Author Archives: Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

Unknown's avatar

About Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

Loves the 4-6-3 and the serial comma. All baseball is good baseball, but when the Orioles or UVa 'Hoo's take the field, it's great baseball. Baseball historian ... because baseball touches everything. www.thebaseballbloggess.com And, for the Yoga ... www.peacefulhands.com

Peaceful Hands Yoga in Orange: General Info

Posted on by
Reply
Yoga Classes
Monday & Wednesdays
4:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
PEACEFUL HANDS YOGA
228 Warren Street
at Sedwick Racquetball Courts
in Orange, Virginia

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.

Directions:
From The North End of Orange via Route 15: Turn left at the McDonald’s onto May Fray Avenue. Cross the train tracks and go through the light at Main Street (7-11 intersection). Go approx. 2 blocks and follow the orange Route 20 Detour signs which will guide you to a right turn onto Warren Street. The road curves around and then you’ll see the gold metal building on the right — that’s the place!
From the South End of Orange via Route 15: Turn right at the signal light at Route 20 (Dairy Korner/Exxon intersection).  Go approx 1/4 mile.  Turn left onto Warren Street (the Rescue Squad is on the corner). Go about 1 block and the gold metal building is on your left!
General: An online map to the studio is here:  http://mapq.st/1GzfCwR
There’s no sign on the building at the moment, but that will be coming soon!  
You may park anywhere in front of or along side the building, or in that big open area to the right of the building.  Enter through the front door. (Please do not use the side entrance steps; that door will be locked.)  The Yoga studio is on the second floor.

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.

The 4:30 p.m. class focuses on a Level 1 practice, exploring basic Yoga poses from a variety of traditions.
The 6:00 p.m. class may also include Level 2 poses, more challenging Yoga for those who would like a slightly more vigorous practice (with modifications available for beginners.)

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.

Uplifting Others. Uplifting Ourselves.

Posted on by
Reply

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.

I Give Thanks …

Posted on by
7

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

 

SOS ~ The Wildlife Center of Virginia Needs Your Clover & Dandelions!

Posted on by
Reply
The Wildlife Center of Virginia has its annual spring influx of rabbits and it’s clear they don’t particularly like the regular “hospital fare” the Center provides. (And, really — who DOES like hospital food?) But, what baby bunnies and their friends DO love is snacking on dandelions and clover.

Would you be willing to donate a bag of dandelions and clover from your yard?

If you’re out in your yard, garden, or pasture (in untreated, pesticide- and chemical-free areas only, please) and you wander across some dandelions and/or clover, the Wildlife Center would love to have them! (Fresh is better, of course, so if you’re coming to yoga class or have a massage scheduled, pull them up in the morning sometime and then bring them in with you. Or drop them off at my massage studio during the week.)

Just dandelions (especially the green leafy parts) and clover. A little bag. A big bag. Every little bit helps. (And the dandelion flowers are fine to include.)

The rabbits will need the bounty for many weeks to come … and soon the goslings and ducklings will benefit from your donations as well. And, a happy, eating rabbit is a healing rabbit (or duckling or gosling or possum), and that makes the job easier for the Center’s Vets and Rehabbers.

Email me with questions at peacefulhands (at) gmail.com. Thank you in advance for helping out these wildlife patients.

Wildlife Center "Critters" At Madison Fair Saturday, 7/18

Posted on by
Reply

The Wildlife Center of Virginia, and some of its wonderful wild education animals, will be at the Madison County Fair on Saturday, July 18.

The presentation will be at 4:00 p.m. (I think it will be at the Small Stage; that’s where the Center usually sets up.)

This is a terrific way to learn more about the Center and, most important, to meet some of their amazing wildlife ambassadors.

They will be giving their popular “Creatures of the Night” presentation … so it’s a good bet you’ll meet an owl … a possum … and who knows who else might come along!

I’ll be there in the audience and I hope you’ll stop by, too.

The Mystery of Namasté & Yoga Blessings

Posted on by
1
UPDATED: AUGUST 2016

For many years, I attended a yoga class where the teacher would close our practice by joining her hands together and saying, “Namasté”. We all sat quietly and then class was done. I eventually discovered that I was not alone; I don’t think any of us in that class knew what Namasté meant, no one knew to return the greeting, and the instructor never told us.

She was a very good instructor, don’t get me wrong; she just assumed that many of us were smarter than we actually were.

(Sure, could we have asked her? Of course! Did we? Umm, no. Why not? I don’t know. Maybe we were all just embarrassed that we might be the only one who didn’t know what it meant.)

Today, in the Wikipedia world, one can find the meaning of most anything quite quickly. But those were slower times and so we wondered.

By the way, I define “Namasté” as “The divine within me bows to the divine within you.”

It’s sort of like a sacred “Aloha” greeting to me — it can mean hello or goodbye.

