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There's something for everyone this fall!
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What makes yoga the practice of choice for so many of us? Yoga offers an opportunity for growth on so many levels - even the most physically oriented practice encourages concentration and focus and has an element of stress reduction. There are also so many variations of yoga available; almost anyone can find a yoga class that feels like a fit.
Yoga is easy! Remember Patanjali? (The Yoga Sutra) Yoga is steady and easy. While you may now be thinking, "Easy?", "I don't find yoga easy!" Consider it further. Your yoga requires that you move your body and while the body does not always feel as supple and mobile as you might like, it is very tangible and relatively easy to begin. You simply start moving; and breathing. Yoga is easy.
And this, I believe, is why so many people are choosing to do yoga. However, it is also this fact -that it is easy and so accessible and that there are so many options for how to practice - that can create problems with yoga.
It is easy to begin to move the body and easy too, to take control and move the body into the shapes of the poses. You may work hard but you can accomplish some variation of the shape, build strength and get more flexible. Too often though, the accomplishment is made mostly from will and movement of the outer body. It is easy to bring the same mindsets, approaches, habits of doing and biases to the practice AND to find a style of yoga that allows just that. If your tendency is to push, push you may, right there in your yoga practice. Be it power vinyasa or gentle yoga, you can push. If you tend to hold back to be overly careful, there in yoga too can you continue as you are. That is really easy. (visit my blog to read more....)
We would love to hear from you about how your yoga practice supports you, so leave a comment on any of the blog posts!
Om Shanti, 
Leslie
and Namaste' from All: Lani, Kayci, Lynn, Kat, Jeff, Maddie, Noemi and Kasey
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Growing Your Yoga
Let the Outer Body Follow by Lani Jelen
Late summer changing to fall. One can feel the quietness beginning to descend upon the earth. I love this time of change when the days are still warm with a hint of coolness and the car is hot when I get into it but cools off as I drive.
In yoga we have gone through the fire of summer with an active practice: vinyasa, backbends etc. Now is the time according to Chinese practices to come back inside to the heart, the inner more subtle practices, to begin to slow down a bit. I have been thinking quite a bit about this since I have been studying Qi Gong. I have also had some lower back and SI joint annoyances lately that I have had to pay more attention to. Read more on the HeartSong Blog...
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 Did You Know...
that Yoga is Medicine?
It's all about getting the right dose,
at the right time, with the right consistency.
Our teachers play a big role in offering us this medicine, but what's great about yoga as opposed to many other types is that we're taught how to use it and adapt it according to what is right for us -- on any given day. The "prescription" is so individual and it only works if we practice.
There are so many styles and interpretations of yoga out there. Part of the reason this studio was named HeartSong Yoga & Wellness Center is this: we believe deeply in the therapeutic value of this practice and this is why we teach the types of classes that we do, with a focus on feeling your way into the poses from the inside out to help you stay connected to your body and breath and focusing on proper alignment to help you avoid injury.
In addition to your regular classes this fall, we have so many workshops coming up that highlight different ways yoga can help us heal. These include Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Headaches & Sleep, Yoga to Balance Hormones, Leslie Howard's Pelvic Floor workshop for women, and many more! We invite you get curious about your relationship to your body and your health through these exciting offerings!
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 Community Corner Student Profile: Sally Sheriff
Hi, I'm Sally, and I've been a part of the yoga community here at Heartsong Yoga for 5 years, although it seems like I've always been here. I'd been involved in yoga for over 20 years with various teachers and styles but when I found Heartsong Yoga, I felt like I'd come home. I'd gone through a divorce and big life changes 5 ˝ years ago and heard through a friend that Kimry Jelen's mom, Lani, taught here and when I looked up the address, it was actually the closest yoga studio to my home and workplace. I gave it a try and have not looked back because here I found a great community of folks from a lot of different backgrounds and interests who were welcoming and supportive as I strove to create a new life for myself.
Read more on the HeartSong blog...
