Triple ‘R’ Week-Restore, Renew, & Relax(12/7-12/12/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! This is our week to Triple ‘R’, or Restore, Renew, and Relax!!! The physical practice will take through a series of deeply supported poses, which allow the mind, body, and heart to rest. The supporting Sanskrit focus is ‘Bhakti’, or one’s path of ‘Devotion’. The hand gesture (mudra) is the ‘Ushas’, or connecting to all things good. Our meditation focus is ‘Peace’, and is supported by Michael Hoppes’, ‘Silence of the Stars’. This week’s Yin practice will focus on the 7th Chakra, or the ‘Crown’ energy wheel. ‘Sahasrara’. It connects us to pure consciousness. It is the thousand-petaled lotus, and serves as our aural portal to Divinity. This week’s Sunday meditation is the 4th step of Yoga Nidra (Yogi’s Sleepless Sleep). It will be another wonderful week at YFL, and as always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

PROPS:

Restorative: Block, Strap, Bolster

Yin: Block, Bolster

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/Deb-Restorative/Yin

Sun: Meditation w/Deb-Yoga Nidra Step #4

“May you be surrounded by love, light and beautiful vibes”.—Anonymous

‘Weight’ Time!!! (11/30-12/5/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!!! Please note that the December Newsletter will be available on your email desk Tuesday, December 1st at 10 a.m.!!! If you want to be added to our mailing list, simply send me your preferred email address for receiving our monthly publication (yogaforlife06@verizon.net).

This week’s practice will focus on developing muscle tone and strength with the use of our own body weight, and hand weights. Our Sanskrit focus is ‘AUM Mitraya Namah’, or ‘I invoke the spirit of friendliness’. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Ganesha’ position for overcoming obstacles along life’s path. The meditation focus is ‘HOPE’, and may be contemplated while listening to Enya’s ‘Watermark’.

This week’s Yin practice will balance the energy of the third eye, or mind’s eye AJNA, the 6th chakra. Sunday’s meditation practice will emphasize the 3rd step of Yoga Nidra.

PROPS:

*Weights ( 2, 1 or 2 lb.)

*1 Block

YIN: * Bolster & Block

It will be another fantastic week at Yoga For Life!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“The body achieves what the mind believes. Never underestimate the unlimited power of your being”.—muses from a mystic

Classic Hatha Week @ YFL!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!! (11/23-11/11/28/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! We are so grateful for your support of our teachings throughout the year!!! We wouldn’t be YFL without each and everyone of you!!! I would like to express my gratitude for all of you by extending a small gift. Please enjoy my latest virtual meditation offering on YouTube all this week (11/22/20). It is ‘Step One-Yoga Nidra’!!! Use the meditation as many times as you would like!!!  Enjoy!!! We wish you and your family a blessed, and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This week’s physical practice is ‘Classic Hatha’, and will emphasize Vinyasa + Power!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Pralaya’, or a period of rest and repose, a phase of passivity. The weekly mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Annapurna’, which strengthens and fulfills the heart, and honors the goddess of food and harvest. Our meditation focus is ‘Gratitude’, and may be contemplated while listening to Heenem Bhakti’s ‘Sacred Earth’. This week’s Yin practice will serve to balance the ‘Throat Chakra’. This week’s virtual class will also feature ‘Classic Hatha’.

PROPS:

Classic Hatha: Strap, Block, Small Blanket

Yin: Block, Bolster, Blanket

Virtual Yoga: Strap, Block, Small Blanket

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/Deb (Classic Hatha)

Sun: Meditation w/Deb-Step 2: Yoga Nidra

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

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference”.—Reinhold Niebuhr

‘Meet me at the Wall’ (11/16-11/21/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! It is ‘Meet me at the Wall’ week at the studio, and the new virtual class this Wednesday will feature Sukha-Stirha (Yin-Yang).The Wall will serve as a tool of focus, resistance, and power.  Our Yin practice will serve to balance our ‘Root Chakra’, our wheel of stability, roundedness, and connection. The weekly Sanskrit focus is ‘Pranidhanat’, or ‘To Surrender’, ‘Let Go’, ‘To Devote’. Our mudra (hand gesture) is ‘Durga’, or the hand position for ‘Courage’. Our meditation focus is ‘Courage’, and may be contemplated while listening to ‘Claire de Lune’

