Devotion Yoga's URBAN SANCTUARY Magazine by Devotion Yoga

THE

URBAN SANCTUARY

devotion yogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yearly events & inspirations

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2013 SEPTEMBER 2014

news & community

4 7 28 68

NAMASTE

from Liza Bertini & Patrick Franco

ABOUT THE STUDIO

welcome to Devotion Yoga

A DECADE OF DEVOTION Devotionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10-year celebration

Q&A WITH A DEVOTEE

YOGA FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT

interview with Valerie Sorge

calendar of events

holistic health

72 9 CLASS SERIES MENU OF TREATMENTS 74 20 YOGA INSPIRED COACHING 76 WHAT SHOULD I EAT? 23 WORKSHOPS 47 MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY 50 ITSY BITSY YOGA TRAININGS 58 70 HOLISTIC HEALTH DAVID NEWMAN YEAR IN REVIEW KIRTAN 78

POWER OF ENERGY HEALING by James Bene

unique programs to change your life

ashram of holistic service offerings

life coaching series for women

by Sarah Bond

open your mind to something new

special bonding time

the greatest teachers are eternal students

care for yourself inside & out

monthly event listings

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articles & inspirations

12 18 32 48

BACKPAIN: Rx YOGA by Kim Kuiken & Liza Bertini

THE A,B,Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OF HAPPINESS by Liza Bertini

OFF THE MAT

60-second interviews with Liza & Patrick

YOGA FOR PREGNANCY by Carrie Parker Gastelu

RELAX & UNWIND HOLISTIC HEALTH

MATS, MATS, & MORE MATS

contributors

ERICA P. BLISS/ CANARY

The Behind It All (design & layout)

DANIELLE MANDERIOLI Photography Rock Star

KAITLIN MORSE

Editor with the Mostest

YOMI KARADE

Ad Sales Ambassador

CARRIE PARKER GASTELU Prenatal Goddess

JAMES BENE

Reiki Rockefeller

KIM KUIKEN

Back Care Guru

LIZA BERTINI

The Happy One

PATRICK FRANCO

King of Bhakti (and #1 Pearl Jam Fan)

SARAH ANFORA & RACHEL LIPKIN Most Popular & Devotion Cheerleaders

info@devotionyoga.com www.devotionyoga.com

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NaMASTE

from Liza & Patrick

ear Devotion Yoga Community,

It is an honor to be writing the editorial for our first inaugural Urban Sanctuary Magazine! This publication is made even more meaningful as Devotion Yoga’s ten-year anniversary quickly approaches. (Yes, it really has been ten years since we opened our doors to the community and hosted our first yoga class!) While we acknowledge the growth and change that has occurred, our commitment to remaining your “neighborhood yoga studio” has not wavered. We are still a friendly, laid-back studio boasting an eclectic group of practitioners of all levels and backgrounds. Our philosophy has always been to welcome new faces and our classes celebrate the diversity of both our teachers and students. In keeping with this spirit of celebration, we are thrilled to present you with this magazine! We have created a well-rounded and comprehensive programming calendar that offers something for everyone. Within these pages you will find a directory of workshops for both new students and experienced yogis, information about teacher trainings and immersions, and listings of numerous specialty classes with topics ranging from healthful cooking and mindful living to meditation and stress reduction. Our many inspirational offerings for expectant and new mothers, children, and families integrate the principles of yoga with conscious living while providing a welcoming community. In addition to a full schedule of yoga classes and workshops, we also offer massage, Reiki healing, and acupuncture, among other holistic health services. In essence, Devotion Yoga offers options for every aspect of wellness. We would also like to formally welcome you to our new space - the Urban Sanctuary. Because the stresses of our metropolitan New York lifestyle can weigh on us both physically and mentally, we aspired to create a “sanctuary” where people can slow down, be nurtured, and feel at ease. We invite you to step into our spacious but cozy urban oasis to stretch out, breathe in, and relax. Devotion Yoga welcomes you hOMe! Even though our space is new, it is filled with ten years’ worth of devotion and community. That very community has grown only because of the people who walk through our doors and support us thoroughly. We have made many friends, watched as longtime clients have become new moms, graduated numerous classes of new yoga teachers, observed proud smiles after a student’s first handstand, looked on as close relationships form, and most importantly, witnessed our community come together during times of great adversity. For these gifts, we thank you from the bottom of our devoted hearts! With gratitude and excitement,

+ Liza Bertini + Patrick Franco owners of Devotion Yoga

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find your

h(OM)e in

HOBOKEN

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What defines a great teacher? Three things: passion for their subject, a commitment to share their knowledge, and the drive to continue to learn. Our teachers at Devotion have all three.â&#x20AC;? -Suzanne A.

THE

STUDIO

evotion Yoga is dedicated to creating and

nurturing a safe, peaceful, and noncompetitive environment. Voted “Best Yoga Studio in New Jersey” by the New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s Readers Poll in 2011, Devotion brings you the best yoga instructors in the area and creates a sacred experience using movement, alignment, breath, relaxation, inspiration, and fun. Our studio offers over 60 classes a week including Vinyasa, Kripalu, prenatal, postnatal, restorative/ therapeutic, yoga for babies/tots, workshops, 200hour teacher training, kirtan, and special events. Devotion has something for everyone. Whether you are joining us for an invigorating flow class or special mother and baby bonding time, all of our classes share one common aspect - a comfortable, safe space in which to keep your body healthy, mind calm, and spirit nourished.  After class, sip some herbal tea, shop in Devotion’s boutique, and chill out in our Rotunda with other like-minded yogis. This past year we moved into our new, beautiful Urban Sanctuary (just across from the Hoboken train/ PATH station), where we now offer wellness services and an organic juice & tea bar. Our new space

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is a historic landmark with expansive windows which flood the space with natural light, dazzling views of the Manhattan skyline, soaring and dramatic 15-foot ceilings, radiant heated flooring, and a central stained glass rotunda. The charm of our fireplace alters, serene wellness rooms, and spacious reception make our studio remarkable. The Urban Sanctuary is a one-of-a-kind space that is sure to offer solace to all who visit. We plan on making our new Hoboken home a sanctuary for yoga and holistic health for many years to come.

class SERIES unique programs to change your life

CLASS SERIES immersions Spring Morning Bootcamp with Jay Karlinski

Monday - Friday, 6:30am - 8:00am 5/5, 5/6, 5/7, 5/8, 5/9 $25 per drop-in/ $100 for series Greet the day with this energizing series designed to make you feel your best. Using a combination of powerful yoga poses, body weight exercises, and heart pumping, gentle-on-the-joints cardio moves, you will discover the path to YOUR best. Redefine what it means to feel healthy in your body. From “brand new, I don’t know the difference between a down dog and a hot dog” beginners to more experienced practitioners, everyone will be challenged and invited to make the hard work fun. Jay, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu certified teacher and teacher trainer. He began his yoga journey in 2000 after a lifetime of sports and movement. His classes are geared towards discovering a sense of play on and off the mat.

Summer Morning Immersion with Kim Larkin Monday - Friday, 6:30am - 8:00am 8/11, 8/12, 8/13, 8/14, 8/15 $25 per drop-in/ $100 for series Spend a week as a morning person and start your day with a juicy yoga and pranayama practice. The asana portion of the class will get you ready to face your day with vitality and strength. The pranayama portion will provide you with tools to help you stay grounded through whatever challenges your day brings. Trained at OM Yoga Center, NYC, Kim teaches classes which incorporate alignment-based Vinyasa, breath awareness, and, on most days, some philosophy for you to ponder as you go about your day.

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CLASS SERIES2014 Beginner Series with Devotion’s Teaching Community $125 for 5-Week series Wednesdays, 8:00pm - 9:15pm 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/9 (No class on 7/2) 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8 Saturdays, 10:00am - 11:15am 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11 Sundays, 7:00pm - 8:15pm 1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23 This 5-week series (1 class per week for 5 weeks) teaches brand new beginners yoga fundamentals and provides students with the guidance they need to develop a safe and beneficial yoga practice. Students receive individual attention while learning basic yoga postures, yogic breathing, and relaxation techniques. Perfect for people who like to learn sequentially with the same teacher in a small group. Pre-registration is necessary as class size is limited.

