Wishing you a peaceful and joyous holiday season!
As I write to you on this Sunday evening, I am aware that tonight brings us a special Super Full Moon in Gemini, and the beginning of a mercury retrograde period lasting until December 22, which is also just after the Winter Solstice. I was curious about any spiritual significance to these lunar events, and a quick internet search led me to this beautiful website:
http://foreverconscious.com/category/astrology . According to this site’s author, Mercury retrograde is the opportune time for reflecting on the past year, journaling, and intuiting about the New Year, without yet making definitive plans or starting something new. “December’s retrograde is really about releasing and shedding all the mental blocks and thought patterns from 2017 so you can enter 2018 with a fresh perspective and a new outlook.” The author describes the Gemini Super Full Moon as signifying our connection with truth, including the truth of who we are: “… here for a journey of learning how to love yourself more, love the planet more and love one another more.”
Recently, I came across this postcard and placed it by my computer as I found it very beautiful and its’ affirmations very powerful. On this Super Full Moon, I share it with you as well and hope you will be equally inspired:
Regarding my yoga classes this month, I am subbing at UWS Yoga on Dec,. 28th, happily returning to that lovely yoga center after a few months off while on sabbatical! Also, at Integral Yoga, our next Chair Chi and Prana™ class will be held Saturday afternoon December 9 at 3:30-5 pm. This is our first weekend afternoon class for this fusion class, and I am looking forward to teaching during this new time slot! In 2018, we return to evening classes. This unique class will help increase our vitality, and improve balance and coordination by combining Chair Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi Easy™ walking. Seated and standing Yoga poses strengthen and stretch the body, gentle and flowing Qigong movements enhance one’s life force energy, and Tai Chi walking increases balance. These practices are a moving meditation that calm the nervous system, focus the mind, and are accessible to all bodies and ages. We end class with a long savasana and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to fully relax and absorb the benefits of our practices. All levels are welcome!
Additionally, I am so pleased to be again teaching a telephone class for the Dorot Center for Seniors “University Without Walls” that brings the benefits of seated qigong, meditation, and breathwork to those who cannot attend in-person classes. This is now our fourth semester of our teleclass, and I have found that distance is no obstacle to having a profound group and individual experience. Written materials are provided in advance of the class, and each session is devoted to reading and discussing the materials, alternating with experiential movement and guided meditations. We will continue with this course throughout 2018, so please call Dorot to sign up, or for a catalog. No prior experience is necessary! In general, Dorot’s University Without Walls is a wonderful resource for telephone learning and community-building, and their courses cover a myriad of topics. Please help spread the word about this wonderful resource! http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=seniors_programs_on_phone_D
Also, this holiday season, as in past years, I am volunteer gift-wrapping at our local independent book and gift store – “Book Culture” on Columbus Avenue at 81st street – to raise funds for my non-profit community organization (the West 80s Neighborhood Association – http://www.west80s.org). We organize street tree care volunteer work, neighborhood beautification, rat eradication outreach, among other community-minded projects. It has been lovely seeing some of your friendly faces at Book Culture already, and thank you for your support of my community work. This year, as I am on sabbatical from my weekly group yoga classes, I have taken on more volunteer shifts at the store. I find gift wrapping very zen, as are many arts and crafts projects (like knitting, for example). It is also enjoyable to chat with so many locals, as well as meeting tourists visiting our great city for the holidays. I love the community that local businesses create (something not possible with online shopping), and I am very grateful to the community-minded owners of Book Culture for inviting small and local non-profits, like mine, to volunteer gift wrap for tips and to spread awareness of our charitable organizations. In addition to books, Book Culture sells household products, scarves, hats, handbags, calendars, decorative items, Christmas tree ornaments, and more! So I hope you will do your holiday shopping in your neighborhood and support your “mom and pop” independent stores. I’m at Book Culture during these days:
Mondays: December 4, 11, and 18 (10 am – 3 pm)
Tuesdays: December 5, 12, and 19 (10 am – 3 pm)
Wednesdays:December 13 and 20 (10 am – 3 pm)
Thursdays: December 7, 14, and 21 (3 – 8 pm)
Fridays: December 1, 8 and 22 (3 – 8 pm)
Saturdays: December 2 and 23 (3 – 8 pm)
Saturdays: December 16 and 23 (10 am – 3 pm)
Sundays: December 17 and 24 (10 am – 2 pm)
Sundays: December 10 and 24 (2 – 6 pm)
http://www.bookculture.com/locations
Columbus Avenue Bike Lane Tree Bed Stewardship by West 80s Neighborhood Association:
http://www.loveyourstreettreeday.com