Friday evening, December 21, from 6 to 8 pm

This free community event starts with Maureen Shortt, Yoga Director,leading a Svaroopa® yoga class for a slow, deep core releasing practice, from 6 to 7 pm.   Chanting and meditation follows immediately until 8pm.

The word solstice is made up of two Latin words "sol" meaning sun and "sistere" meaning stillness. Considered by the ancients as the time of year when the sun 'sat still' before it changed its path, as a yoga community, we celebrate it as the invitation to sit still within the inner truth of our own divinity.

Light refreshments will be served and familyand friends are welcome. The event is free and open to the community.  Free child care in our Kids Room.  Call The Solebury Club 215-794-3494 to register. 

 Is your back sore?  Do you feel stiff and achy?

 Want to try yoga and need to take it slow?

NEW BEGINNER YOGA CLASSES

Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm

Check out the new class starting in January on Thursdays from 11:30-12:30!

This class is designed for people who are new to yoga, struggle with flexibility, or who want to get a good foundation for a yoga practice. This will focus on yoga basics like simple standing postures and modified sun salutes.  Also includes an introduction to breath practice, meditation, and, of course, relaxation.  Join Jessica Presti on the mat Tuesday nights for a early week energizer.  Platinum & Gold members no charge.  Otherwise check at the front desk for drop-in rate or purchase a book of classes at a reduced rate

  Ujjayi pranayama is probably the most common breathing technique in yoga classes, and it can be done anytime, anywhere. You can practice it standing in line, sitting at your desk, in almost any yoga posture or lying on your back to help you get to sleep. Mr. Iyengar translates the word this way: "The prefix "ud" means upwards or expanding. It also conveys the sense of pre-eminence and power. "Jaya" means conquest or success, and from another point of view restraint. In Ujjayi the lungs are fully expanded, with the chest thrust out like a mighty conqueror."   In normal breathing, we are often completely unaware of our breath.   In all Pranayama practices, we are trying to become aware of our breath. Try this practice sitting up straight, either in a chair or on the floor. Make a slight constriction at the back of the throat as you exhale so that the breath makes an audible sound. This is the same constriction you would make when you are trying to clean your sunglasses: "Hhhha". Once you have it, try to make the same sound with closed lips. You should still be able to make the sound. Then try to make the same constriction as you inhale. The sound might sound like "sssa". It may take a while to develop this sound. Be patient. Playing around with the breath may cause some tension in the body. Whenever you feel tension creeping in, let go of what you are doing and maybe try again, or let it go until the next time. In the beginning, see if you can practice that "sssa" sound on the inhale and a soft "hhha" sound on the exhale for up to 5 minutes. Pay attention to the duration of the breath. Typically we inhale for much shorter than we exhale. Try to make your inhales and exhales of equal duration. This practice helps to keep us in the present moment by making the breath more conscious. It is hard to make this sound when your mind starts drifting off. More important than getting it "right" is to notice what happens. The breath is most reliable indicator of the state of the mind. You can influence your state of mind by practicing Ujjayi breathing. Alternatively, if you are having trouble breathing evenly it might help you recognize that you are tense?   I'll see you in class!   Karin

 Our book of the month for December is written by Tara Brach.  Tara Brach is a leading western teacher of Buddhist meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She has practiced and taught meditation for over 35 years, with an emphasis on vipassana (mindfulness or insight) meditation. Tara is the senior teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. She has conducted workshops at Spirit Rock Center, Omega Institute, Kripalu, and other retreat centers nationwide. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia, with her husband (Jonathan Foust), mother and their three dogs.