PROPS:

Wall Class: One block

Yin Class: Bolster, block

Virtual Yoga (Sukha-Stirha): Block, Strap, Small Blanket or Towel

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

“There are, it seems two muses: the Muse of Inspiration, who gives us inarticulate visions and desires, and the Muse of Realization, who returns again and again to say, “It is yet more difficult than you thought.” This is the muse of form. It may be then that form serves us best when it works as an obstruction, to baffle us and deflect our intended course. It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.”—Wendell Berry

“Without Love, all worship is  burden, all dancing is a chore, all music is mere noise:.—Rumi

P.S.-Please leave a comment, if you have read this week’s blog!!! Thank you in advance!!!—Deb

Let Us Restore!!! Renew, Relax, and Restore Week!!! (11/9-11/14/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! It is ‘LET US RESTORE’ week at the studio!!! I am guessing that we can all use a restorative practice. So come, and join me for a practice that will relax, restore, and renew your mind, body, and heart!!! This week’s Yin practice will balance ‘The Sacral Chakra’. The virtual Yoga class will promote balance of the ‘Solar Plexus Chakra’. Don’t forget to join each Sunday morning for a FREE virtual meditation on her YouTube Channel!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Ishvara Pranidhana’, which means to ‘Totally Surrender into the Love, Grace, Hope, and Compassion of Spirit’. Our hand gesture (mudra) focus is the classic Jnana, or Universal Wisdom position. Our meditation focus is ‘Spiritual Oneness’. The music provided for meditation is Kiran Murti’s ‘Sweet Indian Dream’.

PROPS:  

Restorative: Bolster, Block, Blanket

Yin: Bolster, Block

Virtual: Bolster, Block

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/Deb-Yin for the balancing of the ‘Solar Plexus’

Sun: Virtual Meditation w/Deb-Balance for ‘Sacral Chakra’

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

‘Existence and awareness are synonymous. One cannot be known without the other. Knower and Known, subject and object, me and other are one. This is love.’—Deepak Chopra

‘Let’s Weight’!!! (11/2-11/7/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! It is already November!!! The first week of the month means it is ‘Weight Time’ on the mat, ‘Let’s Weight’. We will gain power and strength this week with the use of hand weights, and our own body weight!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Bhakti’, or ‘One’s Path of Devotion’. Our hand gesture (mudra) focus is the ‘Spleen Mudra’. It bolsters confidence, and reduces the energy of worry. Our meditation focus is ‘Don’t’ worry, be Happy’!!! The music selection for this week’s meditation time is ‘Sacred Earth’s Bhakti Heeneem’. This week’s Yin practice will balance the ‘Solar Plexus Chakra’. Our virtual Sunday meditation time with Deb will emphasize the Heart Chakra w/ the seed sound chant, and color focus.

PROPS: 1) NON YIN CLASSES-WEIGHTS, BLOCK

2) FOR YIN CLASSES-BOLSTER, BLOCK, BLANKET

Wed: Virtual Class w/Deb-‘Let’s Weight’

Sun: Virtual Meditation w/Deb-Solar Plexus Focus

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

“Fill your soul with sunshine”.—Zig Ziglar

Classic Hatha Week (10/26-10/31/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! This week is all about the tradition of ‘Classic Hatha Yoga’. Our practice will emphasize Flow + Power!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Dhanya Vad’, or thank you, which reminds us to practice a state of gratitude in our daily lives. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Vajra’, or Thunderbolt position for evoking ‘Effortlessness’. It also promotes good circulation, blood flow, and stimulation of all the senses. Our meditation focus is ‘Dhanya Vad’, and may be contemplated while listening to ‘Kiran Murti’s Divine Imagination’.

This week’s Yin practice will emphasize poses for opening the ‘Heart Chakra’, or ‘Anahata’. PROPS-block, blanket, bolster

This week’s virtual class will be the same as in studio, ‘Classic Hatha Yoga’.

Sunday’s Meditation will emphasize ‘The Power of Stillness’.