Deepak Singh said on National Public Radio in 2015 that Namasté is simply a formal greeting in India and that we Yoga students here in the West define it much differently than he knows it.

Maybe. I’m not so sure. I think we are on the same page.

We use it as a greeting, too.  Hello.  Goodbye. But, I think it has a much deeper intention and offers great respect to the person being addressed.

When we say Namasté, we look beyond the physical, we bow to the purest essence of the person before us. That’s the light that resides at one’s heart.  I sometimes like to say that Namasté means, “I can see past your bad hair day today and all the stresses and strains you endure, to see and honor the true, beautiful and vibrant you that is the really, truly you.”

By the way, Singh also says that Western Yoga students pronounce Namasté incorrectly: “I say, ‘num-us-teh’ vs. the Americanized ‘nahm-ahs-tay.'”

Yup. He’s right about that. But, Yoga is about bringing the pose to the body, not the body to the pose, right? So maybe our uniquely American pronunciation is simply our way to bring the Namasté to the mat in the way that fits our practice best. (Or, maybe we’re just saying it wrong.)

So, here’s the question: What should you do when your Yoga instructor greets you at class with “Namasté”? That’s easy. What do you say when someone says “Hello” to you? You say “Hello” back, right? So it’s lovely to respond with “Namasté.”

I really like when my students say “Namasté” to me. I like to think it’s their way of seeing past my bad hair day and the mistakes that I might make as the class unfolds (mixing up my right and left as I mirror, forgetting an asana as I guide them through a flow, falling out of a pose as I demonstrate). It’s their way of saying, “It’s ok, we know you’re trying your best.”

And a suggestion for Yoga instructors: Don’t assume that students know what you’re talking about. Sanskrit is a beautiful poetic language. But, a bit of translation can help those words blossom more fully in a student’s heart.

And, now … to practice what I preach. I’ve been closing recent classes with a loving yoga blessing. I offer the translation in class as well. But, in the off-chance that someone actually wanders through this blog (aside from my journeys through it looking for typos), I offer it here. It’s a beautiful blessing and it inspires my practice.

Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu

There are many translations from the very simple “May all be happy” to very long and detailed translations. But, here’s the one that I like best:

“May the universe be filled with peace and joy, love and light.”

I like to share other blessings in my Yoga classes from time to time, and when I think about it, I add them to this website. To find them all in one place, just click on the Meditations & Blessings link at the bottom of this post.

Or, LIKE Peaceful Hands on Facebook, where I regularly post Yoga blessings and other information on the healing benefits of Yoga.  Here’s the link: Peaceful Hands on Facebook

Namasté

What Is Necessary After All …

Posted on by
Reply

On a day when things haven’t gone quite right … and the world seems to be spinning a bit out of control and I’m not hanging on too well …

… it’s nice to sit in my studio, safe and dry, watching the thunderstorm unfold outside.

And, I haven’t shared a blessing or a poem on this page in a long, long while. And, so here you go. This is from Rainer Maria Rilke, an early 20th century German poet. His poem for you today:

What is necessary, after all,
Is only this: solitude.
Vast inner solitude.
To walk inside yourself
and meet no one for hours —
that is what you must be able to attain.

Enjoy the quiet, peaceful place that is inside you. Ahh, paradise!

The Frosty Skies

Posted on by
1

Meditation doesn’t always have to be about chanting Sanskrit mantras or adhering only to the words of an ancient swami or guru. Sometimes a meaningful prayer will come into your heart organically. Sometimes you’ll trip upon something you overhear … or perhaps a line of a poem will inspire you. And, of course, the most exhilarating meditations are often the ones that bring you into perfect quiet with no words or thoughts to weigh you down.

You simply need to let your meditation evolve into a practice that is beneficial and meaningful to you.

This line is from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson (perhaps not the first person you think of when you are stretching out on your yoga mat or settling onto your meditation cushion). But, as our Meditation circle met last month just as winter was beginning, it seemed like just the right words to carry us through our practice.

Make Thou My Spirit Pure And Clear
As Are The Frosty Skies

The poem is from St. Agnes’ Eve. Perhaps it has a place in your next quiet time.

Namasté

Joyful Balance

Posted on by
Reply

In classes this week we explored the joy of balance … balancing warm and cool energies, right and left sides of the body, as well as exploring the balance of heaviness and lightness, and water and air, in the body. (Oh, and we stood on one leg too, which certainly counts as balance!)

When the weather turns so drastically hot (or cold), it’s good to remember that we need to adjust our internal energies and find that comfortable balance that will sustain us. (And, of course, your yoga mat is a good place to start balancing!)

Here is the quote from this week’s classes. I think it’s a good reminder …

“You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.” ~ Indira Gandhi

May your day be a balanced and happy one!