The best flow chart. Ever.
I wish I knew who to thank for this chart … it came to me from a friend (and it came to her from a friend … and so on and so on and on and on and on).
So, thank you “Anonymous” for reminding us all that worry is depleting and serves no real purpose. I suppose I’ll still worry but perhaps this chart can remind me to worry … less.
Enjoy your sunshine … whether it’s outside in your day or glowing deep in your heart.
Namaste.
And, quite honestly, who wants to read about me? I’d much rather encourage your yoga practice and your good health journey.
But, today, I’m breaking my rules …
This weekend, I lost Groucho, my Buddha Kitty, who has inspired my yoga practice and made my heart joyful for 13 years.
For 13 years, Groucho rarely missed when I unrolled my yoga mat at home. Sometimes she just came in and sat for a few mintues, sometimes she laid down against my shoulders when I was in Shoulderstand … or walked in and out under me while I was in Upward Bow or Bridge pose. And, more than once she licked my nose as I was upside down in a Headstand.
Her favorite part was always Savasana and Meditation, when she would curl up under the blanket, or lay down by my head, or rest near my feet as I sat in quiet, just breathing, just being.
I will miss all the joy — and warmth — she brought to me. And, all the wisdom she shared.
In 2007, I posted some of her words of wisdom. And, here they are again. She may be gone from the earth, but her essence will always be with me. And, her words will continue to inspire me:
“As I was doing my yoga yesterday, I was joined by Groucho, one of my cats. She often sits in on my practices, patiently waiting for savasana and meditation, when she can crawl under my prayer blanket for a cozy snooze.
“Yesterday, I asked her in my heart to communicate with me, to share a secret with me. And, she told me this:
“I live. I love. I rest.”
I will miss her. She was one cool kitty and unrolling my yoga mat will never be quite as joyful without her there watching and hanging out.
Wait, let me start again.
I almost always … (there, that’s better)
I almost always begin yoga class by asking those practicing with me to set a small intention in their heart. An intention to guide their practice … a small gift that their yoga can give to them. We come back to that intention at the end of practice, to allow it to unfold and blossom into a very real gift to guide us on our way.
And, then I offer my intention to all those who unrolled their mats with me … and, since a couple of you asked me to post that little blessing here, here it is:
May you carry your yoga with you when you roll up your mat.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia announced today that their newest animal ambassador — a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk — has been named RUBY!
Ruby was the top vote-getter in the Wildlife Center’s online “Name The Hawk” contest. Although, many votes were disqualified because of cheating and “robo-voting”, the honest votes were tallied and Ruby came out on top.
Ruby was a name suggested by a local First Grade class to honor Ruby Bridges, the civil rights pioneer who in 1960 entered an all-white elementary school in New Orleans and helped lead the city into the age of desegregation. Her bravery was a touchstone in the national effort to bring racial equality into schools.
According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia the final voting percentage was:
Ruby 35.3 percent
Twizzler 25.6 percent
Poppy 17.4 percent
Phoenix 15.3 percent
Cherry Tail 6.5 percent
It’s unfortunate that the voting was tampered with by computer hackers who dumped thousands of votes into the system. But, those unfair votes were identified and removed from the final tally.
Ruby, the Red-tailed Hawk, begins her new adventure now as a Wildlife Ambassador & Educator. She will be seen by tens of thousands of children and adults EVERY year.
She will join the Wildlife Center’s human staff in classrooms, at school assemblies, and other events throughout Virginia, to teach important environmental lessons and to help people see how we can be better friends to all wildlife.
And, as her name honors Ruby Bridges, she will also be a wonderful reminder to children of how one little girl’s bravery helped make an amazing difference in the work for civil rights and equality.
Click here to read the Wildlife Center’s official statement and learn how you can help Ruby and the Wildlife Center of Virginia carry out their important work!
THANK YOU TEAM RUBY! Your passion and caring made the difference. Thank you for voting, for spreading the word, and for helping this amazing bird honor a very special Civil Rights Hero!
The Wildlife Center of Virginia should announce today the name of their newest education ambassador — a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk.
If you’ve been following along, the voting system the Wildlife Center used was hacked over the weekend by someone who flooded the system with thousands of “cheater” votes. The Wildlife Center was able to go through the records and identify votes that were cast improperly and unfairly.
They will know the “honest” vote count soon and I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.
I thank you for all your support for RUBY … and I’m hopeful our efforts to generate fair votes were enough! Check back soon … and I’ll post as soon as the Wildlife Center announces the winner!
