“Use every interaction and every event to help open your heart

and then everything (even the painful) becomes a blessing.”     - John Friend

 

 

Dear Sweet Yoga Community,

 As we enter this month of December, the amount of light is short and the nights are long.  We move into the darkest, or longest night and shortest day at Solstice.  This dark time before the return of the light and longer days invites us to step into the cave of the heart and ask what remains incomplete, what has not been said, what we can express from the deepest parts of ourselves, and to take this time to feel and remember our true nature.  Our true nature is the fullness of all polar opposites, male and female, “good” and “bad”, dark and light, yin and yang.  It takes courage and effort to own who we are 100%, to love ourselves 100% .  Yoga is the art of relationship with ourselves, with eachother, with the world around us.  We can become so sensitive to this world, the seasons, the cycles of light and dark, the changing landscape, the lunar cycles and planetary paths.  Moons control tides of oceans, and as our body is made up of 2/3 water, the moon also affects our em-oceans and energy levels.  Trees above ground in the winter months may appear dead though their roots lie under the surface full of life and dormant potential.  Things are not always what they seem.  As we increase our awareness and cultivate our openness, we can choose to act in the highest possible way.   

 Amidst the darkness we are blessed by two full moons this month:  The first is tomorrow, Dec 2nd and is sometimes known as the Oak moon of December.  The second, or blue moon, will come on New Year’s eve, Dec 31st.   Blue moons are rare, occurring every 2-3 years, and because the 12 lunar cycles are exceeded by roughly 11 days (!!)  there can be an extra or 13th full moon within a calendar year. We can choose to see this as an auspiscious blessing to complete our year, to be our fullest selves reflecting the light within one another.   

Noone else is responsible for you but you.  May we be love, be compassion, and most of all be true to our hearts.  May we go within and see the most amazing gift of all- our Light- and share it with the world for that is what we are here to do!  

May you have peace and love within this holiday season. 

 

Anna and Susie

 

 

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. 

Albert Schweitzer

 

 

 

Several changes in the weekly schedule:

 Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm with Tamara:  5$ flow

“Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45 All Levels Yoga Flow. $5 drop in (cash only; Montana Lotus punch cards do not apply). Starting Tuesday, December 1st, Tuesday nights are flow night at Montana Lotus Yoga. Utilize the techniques you’ve learned from the Anusara’s Universal  System of Alignment in a fun 75-minute vinyasa flow session. This class is for all levels of yoga practitioners.”

Anna’s Thursday 9-10:30am class will be a basics class.

Note holiday class cancellations.

Special class New Years Day 10-11:30 am.

See below for the  full schedule and events.

 

SATURDAY COMMUNITY and CHARITY CLASSES 9-10:30 am

Dec 5th ALICE Charity- Hopamountain

Restorative yoga practice and sitting meditation
If you have your own props (bolsters, blankets, eye pillows, blocks) please bring them. There are also props available for use at the studio. Thank you.
Restorative yoga is the practice of “active relaxation”.
“By supporting the body with props, we alternately stimulate and relax the body to move toward balance. All (poses) create specific physiological responses which are beneficial to health and can reduce the effects of stress-related disease.” Judith Lasater Ph.D.,P.T.
 
This is a donation based class. $5 minimun and all proceeds will be presented to:
www.hopamountain.org
 Hopa Mountain invests in rural and tribal citizen leaders who are working to improve education, ecological health, and economic development in their hometowns.

 
 

The possibilities for economic, environmental, and social health in the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains lie in the strength of the people, especially our relationships with each other and with the land we love. In every community, there are not only good ideas, but community leaders who get things done and to whom others turn for help. There is now a renewed recognition of the importance of these special people, particularly in rural and tribal communities that have a dearth of opportunities to provide and sustain healthy communities.

Community leaders know their community’s people, values, beliefs, language, and ethnic characteristics. Given adequate resources, they can provide more meaningful services more efficiently and effectively than outside professionals can. Hopa Mountain recognizes the critical role community leaders play in their communities and we dream of what they could accomplish if they had access to adequate resources. Simply put, community leaders are the focus of Hopa Mountain’s work.

Acknowledging the skills, talents, and positions within communities of these natural leaders, Hopa Mountain endeavors to provide them with the means–primarily through training, networking, mentoring, and financial support–to generate and expand much-needed opportunities in their communities.

