Greetings from YFL!!!  Our hearts are remaining connected to yours through this absence of seeing one another in person. My wish is that you, your family, and friends stay well and healthy through this trying time for all of us. I have posted a short mediation video for you on my Yoga For Life Facebook page. I tried to upload to this blog, but the file was too large. So, please access all of my videos from the Facebook source. I will still post Sophie’s classes at both Facebook, and this blog on Friday mornings.

This week’s meditation focuses on ‘So Hum’, which means ‘I am’, and you attach whatever emotional energies that attach. If they are positive breathe them in, and if negative breathe them out. Our mudra is for ‘Cheerfulness’, and clearing the lungs. Fold and press the two middle fingers together at the middle section, while extending the remainder fingers and thumb. Our music for meditation is ‘Divine Imagination’ by Kiran Murti.

The physical practice will focus on a short, balanced, ‘Classic Hatha’ flow. It will be posted for you, again, on my Facebook Timeline this Wednesday. www.yogaforlife06.com, then click the Facebook Timeline, and it should be pinned to the top on Wednesday. Today, please join me on Facebook for meditation.

We can’t wait to see you back on the mat very soon!!! Until then, be well, be kind, and stay positive. Love & Namaste’, Deb

P.S. -Drink mostly warm & hot beverages as often as possible. Gargle often with hot salt/lemon water. When you go out DO NOT touch metal surfaces, and if you do, wash your hands immediately. Wash your clothes, towels, etc. daily, and if possible, shower upon returning home from being in public. BE WELL!!!

Greetings from YFL!!!  We are continuing to hold space in our hearts for each of you, and extend the positive energy for well being, and good health. A reminder that I will be offering a virtual practice each Wednesday through my Facebook page, and Sophie’s Wednesday virtual class will be via a private youtube page, that I will provide the link for, on both my Facebook Page, and here on my blog. I will also offer a short meditation practice on Sunday. Be well, be kind, and stay positive. Namaste’, Deb

“REACH OUT WITH YOUR HEART”

Greetings from YFL. I just received a statement of advice from Yoga Alliance, which recommends that yoga studios suspend live classes & instruction during this suggested time of ‘Social Distancing’. Governor Newsom also recommended that anyone 65+ withdraw from social engagements. Thus, out of extreme prudence, and erring on the side of safety, I have decided to close Yoga For Life this week. I will reassess the situation every Sunday, and post studio updates. I will also try to offer a weekly, virtual class, every Wednesday. This class will be posted on my YFL Facebook page. This is a decision that I did not want to make, but feel that I must to prevent the spread of the virus, and to protect everyone’s health. Please read the poem above. I am going to continue to Reach Out to You with My Heart!!! Stay well, be safe, and remain positive. Above all be kind to one another. I look forward to seeing all  of you again very soon, my beloved students.-Blessings, Love, and Namaste’, Deb

Greetings from YFL!!! As we traverse these difficult times concerning COVID19 there will be some additional changes & adjustments at the studio beginning this week. We ask that you bring your own mat, and props. For an extended period you will NOT be using YFL blocks, bolsters, blankets, or straps. Please clean your mat at home before attending class, and upon your return home. Clean your props as well. For this week’s practice bring your own towel, and a block, if you have one. We also practice the 6 foot rule to the best of our ability in the given space. We also ask that you DON’T attend class if you are part of the high risk population-heart issues, diabetic conditions, cancer, auto-immune deficiencies. We also ask you to stay home if you have a dry cough, body ache, sore throat, and/or a temperature of 100.4 or above.  We want to maintain a safe environment, protect those at highest risk, and prevent the spread of the virus. At the same time YFL is a small business, and needs your continued support within these new restrictions. Of course, if the number of cases increases exponentially in our community, then I will have no recourse other than to close temporarily. Please check the blog daily for any up to the minute changes. We wish you good health and well-being during this difficult time, and want to help you maintain a strong and healthy immune system to the best of our abilities. We WILL all get through this together, and ALL WILL BE WELL. Stay positive and keep the faith!!!—Namaste’ & Love, Deb

This week’s practice is at “The Wall”. We will use this prop for focus, alignment, and power. Our Sanskrit focus is the seed sound for the 7th chakra (Sahasrara), or Crown Chakra. The seed sound is AUM. Our mudra is the Crown Chakra hand gesture, and will promote ‘Spiritual Connection’. Our meditation focus is ‘BE CALM’, and may be contemplated while listening to Tom Barabas’s ‘Nuages’.

