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Studio News: June 14

June 14, 2020 // by michele

Returning from Survival Mode
This week: Pose & Pour
Coming soon: New teachers + new classes!
Seasonal Special pricing: Student passes for sale

My study of yoga, along with my work with Mind Body Health Associates, has taught me a lot about stress. We have two sides of our nervous system that is used in our management of stress, the part that keeps us alert and alive (sympathetic nervous system) and the part that keeps us whole and integrated (parasympathetic nervous system).

When our stress system is triggered, humans have a myriad of ways to deal, anything from Quarantine Baking to Netflix binging. What we need to know is that survival strategies serve us for a particular reason, so say a little Thank You to your body and brain. Survival is a perfectly good way to… survive. And what we’ve endured collectively has been something we’ve survived.

When we watch tigers in the wild (or, more accurately, as Dr. Peter Levine explains in Waking the Tiger), we can note particular behavior as it comes back from stressful, life-endangering situations. It shakes and moves its entire body. It licks their wounds and tends to its body. It nourishes itself with food and water. It falls into a deep sleep.

This transition from stress to relaxation can be a slow one, and often it needs to be quite purposeful to be effective. The best tools are already within: a slow exhale, a calm mind, and moving the body.

As we slowly shift out of our survival response, many of us might find our yoga practices to be leading us there. Eventually, we will recognize we are safe and can begin to relax, rest, and synthesize this experience to make us stronger and healthier.

For me, I’m just now feeling like I’m resuming “normal” and I notice how I’m finally able to start planning again. Did anyone else notice how calendars were worthless back in April? And not just in the day-to-day monotony, but in my brain’s lack of ability to think clearly about the future. With the studio now open and new activities coming onto the calendar, that part of my mind is finally coming online, too. I’m glad to be able to share with you again the hope of new events and classes in the studio. I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Pose & Pour

Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 PM

at White Shutter Winery & Brewery

Registration is available online but not required.

Gift Card Giveway!

Our universe is constantly being created and recreated – just look out into those fields full of green sprouts. As an act of remembering, I’m doing a gift card giveway this summer. Every time we’ve got a full class in the studio, we’ll celebrate. Each person in the class will get to pull a gift card out of the pile that gets you $5-$15 from our favorite downtown Upper Sandusky small businesses.

So grab a group of friends and show up together! Fill the room (which, right now, means just 6 people!)

New Teacher + Classes!

Longtime regular yogi, Toni Daughenbaugh, is joining Woven Yoga as an instructor beginning July 1. Toni recently finished her 200-hour certification and is looking forward to teaching Gentle Yoga twice a week: Mondays at 10 AM and Wednesdays at 4:30 PM.

Seasonal Special Pricing

Students, don’t forget: we’ve got a special deal for you during the summer. Enjoy 2 classes each week for $15 with this summer pass. Sign up now and dive into the regular class schedule.

Next week’s Livestream

March 19, 2020 // by michele

March 23-27 Yoga Schedule

In order to keep things sustainable (and for the internet companies to keep up!) I’ve changed the schedule for our virtual yoga. Because many of us are now at home without a tight schedule AND because a group of you are using the recording version, I’ll have something for you twice each week – a Strong and a Flow class.

Classes are priced in the system as $10, but there’s a Streaming Package for $10 that includes one of each class, a nice little BOGO to make the day brighter. Don’t forget, those who are keeping the world in motion (doctors, nurses, hospital staff, retail workers, recently displaced waitstaff, small business owners) should message me for a code for free access.

Monday Meditation 8 AM – Free! Join your hearts and spirits with those of us from home. Listen to the recording:

Wednesday 9 AM Yoga Strong – sign up online to get the Zoom link and the follow up recording email. (I have a new page with all the recordings coming soon….)

Friday 9 AM All-Levels Flow – sign up online to get the Zoom link and the follow up recording email.

Love, peace and sanity to you all,

Michele

Healthy at hOMe Yoga

March 14, 2020 // by michele

During these times of limited social interaction (and thus closing the studio), I’m working very hard to offer digital options that will serve our membership base along with offering something for other yogis to practice while at home for the days and weeks ahead.

On Sunday, March 15, our first Livestream All-Levels Flow will be available for free to try out the platform. Join us online at 6 PM at https://zoom.us/j/987452188 (no password is required). I highly recommend jumping online prior to 6 to get yourself settled. You should be automatically muted, but it doesn’t hurt to double check.

