I, however, tested positive for covid on Friday. Ugh!! This is not how I had planned on starting the new year! đ but I am accepting and honoring my fate as best I can with gratitude for a loving husband, warm home, soup and streaming platforms đ.
In order to keep everyone safe, I am not having any in-person classes this week. If I feel up to it I will offer a zoom class on Friday morning. I will send another message later in the week but as of right now I am still recovering.
Happy New Year to you all! We are back on our regular schedule and, wow, did it go fast!!!
May this year bring all beings, and the body of earth, love, light and peace. May you show yourself true compassion as we linger in what’s left of these cold, dark days.
Shanti, shanti shanti! May there be peace, love and understanding in ouselves and our world!
I was asked to share the writing I did in honor of the Winter Solstice. I hope you find it comforting as we move into this Winter season. No classes this week. See you Tuesday Jan 2, 2024!
Leaning into Winter
At Winter Solstice we enter not only the winter season but we enter the winter of our lives, the winter of our hearts the winter of those cold places within us.
We also enter the places that keep us warm during the coldness, during the Darkness, the stillness, and the bareness within the spaces of the long nights when it’s all we can do to go inside and feel the winter touch our hearts and force us to to explore our inner lives so we can come out the other way, so we can come out into the light more ourselves, more present, more forgiving, compassionate, grateful loving, kind… more kind to ourselves and others.
Winter is the time to stop and reflect, slow down and cultivate patience. We can’t rush or halt nature’s turnings much as we can’t rush or go back in our own life stories.
We can’t control the natural rhythms of life of nature… so we learn to flow with them move into them instead of away from them.  To lean in to the experience whole heartedly as fall turns to winter.  As dark takes over light and witness its return once more.
This is a time to take stock of who you are now after what you’ve been through this past year and where you hope to go. To clear your vision as you move into these dark long nights giving yourself time To figure some things out. It could mean facing something that you’ve been avoiding, it could mean leaving something behind that you’ve been hanging on to, it could simply mean loving the present moment more and all that it has to offer.
Ultimately winter is the time to go inward into your own room of the soul and dream…. dream and visualize what coming out of the dark will be like for you remembering that Light will always triumph over darkness. So let us turn our gaze towards the increasing light and rejoice!
May this holiday season bring you peace. Much love and immense gratitude to you all!
“While we wait for the gentle winter sun to slowly opens its eyes, let us all bring more light and compassion into the world. May the light illuminate your hearts and shine in your life every day of the year. May everlasting peace be yours and upon our Earth”
Please rsvp if you are planning on attending our annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Bring a snack to share if you like. , Dress appropriately for our labrynth walk and fire circle and get ready for the return of the light!!
Don’t skip when it comes to making your soul happy. Especially in this busy season, Do your best too keep yourself healthy in body-mind and spirit. It’s so important to incorporate practices that bring us joy; even if it’s a small gesture Like relishing a fresh baked scone with a cup of coffee in the quietude of your home. (Mmmm that was am amazing experience đ) Small acts of kindness towards yourself goes a long way. âĽď¸
Align yourself to the rhythms of nature and your inner compass. Let the sunsets come early and the darkness remind you to go within. Rest when you need to, put the to do lists aside and enjoy the last fragments of fall as we move into this darkest part of year. Many blessings!
The brahmaviharas are known as the Divine Abodes. To dwell in that spiritual place of divinity where love, compassion, joy and calm abiding exists within and without us.
Grounding myself in gratitude for all of you. Those that have crossed my path and stayed for a time and those that continue to host an ongoing presence each week. Much love and blessings as we continue on this journey of life. Breathe, open your heart and radiate love!
Save the Date!
Wednesday December 20th 6pm Winter Solstice Celebration!
When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.’ Dalai Lama
Hari Om dear friends,
Santosha is one of the yogic ethics that point us to contentment. To be content is to be in gratitude. Make sure to look around you with the eyes of the heart to see all the beautiful things you have to be thankful for. So much gratitude to all of you for your continued practice and presence in my life. If I don’t see you this week, have a blessed holiday!
Yoga this Week
Tuesday morning at 10am in person or on zoom.
No other classes. Enjoy!
Shanti!
Amy
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Yoga, Meditation & Healing Studio in Rocky Point NY… 631-839-0644
Yoga With Amy 