Better Breathing with Suzanne Ausnit

Do you ever hold your breath? Do you feel that your breath is stuck or shallow? Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® (ATM®) lessons can dramatically improve and lengthen your breathing, reduce stress, and recalibrate your nervous system. Because they also facilitate pranayama, we will explore Kapalabhati, Viloma Pranayama and Three-Part Breathing with retention. Suzanne Ausnit, E-RYT 500, has been teaching yoga for 15 years with a focus on body awareness, alignment, and breath. She is a Feldenkrais® practitioner and Awareness Through Movement® teacher in Hoboken, N.J. and New York City. Visit Suzanne at www.fullpotentialyoga.com.

photo credit: Craig Wallace Dale

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CLASS SERIES - ADULTS

Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm 3-Week Series: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 3-Week Series: 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 $45 per drop-in/ $120 for series

a g Yo

RBack Pain:

By: Kimberly Kuiken, PhD and Registered Yoga Teacher & Liza Bertini, MS, Founder of Devotion Yoga, and Registered Yoga Teacher

Back pain

has become a leading epidemic of which more than 80 percent of adults will experience sometime in their life. Oxford Healthcare stated that statistics show it is the second most common reason that an American seeks medical care, second to persistent cough. As back pain continues to plague an increasing number of individuals, many are seeking alternative methods of treatment to attempt to heal this chronic ailment.

sists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. When these nervous systems are in a state of imbalance, many physiological responses occur within the body. The parasympathetic nervous system, when stimulated, causes a “rest and digest” response in the body. When this system is stimulated, one will experience a decrease in heart rate and

Yoga is a holistic practice that is prescribed as alternative or complementary rehabilitation for back pain. According to Yoga Journal, approximately 20.4 million Americans practice yoga today, an increase of 29 percent since 2008. Yoga’s benefits, which contribute to the improvement of one’s well-being, are clearly becoming more recognized in our Western society. By incorporating physical postures, movement, and breath work, yoga helps to stretch and loosen muscle tightness, correct muscle imbalances, balance the neuromuscular system, reduce stress, and aid in easing the mind to cope with pain.

What is Yoga?

Named for a Sanskrit word that means “union” or “to yoke” the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level of one’s being, yoga is one of six orthodox systems of Indian Philosophy and is a 5000 year-old discipline. The most common type of yoga practiced is Hatha yoga. This is a physical discipline that focuses on postures (asana) to bring the body into alignment and balance. Breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation are incorporated to achieve the benefits of yoga which include increasing the flow of energy, maximizing organ and bodily system functioning, and heightening relaxation and clarity of the mind. Through practicing yoga, one begins to have a better awareness of the mindbody connection.

Physiological Effects of Yoga on the Body

To begin to understand the physiological effects of yoga on the body, one must first take a closer look at how breathing techniques contribute to the balance between the visceral, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. The breath has an incredible impact on the autonomic nervous system, which con-

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blood pressure. Pranayama techniques in yoga help to facilitate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress-related disorders. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is the sympathetic nervous system, which is often referred to as our “fight or flight” response. When this system is stimulated, there is an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. When normal breathing patterns are disturbed by stress induced disorders and postural habits, the sympathetic nervous is stimulated and the body resides in an elevated state of stress which can be detrimental to one’s health and wellness. Refining breathing patterns through pranayama techniques in yoga can help to balance the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

In yoga, breath work is married with yoga asana (postures) to help create balance and symmetry throughout the entire body. Asana practice can help restore muscle balance, flexibility, strength and support of the natural curvatures of the spine that may be unbalanced. The spine has four natural curves that are vitally important, allowing it to act as a shock absorber. Yoga helps to maintain spine health by both stretching and strengthening the supportive spinal muscles and connect tissue. Three muscle groups that attach to the pelvis and lumbar spine and strongly influence normal spinal postures are the abdominals, hip flexors and hamstring muscles. Often, these muscle groups are unbalanced due to prolonged sitting postures, poor work habits, and highly repetitive tasks such as lifting. By performing specific asana these muscle groups can become more balanced and can improve one’s posture. By focusing on hip opening asana such as lunges, standing warrior series, and supported bridge (backbend), one can begin to release the tightness of the hip flexors and promote a normal curvature in the lumbar spine. Additional asana that focus on abdominal strengthening and core muscular energy such as plank (upper push-up) and boat pose (v-shaped balancing pose) can also help to restore abdominal strength and balance between the abdominals and musculature of the spine. Other postures focus on the opening of the hamstrings, such as triangle, downward-facing dog, and modified forward bends (knees bent). It is important to remember that when beginning an asana practice one should address the specific needs of his or her back. Forward bends, backbends, twists, and standing poses can be either therapeutic or detrimental for your back depending on the muscle imbalances and loss of normal spinal curves that may be present. It is most beneficial to begin one’s asana practice by honoring the natural curvatures of your spine and focusing on postures that promote spinal stability and flexibility that is within a comfortable range of motion.

Finding an Appropriate Yoga Class for Back Pain Currently there are several schools or types of Hatha yoga. A common misconception is that yoga only entails gentle stretching, breathing, and meditation. Different styles of Hatha yoga range from extremely vigorous and physically intense practices, such as Ashtanga (referred to by many as “power yoga”) and Bikram (“hot yoga”) to more alignment-based practices, such as Iyengar. Vinyasa and Anusara yoga styles both flow with the breath through postures, but also include significant information about anatomical alignment. It is critical that asana is practiced safely with clear instruction or there is a

potential risk for injury. When practicing yoga with back pain or injury, it is best to find a style of yoga which is taught at a slower pace with a focus on alignment and preferably taught by a teacher who is concerned with teaching a safe class. It is beneficial if the teacher has experience working with people with injuries or has a background in yoga therapy with a thorough understanding of anatomy. It is important that a student is aware of his or her physical impairments and discusses them with the teacher before starting a yoga practice. Overall, the principles of yoga provide an opportunity to build a balanced foundation in one’s therapeutic rehabilitation and journey to wellness.

About the Authors:

Kimberly Kuiken is a registered yoga instructor, who has been practicing physical therapy for ten years. Kim holds a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and specializes in orthopedics and sports-related injuries. She holds advanced certifications in manual therapy and orthopedics. Kim specializes in a highly skilled, hands-on approach with respect to her physical therapy care. On the mat, Kim incorporates her expertise in anatomy and physiology to explore the therapeutic benefits of yoga. Her practice style includes focus on alignment principles and building core stability in yoga. In addition, she is certified in prenatal yoga. Liza Bertini is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Founder and Studio Director of Devotion Yoga in Hoboken, NJ. Opened in 2003, Devotion Yoga is dedicated to teaching yoga techniques, postures, and philosophy in a safe, peaceful, and non-competitive environment. Devotion Yoga offers classes for all levels and ages.

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CLASS SERIES2014 Better Backs with Suzanne Ausnit

Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm 3-Week Series: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 $45 per drop-in/ $120 for series Improving the way you sit, stand, and move can reduce, and often eliminate, back pain. In these classes, you’ll learn Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® (ATM®) exercises that will help you move better, alleviate chronic muscular contractions, and keep your back healthy. Suzanne Ausnit, E-RYT 500, has been teaching yoga for 15 years with a focus on body awareness, alignment and breath. She is a Feldenkrais® practitioner and Awareness Through Movement® teacher in Hoboken, N.J. and New York City. Visit Suzanne at www.fullpotentialyoga.com.

Reiki Healing and Meditation Circle with James Bene Fridays, 8:00pm - 9:30pm 5-Week Series: 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28 $150 for series “We are all spiritual beings having a human experience.”

CLASS SERIES - ADULTS

Discover yourself as the Experimental Light Being in this 6-week meditation and sharing series! Using Reiki energy as our backdrop, we will explore spiritual concepts and precepts in hopes of letting go of old thoughts, habits, and emotions that may no longer serve our greatest good. We will use Reiki meditation and energy releasing techniques that will allow our authentic truth to shine forward while releasing emotional blockages and stress that may be trapped within the chakras. I would love for this series to be the first step in the true self-realization that we all have the power within to heal and empower ourselves. We all deserve to live a free, abundant, and joyful life. Sometimes we just need a little boost! Reiki has been that boost for me and many others. Reiki is a Japanese, non-denominational, hands-on healing technique which calls upon the universal life-force energy to help release emotional and physical blockages within the body and chakra system. It usually feels like a warm, beautiful light swirling in and about the body. The benefits of Reiki treatments are vast. They include reduced stress, a shift in spiritual consciousness, feelings of peace, oneness, and balance, motivational energy, decreased depression and anxiety, and an overall sense of wholeness! What to expect: • Guided Meditation • Spiritual mentoring and chats • Hands-on Reiki for healing • Group sharing James is an intuitive Reiki Master and meditation/metaphysical teacher certified in Usui and Karuna Reiki. He is also the Wellness Director of Devotion Yoga.