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Resource Center
Yoga as Medicine:
The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing
by Dr. Timothy McCall, MD
It is widely acknowledged that yoga has the potential to heal.
Yoga as Medicine, written by the medical editor of Yoga Journal Magazine, Dr. Timothy McCall, is a definitive guide on how to make that healing happen, taking the practice from just another workout to a system that addresses a broad spectrum of health concerns from insomnia to obesity to Multiple Sclerosis. Whether you are a new or long-time yoga student or even a teacher, this guide will give you ideas about how to work with a particular condition you or a student might be experiencing. Be well!
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-Workshops & Events-
New to Yoga? Start here.
Absolute Beginners Yoga Series
w/ Noemi Rossler
Monday, September 9th-30th | 7:15-8:30 pm
Thursday, September 12th-October 3rd | 9-10:15 am
Ready to start taking yoga classes, but want to start at the beginning -- with other students who are also brand new? Enroll in one of our upcoming 4 week series to discover the physical, mental and emotional benefits of yoga in a safe and supportive setting. You'll emerge ready to join any of our Level 1 classes.
Nurture Yourself...
Yoga for Headaches & Sleep
w/ Leslie Ellis
Sunday, September 15th | 12:30-2:30 pm
Do you struggle with headaches or poor quality sleep? You're not alone; relief IS possible! Join Leslie for this informative workshop where you'll explore common headache triggers, proper head and neck alignment to reduce muscle tension, restorative yoga postures to aid in your slumber, and other strategies for self-care.
 Restorative Yoga: Medicine for a Fast-Paced World
Friday, September 20th | 6-8 pm
Our popular restorative workshops are back on the 3rd Friday of each month. This all-levels class featuring long-held postures and the use of many supportive props offers you a place to take a load off after a busy week, reset your nervous system and move into the weekend feeling refreshed.
Get your groove on!
BUTI Fitness 
w/Nani Berger Friday, September 27th | 6-7 pm
Join HeartSong Yoga teacher training graduate Nani Berger for BUTIŽ, a workout combining yoga, dance, and plyometrics. BUTI works the 1st and 2nd chakras to activate the qualities of sexuality, power, confidence, and cleansing. This fun and energetic class will transform your body and mind, increase flexibility, tone and sculpt the entire body with infectious energy and heart-pumping music. Come see what the buzz is all about!
Just for Women!
Prenatal Yoga
w/ Kayci Cavenah
*NEW TIME - starts 9/19* Thursdays | 10:30-11:45 am
- and/or -
Sundays | 3-4:15 pm
Whether it's your first baby or you've had many, prenatal yoga offers you a great way to prepare yourself for labor and delivery in the weeks leading up to your due date. Stretch and strengthen key areas of your body and learn helpful breathing techniques, while bonding with other women sharing a similar journey.
Mama Moves Yoga: 
For Moms & Babies
w/Toby Shulruff
Tuesdays | 10:15-11:45 am
Are you in pain from pregnancy, birth or newborn care? Having difficulty adjusting to life with a newborn? Join Toby every Tuesday for this mom & baby class, which will give you a great chance to bond with your baby while allowing you to move and release tension in your body.
Wholly Mama Yoga:
Your Time for Healing & Revitalizing
w/ Toby Shulruff
Saturday, September 28th | 3:30-5:30 pm
Held on the last Saturday of each month, this workshop will provide a space for you to unwind, work on you physical and emotional health, and get some much needed quiet time. You'll learn specific movements to support your healing and tools for coping with the stresses of motherhood.
Pelvic Floor Workshop & Teacher Training
 w/Leslie Howard
Sunday-Wednesday, November 2nd-6th
Leslie Howard, a San Francisco-based yoga teacher who specializes in the therapeutic use of yoga for pelvic floor issues, returns to HeartSong in November for her popular Pelvic Floor Workshop, geared toward all women (no previous yoga experience required), as well as a teacher training on this complex and under-appreciated area of the female body.
Deadline for early bird pricing is
September 25th.
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