LifeYoga with Anna-Marie

11/26/2023

I'm sad to announce an indefinite pause on classes.
See below for more details.

LifeYoga is one of those gifts to me. I look forward to every class we have. Anytime we are together on our mats some magic happens. Getting to know you and your life stories enriches my life and is such a blessing to me. As most of you know, my youngest son, Tobin, is autistic and nonverbal. He h...

11/10/2023

No class Friday, November 10. See you Monday!

10/30/2023

Hey, LifeYogis!

For the month of November, we'll continue the same schedule at the fantastic Arcadia Valley Coffee Company:

SURRENDER Mondays
CALM & FLOW Fridays
9 a.m.

AVCC is the perfect place to gather on our mats during this chilly weather. You can come to class and have a hot drink ready for you as you walk out the door. Just order before class and the barista will have it ready for you!

Looking at the calendar, it looks like we are only going to have ONE Friday class! I can't believe that!

I'm going to explore other options, and I will send out another message if I can do something different. I know the holidays are crazy, but I miss when we can't meet!

Here are the dates we won't be able to have class:
FRIDAY, November 3
FRIDAY, November 10
FRIDAY, November 24

This is a good time to remind everyone that anytime Arcadia Valley doesn't have school, I won't be able to have class. On those days, I will need to be home to take care of my youngest. As we move into colder temps, there is always the possibility of snow/ice, so when you hear there is no school you'll know there is no LifeYoga.

I love all of the holidays, and we've had fun getting spooky for Halloween. In our classes this week we were talking about fear, and I was reminded of something Brené Brown said. She is one of my favorite "thinkers" and in an interview, she was talking about something she calls "foreboding joy." It's when we (all too often) feel a sense of joy, but then immediately go to worst-case-scenario, waiting for the bottom to fall out. We fear joy because it's vulnerable. We'd rather brace ourselves some sort of impending doom instead of letting the joy linger, fully embracing the emotion. I love how she addresses this:
___________

"The problem is, worrying about things that haven't happened doesn't protect us from pain. Ask anyone who has experienced a tragedy; they'll tell you there is no way to prepare. Instead, catastrophizing, as I call it, squanders the one thing we all want more of in life. We simply cannot know joy without embracing vulnerability—and the way to do that is to focus on gratitude, not fear.

The good news is that joy, collected over time, fuels resilience—ensuring we'll have reservoirs of emotional strength when hard things do happen."

___________

I find it interesting that the calendar moves us from a month of embracing fear to a month dedicated to gratitude. It's as though the earth is teaching us how to acknowledge our fear and then shift our focus to all the things we have to be grateful for.

A practice of joy.
A building of resiliency for our upcoming winters.

As we close out our spooky October and move into whatever November may hold, let's "collect" some joy right now:

Wherever you are, take breath.
Close your eyes--if you can--and think of one thing that brings a smile to your face.
Focus on all the details and allow that smile to form.
Let it fill you up, breathing in thankfulness, and exhaling some of that fear you may be holding onto.

I'm smiling right now thinking of you.

Namaste.

Anna-Marie

10/16/2023

Hey, LifeYogis!

This is just a reminder that we won't be meeting together this week. (10/16 and 10/20)

That doesn't mean you can't practice on your own! Remember, if you are breathing, you are still doing yoga. Take time to listen and feel and focus on the way your body responds as you inhale and exhale.... Slow down the exhale, shoulders back and away from your ears. See? You're doing yoga already!

I look forward to practicing together on Monday, October 23.

Namaste.

Anna-Marie

✌🏼♥️🧘🏼‍♀️

10/04/2023

OCTOBER IS HERE!

The temp may be 100 degrees, but the calendar says it's apparently Fall!

If you haven't made it to a class yet, you are missing out! It's been so good to be back together, reminding each other to breathe.

For October, we will keep the same schedule at Arcadia Valley Coffee Company! (See below.)

I love finishing class and walking into the coffee shop and seeing yogis gathered around the table, sipping coffee and sharing conversation. The other day, a LifeYogi commented on how funny it is to have so much peace in the midst of all the wonderful caffeine. 🙂

It's the perfect combination.

There are a few days we won't be able to meet this month:
Friday, October 6
Monday, October 16
Friday, October 20

I really hope to see you in class. It's not the same when you're not there.

Namaste.

Anna-Marie

_________

On MONDAYS @ 9 a.m., we'll practice SURRENDER.
This calm and quiet Yin yoga class focuses on increasing circulation in the joints and improving mobility/flexibility. We'll cultivate stillness as we apply moderate stress to connective tissues through passive poses held for extended amounts of time.