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CLASS SERIES2014 Yoga for Dudes with Jay Karlinski

Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 8:15pm $25 per drop-in/ $120 for series 6-Week Series: 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25 6-Week Series: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6 6-Week Series: 6/17, 6/24, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 This series is designed to make you feel your best. Using a combination of powerful yoga poses, body weight exercises, and heart pumping, gentle-on-the-joints cardio moves, you will discover the way to YOUR best. Redefine what it means to feel healthy in your body. You will finish the series with take home routines to keep the momentum going on your own at home. This series is absolutely welcome to any guy who is looking to go for it. Come expecting to work hard, play hard, and get great results. From “brand new, I don’t know the difference between a down dog and a hot dog” beginners, to more experienced practitioners, everyone will be challenged and invited to make the hard work fun. There is nothing healthier than being able to move and control your own body. Come learn tools that will last you a lifetime as you step into a brand new you. Jay, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu certified teacher and teacher trainer. He began his yoga journey in 2000 after a lifetime of sports and movement. His classes are geared towards discovering a sense of play on and off the mat.

Mondays, 6:30pm - 7:45pm $120 for series 4-Week Series: 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25 4-Week Series: 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 4-Week Series: 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30 Reducing stress levels can greatly improve health and quality of life. YOGA is, overall, one of the best natural systems for stress reduction. Join this series to learn yogic techniques for managing stress and its triggers. This interactive session format includes discussion, grounding movement, breathing practices, deep relaxation, and calming mindfulness exercises to easily integrate into your busy day. Each session concludes with a guided deep relaxation so you leave prepared for peaceful rest. Tam Terry, E-RYT, has taught yoga since 2003, is Sr. Trainer, Bright Spirit Teacher Training, and is certified in Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga. She offers a heart-centered, breath based practice to help students discover their connection to the peace that resides within.

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CLASS SERIES - ADULTS

Yoga for Stress Management with Tam Terry

CLASS SERIES2014

Yoga & You: A Philosophical Journey with Maja Sidebaeck Saturdays, 9:45am - 11:15am 5-Week Series: 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17 $120 for series What can yoga philosophy teach us about how to live a life at ease? How does it translate into our daily lives? In this series we will study the foundational text on yoga philosophy, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and focus on the eight limbs of yoga as a path out of suffering. Although we all experience suffering in various ways and to varying degrees through anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, insecurities, or simply an underlying feeling that something is missing, suffering is not inherent in our experiences. Rather, it is a consequence of how we relate to them. Practicing the eight limbs of yoga is practicing a new, more beneficial way of relating to the world and ourselves. As this philosophy is a practice of both body and mind, this series will include asana practice as well as lecture and discussion. Maja Sidebaeck trained primarily at OM Yoga Center with Cyndi Lee and has been teaching since 2006. She teaches a mindful and grounded Vinyasa flow with lots of breath awareness, clear alignment, and a sprinkle of fun.

Yoga for Weight Loss with Sarah Bond Thursdays, 8:00pm - 9:15pm 3-Week Series: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23 Wednesdays, 6:30pm - 7:45pm 3-Week Series: 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 $80 for series

CLASS SERIES - ADULTS

This three-week program utilizes yoga, nutrition, breath work, and meditation to guide you on your path to weight loss. In this series you will: • Learn how yoga can be instrumental in helping with weight loss • Focus on gentle and restorative yoga to find balance and vitality • Be provided with multiple tools to incorporate into your daily life • Gain more self-compassion and time for self-inquiry • Change your relationship with and thought patterns about food • Learn to eat for nourishment and break emotional eating patterns • Add things to your life rather than deprive yourself - this is not a diet!! • Set optimal goals for your own body • Participate in a cooking demonstration Sarah C. Bond is a Nutrition and Health Counselor with a private practice. As a yoga instructor she is able to complete the mind, body, spirit connection necessary in keeping balance & harmony in life.

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CLASS SERIES2014

The Yoga of Open Hearted Devotion with Julie Pasqual & Kaustubha Das Sundays, 11:00am - 1:00pm 3-Week Series: 3/2, 3/9, 3/16 $80 for series

Join us in an exploration of the heart through the practice of asana (yoga postures) and the study of Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion). Each class devotes one hour to physical practice with Julie Pasqual, followed by a one-hour discussion with Kaustubha Das. In the Yoga Sutras - the short, concise manual of yogic philosophy - very few things are given more than one mention. However, a concept known as isvara pranidhanam is mentioned at least three times, demonstrating the importance of this aspect of yoga. The core of isvara pranidhanam is opened hearted love, devotion, or in sanskrit - BHAKTI. Kaustubha Das, is a former monk, bhakti scholar, program director of NYCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bhakti Center, and an AMAZING HUMAN BEING. Julie Pasqual is a 500-hour RYT - which means she is always realizing how much more she has to learn. Her recent travels to India have made her even more in love with the practices of bhakti yoga.

CLASS SERIES - ADULTS

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The

A, B, C’s

of happiness

By Liza Bertini

After a particularly

challenging year of feeling consistently overwhelmed as a new single mother of twins, rebuilding two Devotion Yoga studios after flooding by Superstorm Sandy, and losing my father to lung cancer, I became passionate about learning how I could remain “happy” during such trying times. It is everyone’s ultimate goal - when you consider the reasons for our every desire, the answer remains that we all just want to be happy. The science of happiness is called positive psychology. Defined as “the scientific study of optimal human functioning”, it provides practical tools for better living. The endless research on happiness draws unsurprising conclusions; for example, lasting happiness is said not to come from possessing material things, but from pursuing positive experiences. We derive greater long-term happiness from acquiring experiences rather than goods! So, go on that vacation instead of buying that new couch! In Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness, she concludes that fifty percent of a human being’s happiness level is genetically determined, ten percent is affected by life circumstances and situation, and the remaining forty percent of happiness is subject to self-control and attitude. While some of us may focus on changing our circumstances, successfully doing so would only increase or decrease our true level of happiness by ten percent. What we should focus on is the forty percent of happiness that is under our control! By combining teachings from yoga philosophy and information I gathered from researching positive psychology, I put together a “happiness formula”. I wanted to lift myself out of my rut and take an active role in getting happy! Let’s call it the ABC’s of Happiness. I believe that if you incorporate the following into your life as best you can on a daily basis,

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you will simply be happier! Give it a try - you have nothing to lose!

The A’s of Happiness Authenticity. It is said that living authentically is when what you think, feel, say, and do are all in alignment. Though it is a hard task, the more we practice living authentically, the more whole and fulfilled we will feel. Being authentic is a product of uncovering the true Self, knowing what you want, living your dharma (your soul’s purpose), speaking your truth, and living with integrity. Yoga facilitates being in touch with one’s inner wisdom so that authenticity may blossom. Take time each day to be quiet and watch your breath, thoughts, and emotions with non-judgmental awareness. In this quiet, let your inner wisdom be revealed. Attitude. If 40% of our happiness is a result of our attitude, then by God… work on this one! Change your perspective of or reaction to your circumstances by finding the lesson and seeing the good within each situation. Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD and expert in positive psychology, says “things do not necessarily happen for the best, but I can choose to make the best of things that happen”. When we are faced with hardship, we have a choice. We can treat it as a purely negative experience or we can actively seek to identify and understand the lesson within it. We don’t have to be happy about every situation, but when a challenging one presents itself, we can use it as an opportunity for growth and development. To help turn things around, make a habit of finding something positive in every situation. Acceptance. Start loving and caring for yourself. Stop judging and putting yourself down. Notice how you speak to yourself. The more we can ac-

cept who we are and our life as it is, the more happiness will fill our lives. The Yoga Sutra by Patanjali states that “yoga is seeing life the way it is”. Lose the judgment and cynicism and accept as much as you can. Life is already hard and the more we resist it, the more we will struggle.