This week’s Yin practice will focus on ‘Happy Hips’, which will open the hip joint, and release tension in this major area of the body. Please bring a beach towel, and block for this practice.

Be positive, practice social distancing as much as possible, and stay strong. We will overcome this current episode. We are a strong and resilient country. We will help you get through this with the healing practices of yoga & meditation, even if we have to go partially virtual, we will continue to provide you.

Be well, healthy, and positive. As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

Greetings from YFL!!! We amped it up last week with ‘weight baring’, so this week we stretch deeply with restorative poses!!! It is Triple ‘R’ week!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘SHAM’, and this chant will help us balance the energy of Ajna, or the third eye. This is the seed sound for the 6th Chakra. Our supporting mudra is the ‘AJNA’ hand gesture, and will promote wisdom, and connection to higher Source. Our meditation focus is ‘Wisdom’, and may be contemplated while listening to the “Meditation Music” CD.

This week’s Yin practice will balance each of the seven Chakras. We will sustain a Yin pose for each chakra, chant the seed sound, take the associated mudra, color focus.  The Tibetan bowl note will help with our balanced energy.

There is limited space for Deb’s Part #1-Back to Basics workshop!!! Sign-up ASAP, if you are interested in covering the first 10 of the 30 Essential Yoga Poses!!! Cost is $25, date is 3/28, and time is 1-3 p.m.

We have one more hour of daylight beginning this week!!! So get out move, and enjoy life!!! We know it will be another great week at YFL!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“You must change your thoughts before you can change your life”.—Unknown

Greetings from YFL!!! Happy March!!! Be prepared for a fun, and active month at the studio!!! This week we focus on power and strength with the use of hand weights with our practice!!! Our Sanskrit focus is the seed sound for the ‘Throat Chakra’, and is ‘Sham’. The supporting mudra is the ‘Ushas’, connecting to all things good. This mudra is specific to balancing the throat chakra, which is our wheel center for expression and communication. Our meditation focus is ‘Self-Expression’, and may be contemplated, while listening to the ‘Butterfly Waltz’.

This week’s Yin practice will work on opening our hip joints, and releasing tension from this major area of the body. So, you guessed it, ‘Happy Hips’ week!!!

Sophie’s 4-week Ayurveda Workshop begins this Wednesday evening, and Deb’s ‘Back to Basics’ workshop #1 will be on 3/28…just a few spots remaining!!!

It will be another great week at YFL, please join us for fun, laughter, and stress release through breath and movement!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“Welcome March…Wishing you a month of joy, fun, laughter, friends, and delightful surprises”.—Carol CC Miller

Greetings from YFL!!! This week will be ‘Classic’!!! Yes, it is time for combining flow with power…Classic Hatha Week!!! Our Sanskrit focus is the ‘seed sound’ for the Solar Plexus chakra, VAM. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Cheerfulness’ position. It promotes healthy lungs, and reduces worry, sorrow, and grief.  This week’s Yin practice will promote ‘Improved Digestion’.

The meditation focus is ‘Cheerfulness’, and may be contemplated while listening to the classic ‘Claire de Lune’.

The monthly YFL newsletter will be on your email desk around 10 a.m. 3/1/20, so watch for it, and tons of useful information!!!

Deb’s 1st of 3 ‘Back to Basic’ workshops will take place on 3/28, from 1-3 p.m. We will cover the first 10 of the 30 essential yoga poses. There will be a detailed demo of each pose, notes on alignment, breath, and ‘do’s & don’ts’ for each pose. Then Deb will help each participant breakdown the pose in their body. Space is limited, and almost full, so sign-up quickly. The cost is $25!!!

It will be a great week at YFL, and as always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

‘The Hamsa Prayer’- Let no sadness come to this heart, Let no trouble come to these arms, let no conflict come to these eyes, let my soul be filled with the Blessing of joy and peace.

Greetings from YFL, and Happy Presidents’ Day!!! Yes, we are open on Monday!!! This is “Wall Week” at the studio, and will use this awesome prop for focus, alignment, and power enhancement!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘LAM’, which will help to ground us, and balance our root chakra. It will also help to activate the Vagus nerve, and put us into the energy of the parasympathetic nervous system. Our mudra is the hand gesture for ‘Grounding’. The meditation focus is ‘Staying Connected’, and may be contemplated while listening to Hood’s ‘Multidimensional’ CD.

The weekly Yin practice will emphasize the stretching of the spine in all directions!!! You guessed it, ‘Spinal Bliss’ week!!!