FRIDAYS @ 9 a.m., we'll practice CALM & FLOW.
This practice has become one of my favorites because it's a great combination of Yin and Yang. We'll begin with some Yin yoga, activating our joints and creating stillness. Then we'll slowly warm up the body and build some heat through slow movements, moving in and out of foundational poses while linking breath with movement. It's gentle on your body but gets your heart rate up as we move through creative, slow-paced sequences.

Classes are $5.

08/23/2023

It’s time!
Friday, September 8!
Arcadia Valley Coffee Company
Mondays and Fridays @ 9 a.m.!

Can’t wait to see YOU (yeah, you!) there!

DM for any questions about classes or times or just to say “See you soon!”

✌🏼❤️🧘🏼‍♀️

05/16/2023

After such a fantastic yoga season, it’s hard to say goodbye for the summer.

I’m filled with so much gratitude for our time on our mats together, and I can’t wait to start back in September.

Special thanks to Sherri and Matt Merriman at Arcadia Valley Coffee Company for allowing us to practice in their amazing space. I’m sure we’ll run into each other at some point over the summer as we each drop in to get our delicious coffee fix!

I hope you have a fantastic summer and find some time to get on your mat.

And remember, if all you do is breathe… you are still doing yoga.

Namaste.
✌🏼♥️🧘🏻‍♀️

04/25/2023

I can't believe it's already time to take a break for summer! These months have soared by!

My boys get out of school on May 16, so that means I'll be fully on duty until they return to school in August. I anticipate starting classes back up in September, and I will send out communication through email and social media to let you know the plans as we get closer.

The end-of-the-year days are filled with events, so I have to adjust the schedule a bit. Please note the changes above.

I am really going to miss you all and practicing together at Arcadia Valley Coffee Company. I hope you'll join a class as we finish out the season on our mats together.

Namaste.

Anna-Marie

✌🏼❤️🧘🏼‍♀️

04/01/2023

Same time! Same place! Same classes!

March was so much fun!

So great reconnecting and seeing so many new faces! And so, so good to be back at Arcadia Valley Coffee Company. The space is wonderful for our practice, and being able to grab a coffee or treat afterward is just so nice! I love seeing you gather together to sit in the shop and visit over coffee after a great session on your mat.

It's just the best.

A few things for April:

April will follow the same schedule as March.
(See graphic above)

NOTE: No class this coming Friday, April 7.

Just a friendly reminder... The Coffee Co. has asked us not to park in front of the stairs to the side of the building. That’s their loading dock, and it's often used during our class times.

Thank you!

They also want me to let you know that if you don't wanna wait in a line after class, but you know you want a coffee or treat, you can place your order ahead of time and the barista will have it waiting for you!

Niiice!

Self-care is so important. Taking care of ourselves is not only good for us, but it helps us better care for the ones around us. And even though we may know that, it can easily become last on our To-Do Lists. I want to encourage you to take the time for you. Take the time to breathe. On your mat. With us.

It's always good to take time to breathe, but something magic happens when we're on our mats together.

It's a busy time of year. The days are longer, warmer, and the sun is shining brighter, often calling us to get "all the things" done, all those chores checked off our lists. It's easy to get caught up in all the "doing."

And the end of school is drawing near, which means calendars can get filled up with all the end-of-school events. It also means we're getting closer to the end LifeYoga semester, as I'll need to be home to take care of my boys on summer break.

I hope you'll take some time to rest and reset.

And I hope some of that rest and reset finds you on your mat in a LifeYoga class.

✌🏼❤️🧘🏻‍♀️

03/12/2023

Hey, LifeYogis!
These past two weeks have been amazing! It's been so great reconnecting and practicing together again. If you haven't come to a class yet, please make plans to join us!

As you know, our yoga home is now at Arcadia Valley Coffee Company. It's such a cool atmosphere for yoga and the people are so kind. Annnd... if you want to treat yourself after your lovely Savasana, they have plenty of delicious options to choose from.

ON THAT NOTE: If you know you're gonna want something after class, you can pre-order and the barista will have it ready for you to grab and go after class. Then you can skip the line and be on your way.

We have a couple of changeups this week.

On Tuesday, I'll be teaching a free Chair Yoga class at the Annapolis Ozark Regional Library System, 12:30-1:30. Come join!

There will be no class on Friday. (Since there is no school, I need to be home with my boys.)

The following week, we'll return to the same schedule: Wednesdays 9 am Surrender, Fridays 9 am Calm & Flow.

Namaste.
✌🏼❤️🧘🏻‍♀️

02/28/2023

Surrender
Wednesdays 9 a.m.
Arcadia Valley Coffee Company

02/21/2023

This March, LifeYoga moves to Arcadia Valley Coffee Company!

Wednesdays and FRIDAYS, 9-10 a.m. beginning March 1. $5 per class.

New place! New day!

Let’s bring in spring with peace and calm together. ✌🏼❤️🧘🏻‍♀️

Can’t wait to see you on our mats!