The B’s of Happiness Balance. Yoga is about finding balance. Not just in postures, but true balance of the mind, body, and spirit, as well. The Buddha taught that to reduce suffering, one must find the middle path. Take a serious look at all areas of your life, including work, fun, family, friends, relationships, spirituality, finances, home, health, etc. and note which areas need more of your energy and attention. We must consider all areas of our life in order to feel balanced and fulfilled. What is no longer serving you? Considering letting it go. What are you yearning for? Consider striving for it. Have some fun, stop worrying, and breathe! Be Present. Immerse yourself in the moment. Treat all activities as “yogic activities” - stay present in each detail of the task. Thich Nhat Hanh says “Do the dishes as though you were washing the baby Buddha”. When you brush your teeth, just brush your teeth; don’t think of what you must do next. When you listen to a friend, just listen; don’t think of what you will say next. Monotasking creates time for space in the mind. Impatient thoughts, rushed actions, boredom, and frustration cease when you give your attention to every detail. Stay present to keep you from brooding over the past or worrying about the future – this will only cause unhappiness. Savor life. No event or activity, no matter how potentially enjoyable, will bring us pleasure if we are hurrying on to the next task.

Community. Having strong social bonds is shown to be the most meaningful contributor to happiness. Research shows that if you have five or more friends with whom to discuss an important matter, you’re far more likely to describe yourself as “very happy”. Having a supportive community is crucial in times of challenge and adversity. Not only does having close friendships increase happiness, it has also been proven to lengthen life expectancy, boost immunity, and reduce risk of depression. So, take some time and reach out to your friends. Remember birthdays, start a meet-up group, join Devotion’s book club, or have a party! Compassion. Buddhism teaches that the best way to reduce suffering is to have compassion for yourself and others. Yoga teaches to be kind to yourself, have patience with others, and try to see people for who they really are without prejudgment. Plato said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”. Notice the beauty within each person you meet. Remember that the way you treat others will create a ripple effect. Forgive, and know that no one is perfect. Cultivate a life of service and give more than you receive. Smile at a stranger, help a friend, do a good deed… every day. Show compassion and change your life and your happiness.

Blessings. Each day, think of three things for which you are grateful. Cultivating gratitude reminds us of the good things in our life and how much we already have. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, suggests writing down your happiest moment of each day, no matter how small. Keep this in a journal and notice what brings joy to your life.

The C’s of Happiness Choice. We must notice when we are influenced by others’ expectations, behaving according to habitual patterns, or passively reacting rather than actively creating the life we truly want. We each have the ability to choose our own path. When we forget this, we risk losing happiness. Choosing to choose is not always easy, and it takes courage and effort. The journey is sometimes full of uncertainty, but resist choosing unhappiness over uncertainty. There are far more possibilities than we are aware of, and remembering that will contribute to greater happiness and wholeness.

Liza Bertini, M.S., E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives. Liza offers individual and group coaching sessions for women. Find out more about Liza at www. lizabertini.com. In addition, Liza hosts personal development and yoga workshops and retreats.

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CLASS september SERIES Yoga Inspired Coaching for Women

with Liza Bertini, M.S., Entrepreneur, Yoga Teacher, Life Coach, and Founder of Devotion Yoga

YOGA INSPIRED COACHING

Yoga Inspired Coaching

is a unique method that combines the profound wisdom of yoga philosophy with meditation, guidance, inspiration, collective energy from like-minded people, and tools that will empower you to create a purposeful, authentic, inspired, and easeful life. The coaching experience is one that helps an individual stay on course with their life design, offers ideas and options, provides support and encouragement, and celebrates successes. Coaching opportunities include both individual and / or group sessions.

Combined with the profound wisdom of yoga, Yoga Inspired Coaching increases your capacity to live the life you want for yourself, act on goals, pursue your ideal career, and attain happiness, health, and balance. With a focus on where you are now and what you want to achieve in the present and future, coaching helps you to learn about yourself, explore what you want in life, and develop an action plan to achieve it. Individual coaching is a powerful structure to support you in manifesting your vision for your optimal career and life.

Individual Coaching

Individual Coaching sessions are $95 per hour. Please email Liza directly at liza@lizabertini.com for an appointment.

Coaching is about change. It creates a powerful relationship designed to enhance and increase your lifelong learning, balance, and fulfillment.

Group Coaching Immersions

2014

at Devotion Yoga

Big Jumps: Manifesting Your Ideal Life

Mondays 6:30 – 9:00pm 4-Week Series: 2/10, 2/24, 3/10, 3/17 (Bonus invite to Liza’s Vision Boarding Workshop on 1/11, 1:30 6:00pm) $275 (Early Bird: $50 off if enrolled by Jan 1st) Are there goals in your life that you have always dreamed of accomplishing, but haven’t known how to move forward? Are you feeling stuck, apprehensive, or unmotivated? Don’t wait another day to live your ideal life! Liza Bertini invites you to a four-week immersion of self-study and empowerment designed to help you connect to your true Self, set conscious intentions, and take inspiring steps towards living a happy and healthy life.

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Living Fearlessly

Mondays, 6:30 – 9:00pm 3-Week Series: 5/5, 5/12, 5/19 + One Individual 30 Minute Session with Liza $195 (Early Bird: $25 off if enrolled by April 1st, 2014) The Buddha said that all fear comes from an untamed mind. Fear has many faces: from fear of failure to uncertainties about finances and world issues to fear of loss of a loved one or friend. Even when living in relative happiness, fear can hold us back from pursuing the life we envision for ourselves. It often keeps us focused on the past or future, but by calming the mind, living in the present, and exploring the deeper roots of fear, we can avoid living a life that is shaped and driven by fear. Join Liza Bertini in an experience of learning to live fearlessly.

Honoring the Self: Awareness, Acceptance, & Care Mondays, 6:30 – 9:00pm 4-Week Series: 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 $225 (Early Bird: $25 off if enrolled by June 15th, 2014)

In this fast-paced, materialistic, and ego-driven world, it is easy for us to lose our sense of self, ultimately living a life that is out of line with our true nature. We neglect our desires, well-being, needs, and values at the expense of our own happiness. No wonder why we begin to question our identity, feel unfulfilled, and yearn for something more! The Buddha dedicated his life to helping others learn how to ease their suffering through specific principles and practices. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra outlines a blueprint for living in this materialistic world and offers a means for attaining enlightenment. Honoring the Self is an exploration of how these philosophies, combined with living yoga on and off the mat, can lead to self-awareness and mindfulness, acceptance of self and life as they are, and living with regard for self-care - the keys to living a happy, balanced, and fulfilling life. This journey will include group discussions, journaling, yoga, meditation, breath work, self-care rituals, and encouragement to integrate these practices into daily living.

Mondays, 6:30 – 9:00pm 4-Week Series: 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6 $225 (Early Bird: $25 off if enrolled by August 15th, 2014) Incorporate the principles of yoga into everyday life as we explore yoga on and off the mat. On the mat, take a mind-body journey through the deep levels of the Self with a creative yoga flow, meditation, and pranayama (breathing techniques). Learn about the different types of yoga and how to develop a home practice. Off the mat, discover the magic of yoga philosophy and how yoga is weaved through our everyday lives. The first two limbs of yoga, yama and niyama, are integral parts of a yoga practice. We will discuss why these principles are essential to achieving balance, increasing vital life force, and living with authenticity. In this program you will: • Learn how to develop a personal home yoga practice • Rejuvenate your yoga practice on and off the mat • Practice techniques for stress relief and self-care • Incorporate meditation into your life • Explore yoga philosophy and how it can help navigate life’s daily challenges • Begin to live more mindfully, consciously, and authentically

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YOGA INSPIRED COACHING

Living Yoga On & Off the Mat

WORKSHOPS open your mind to something new

WORKSHOPS november

Halloween Party: Shamanic Fire Drum Ceremony & Tarot with Veronica Moya, James Bene, Leah Higgins, Brian McGuire, and Kate Smith Friday, November 1, 2013 9:00pm - 12:30am $60 Join us for this ghoulishly fun night of healing and dancing! We will begin with a shamanic fire drumming ceremony. During this we gather to support one another in an ancient ceremony that enables us to let go of habits, beliefs, and emotional patterns that no longer serve us! Releasing these old patterns allows us to live in greater alignment with our true selves and open our hearts to receive the love and abundance of the universe! We will enjoy live drumming and music! Then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll turn the yoga studio into a dance floor! Show off your best moves and dance the night away while enjoying wine, light fare, tarot readings with Veronica, and past life readings with James. Wear your favorite Mardi Gras mask and feel free to dress up! But make sure you are comfortable!