Deb’s ‘Back to Basic’ workshop is coming up in March, the first of 3 workshops, each of which, will explore the fundamentals of 10 of the 30 essential poses. The workshop is filling quickly, so sign up soon!!! 3/28/20, from 1-3 p.m., and the cost is $25.

Come release from all the stresses of life for at least an hour this week!!! You know you need it!!!

We will have fun, and another great week at YFL!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world”.—Desmond Tutu

Greetings from YFL, and Happy Valentine’s Day!!! This week we will be focusing the physical practice on ‘Restoration’ with lots of love and props!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘YUM’ the seed sound for the heart chakra, and our energy wheel for ‘Universal Compassion’. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Dhayna’, or ‘Contemplation’ position for the hands. Our meditation focus is ‘Universal Love’, and the supporting music is from Tom Barabas’ CD, ‘Nuages’.

This week’s Yin practice will help release tension that is held in the hip joint, so it is ‘Happy Hips Week’!!!

We are open on both Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day, and have gift certificates, if you need the perfect present for you significant other!!!

It will be another great week at YFL, and we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“Your strength is how calmly, quietly, and peacefully you face life”.—Yogi Bhajan

Greetings from YFL!!! Happy February, Valetine’s Day, and President’s Day this new month!!! It is the first week of February, so that translates to ‘weight week’ on the mat!!! We will sculpt, tone, and strengthen with our own body weight, and light hand weights!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Sankalpa’, or ‘Intention’, so take a moment to set yours for this new month, and new week!!! Our mudra is the classic ‘Jnana’ hand gesture, and this evokes the energy connection of ‘Universal Wisdom & Knowledge’.

This week’s Yin practice will serve to balance the ‘Chakras’.

The February YFL newsletter is now available, and if you aren’t on the list for receiving the monthly publication, then email Deb, and request being added to the list!!! yogaforlife06@verizon.net.

Deb just completed her quarterly Meditation I workshop, which was well received by the participants. The next one will take place in early May. In the meantime, Oprah & Deepak, are offering their next FREE 21-day Meditation challenge for maintaining ‘Optimal Health’. It starts tomorrow. Just Google their names for registration instructions. I have done everyone of these programs, and HIGHLY recommend them for beginner to advanced meditators!!!

Our meditation focus for the week is ‘Listen’!!! Your music for contemplation is from ‘Winds of Samsara’, ‘Heaven is Here’.

It will be another fabulous and fun week at YFL!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream”.—Project Happiness

Greetings from YFL!!! This week’s physical practice will focus on ‘Classic Hatha’. Our asana work will incorporate Vinyasa with Power. Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Siddho Hum’, or ‘I am Wholeness’. Our mudra is the classic ‘Ushas’, or connecting to ‘all things good’. Meditation will focus on ‘Stillness’. Meditation music is provided by Kirtan Murti, and their song, ‘Divine Imagination’.

Yin will focus on the full range of motion of the spine, or ‘Spinal Bliss’.

Deb is offering her Meditation I course in the form of a 150 minute workshop!!! It will be held this coming Saturday (2/1), from 1-3:30 p.m. You will learn 15-16 ways of dropping into a meditative state. The course includes Deb’s personally written manual, and a Certificate of Completion. The cost is $75. Email Deb to register, or register at the studio. Meditation is the most important gift you can afford your mind, body, and heart!!!

It will be a beautiful week at YFL, and as always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“Breathe. Step back. Think. Then react.—tinybuddha.com

Greetings from YFL!!! This week we return to ‘The Wall’. It is a wonderful prop for alignment, focus, and resistance. Our Sanskrit focus is ‘AUM Eem Shreem’, or ‘My being radiates strength, wisdom, and abundance. Our mudra is for ‘Curiosity’, and healthy liver function. The weekly meditation focus is ‘Curiosity’, and may be contemplated while listening to Sacred Earth’s ‘Bhakti Hreem’.

This week’s Yin practice will promote good digestion, as well as promoting peace of mind, and deep stretching of the fascia, and connective tissues.

Sign-up for these upcoming workshops ASAP @ YFL, or contact Deb via email to register: yogaforlife06@verizon.net.