Go Ruby!
FEBRUARY 21 UPDATE ~ The Wildlife Center of Virginia’s Red-tailed Hawk has been named RUBY. Yay! For the results and more information on the “Name the Hawk” campaign visit the updated page: Say Hi To Ruby
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR RUBY! ~ Jackie
In 1960, Ruby Bridges, a 6-year-old African-American girl was escorted by federal marshals to a white school in New Orleans. Her bravery and willingness to be “the first” helped lead to the desegregation of New Orleans schools.
She was a young girl who became a hero of the civil rights movement. She faced death threats and the shouts of adults who taunted her and tried to break her spirit.
You may remember the Norman Rockwell portrait that immortalized her act that day. Click to learn more about Ruby Bridges: Ruby Bridges, The Civil Rights Pioneer
Here’s how we can honor Ruby Bridges and her bravery. There is a contest going on through February 21 at the Wildlife Center of Virginia – to name their new Red-Tailed Hawk that will become an education animal.
This hawk was hit by a car and, while healed now thanks to the work of the Wildlife Center Vets, it is blind in one eye and unable to be released back to the wild. It will make its permanent home at the Center and will be part of their traveling education program that brings wild animals to local schools as part of education programs about wildlife and the environment.
Last month, local schoolchildren submitted names to be considered and the top 5 names are now being voted on online. Among those names is Ruby, submitted by a first-grade class to honor Ruby Bridges.
Please vote to name the Wildlife Center’s Red-Tailed Hawk RUBY. You may vote online one time.
To learn more about The Wildlife Center’s hawk and the contest, go to Name The Red-Tailed Hawk Page and then click the link to vote.
Help this beautiful raptor remind schoolchildren of the heroism and bravery of young Ruby Bridges whose courage and steadfastness, despite powerful opposition, opened the doors of education to thousands and thousands of young people.
We just have until FEBRUARY 21 to make our voices heard. Please help give Ruby Bridges a wonderful tribute and help bring her message of courage to young people.
Vote to name the Wildlife Center of Virginia’s Red-Tailed Hawk … RUBY!
Thank you!
No, not a resolution for the New Year. You know I would never impose that on you! New Year’s resolutions are almost always broken … through no real fault of your own. The chill of winter inspires hibernation, not a diet, not a new workout regimen. We demand so much of ourselves and can be so unforgiving when yet another resolution falls away when the many demands of daily life takes over.
Instead, I share with you a New Year’s inspiration … a yogic blessing that you might want to incorporate into your mediation practice or as an intention when you unroll your mat.
“Health is your birthright, not disease. Strength is your heritage, not weakness. Courage, not fear. Bliss, not sorrow. Peace, not restlessness. Knowledge, not ignorance. The person who aims for good health and strength of both body and mind is a gem among all humanity. Such a person possesses the true treasure.” ~ Swami Satchidanada
May your day be peaceful!
For the latest Yoga Class updates, including class changes, etc click here: Peaceful Hands Yoga or check in on Facebook: Peaceful Hands on Facebook.
Don’t wait to make your body supple! Don’t wait to make your heart smile! Don’t wait to breathe deep! Unroll your yoga mat and join in …
Yoga classes are ongoing throughout the year. You are welcome to try out a class at any time (and your first class with me is free!). Watch this blog for the latest schedules, special classes, workshops and weather-related cancellations. (Sign up for email reminders using the link on the right-side column.)
You may join a class at anytime during a session, but if you’re new to my classes, please call or email me first before coming by. My phone is 540-672-9528. My email is jackie@peacefulhands.com.
Here is general information on my yoga classes:
YOGA IN ORANGE, Virginia
We are located at 228 Warren Street in Orange. We are on the second floor of the Sedwick Racquetball Courts.
Please note: the front door is unlocked by 4:15 p.m. Please be on time to avoid missing your class!
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
You don’t need to wait for a new session to start to join in — you may join in at any time.
My classes are designed for all levels; beginners and long-time students of yoga are welcome (and all levels in-between). Don’t worry if you’ve never been on a yoga mat before. Yoga is a beautifully forgiving practice; each pose is accessible to each of us as long as we approach the pose with kindness, and we never push to the point of discomfort or pain. Sometimes each of us must modify a pose to support injuries or restrictions; yoga can be modified in infinite ways to make it accessible and beneficial to all of us.
Two classes are offered on Mondays and Wednesdays.
While Beginners and others are welcome at any of my classes, if you have physical restrictions that may limit your practice, you may find the easier pace of the early class more comfortable for your needs.