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/ Deb (Classic Hatha)-PROPS-block & belt

Sun: Virtual Meditaion w/Deb (The Power of Stillness)-PROPS-mat, zafu, zabuton or chair

The monthly newsletter will be available on your email desk on 11/1 @ 10 a.m. If you would like to subscribe, please email your request to Deb @ yogaforlife06@verizon.net!!!

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

“Listen to silence, it has so much to say”.—Rumi

 

‘To the Wall’ & ‘The Winners Are’!!! (10/19-10/10/24)

Greetings from YFL!!! What a wonderful week of celebration we have had!!! It was so fun celebrating our 14th anniversary with all of you!!! Keep reading, and the winners will be revealed for our raffle drawing of Deb’s 6 oil paintings!!!

This is ‘Wall Week’ at the studio, so we will use the wall as a tool of resistance, focus, and strengthening!!! You will just need a block, and your mat this week for class. Our Yin practice will promote ‘Good Digestion’, and you will need a bolster, and a block for the practice. Our new virtual class for Wednesday will be another ‘Sukha-Stirha’, or Yin-Yang practice. You will need a block, and a strap for this class.

Our Sanskrit focus is ‘So Hum’, or ‘I am’. Using this silent mantra for letting go of what no longer serves us, and receiving that which we need. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Durga’ position for promoting the energy of ‘Courage’. Our meditation focus is ‘Courage’, and may be contemplated while listening to Ann Sweeten’s ‘Moment in Time’.

It will be another great week at YFL, and we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!! Don’t forget to join Deb on YouTube every Sunday morning for a new meditation offering!!!

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/Deb-Sukha-Stirha

Sun: Meditation w/Deb

THE WINNERS ARE!!!

#1-Temecula City Hall (Donna S.!!!)

#2-Dana Point Sunset (Jean M.!!!)

#3-Birthday Bouquet (Gale R.!!!)

#4-Torrey Pines Sunset (Cheryl T.!!!)

#5-La Jolla Children’s Pool (Estelle J.!!!)

#6-Texas Hill Country (Chriss O.!!!)

CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. YOU MAY COLLECT YOUR PAINTINGS AT YFL!!!

“Our duty is not to see through one another but to see one another through”.—Amish Proverb

Let’s Celebrate!!! YFL turns 14 this week!!! (Triple ‘R’-Restorative)

# 1 (Temecula City Hall)#2 (Dana Point Sunset)#3 (Birthday Bouquet)

#4 (Torrey Pines Sunset)

#5 (La Jolla Children’s Pool)#6 (Texas Hill Country)

Greetings from YFL!!! Let’s celebrate!!! YFL turns 14 on October 16th!!! So, this week, each time you attend class at the studio or virtually, you may select which painting you would like to assign your attendance raffle ticket toward. The drawing for each painting will be held on Saturday, 10/16, and the six winners will be announced in next Sunday’s blog!!! The two paintings that are not framed above are currently at the frame store, and will be given with frames as well!!! Please notify me about your virtual attendance by posting a comment after class on my YouTube Channel!!! Good luck to everyone!!! These are six of my original oil paintings from 2020!!!

This week’s practice is Triple ‘R’ for restoring, renewing, and relaxing!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Ojas’, or our ‘Vital Energy’. It is that which invigorates, and brings happiness, radiance, and keen intellect. Practicing yoga and meditation will harness, and enhance this important energy within us!!! Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Mushti’, or fist seal, and helps to promote a cool head, and a big heart. Our meditation focus is ‘Restore’, and may be focused upon while listening to Michael Hoppe’s ‘Silence of the Stars’.

This week’s Yin practice is ‘Spinal Bliss’, and will promote a full range of motion for your back!!!

PROPS: bolster, block, blanket, strap

It will be a fun week at YFL, and we are so blessed, and happy that you are part of our yoga family. We are only able to continue providing services to you because of your continued and loyal support!!! We thank you from the bottom of our heart for 14 beautiful years!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”.—Kahlil Gibran

‘Weight Time’ (10/5-10/10)

Greeting from YFL!!! It is time for the ‘Weights’!!! ‘Weight Time’ is our physical theme for this week’s practice. We will bear our own body weight, and add the hand weights, as an option!!! ‘The right way is the hard way’!!! Our Sanskrit focus will be simple, but of utmost importance, ‘Shanti’, or PEACE. The hand gesture (mudra) focus for this week is ‘Equanimity’, or ‘Smile’!!! Our meditation focus is in line with our Sanskrit focus…PEACE!!! The music selection for meditation is James Hood’s ‘Imaginary Friend’.