Kirtan with David Newman Friday, November 15, 2013 7:00pm - 10:00pm $25 Join us for a heartfelt evening of chanting, devotional music, and sacred song with David Newman (Durga Das). Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive approach to kirtan embodies a heartfelt devotional mysticism with an adventurous musicality and poetic intimacy. His kirtans are a joyous and spiritually uplifting journey into bliss! All are welcome! David Newman, or Durga Das, as he is also known, is a kirtan chant artist, sacred singer-songwriter, and a practitioner and educator of Bhakti Yoga - the Yoga of Love. David travels extensively sharing kirtan, devotional music, and the spiritual, meditative, and musical aspects of Yoga.

Chant, Challenge, Change with Raghunath Cappo Sunday, November 17, 2013 10:00am - 12:00pm $40

WORKSHOPS

Get the authentic yoga feeling. Float around the room with this challenging Vinyasa workshop. Let your practice climb to new heights as Raghunath dissects challenging postures, allowing them to be approachable and thus mastered. This practice is blended with transcendental chanting, inspirational practical dharma talks, and pranayama, leaving the practitioner encouraged, motivated, and glowing. Raghunath Cappo is an ex-punk, ex-monk, husband, father of four, inversion ambassador, bent on Bhakti, detox junkie, evolution assistant, coalesced by kirtan, cacao consumer, puranic story teller, reciter of Gita, potential excavation, fixed on elevation, take a deep breath, beyond birth and death. Prana hunter, animal friendly, transcendence in training, born to give, live today, full contact fighter, devours durians, likes to chant, likes a challenge, servant of the servants, harmonium hugger, conscious of Krishna.

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WORKSHOPS november The Matrix & The Gita with Gadadhara Pandit Dasa Friday, November 22, 2013 8:00pm - 9:00pm $20 The movie The Matrix blends together two opposing genres â&#x20AC;&#x201C; modern sci-fi and ancient wisdom from the East. We will walk alongside Neo and Arjuna as they try to understand who they are, why they are here, and the purpose and meaning of life. This engaging discussion-based presentation will allow the audience to wrestle with these existential questions, as together, with help from the practical spiritual wisdom of the Gita, we learn to cut through the matrix of the material phenomena. Clips from the movie will be shown and the audience will be engaged in a thought provoking, enlivening dialogue. Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (also known as Pandit) is a monk, lecturer, and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University.

Ultimate Relaxation: A Pre-Holiday Retreat with Tam Terry, Liza Bertini, & James Bene Tuesday, November 26, 2013 7:00pm - 9:30pm $55 Imagine two and a half hours without a care in the world, relaxing in your favorite restorative yoga posture, fully supported, cozy... then you get an amazing reflexology treatment coupled with hot stones and a mini Reiki energy healing session to send you into the most blissful yoga experience ever! Join Tam, Liza, and James as they usher you off into the holiday season feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and reconnected. Give yourself this gift of ultimate relaxation - you deserve it!

WORKSHOPS

Tam Terry, E-RYT, has taught yoga since 2003 and is Sr. Trainer, Bright Spirit Teacher Training and is also certified in Restorative &Therapeutic Yoga. She offers a heart-centered, breath-based practice to help students discover their connection to the peace that resides within. Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives. James Bene is an intuitive Reiki Master and meditation/metaphysical teacher certified in Usui and Karuna Reiki. He is also the wellness director of Devotion Yoga.

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WORKSHOPS december Gorgeous Hors d’oeuvres for Easy Entertaining with Jocelyn Krasner Saturday, December 7, 2013 4:00pm - 7:00pm $60 (advanced registration is required; no walk-ins) Relax with a glass of wine as we prepare and share easy, healthy, yummy foods for holiday party finesse! You’ll learn how to serve it up with savvy and have plenty of time to mingle. Make delicious, nutritious cuisine, beautifully presented in an impressive spread. Kick off the holidays and join like-minded yogis as we toast to peace, health, and happiness! “Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress.” ~Charles Pierre Monselet (1825-1888) Hands-on class includes: Cooking class Eco party tips Recipe handouts with nutritional benefits Wine and hors d’oeuvres (we’ll enjoy all that we prepare!) Jocelyn is a board-certified Holistic Health Counselor, whose wellness programs help clients discover the foods that work best for them, while guiding them to make personal choices that inspire more balanced, energized, and passionate living.

Cosmic Flow & Live Music with Patrick Franco & Adam Roberts Friday, December 13, 2013 7:00pm - 8:15pm $40

WORKSHOPS

Join Patrick & Adam for a COSMIC collaboration! Adam will take us on a journey across a sonic landscape of groovin’ beats and lush atmospherics while we sweat and move to the rhythm of his bass. Building upon Patrick’s sequencing, Adams music will transport you into a blissful, feel-good space, sweeping you away as you flow to the lighthearted groove. Patrick’s dynamic classes are in the tradition of Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa yoga is to flow or move, with intention, from one asana to the next, and to arrive at a particular point, physically and spiritually. The evening’s intention is to create an atmosphere that infuses your yoga practice with a dose of ecstatic bliss to carry you to a deeper place. Patrick, 500 E-RYT, is the Yoga Director at Devotion Yoga. His classes are devoted to creating a light hearted atmosphere that encourages self study through traditional yogic philosophy and rhythmic movement. He offers an energetic and devotional Vinyasa practice infused with a gentle, compassionate, and soulful spirit that comes from his own daily practice.

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WORKSHOPS december Winter Solstice with laurie G

Saturday, December 21, 2013 2:00pm - 4:30pm $40 candle*lit practice // entrance to & emergence from darkest day // longest night of the year. explored in contemplation & movement. come together to drop down & deeply nourish yourself. invoke the inner fire to transform your experience with awareness, compassion, & love. we will breathe. we will move. we will soothe. we will meditate. A lover of life, wife, & mama, laurie G is a certified teacher of yoga, guiding transformational experiences in organic movement, contemplation, & deep relaxation for nearly 15 years.

Life as Meditation - A Workshop for the Holidays with Steven Leonard Saturday, December 28, 2013 2:00pm - 5:00pm $40 Life is happening. Meditation is a happening and you are a happening. Life is meditation and you are a life. Meditation is a dance between you and life. It is a rhythm of body, of breath, of nature, of emotion, of infinite space, and everything in between. It is an unfolding of what you are, what you came from, and what you are becoming. Meditation is not limited to sitting still on a little black cushion. You can be in a state of meditation, or relationship, anywhere you are, and with whatever you are doing. This workshop is an introduction to meditation in everyday life, for individuals with families, jobs, friends, challenges, desires, fears, and everything else that life includes. Learn simple techniques for: Relaxation, Being with Chaos, Adapting to Your Life, Engaging with Relationships, and Following Healthy Desires. Steven leads meditation classes, workshops, and retreats. He is the founder of the Freestyle Meditation Community and a faculty member at Kripalu Center in Stockbridge Massachusetts.

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WORKSHOPS

WWW.DEVOTIONYOGA.COM

Flow into 2014 at Devotion Yoga’s 10-Year Anniversary & New Year’s Celebration! Join Patrick Franco, Liza Bertini, and other Devotees for an evening of movement, joy, gratitude, dance,song, and celebration as we ease into the New Year and another decade of Devotion. Since Devotion was born 10 YEARS ago, countless friendships have been formed, moments of peace and relaxation gained, teachers trained, egos forgotten, and hearts opened. Come join us to celebrate our community, the practice, and you!