1/24-New Moon Rising w/Kim 6:30-8:30 p.m.-Creating a Vision Board & Intentions for 2020 ($25)

1/25-Yoga For Emotional Liberation w/Sophie 1-3 p.m.-Learning ways to relieve stressful emotions due to grief ($25)

1/26-Reiki I Training w/Kim 10 a.m.-2 p.m.-Metaphysical Use of Energy for Healing ($150)

2/1-Transformational Meditation I w/Deb 1-3:30 p.m.-Learning 15-16 methods for achieving the ‘meditative state’ ($70)

It will be another awesome week at YFL, and as always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

‘Allow the great unknown dimensions of life to find you’.—Adyashanti

Greetings from YFL!!! It was so good to see everyone back on there mats last week for the first full schedule of the New Year!!! Last week was rigorous with our hand weights, but this week will  RESTORE!!! We will explore the wonderful world of props, and let our bodies stretch with support to a deeper place, as our minds unwind, and relax!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘SAMSKARA’, or the ‘winds of change’…the only constant in life is change, and how to deal with change gracefully. Our hand gesture (mudra) is the ‘UPPER HAND’, or cooling mudra. This hand gesture helps alleviate anger, frustration, and impatience.

This week’s Yin practice will focus on ‘Balancing the Chakras’.

Our meditation focus is ‘Patience’, and may be focused upon while listening to the CD, ‘Claire de Lune’.

We have three workshops fast approaching in January: 1) 1/24-New Moon Rising Workshop w/Kim from 6:30-8:30 p.m. @$25 (Vision Board, Intentions, Letting Go)  2) 1/25-Yoga For Emotional Release w/Sophie from 1-3 p.m. @$25 (How to deal the myriad forms of grief), and 3) Reiki I Training w/Kim from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. @$150 (Metaphysical Prayer).

Join us for another wonderful week at the studio, and as always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”-Rumi

Happy New Year, and Happy New Decade!!! 2020 will be an awesome year at YFL!!! We start the year off with power, strength, and sculpting our bodies with the use of hand weights and body weight!!! It is WEIGHT TIME!!! Our Sanskrit focus is AUM Durgha Namah, which translates as, ‘my true nature is fearless and powerful’. Our mudra for the week is, ‘Dhanya’, or the meditation hand gesture. Our meditation focus is ‘Power’, in its physical, mental, and spiritual forms. Our music for meditation is provided by Tom Barabas, his ‘Nuages’.

We return to our normal teaching schedule this week. The Winter Schedule should be up and running on the website anyway now. I am resuming my 4:15 p.m. Yin class on Tuesday afternoons, and will continue to teach the two morning classes on Friday, during Summer’s maternity leave. I will also be offering both classes on Saturday mornings again, 8:15 a.m. Yin, and 9:30 a.m. Sukha-Stirrha. Sophie’s schedule remains the same, although she is taking over the 5:30 p.m. class on Thursday evenings, Classic Hatha.

This week’s Yin class will emphasize the back, and work it through a full range of motion, ‘Spinal Bliss’!!!

We have many workshops available in January, February, and March. Checkout the January 2020 YFL newsletter for all the details. If you don’t currently receive the newsletter, then please email me, and I will see that you are added to the Contact List. yogaforlife06@verizon.net

I can’t think of a better way to start the year, than on your yoga mat!!! So, come see us ASAP!!! As always, we cant’ wait to see  you on the mat!!!

‘Feel good, be good, and do good’.-Yogi Bhanjan

Greetings from YFL!!! We wish you, your family, and friends the Happiest New Year!!! 2020 will be a fantastic new decade at YFL, and we look forward to sharing our normal class scheduling, as well as many helpful and interesting ‘Special Events’. We have quite a few workshops coming up in January, February, and March, so check them out in the January YFL Newsletter, which will be released on January 1st to your email desk at 10 a.m.!!!

This week at YFL will be the last holiday schedule, and Deb’s reduced schedule!!! Check it out below!!!

This is Bonus Week, so our physical practice will be an additional time for a Restorative Flow: Rest, Restore, and Renew!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Karuna Hum’, or ‘I am compassion’. The hand gesture for our practice, or mudra is the ‘Equanimity’ gesture. This promotes balance, and releases tension. It also promotes a healthy thyroid gland. Our meditation focus is ‘Compassion’, and may be contemplated, while listening to ‘Music for Meditation’.

This week’s Yin practice will focus on promoting ‘Good Digestion’!!!

As always, we cant’ wait to see you on the mat!!!

SCHEDULE FOR 12/30/19-1/4/20:

Mon-8:15 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.-w/Deb

Tues, Wed, Thurs-CLOSED

Fri-8:15 & 9:30 a.m.-w/Deb

Sat-9:00 a.m.-w/Deb

We resume our regular teaching schedule on Monday, January 13th!!!

‘Bless this year with love and light. Bless this year with faith and sight. Bless this year with grace and ease. Bless this year with joy and peace.’-Mary Davis