This week’s Yin practice will focus on opening the hips, so it is ‘Happy Hips’ week. You will need a bolster for this practice, and a block.

PROPS: One block, Hand Weights

VIRTUAL CLASSES WITH DEB

*WED: ‘Weight Time’

*SUN: ‘The Sacred Power of Witnessing the Present Moment’-6 steps

The week of 10/12-10/17 we will be celebrating YFL’s 14th anniversary. For each class that you attend virtually, or in studio, you will be eligible to put one FREE raffle ticket in 1 of 6 drawing pots for Deb’s original oil paintings. They will be fully framed, and ready to hang. The drawing will take place on Saturday, 10/17 @ 11 a.m. The six winners will be announced on the YFL FaceBook, Instagram, and on the 10/18 Sunday blog. Deb will post a photo of each painting on this blog next Sunday, 10/11, and assign a # to each one. You can then choose, which one you want to try to win, at each class attended from 10/12-10/17!!! Good luck!!!

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

‘In the bad times, choose to grow stronger. In the good times, choose to enjoy fully. In all times, choose to be grateful’.—Unknown

Bonus Week: Sukha + Stirha (Balancing Yin & Yang Energies) 9/28-10/3

Greetings from YFL!!! I am so HAPPY to report that YFL is open for in studio classes again, as of 9/23/20!!! All COVID safety guidelines are still in place, and being followed!!! Virtual classes will continue to be offered for those of you that can’t, or choose not to attend in studio. This is a split week between Sept/Oct, so, it is BONUS WEEK!!! This week’s practice will emphasize the balancing of Sukha (Yin) & Stirha (Yang) energies within the body via pranayama & asana practices!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Narayana’, which emphasizes the energy of ‘new beginnings’ with a beginner’s enthusiasm. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Grounding’ focus for stabilization, connection, and rooting ourselves firmly. Our meditation focus is ‘Enthusiasm’, and may be focused upon while enjoying the music of Tom Barabas, his ‘Nuages’.

This week’s Yin practice will serve to balance the kidney meridians. You will need a bolster and block for this practice.

The October newsletter will be on your email desk around 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 1st, so watch for that!!!

YFL will be celebrating its 14th anniversary on October 16th!!! This year’s celebration will be a bit different due to COVID restrictions, and a tad egotistical on my part!!! Rather than door prizes, I will be giving away 3-4 of my oil paintings. Each time you attend class in person, or virtually, I will drop your name in the pot for the painting of your choice. I will post pics of my paintings the week of our celebration!!! Stay tuned for further info!!!

Wed-Virtual Yoga w/Deb-Sukha-Stirha

Sun-Virtual Meditation w/Deb-Breath + Body Scan

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL IN STUDIO CLASSES BY 5 P.M. THE DAY BEFORE YOUR CLASS!!!

IN STUDIO CLASSES ARE LIMITED TO 6 OR LESS STUDENTS!!!

It will be another great week at YFL, either in person, or virtually!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

Props: Block, Belt, Bolster

“Keep your face toward the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind you”.—Unknown

 

 

Classic Hatha Week!!! (9/21-9/26/20)

Greetings from YFL, and Happy Fall Season!!! This week’s practice is ‘Classic Hatha’. We will move, and energize the body with vigor!!! The practice will emphasize stamina, power, and breathing capacity. Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Kula’, which means community, clan, tribe of inclusion and belonging. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the ‘Ushas’ for connecting to ‘all things good’. Our meditation focus is ‘Inclusion’, and may be contemplated while listening to ‘Claire de Lune’. This week’s Yin practice will promote ‘Good Digestion’. We hope your first week of the new Fall season is a great one!!!