December 31st 8:00pm to 12:30am $65 per person Festivities will include a sweaty practice, mindful reflection, intention setting, live music, dance, refreshments, & good eats!! Start 2014 energized, relaxed, and connected!

at Devotion’s Urban Sanctuary, 12 Hudson Place, Hoboken NJ 201.610.9642

WORKSHOPS january

Visualize and Create Your Ideal Life: A Vision Boarding Workshop with Liza Bertini Saturday, January 11, 2014 1:30pm - 6:00pm $50 Make 2014 your best year yet! Take an afternoon to focus on what you want and allow your creativity and intuition to direct your heart’s desires. In this workshop you will: • Learn how the Law of Attraction can help you receive the things you want in life • Be personally guided through a process to awaken you to your life vision • Experience meditative visualization exercises • Create a Vision Board that represents your mental picture of the life you desire • Meet like-minded people who want to live their best life! A vision board is a modern manifestation tool that combines concepts taken from creative hobbies like scrap booking with motivational mind-mapping techniques to foster self-awareness. A vision board is quite literally a collage of pictures, phrases, poems, and quotes that visually represent what you would like to experience more of in your life. Included: • All supplies needed to create a Vision Board that you can take home with you (if you have anything specific you would like to include on your board, please bring it with you). • Light refreshments (including mimosas!) Bring a friend and each get $5 off OR Attend both this workshop and the New Year’s Mini-Retreat on 1/12/14 and get 10% off each workshop! Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives.

New Year’s Mini- Retreat: Reflect, Refocus, Renew with Liza Bertini and Sarah Bond Sunday, January 12, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $50

Our mini-retreat agenda includes meditation, journaling and reflection, hints for nourishing the body and soul, and achievable goal setting. Bring a pen and journal, an open mind, and enthusiasm about the year ahead. Don’t wait another day to live your authentic life! Attend both this workshop and the Vision Boarding Workshop on 1/11/14 and get 10% off each workshop! Sarah C. Bond is a Nutrition and Health Counselor with a private practice. As a yoga instructor she is able to complete the mind, body, spirit connection necessary in keeping balance and harmony in life.

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WORKSHOPS

Treat yourself to a rejuvenating afternoon as you take time to prepare to live the upcoming year to the fullest! Join Liza Bertini, Yoga teacher and Career Coach, and Sarah C. Bond, Yoga teacher and Nutrition Counselor, for discussion and self-study designed to help you connect within, set conscious intentions, and take inspiring steps towards living your best year yet!

WORKSHOPS january Book Club Meeting with Liza Bertini

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 7:00pm – 8:30pm FREE EVENT Join Devotion’s Book Club hosted by Devotion’s owner, Liza Bertini! As a Book Club Member you will collaborate on what books the Club will read, attend Book Club meetings to discuss books, meet new people, and have fun! We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday evening. Please register. It’s FREE but we want to know how many people are coming! Meetings are a pot luck...bring a snack or a refreshment to share! Check our website each month for the current book selection.

ADVERTISE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

Fall 2014

WORKSHOPS

Want to advertise in our next issue of The Urban Sanctuary and on www.devotionyoga.com? At an affordable price you can reach our mindful, affluent, well-educated, & health-conscious readers who are eagerly seeking resources that will improve their health and well-being. By gaining access to our current and ever growing client base through our print catalog as well as our website, you will gain exposure to an enormous targeted audience who is waiting to hear from you! Our next annual issue will hit the street in September 2014. For more information, contact Sarah@devotionyoga.com. Space is limited.

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WORKSHOPS february

Beyond Messages: A Transformative Experience of Meditation and Mediumship with Alaine Portner Thursday, February 6, 2014 7:00pm - 9:00pm $50 (Limited to 15 people) Through a warm and welcoming group session of meditation, supported with crystal bowl sound healing, Alaine will connect with the spiritual world to deliver messages, insights, and teachings from those who have departed. In a caring, supportive setting you will explore other spiritual realms and be reawakened and encouraged to achieve a greater spiritual life. This two-hour meditation workshop will be sure to leave you balanced and at peace. Alaine Portner is a gifted medium, yogi, and owner and founder of the Yoga Center of Medford, who will connect you with guides and loved ones who have crossed over.

Yoga of Play: Arm Balances and Inversions with Jay Karlinski and Erica Arce Saturday, February 8, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $35 in advance, $40 at door Balancing on your hands will not lead to enlightenment! Unless, of course, you are able to laugh at yourself when you fall! Learn to live from a place of playfulness, on and off the mat. Arm balances and inversions are a great way to practice the art of non-judgmental self-awareness. Explore new ways to coordinate breath, movement, and strong core integration to facilitate a dynamic yoga pose. Discover the joy of play and challenge yourself to burst through perceived limitations. This workshop is open and welcoming to everybody, from those new to the mat to experienced practitioners and teachers. Play more, work less. Jay, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu certified teacher and teacher trainer. He began his yoga journey in 2000 after a lifetime of sports and movement. His classes are geared towards discovering a sense of play on and off the mat.

Yin Yoga Workshop with Eileen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan

A still and sometimes challenging practice, yin yoga embraces longer sustainment of various floor postures that primarily target the hips, pelvis, and spine. Passively enter into shapes while maintaining an appropriate edge to replenish and stimulate the dense and less mobile connective tissue surrounding the bones and joints. This quiet practice is very beneficial to our overall well-being. Time spent in each pose allows the nervous system to calm and the physical and energetic bodies to balance, as awareness draws inwards towards reflection, contemplation, and repose. A dedicated practitioner for two decades, Eileen was introduced to yin yoga with Sarah Powers ten years ago and it has been an integral part of her practice and teaching ever since. She is grateful to share this simple yet profound form of yoga with our community.

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WORKSHOPS

Sunday, February 9, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $35

OFF THE

MAT

with

LIZA BERTINI

Hometown: River Edge, NJ Childhood ambition: Astronomer (influenced by my dad who was an

SECOND

aerospace engineer)

First job: Selling handmade jewelry and hair accessories at local fairs (an entrepreneur at age 14)

First Yoga Class: at Muhlenberg College in 1991 Favorite yoga pose and why: Ardha Chandrasana (Balancing Half Moon) because it is challenging yet invigorating and I love the feeling of radiating from the heart center

Person who has influenced you the most: My mother, she was my guru and best friend One word to describe you: Seeker One thing you want students to experience in your class: Inspiration to live more authentically Last book read: Urban Monk: Exploring Karma, Consciousness, and the Divine by Gadahara Pandit

Dasa

How do you live your yoga: I attempt to live in the present as much as I can and keep up a meditation practice, share my love of yoga with others, and lately I’ve been trying to simplify, simplify, simplify

Retreat: Sitting on the beach with a pile of magazines to read and nothing else to do but relax Last purchase: Diapers (a frequent purchase) for my 21-month old twins Favorite place to visit: Italy What Devotion means to you: Community and coming home to myself Yoga mentor: Devarshi Steven Hartman, my Kripalu yoga teacher and friend, who gave me opportu-

nities and guidance on diving deep into my “stuff”, encouraged me to experiment in love, and to share my love of yoga with an honest and open heart.

Next trip planned: Yoga Retreat in Sonoma with One Hundred Skies What has helped you most on your journey: Not letting my fear get the best of me, accepting and loving myself, and remembering that everything is happening for a reason.

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with

PATRICK FRANCO Hometown: Wayne, NJ Childhood ambition: Professional football player First job: Kings Supermarket Deli Clerk

First Yoga Class: Starseed Yoga in Montclair Mysore Ashtanga Class

Favorite yoga pose and why:

Eka Pada Bakasana (1 leg crow) I just love the feeling of hovering over my mat. It takes a tremendous amount of concentration to not “face plant”

Person who has influenced you the most:

My wife. We have been together for 15 years (since we were 19 years old). We have grown and changed, traveled the world, made mistakes, taken risks, and still make each other laugh and love being in each other’s company. I can’t imagine a life without her.

Teaching Style: Vinyasa with an emphasis on alignment and philosophically deeply influenced by Bhakti Yoga

One thing you want students to experience in your class:

Clarity in their body and mind. Living so close to NYC makes it challenging to focus the mind on one task. If we can teach ourselves to concentrate while doing yoga maybe we can transcend that to our everyday lives.

Last book read: Urban Monk: Exploring Karma, Consciousness, and the Divine by Gadahara Pandit

Dasa

What’s playing on your ipod: Pearl Jam - Lightening Bolt Proudest moment: Watching my 2 boys be born Indulgence: Pizza What Devotion means to you: A community of like minded people exploring the ancient practice of yoga together. I have made so many friends, watched relationships form, seen students leave to have babies and families, and yet many still stay connected to the community in some way.