Beginning Monday, March 16, I’ll be offering a livestream class of various sorts each day. These classes are for purchase and you’ll be emailed the login and password information at least one hour prior to the class. If you can’t make it at that exact time, the class will be recorded and you will be sent a link to view at your convenience. The link should be sent within an hour of the end of class.

Each class is listed on the regular schedule via Vagaro and you can register a la carte, but to be more cost-efficient you can get them all as a package for just $20. *You will need to register for each class individually for which you want to receive links.*

For ALL MEMBERS (whether unlimited, 4 classes/month or 8 classes/month): these online offerings are now included in your membership. When you register online it should ring you to $0. If you have issues, please don’t pay – email or text me.

Our first week’s online schedule is:

Monday 9 AM Guided Meditation (20 minutes) – $5 or included in the weekly package

Tuesday 6 PM Yoga Strong (60 minutes) – $10 or included in the weekly package

Wednesday 10 AM Children’s Yoga (30 minutes) – $5 or included in the weekly package

Thursday 6 PM All-Levels Flow Yoga (60 minutes) – $10 or included in the weekly package.

I’m going to evaluate at the end of the week to see if schedule changes are advantageous or necessary. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

Administrative Note:

A signed waiver is required to participate in the livestream options. If you’ve practiced with me before and have filled out your form, you’re all set. If you’ve not been in the studio, please fill out this waiver and email it back prior to class beginning.

Teen Yoga

February 28, 2020 // by michele

We’re having a special class just for high school students on Saturday, March 14 at 10 AM. This 45-minute class will introduce the basics of yoga in movement and breath and end with a sweet savasana rest. We’ll feel what it’s like to find our center, practice standing strong, play with balance and then bring down the energy.

Reminder: please bring a completed release form with you to class or have a guardian drop in to sign one before class begins.

Yoga Book Club

February 7, 2020 // by michele

This March, the Yoga Book Club book will be one of my long-time, top 5, best ever non-fiction books. (What are the other 4, you ask? Oh, please don’t limit me, we don’t have enough time to talk about that right now.)

Daring Greatly fundamentally changed my posture toward the world and myself. It speaks to how we live in relationship with others, including our family, community and professional roles.

As always with our YBC, we’ll meet weekly – this time for 5 weeks, beginning March 1, from 6:30-8 PM to discuss the week’s readings and allow the concepts to integrate into our bodies through a yoga practice.

Cost: $75 for the 5-week series. The book is not included, but it’s old enough that several copies should be available at the library. (However, if you’re an underliner, you might as well invest.)

Limit: 12 participants. 2 spots are already filled.

Outline

Week 1 What It Means to Dare Greatly, My Adventures in the Arena, and Chapter 1: Scarcity: Looking Inside Our Culture of “Never Enough.”

Week 2 Chapter 2, Debunking the Vulnerability Myths and Chapter 3, Understanding and Combating Shame
(*It’s a lot of reading this week – you might want to read ahead!)

Week 3 Chapter 4, The Vulnerability Armory

Week 4 Chapter 5, Minding the Gap: Cultivating Change and Closing the Disengagement Divide, Chapter 6: Disruptive Engagement: Daring to Rehumanize Education and Work

Week 5 Chapter 7, Wholehearted Parenting: Daring to Be the Adults We Want Our Children to Be, and Final Thoughts.

Holiday Gifting

November 27, 2019 // by michele

This year I’m offering 3 primary ways of giving the gift of yoga.

Gift Packages

Begin Package

Maybe she’s mentioned trying yoga in the past, or perhaps you know she would benefit from learning how to relax. This is the ULTIMATE gift package for a new or budding yogi. Included is a pass to the January series Slow Flow for Newbies – 4 classes to learn the basic poses and transitions to get started. Send her to the first class with a brand new Manduka BEGIN mat, and a Woven Yoga tee. Only $79 (A $108 value). Add a private session for only $50 to give her more personal attention.

*If the Slow Flow for Newbies poses a scheduling conflict, a pass for 4 classes can be used in exchange.

Serious Bliss Package

For the seasoned yogi who wants more from their practice. Included is a top-quality Manduka ekoLite mat, a Woven Yoga sweatshirt, and 3 months of UNLIMITED yoga. This is a $393 value, but for $324 you can take it home, already wrapped and beautifully packaged, to put it under the tree.