Wed-Virtual Yoga w/Deb (Classic Hatha)-9/23/20

Sun-Meditation w/Deb-‘Cascading Serenity’-9/27/20

PROPS: Classic Hatha-block and strap, Yin-block and bolster

Have a fantastic week, and always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

‘We are the scientists, trying to make sense of the stars inside us’.—Christopher Poindexter

Wall Week!!! (9/14-9/19/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! We hope everyone is safe, and staying healthy during the fires and smoke that encircle us!!! This is ‘Wall Week’ at YFL. We will use the wall for focus, alignment, and power!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Bhakti’, or a path of devotion!!! Our mudra (hand gesture) is ‘Dhanya’, or the position for meditation and contemplation. Our Yin practice will balance the ‘Chakra System’. This Sundays’ meditation is a ‘witnessing of the breath’, and finding our ‘Authentic Self’.

Wed: Virtual Yoga w/Deb-Sukha-Stirrha (block, strap, blanket, bolster)

Sun: Meditation w/Deb-‘Witness the Breath’ (chair, zafu, zabuton, blanket)

Virtual classes are accessible via YouTube @ Deb’s Channel, and cost $75/month. All uploaded classes are yours to use. Once Deb has received payment, then she will forward the code. Payment via PayPal.com @ yogaforlife06@verizon.net, or via check mailed to the studio. 27403 Ynez Rd., Suite 210, Temecula, Ca. 92591.

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

“The secret of living well and longer is: eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure”.—Tibetan Proverb

Deb Potts

September 6, 2020

Greetings from YFL!!! Wow!!! I hope everyone is staying safe and cool during this HEAT WAVE!!! This week’s practice is a perfect remedy for battling the heat, which is our Triple ‘R’ practice of restoration-restore, renew, and relax. Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Maitri’, or to extend love & friendliness. Our mudra (hand gesture) is the classic Jnana, and connects to the energy of Universal Wisdom. Our meditation focus is ‘Love’, and may be contemplated, while listening to Piano Meditation’s ‘Butterfly Waltz’. This week’s Yin practice will focus upon ‘Happy Hips’.

Virtual classes will continue to be available via YouTube on Deb’s Channel. The fee is $75/month for unlimited use per household. You may mail a check to the studio, or pay via PayPal.com @ yogaforlife06@verizon.net. Deb provides one new yoga practice each Wednesday, and one new meditation practice each Sunday (meditation classes are FREE!!!)

Wed-Virtual Class w/Deb-Triple ‘R’-rest, restore, and renew!!!

Sun-‘Opening the Heart’ Meditation w/Deb

Props: Restorative-Bolster, Blanket, Block

Yin-Bolster, Blanket, Block

Meditation-Zafu, Zabuton (or blanket)

We look forward to practicing with you this week!!! It will be another great and fun week at YFL!!! As always, we can’t wait to see you on the mat!!!—Namaste’, Deb

“When there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt”.—St. Francis of Assisi

 

Bear the Weight Week!!! (8/30-9/5/20)

Greetings from YFL!!! This is ‘Bear the Weight’ week!!! Our practice will be powerful and strong, and energizing!!! We will bear our own body weight as we do each week, but in addition, we will incorporate hand weights for part of the physical practice!!! Our Sanskrit focus is ‘Lila’, or ‘Divine Playfulness’. This encourages us to play with our practice with Spirit present, and the energy of a child. Our mudra (hand gesture) is ‘The Vitality’ position for the hands.This mudra helps us overcome acute or chronic tiredness. It promotes transfusion of supportive, Universal energy, to refresh the spirit, foster the body, and caress the soul. Our meditation focus is ‘Be still’, and the supporting music comes from Tom Barabas, Moon Dust. This week’s virtual meditation is about softening the heart, and preparing it for a meaningful ‘Sankalpa’, or intention.

The YFL September newsletter will be released to your email desk on Tuesday, September 1st, around 10 a.m. It has lots of tidbits to help you prepare for the Fall season!!!

Wed-Virtual Practice w/Deb (‘Bear the Weight’)

Sun-Virtual Heart Meditation (Set your Sankalpa in the Heart)

PROPS: Weights, Block

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

“Waking up to see another day is a blessing. Don’t take it for granted. Make it count and be happy you are alive”.-Zig Ziglar