Yoga mentor: Liz Aitken - my first yoga teacher from Naturally Yoga in Glen Rock, NJ Last purchase: Pearl Jam Tickets for 2 Brooklyn Shows Favorite part of your job: Being able to do something for a living that I love so deeply in my heart and being able to share that (in some small way) with others

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WORKSHOPS february Partner Reflexology, Yoga, Wine, & Chocolate with Joanne Silver Thursday, February 13, 2014 7:00pm - 9:30pm $50 for one person, $90 for a couple Reflexology is a healing modality which works by gently stimulating reflex points on the feet - a wonderful way to bring the body and mind into balance and relieve stress. In this workshop you will learn basic relaxation techniques, explore specific points on the feet, and discover how they correspond to the body. Bring a loved one, friend, or come solo and we will pair you up with a new friend. Please bring your favorite body lotion (no massage oil or Vaseline based products). Short nails are best for Reflexology! Joanne Silver is a Manhattan-based yoga teacher, reflexologist, Reiki practitioner, and Urban Zen therapist with over twelve years of experience. Visit her at http://www.joannesilver.com.

The Yoga of Drumming with Steve Mullen Saturday, February 15, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $35 No musical experience necessary! Bring your own drum or percussion instrument or borrow one of the many available. Join Yoga Dog, Steve Mullen, for an afternoon of community drumming and music making. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taught countless people the joy of drumming from Wanderlust and Kripalu to local drum circles and yoga studios. Akin to yoga, drumming is about being fully present while staying with your breath and rhythm. With an emphasis on having fun, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discover basic hand drum techniques to create patterns and weave them with others to create single communal rhythms. Visit Steve Mullen, RYT, at www.yogadog.com or contact him at yogadog@comcast.net.

Devotion Yoga.

Not Hot, just way cooler. WORKSHOPS

GET YOUR DOWNDOG ON AT DEVOTION

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“Devotion Yoga is more than a yoga studio, it is a place where like minded individuals come together to share their journey and create lasting bonds along the way. I can accredit my 2 1/2 years at Devotion Yoga with not only nurturing and expanding my practice, but also bringing beautiful and unexpected new friendships into my life.” -Amanda O’Neill, student & staff

WORKSHOPS march

The highway’s jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive Everybody’s out on the run tonight but there’s no place left to hide Together Wendy we can live with the sadness I’ll love you with all the madness in my soul h-Oh, Someday girl I don’t know when we’re gonna get to that place

Where we really wanna go and we’ll walk in the sun But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run

The Gospel of Yoga According to Bruce with Sarah Anfora Saturday, March 1, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $30 in advance, $40 at door

Ladies and gentlemen... Yogis of all levels... For two whole hours, Sarah is going to bring the message of the righteous and mighty power of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!

She will wake you up, shake you up, and take you to higher ground in this yoga practice inspired by the Boss’s prolific words, rockin’ melodies, and magnanimous stage presence. We all know that feeling we get as we drive down the New Jersey Turnpike while playing “Born to Run” from start to finish. Believe it or not, Bruce Springsteen and his music are the perfect complement to a yoga practice. Sarah, M.F.A., is a yoga teacher, actor, singer, and dancer. Sarah is in the process of working on her 500-hr Kripalu Yoga Training and serves as the Studio Manager of Devotion Yoga.

Book Club Meeting with Liza Bertini Wednesday, March 5, 2014 7:00pm – 8:30pm FREE EVENT Join Devotion’s Book Club hosted by Devotion’s owner, Liza Bertini! As a Book Club Member you will collaborate on what books the Club will read, attend Book Club meetings to discuss books, meet new people, and have fun! We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday evening. Please register. It’s FREE but we want to know how many people are coming! Meetings are a pot luck...bring a snack or a refreshment to share! Check our website each month for the current book selection.

The Dharma Discovery: Realizing Your Soul’s Purpose with Liza Bertini Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 2014 12:30pm - 6:30pm both days $349 (receive $50 off if you enroll by February 1st, 2014) Tuition includes a follow-up one-on-one coaching session

WORKSHOPS

Join Liza Bertini for a weekend of self–exploration and yoga to help you start realizing your soul’s purpose. Is something missing from your life? Do you feel stuck, bored, unmotivated, or lacking direction? The Bhagavad Gita says that only when you figure out what you are uniquely suited to do and use your talents in the best way possible can you truly feel fulfilled. This workshop will take you on a voyage of self-discovery as you: • Tap into inner wisdom to help identify your values and skills, and find a path aligned with your true nature • Learn how incorporating yoga, pranayama, and meditation into your life can help you gain clarity and self-knowledge and relieve stress • Develop self-awareness and confidence in pursuing your passions and turning dreams into reality Through group discussions, journaling, reflection, self-assessment activities, restorative yoga, and meditation, you will explore possibilities that are in harmony with your deepest dreams, talents, and passions. Bring a journal, an open mind, and enthusiasm about discovering your dharma!

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WORKSHOPS march

Inner Alignment vs. Outer Alignment: The 5 Layers of Yoga with Devarshi Steven Hartman Saturday, March 15, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $45 (enroll for both workshops with Devarshi this weekend and get 15% off) It is easy to focus on the physical form of asana, however, we must not overlook the importance of internal alignment in our daily practice. When you practice in inner alignment, your yoga becomes a meditation in motion. The body’s Prana knows what it wants and needs; when you tune into that, you learn to allow yoga to do you, rather than you doing yoga. Herein lies the key to a lifelong rewarding practice. Join Devarshi to discuss the 5 layers of yoga and the way each layer enables us to increase awareness and clear Samskaras- old patterns that no longer serve us on the level of the physical body, the breath body, the mental body, and even the causal body.

A Yoga Class of a Different Color with Devarshi Steven Hartman Sunday, March 16, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $38 (enroll for both workshops with Devarshi this weekend and get 15% off) Take your yoga practice or teaching out of the box of classical postures. Explore the methodology of how you can experience yoga differently each time you step on the mat. In this class we will explore the use of micro and macro-movements within poses, the use of different pranayama for transitions and sustaining poses, the ability to take a pose apart to create movement inquires that increase awareness, stability and flexibility, and tools for finding and exploring one’s edge with compassion and patience. Devarshi Steven Hartman, E-RYT, has studied yoga and meditation since 1974 and was a longtime Kripalu Ashram resident. He served for several years as the Dean of the Kripalu School of Yoga and currently functions as the Dean of the Pranotthan School of Yoga. He is founder of LifeQuest Intensive and co-Founder of the Acharya Intensive program. Devarshi also serves as a faculty member of the Nosara Yoga Institute’s Advanced Yoga Teacher Training and has been training yoga teachers since 1984. Devarshi is the creator of the best-selling audio series The Essence of the Bhagavad-Gita, and leads workshops and retreats throughout the country.

WORKSHOPS

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WORKSHOPS march

Awakened Breath with Kim Larkin Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:30pm - 9:00pm $35 For thousands of years, yogis have developed and practiced a system of breath awareness called pranayama. We’ll use this workshop to practice a variety of pranayama techniques and observe their effects on the mind, body, and nervous system. Experiencing these techniques can help us better understand how to incorporate pranayama into our life on and off the yoga mat. Trained at OM Yoga Center, NYC, Kim’s classes incorporate alignment-based Vinyasa, breath awareness, and, on most days, some philosophy for you to ponder as you go about your day.

Honoring Saraswati: The Goddess of Wisdom, Expression, Creativity, & Prayer with Liza Bertini and Sarah Anfora Saturday, March 29, 2014 2:00pm – 4:00pm $35

WORKSHOPS

Join Liza and Sarah to honor the divine essence of the Goddess Saraswati, who represents the power of expression, creativity, wisdom, and song. Step into your female power while finding your inner wisdom, creativity, and voice. This workshop will include a talk on the Goddess and what her energy means in our lives today, a gentle yoga practice, meditation, and mantra. Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives. Sarah, M.F.A., is a yoga teacher, actor, singer, and dancer. Sarah is in the process of working on her 500-hr Kripalu Yoga Training and serves as the Studio Manager of Devotion Yoga.

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hindu goddess

saraswati

“"Devotion Yoga is more than I could wish for in a yoga studio! The teachers and staff are incredibly kind and equally as talented. I feel warmly welcome each time I walk through Devotion’'s doors. The classes are engaging, educational, and perfectly challenging! Since joining Devotion as a beginner just one month ago, I have experienced improved mental and physical health and cultivated an over-all sense of inner peace that I had previously never experienced. I owe these improvements to Devotion, its’ teachers, the respect they have for the sacred practice of yoga, and the authenticity with which they teach it. I LOVE Devotion and will forever be a devotee!" ~ Trisha W.