Buy these packages in the studio or contact Michele.

Gift Certificates

Spend at least $55 – equivalent to a pass, but can be used on individual classes – and get a gift certificate for a free class. The free class will be sent to the giver’s email. You can use it for yourself or give it away!

Hello, Again!

October 24, 2019 // by michele

I’ve got the go-ahead to re-open and I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. (Yes, I’m so excited, I’m shouting.)

With the downtime, I’ve adjusted the regular open class schedule.

Also, check out the Class Offerings to read up on Slow Flow for Newbies and Gentle Yoga.

Order now: Winter Yogi Shirts

October 18, 2019 // by michele

Now that the weather has shifted, our closets have, too. I’m offering a fall run of Woven Yoga sweatshirts in 2 styles: zipped and hooded, or wide necked and slouched.

You’re going to want to get your pre-order in, as only a limited quantity will be available in the studio after the order. Make sure you get the size you want and need!

These are high quality sweatshirts (American Apparel and Bella & Canvas brands – SO SOFT) and regionally printed at Custom Torso.

Are you gifting? Orders will arrive with plenty of time before Christmas!

Deadline to pre-order: November 17.

Pre-order Price: $50 (buy 2 and save $10!)
In studio Price: $60

Order Now

Slow Flow for Newbies

July 22, 2019 // by michele

Looking for a great place to begin?

This is an introduction and practice of the basic postures and transitions of a fundamentals yoga class. We take a slower pace so that your mind and body can connect the movement without adding the challenge of speed. Because the brain does its best with repetition, the class will be consistent, with some variation, so you can watch your progress and blossom in your yoga practice.

Join us on Wednesdays at 5 PM! This 4-class series begins August 21 and is only available as a series ($45).

Space is limited to 12 – sign up now!

What is yoga?

July 16, 2019 // by michele// Leave a Comment

Yuj (sanskrit): To join, yoke, unite.

Entire books and hours of seminars expound on the meaning of yoga. Some see it simply as a physical practice and a form of fitness. Others take it to the far opposite and view yoga as a largely meditative practice of the mind. There are groups who lump it into religion, or at least a system of belief and practice. Any of these definitions can work for particular groups, depending on what you’re looking for it to accomplish. At Woven Yoga, none of these preceding definitions accurately fit the teachings we offer. At it’s heart, yoga is union.

As we practice it at our studio, yoga is the bringing together of body and mind, breath and movement. And because the body resides in the soul, a regular practice will begin to change the way we think and what we believe about ourselves, others, and the world around us. As my teacher says, as the body, so the soul.

So you may find that by coming to class and noticing the breath, perhaps expanding inhales deeper into your belly, that you’re able to take a big breath before other life circumstances. As you practice folding and lengthening certain muscle groups, you could see that you’re able to let go of some of the rigidity that used to confine the way you lived. And as you bear your body weight, this newfound strength could serve you well mentally.

Sir Ken Robinson says in his popular TED talk that we now live and act as if we’re simply “floating heads”, keeping education – and I will add work life, family life, and civic life – all in our heads. While our brains are powerful and important for the flourishing of human life, our bodies, our emotions, and our sense of will also contribute to the human experience. Because the mind gets so much of our attention, giving space in the day or week to give awareness to the body and the breath helps bring a person into a more unified state, aware of all the components of life.

A yoga practice is meant to bring freedom, not burden. One of the most famous of gurus (and my personal favorite) spoke of his own teachings and practices as he shared it with others, saying, “my yoke (yuj) is easy and my burden is light.” While keeping us grounded, the way we integrate our lives should bring lightness, to ourselves and others.

Of course, a quick googling will give you thousands of other answers, as yoga has over 5,000 years of history, beginning long before someone could have a YouTube channel to teach it.

Yoga as an ancient practice, specifically in the ashtanga (“eight limbs”) lineage, from which vinyasa (“to place in a particular way”) yoga emerged – and which Woven teaches – involves more than an hour class, once a week. It includes practices of the breath and elements of meditation, along with aligning your personal and social life with ways of living that keeps you in healthy accord with others and the world around you. You may find that some of these other limbs of yoga work their way into your studio practice and the teachings at Woven Yoga.

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