 Author/teacher Jeff Foster poses a question he calls "the invitation": honoring each moment, the bleak ones too, to honor life.
"Just for a moment can we sit with sadness? Can we honor the appearance of sadness, because sadness is also life? Can we honor the appearance of discomfort?“
We often live our lives dodging that very "sitting with." I know do, all my life. Sometimes though, we cannot. And sometimes, we must not. This month, I witnessed up close the tragic death of a young woman, a young artist. A life cut short. No daughter's future for parents to appreciate. No joys and tribulations of motherhood for her own life.
 I prayed over her in silence as her soul hovered near us. I continue to feel her nearby in the days since. I silently dedicate classes to her peace.
Today at last, I can see her smile, I can hear her gossamer wings. I hope, trust, she had a purpose to her short journey, answers I do not know.
But those first hours, first days. The darkness and waves. The moments, the moments we dwell in, that overwhelm. To breathe in them. To be with them. That's what Jeff Foster advises, so gently, because he knows the land of darkness well in his own life. To honor it. Because it too is life.
Not dodging the sorrow is new for me. I've always squirmed from, toughened myself against sadness before. Not averting my heart. Being present with the sorrow. That's new.
All last week I taught sacral chakra: "I have the right to feel." And I'm realizing the freedom and the medicine in that honoring of Svadhisthana "the place of the Self." Honoring the truth of the moment honors your living of this ~ this inarguable, present, breathing moment. This life.
|
|
 Sunday eve Pure Zen Flow 6pm-7:30pm at Pure West: 15 min Pranayama, 60 min vinyasa, 15 min meditation. MMmmm...
Friday 12:15-1:30 Flow & Restore at Pure West: 15 min Gentle Flow, 60 min Restorative...
Thursday 7:30-8:40pm Vinyasa at NYHRC Chelsea through June...
Email for a guest pass for Pure or NYHRC if you are not a member and wish to come!
|
|
 New York AcroFest, in its 7th year,is Aug 10-12 at the Chelsea Piers Field House and in city streets, Central Park, and local studios, with our classic Acro City Tour Friday, Sheep Meadow Jam Sunday, and Bodywork & Dessert Saturday evening.
Whether you are a gymnast, acrobat, yogi, or just open and curious, you are welcome to come explore a world of play, connection, skills-building, and fun! All levels from Beginner to Expert. I'll be teaching a FUNdamentals games class with Lana Heintjes, and practicing alongside other teachers and students the rest of the time! Use code MARY10 for $10 off when you register - while tickets last!
 Divine Play AcroYoga Festival, in its 9th year, is Oct 5-7 in Portland, OR at the Oregon Convention Center.
I'll be teaching a Friday day-long beginners intensive "Setting up for Success" with Chris Loebsack, and a fun intermediate "Consensuality Flow" with Yael BenReuven. Use MARYPLAY10 for 10% off your tickets when you register - while code supplies last!
 Zouk N Play Festival, in its 2nd year, is July 5-8 in Atlantic City, NJ, on the famous historic boardwalks!
I'll offer AcroYoga and Thai workshops, but the main events are Zouk - Teacher track and beginner track and intermediate track! ~ And this year, also Salsa tracks! Dance and enjoy and party with some wonderful East Coast dance peeps!
|
|
Retreats ~ Fall & New Year's
|
 Twice a year since 2012, I partner with Ora Ramat for weekend retreats in her Catskills home of Wagging Tail Yoga Center, with a house full of happy, sharing yogis. Our Sept. 14-16 Fall Wagging Tail Yoga retreat is nearly sold out. Read more and register here.
 Then, first week of January 2019 New Year's reSOULutions tropical yoga retreat ... who's in?
This will be my second year partnering with Juan Gamboa and Esco Wilson, my brothers in fierce joy, who share my passion for growth and transformation.
The 4 pillars of the reSOULutions team are ~
Diversity, Community, Service, & Spirituality
 If these resonate with you, come travel and play with us! Enjoy daily morning meditation, then flow with vinyasa morning and evening. Taste partner AcroYoga and Thai yoga, and take ample free time to explore and soak up the local culture, climate, cuisine, and community.
Locale to be disclosed soon!