We practice basic hatha yoga and I like to explore and play with many different yoga practices — including flowing Vinyasa Yoga, gentle Tibetan Yoga, and balancing Ayurvedic Yoga. Every class includes some breathwork and time for relaxation and meditation. Yoga is a wonderful way to bring health, flexibility, and strength to the body; calm the mind and relieve stress; and rejuvenate the spirit.
Class Sessions — Sessions are generally on an 8-week schedule (although that does change from time to time, especially in summer and around the holidays, so check the website to see where we are in a session).
There are two discounts for people who choose to enroll in a full session.
** Students may take any eight classes over the eight-week session. ($72)
** Students may take an UNLIMITED SESSION, coming twice a week or as often as their schedule allows. ($120)
Both options offer a deep discount over the per-class rate of $13/class.
(Make-Up Policy: Students may make up any missed classes during the session, by coming on a different day or at a different time. Because of the generous fee discount, there is no carry-over into the next session.)
Students are always welcome to take classes as drop-ins, but only if space is available in the class.
What To Bring/What To Wear — Bring a Yoga mat if you have one. We do have a few “loaner” mats available. We also have Yoga blocks and other props for your use. Dress for light exercise. Most students wear Yoga pants, leggings, sweats, or shorts, along with a short-sleeved tee shirt. During the relaxation part of class you may wish to have a sweat shirt, socks, or an extra layer available. Yoga is done bare foot. Bring a bottle of water (no other food or drink is allowed in the studio). Cell phones must be turned off during class (“vibrate only” is also distracting to others around you).
Cancellations — Occasionally classes are cancelled due to bad weather or other calendar conflicts. Session dates are adjusted accordingly. I post last-minute cancellations on this page, on Facebook (Peaceful Hands on Facebook), and email those who are registered in the current session. If in doubt, check this website or send me an email.
Refunds — If you enroll in a session, but must drop out of the classes, please let me know via email as soon as you make your decision. You will be charged for the classes in the session (whether attended or missed) up to the point when you contacted me, at the regular drop-in rate of $13/class, and will be charged a $15 administration fee. Because the session fees offer such generous discounts over the regular drop-in fee, it may be that there is no outstanding refund owed.
For more info on the current session click on the “Orange Yoga” label at the bottom of this post, which will bring up a list of previous postings. Or contact me at jackie@peacefulhands.com or call 540.672.9528.
During this holiday season, when stress can get in the way of joy and when the body can be depleted by the little cold and flu bugs that scurry about, I came upon this quote which I wanted to share with you:
“The greatest way to ensure your own happiness, is to do all that you can to uplift the lives of others.” ~ Sharon Gannon
But, remember … to have the energy to uplift others, you must nurture and nourish your own energy first. Support your immune system with good diet and habits. Unroll your yoga mat and stretch out. Sit in quiet for a few minutes and let your mind unwind. Treat yourself to a good book or a sweet chocolate. Do something nice for yourself and let your body absorb and enjoy that kindness. Then share that sweetness with those you meet along your day.
In this month of Thanksgiving … a poem of gratitude from Harriett Kofalk (author of The Peaceful Cook):
Awakening in a moment of peace
I give thanks
To the source of all peace
As I set forth into the day
The birds sing with new voices
And I listen with new ears
And give thanks
Nearby
The flower called Angel’s Trumpet
Blows in the breeze
And I give thanks
My feet touch the grass
Still wet with dew
And I give thanks
Both to my mother earth
For sustaining my steps
And to the seas
Cycling once again
To bring forth new life
The dewdrops
Become jeweled
With the morning’s sun-fire
And I give thanks
You can see forever
When the vision is clear
In this moment
Each moment
I give thanks
Feeling Blessed? Here’s more on gratitude from our Yoga classes over the years …
Click here for the timeless and inspiring Thanksgiving blessing from W.E.B. du Bois. It is the blessing that I share at the end of every Yoga class at Thanksgiving: Give Us Thankful Hearts
Click here for the Gratitude Savasana and Energy Bridge instruction:Thanksgiving Yoga ~ A Blessing, Part 1
Click here for another beautiful blessing that guided our meditation at the end of one Thanksgiving Yoga class: Thanksgiving Yoga ~ A Blessing, Part 2
And, here The Buddha explains why we should be thankful, click: So, Let Us All Be Thankful
For “Thanksgiving Yoga: Rekindling Our Light”, click: Rekindling Our Light
Peaceful Hands Yoga 