Hopa Mountain • P.O. Box 10892 • Bozeman, MT 59719 • Tel (406) 586-2455

 

Dec 12th  $5 Community Class- Susie

Dec 19th $5 Community Class- Anna

Dec 26th $5 Community Class- Chris

 

ADVANCED PRACTICE

Friday Dec 18th led by Anna or Susie 5:00-7:00pm

The second to last Friday of each month we will be having a led advanced asana practice from 5-7:00pm.  $15

 

KIRTAN / SATSANG

Friday Nov 18th 7:30pm

The second to last Friday of every month we will gather following the advanced practice for chanting and centering.

SATSANG   ज्ञानकोश   The company of the highest knowledge and Truth; the company of a Guru; contact with a person or an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the Truth. This highest company also takes the form of hearing or reading the words of highest awareness, reflecting on, discussing and assimilating their meaning, meditatingon the source of these words, and bringing this awareness into one�s daily life.   (From Indopedia.org)

KIRTAN ज्ञानकोश  (Sanskrit: “to repeat”) is call-and-response chanting performed in India’s devotional traditions. (from Wikepedia.com)

 

 

MINIWORKSHOP   

Sunday December 20th 9:00am- 12:00pm

Stay tuned for theme and focus.  Taught by Susie and Anna.  25$ 

 

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION SERIES

Original Wisdom For Everyday Challenges: Tuesday evening, December 8, 7:30-8:30 pm with Dean Williams  $10

“Boundaries & Living Well with Other People”

 

 

 

 

 Dean Williamson, Ph.D., has over 15 years training & experience as a teacher and shaman. He has trained and been initiated into the Andean (Peru), Tamang (Nepali), and Dagara(western Africa) traditions as taught by Marti Spiegelman (www.martispiegalman.com). He utilizes indigenous techniques and teachings to assist with modern problems.

 Contact Dean at info@sunflowercenter.org  406.451.2184

 

 

 

 DECEMBER CLASS SHEDULE

 

 Monday

7am-8:30am Susie

9am-10:30am  BASICS/BEGINNERS  Susie 

11am-12:15pm  PRENATAL  (Please call Sandy 586-3754 to attend) 

5:30-7:00pm   Susie

 

Tuesday

9am-10:30am   Susie

5:30-6:45pm Tamara $5 FLOW!

 

Wednesday

10:30- Noon   Anna

5:30-7:00 Alice *RESTORATIVE/YIN (Series begins Nov. 11, 18, 25, Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23.)  Class size is limited, but drop-ins are welcome pending available space. Please call Alice 522-0082.

 

Thursday   

7am-8:30am  Anna (No class Christmas Eve, Dec 24th, and New Year’s eve, Dec 31st)

9am-10:30am  BASICS/BEGINNERS  Anna  (this class will be held Christams eve day and New Year’s Eve day, Dec 31st)

5:30-7:00pm  BASICS/BEGINNERS  Susie (No class Christmas Eve, Dec 24th or New Year’s eve, Dec 31st)

 

Friday  (No Classes Christmas day, special New Year’s day class 10:00-11:30am)

9am-10:30am   Susie 

10:00-11:30 am  Anna   SPECIAL NEW YEAR”S DAY CLASS

*5:00-7:00pm   ADVANCED PRACTICE led by Anna or Susie

offered the second to last Friday of the month (12/18) $15.

*KIRTAN 12/18 7:30PM  Community chant.   Free

 

Saturday

 9-10:30 $5 Community or Charity Class taught by Susie, Anna or guest teachers.

 

CLASS CANCELLATIONS:

No 5:30 pm class Christmas eve Thursday Dec 24th

No Classes Christmas day

No 7:00am class Christmas Eve Day 12/24, or New Year’s eve day 12/31 (9:00 am class will be held)

No 5:30 pm class new Year’s Eve

No 9:00am class New Year’s day.  Special class at 10:00-11:30am

 

If you are interested in using our space to host a gathering, please feel free to contact us. 

Susie Walby (406) 579-2533 Anna Holder (406) 600-7565

www.montanalotusyoga.net

montanalotusyoga@gmail.com

. 

Plants and animals live honorably; they know what is their purpose and they know what is not–and

 

they know to separate the two. Healthy living through respectful detachment is this week’s topic.