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october 2013
news from the blue
Namaste,

It can be all too easy to fall into that dualistic mind of partitioning the world into things/people that are yogic and those that are not. Ultimately unhelpful, but this is what we do. The recent effort across the broader yoga community to block YogaGlo from patenting the recording of yoga instruction during a live class (what?!?!?!?!) is one example which has ruffled a lot of feathers.  And don't get me wrong:  I think it's even crazier than trying to patent a sequence of asana which have been performed by millions of people over thousands of years.  But it got me to thinking...

If I'm not careful, I can move pretty quickly into Judgement of That Which is Non-Yogic.  This, from a person who should truly be banned from ever even driving a car for the number of "un-yogic" thoughts, words and probably actions that stem from said activity.  (Yogi, Know Thyself)  Teachers spouting more sales pitches more than sangha and self-promotion than self-inquiry, we yogis are just as susceptible to the un-yogic as those who've never even heard of Downward Dog.

Here's the thing. We can't do anything about others' behavior. But we can- and should-  work on our own.  And for me, the practice of non-judgement of myself and others is a constant. So what do you do when you see yourself behaving in an un-yogic way? First, take a breath. Whatever you've just done or said doesn't make you less of a yogi, it just makes you human. We're here because we've got some shit to sort out. As yogis, we just need to get real about looking at the stink pile, and sorting through it. Use that energy to cultivate and spread the light from the inside out instead of pointing the judgement spotlight somewhere else. Do the practice. All is coming.

Peace,
Jill
 
give yourself a weekend off
join the refill-your-cup retreat with jill and kathleen, oct 18-20

There's a great teaching that says you should meditate 20 minutes a day, unless you're really busy. Then you should meditate for an hour. The same goes for taking time to rest and relax, especially during the busy fall season.

prama_feet Jill and Kathleen invite you to join them for a weekend getaway at the Prama Institute in Marshall, North Carolina. October 18 through 20 -- three days of yoga, meditation, relaxation, and fun in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains.

Register here to recharge, reset, and restore for the fall and winter holidays ahead!

get to know our teachers
margot martin, yogini and ballet burner

Margot Martin, the blue's official ballerina yogini, created The Ballet Burn in 2010, after she retired from 13 years as a soloist with Carolina Ballet.

Margot with her newest pup, Squirt. Her other dog, Boone, is an excellent mentor for this love puppy, who also has a guardian angel-dog named Harley.
The Ballet Burn is currently being taught
offered in seven locations across the Triangle, and is growing by leaps and grand jetes. If you've never taken a class, you're in for a treat:  she's offering it at the blue on October 19, from 1:30-2:30 pm.

Register for Margot's Ballet Burn class at the blue, October 19!

In addition to blowing up The Ballet Burn, Margot's been deepening her personal yoga practice by exploring Kundalini yoga, a style of practice that uses kriyas (repetitive movements), breath work, and meditation to develop awareness, consciousness, and spiritual strength. You can expect to see that new influence rippling through her classes.

She'll be out of town a bit this month for a short trip to the Austin City Limits music festival (yes, we may be slightly jealous), but Margot says she's excited to help her students flow and deep-stretch their way through the new fall season: "I'm ready for the changing winds of fall to sweep out the unnecessary and make room for more good stuff." 

Margot's classes
Revival Lunch, Mondays at 12:15 pm (only $10!)
Deep Stretch, alternating Sundays at 9:00 am, check the online schedule
October special! The Ballet Burn, Saturday, October 19, 1:30-2:30 pm
global mala celebration
the blue crew raises the roof


As usual, the blue lotus community filled our hearts with their generosity and spirit during the Global Mala for Peace Celebration on Sunday, September 22. Across three by-donation classes, more than 75 people turned up at the blue to meditate, chant, and practice, forming another link in the global chain of participating yoga communities that spanned more than 50 countries.

The goal of Global Mala for Peace is to raise the collective conscious, but it raises money, too. Like last year, this year the blue partnered with several other studios across the Triangle to collect donations for LiveGlobally, the organization founded by Nina Be. LiveGlobally provides monetary and logistical support for the Ingrid Education Centre in Matopeni, Kenya, which serves one of the most impoverished communities in that area. This year's Global Mala raised some $3,000 for LiveGlobally -- and $1,600 of it came from blue lotus! These funds will help build a roof for the Ingrid Education Centre and begin establishing a health-care clinic there.

Are we surprised by the blue's turnout? Absolutely not. But we never stop being amazed by the strength of this community. Many thanks to Carrington, Brian, Michele, and Yvonne for donating their time to teach the soul-full Global Mala classes this year...and whether you were able to join us for the day's festivities or not, we are so very grateful for your unique contribution to the collective!

see you at the blue!
hoodie

in this issue
october
happenings
classes

time changes
Friday Flow with Sandy:
now 5:30-6:30 pm

Friday Night Special:
now 6:45-8:00 pm

Saturday Open Level Vinyasa with Yvonne: now 8:30-9:30 am

weekend extras
October 11, Yoga Nidra with Kathleen, 6:45-8:00 pm
October 18, Candlelight Yoga with Yvonne, 6:45-8:00 pm
October 19, The Ballet Burn� with Margot, 1:30-2:30 pm
October 25, Restorative Yoga with Jen, 6:45-8:00pm
October 26, Vinyasa L2/3 with Michele, 12:30-2:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Can Yoga
October 12, 19, 26, 6:00-7:00 pm

modified schedule
Please note our modified schedule on this month's yoga immersion weekend: October 4-6

workshops & events

Free Yoga on City Plaza
Enjoy YogaFest Raleigh every Tuesday from 6:00-7:00 pm, through October 22.

Kids Yoga 8-week Series
with Jen

There's still a few spaces left for your little ones! Thursdays, Oct 3 - Nov 21

Refill Your Cup with Jill and Kathleen
Retreat to the Prama Institute in Marshall, N.C. - Oct 18 - 20

Restorative Yoga with Kate
Be still, relax, and let go - Oct 19

Yin Intensive with Yvonne
Turn inward and reflect - Oct 26

Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series with Kathleen
Learn the fundamentals of vinyasa yoga - Sundays, Oct 27 - Dec 8
(no class Dec 1)

yoga immersion
for all students


Freeing the Emotional Body with Nina Be
October 12, 2:30-5:30 pm
Using the emotional body to understand the ways in which we hold our life stories and repeat past patterns, we'll learn how to change those pathways in order to live happier, fuller lives. Each session explores two chakras.
YTT500/RYT200 CEU - 3 hours

Power of Satsang: Finding YourSelf in Community with Jill Sockman
November 15-17
To walk the path of yoga successfully, you need a community of like-minded seekers to support, challenge, and enhance your practice and process. We're blessed at the blue to enjoy just this, and we invite you to immerse yourself in this community and its inspiration and support for an entire weekend!
YTT500/RYT200 CEU - 14 hours

Warren Grossman:
Ground. Heal. Forgive

December 7
Learn how to create an active connection to the earth and how to bring that energy to the heart to access the healing energy of Love.
Space is limited.

blue lotus
401 n. west street
raleigh, nc 27603
919.831.2583
www.bluelotusnc.com
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