holds promise, excitement, anticipation.So as we look to this 2012, I am asking the question: how can we look to the future AND be in the present? How can we move toward our goals, dreams and visions while stopping to smell the roses along the way- not missing anything as we go? Perhaps most importantly, how can we remain clear enough to recognize when we are driving ahead not from the heart, but from the mind in order to get to the destination we planned long ago- and then readjust our course, if needed? The answer I've offered before and will suggest again and again and again: meditation. Every day. Butt on cushion, checking in with the now; breathing space around the full spectrum of emotions that is part of being human; and entering into timelessness. For while the flow is important and learning to move with, instead of against the current is one of the greatest gifts of the practice, we are easily swept up in the momentum. The only way to take the next step with wisdom is by making it honestly from where we stand right here, in the present. If you have never had a meditation practice or it has been lost along the way, I invite you to recommit daily time to yourself, to the present and the power of stillness.
Peace,
Jill
our teachers |
meet julie realon
 Favorite asana: This is like asking me to pick my favorite child -- impossible! But, I do love all inversions, from Legs up the Wall to handstand, headstand, and forearm balance.
Little known facts about me: I love the mental challenge of a really hard Sudoku puzzle, and one of my favorite physical tasks is spreading mulch -- really!
Words that describe me: Inclusive, accessible, light-hearted, supportive, compassionate
Who inspires me: My parents, who have lived their lives in service to God and others.
Favorite yoga music artists: If it's Midnight Yoga, you will definitely hear some Rolling Stones! I also like wah! and OM Sanctuary.
Favorite yoga book: Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz, MD, and Total Yoga by Tara Fraser
Favorite quote: On my head, pour only the sweet waters of serenity. Give me the gift of the untroubled mind.~ author unknown
Why I love blue lotus: Everything at blue lotus, from the pleasing physical space to the positive and accepting energy within the walls, can be attributed to the exceptional leadership of Jill Sockman. If I had to boil down why I love blue lotus to one word, that word would be "Jill."
I knew I loved yoga when: a new and exciting sense of possibility was awakened in me after my first class experience!
My Classes
Yoga for Women Over 50
This new series is great for women interested in exploring positive and proactive means for dealing with the changes in their bodies as they age. Never think you are too old or too "out of shape" to do yoga. Yoga truly is for every body!
3:30-4:30 pm, Tuesdays, January 3 - February 7
$75 for the six-week series, or $16 per drop-in.
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new student offer! |
3 classes for $30
It's that time of year for new beginnings and fresh starts! And what better way to start your year than with a regular dose of yoga?
 If you have friends who have played with the idea of trying yoga or giving blue lotus a go, let them in on this little secret: this month we're offering a Check-It-Out package of three classes for $30 for new students! So, go ahead -- spread the word and let your friends in on the news.
The fine print: the package of three classes for $30 must be purchased and used within the month of January, and is good only for students new to the blue lotus studio.
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yoga for golfers |
tee up strength and balance to improve your game
Anyone who has walked those 18 glorious links of golf knows there are oh so many factors that can influence just how far the ball travels and in which direction. It’s a mental game. It’s a physical game. It’s an emotional and sometimes spiritual experience. In these ways and others, golf is a game that has a good bit in common with yoga. And it’s a game that can benefit quite a bit from the teachings offered up by this complementary practice.
 A balanced body is a flexible body, and flexibility remains the cornerstone of a good golf game. The practice of yoga helps golfers with the physical aspects of the game, such as strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as the mental aspects, like staying focused and "in the zone."
Join us as Alison leads the Yoga for Golf: Stretch Your Body, Strengthen Your Game, 1:00-3:00 pm, Saturday, January 21. Learn more about the workshop and register online at the WebScheduler.
As published in The Golf Connection, members of the following country clubs receive a 10% percent workshop registration discount: Raleigh Country Club, Briar Creek Country Club, Bentwinds Golf & Country Club, North Ridge Country Club, and The TPC at Wakefield Plantation.
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seva at the food bank |
3 hours and 15,000 lbs of food
 The blue karma crew was 29 strong Saturday, December 3, when the group volunteered to sort donations at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. More than 15,500 lbs of food were sorted in three hours, resulting in 14,000 lbs of food distributed to needy families and on tables by December 6.
We'll be at it again, this time with the kids. Volunteering is a great way for kids to learn about giving back and in the case of the food bank, also about the issue of hunger. Join us with your child, age 5 to 12, for Kids Day at the Food Bank, from 2:00-4:00 pm, Saturday, February 25. Kids and their parents will tour the warehouse and participate in age-appropriate food sorting projects, like repackaging bulk food into family-size portions.
Visit the blue lotus WebScheduler for details and to register.
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january happenings |
celebrate the new year with yoga!
The new year brings new advanced training workshops and more classes offered at our additional location at Studio Hargett. Be sure to check out all your favorite specials and more, including the classes below. Find it all at the online WebScheduler!
Workshops
Hibernation with Julee
12:30-2:30 pm, Saturday, January 7
Flow & Create with Jen
6:30-8:30 pm, Friday, January 20
Create a Vision Tile that expresses your hopes, dreams, and goals for 2012!
Yoga for Golf: Stretch Your Body, Strengthen Your Game with Alison
1:00-3:00 pm, Saturday, January 21
Kids Yoga & Art (pre-K - 1st Grade) with Jen
3:30-5:30 pm, Saturday, January 21
Pan Gu Yoga with Anisha
3:00-5:00 pm, Saturday, January 28
Series Classes
Yoga for Kids (ages 6-10) Eight-Week Series with Jen
4:00-5:00 pm, Wednesdays, January 4 - February 22
Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series with Julee
6:30-8:00 pm, Sundays, January 8 - February 12
Classes News
Deep Stretch with Yvonne and Margot
9:00-10:30 am, Sundays, starting January 8
FREE Community Yoga
3:00-4:00, Saturday, January 7
12:00-1:00 pm, Friday, January 27
Pay-What-You-Can Yoga
6:00-7:00 pm, Saturdays
Classes at Studio Hargett
The following blue lotus yoga classes will be taught at Studio Hargett Pilates @ Glenwood South, located at 410 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 150 -- just around the corner from the blue.
Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series with Suzanne
6:30-8:00 pm, Thursdays, January 12 - February 16
Six Weeks of Yoga Asana and Philosophy with Jill B.
5:30-7:00 pm, Sundays, January 15 - February 19
On Beyond Asana Six-Week Series with Jill S.
6:30-8:00 pm, Mondays, January 16 - February 20
FREE Community Yoga
6:00-7:00, Friday, January 20
5:00-6:00 pm, Monday, January 30
Visit the online WebScheduler for details and to register for classes and workshops!
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