Email now with your interest for a spot!
|
|
Workshops, Immersions, Retreats, Festivals, Trainings
June 30-July 1st, July 28-29, August 18-19, Sept 8-9
100-Hour Mother Mary Restorative Teacher Training
4 Levels of 25-Hour Modules Saturday - Sunday, 9AM-6PM
July 5-8 ~ Zouk N Play Festival ~ Atlantic City, NJ
July 19-22 ~ Wanderlust Festival ~ Squaw Valley, CA ~ Assist
Aug 10-12 ~ New York AcroFest ~ Chelsea Piers, NYC
Use Code: MARY10 for $10 discount
Sept 14-16 ~ Wagging Tail Yoga Fall Foliage Retreat, Bethel
Sept 22-23 ~ 25-Hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, NYC
Oct 5-7 ~ Divine Play AcroYoga Festival ~ Portland, OR
~ Saturday 10/6, 4:15-6:15 “Consensuality Flow” and
Friday day-long “AcroYoga 101: Setting Up for Success”
Code: MARYPLAY10 for 10% discount (limited supply)
Weekly Classes in New York City
Pure Yoga New York Weekly Yoga:
Pure Yoga Eastside - 203 E.86th St. (3rd Ave)
Mon: 10:30-12 Slow Flow Meditation
Mon: 1-2PM Yoga Nidra Meditation *12:30 June 11
Tues: 12:30-1:30 Restorative
Thurs: 12:30-1:30 Restorative
Pure Yoga Westside - 204 W.77th St. (Amsterdam Ave)
Fri: 12:15-1:30 Flow & Restore L1 *NEW
Sun: 6-7:30 PM Pure Zen Flow *NEW
Om Factory AcroYoga:
Fri: 7:30-9:15PM AcroYoga Flow Open - Fashion District
~ 265 West 37th Street (8th Ave), 17th Floor
*1st Fri/Month 9:30PM AcroYoga JAM/Bodyworks & Dessert
New York Health & Racquet Club *NEW
Thur: 7:30-8:40PM Vinyasa Flow Open - 60 W.23 St, NYC
Private Sessions by Appointment
|
|
 I value your email privacy and do not share email lists. Please feel free any time to Reply, Forward, Subscribe, Unsubscribe. I'm honored for your sharing your path, however near or far.
Om Shantih! Happy Summer!
Mary
|
|
|
|
 Author Kris Carr offers a helpful test for the many offers we field each day, the "yes"/"no"/"later"s to so many choices we have. Where do I expend my energy/resources?
1. Will this tire or inspire me? In other words, will the outcome I’m considering drain me or fill me up? It’s OK to be picky sometimes! We’ve got a limited amount of energy, so we should dedicate it to the things that truly matter to us.
2. What does my body have to say about it? Call it instinct, call it a gut feeling—our bodies can usually feel the right decision long before our brains get on board. All we have to do is listen!
|
|
 Once a year I've been offering my 100-hour Mother Mary Restorative Trance Meditation Teacher Training at Pure Yoga. This year we are now filling up; Level 1 weekend is June 30-July 1st. The other 3 levels' weekends are July 28-29, August 18-19, and Sept 8-9.
This applies towards 300-Hour Advanced YA TT hours at Pure. The levels may also be earned as YA CEUs, or as personal learning for yoga students and trainers and healers of all modalities.
Email me with questions; we begin soon! Pre-TT reading assignments go out shortly.
Register here.
|
|
Summer is here and you may want to uplevel your techniques for AcroYoga park play!
Come sample an Acroyoga class at Om Factory and receive $5 off your first Acro class! Cards at desks, or from teachers and friends!
Classes are Tues, Thur, Fri. Check it out!
|
|
Positive Thought Translations, from the late legendary Louise Hay…
“How often have you lamented about what you didn’t want? Did it ever bring you what you really wanted? Fighting the negative is a total waste of time if you really want to make changes in your life. The more you dwell on what you don’t want, the more of it you create. The things about yourself or your life that you have always disliked are probably still with you.
"What you put your attention on grows and becomes permanent in your life. Move away from the negative, and put your attention on what it is that you really do want to be or have. Let’s turn these negative affirmations into positive affirmations.
"I don’t want to be fat. — I am slender.
I don’t want to be broke. — I am prosperous.
I don’t want to be old. — I am eternally young.
I don’t want to live here. — I now move to a better place.
I don’t want to have this relationship. — I have a wonderful new relationship.
I don’t want to be like my mother/father. — I am my own person.
I don’t want to have this hair/nose/body. — I love my hair/nose/body.
I don’t want to be lonely. — I am filled with love and affection.
I don’t want to be unhappy. — I am joyous and happy and free.
I don’t want to be sick. — I am totally healthy.”
Excerpt taken from Louise Hay:
You Can Heal Your Life
|
|
 Photo thanks this issue to:
Jeni Rogers for cover and this photo, Wari Om, Lex Lyans, Charles lee, Raul Aranas, Pure Yoga, Om Factory, Wagging Tail Yoga, NY AcroFest and all the wonderful models. Logo thanks to Janel DuRoss.
|
|
|
Mary Yoga ENews * May 2018 * Issue #149