WORKSHOPS april Spring Detox: Cooking, Cleanse, and Yoga with Jocelyn Krasner Saturday, April 12, 2014 2:00pm - 4:45pm $60 Spring tune-up time! Purge toxins and awaken from the sluggishness that winter brings: less sunshine, heavier foods, a few extra pounds... 1. Discover the easy and delicious way to do your own Nutritional Cleanse. By setting and sticking to the intention to simplify the diet by eating less food and cleaner food, your body can naturally eliminate toxins. In this phased approach, you’ll embrace the simplicity of whole foods as you add certain food groups to your diet each day. It’s nutritious, effective, and doable. You’ll feel lighter, revitalized, and more focused. • We’ll review the 3-Day Spring Cleanse: Rainbow Prep,Grounding Grains, and Luscious Legumes • You’ll learn how to enhance your cleanse experience, post-cleanse maintenance, and ways to “keep it real” • Cooking demo of some “cleanse-friendly” recipes… • We’ll eat what we make! • Comprehensive booklet + email support during cleanse 2. Get inspired with a Detox Yoga Class open to all levels*, designed to stoke healthy digestive fires called “agni.” Twists create a “squeeze-and-soak” action: tummy organs are compressed, pushing out toxins. Then fresh blood flows in, carrying oxygen for healing, stimulating circulation, and refreshing the body. We’ll practice an energizing sequence of simple and challenging twists, then cool down with asana and pranayama to rejuvenate and calm the nervous system. Class includes detox yoga session, cooking demo, comprehensive booklet filled with tips, tools, recipes and inspiration, and email support during your cleanse. Jocelyn is a board-certified Holistic Health Counselor, whose wellness programs help clients discover the foods that work best for them, while guiding them to make personal choices that inspire more balanced, energized, and passionate living. *Not appropriate during pregnancy.

Meditation and Journaling for Self-Discovery with Liza Bertini

WORKSHOPS

Sunday, April 13, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $30 Self-exploration through journaling is one of the most effective ways to help stay in touch with our true Self. Journaling connects us with the source of wisdom that is deep within ourselves - our witness consciousness. Join Liza for a guided journaling and meditation experience that will lead you into inquiry and discovery, calming the mind and revealing the soul. Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives.

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WORKSHOPS april

Spring Yoga Mini Retreat: Relax, Rejuvenate, Renew with Jillian Pransky Thursday, April 17, 2014 7:00pm - 9:00pm $50

Come prepared to Bloom Open. Spring is a time for renewal, both in nature and in the body. Join Jillian for a ‘spring cleaning’ celebration to remove extra heaviness and release toxic energy. Jillian’s combination of purifying slow flow Vinyasa and rejuvenating restoratives will align you with the positive, growing energy of spring, allowing you to bloom into the season! Jillian Pransky is an international presenter, co-director of Bright Spirit Yoga, and director of Restorative Therapeutic Yoga teacher training for YogaWorks. Visit her at www.jillianpransky.com and on Facebook: Jillian Pransky Yoga.

Book Club Meeting with Liza Bertini Wednesday, April 23, 2014 7:00pm – 8:30pm FREE EVENT Join Devotion’s Book Club hosted by Devotion’s owner, Liza Bertini! As a Book Club Member you will collaborate on what books the Club will read, attend Book Club meetings to discuss books, meet new people, and have fun! We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday evening. Please register. It’s FREE but we want to know how many people are coming! Meetings are a pot luck...bring a snack or a refreshment to share! Check our website each month for the current book selection.

Yin Yoga Workshop with Eileen O’Sullivan Sunday, April 27, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $35

WORKSHOPS

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WORKSHOPS may Mother’s Day Restorative Workshop with Tam Terry Saturday, May 10, 2014 2:30pm - 5:00pm $50 CALM, SOOTHE, AND RENEW: A blissful Mothers Day experience. Treat yourself and/or your mom to an immersion in the especially nurturing and gentle practice of Restorative Yoga. You will be guided through balanced movement and progressively deeper relaxation while your body is fully supported by blankets and bolsters. Experience breathing techniques, inspirational readings, gentle hands-on assistance, and scented oils to help surrender layers of deeply held tension, release muscles, and calm the mind. Relax and allow your body to melt open into a practice of “being” rather than “doing”! No Yoga experience is necessary. Tam Terry, E-RYT, has taught yoga since 2003 and is Sr. Trainer, Bright Spirit Teacher Training and is also certified in Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga. She offers a heart-centered, breath-based practice to help students discover their connection to the peace that resides within.

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WORKSHOPS june Book Club Meeting with Liza Bertini

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 7:00pm – 8:30pm FREE EVENT Join Devotion’s Book Club hosted by Devotion’s owner, Liza Bertini! As a Book Club Member you will collaborate on what books the Club will read, attend Book Club meetings to discuss books, meet new people, and have fun! We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday evening. Please register. It’s FREE but we want to know how many people are coming! Meetings are a pot luck...bring a snack or a refreshment to share! Check our website each month for the current book selection.

Ultimate Balance: Life, Work, Mind, and Body with Liza Bertini Saturday, June 14, 2014 2:00pm - 5:00pm $40 Finding balance is one of life’s great goals, but it can be as elusive as it is desirable. When you’re balanced, life seems to have more ease and you feel healthy, vibrant, fulfilled, more relaxed, and excited by the possibilities ahead. So why does achieving balance, and maintaining it, seem so difficult for many to do? What is the true definition of balance anyway? Join Liza for an afternoon of exploring myths about balance, defining what true balance is to you, and learning tips on how to achieve and maintain it – in life, work, body, and mind. This workshop will include yoga, meditation, group discussion, and self-discovery activities. Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives.

Cosmic Flow & Live Music with Patrick Franco & Adam Roberts Friday, June 20, 2014 7:00pm - 8:15pm $40

Patrick’s dynamic classes are in the tradition of Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa yoga is to flow or move, with intention, from one asana to the next, and to arrive at a particular point, physically and spiritually. The evening’s intention is to create an atmosphere that infuses your yoga practice with a dose of ecstatic bliss to carry you to a deeper place. Patrick, 500 E-RYT, is the Yoga Director at Devotion Yoga. His classes are devoted to creating a light hearted atmosphere that encourages self study through traditional yogic philosophy and rhythmic movement. He offers an energetic and devotional Vinyasa practice infused with a gentle, compassionate, and soulful spirit that comes from his own daily practice.

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WORKSHOPS

“Devotion Yoga is a place where sangha, otherwise known as community, is treasured, encouraged, and thrives. From the moment I entered the doors of our old “downtown studio” over four years ago, I felt nothing but welcomed, supported, and honored to be around the most wonderful people I have ever known. I am so grateful to be part of this sangha of amazing yogis!” - Julie P. teacher

WORKSHOPS july

“Oh for a Book And a Shady Nook with the Green Leaves Whispering Overhead Or the Street Cries all about Book Club Meeting Where I may Read eam a dr ur with Liza Bertini s Both of all the New i o y ok n A bo hold i and Old Wednesday, July 23, 2014 You s For a jolly Good Book n a 7:00pm – 8:30pm d m han l Gal Whereon to Look i e N FREE EVENT ~ Is Better to me than Gold” Join Devotion’s Book Club hosted by Devotion’s ~John Wilson owner, Liza Bertini! As a Book Club Member you “The Boo will collaborate on what books the Club will read, k to Read is not the one that T attend Book Club meetings to discuss books, meet h i n k s f or new people, and have fun! But the O ne Which you We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday You think Makes .” evening. Please register. It’s FREE but we want to know how many people are coming! Meetings are a pot luck...bring a snack or a refreshment to share! Check our website each month for the current book selection.

~Harper

Lee

BOOKS CAN BE DANGEROUS: The best ones should be labeled: “This could change your life”

“Fill y book our house nookss,in all the with stack s of crann ~Dr. S .” i e s a euss nd the

orte d her “The bo oks transp d and rl wo w into a ne amazing to r he ed introduc citing ex people who lived ” lives Dahl ~Matilda, Roald

TURN IT OFF, READ A GOOD BOOK

WORKSHOPS

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY special bonding time for you & your little one

The

Benefits of Yoga Before, During, & After Your Pregnancy

by Carrie Parker Gastelu

he word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word

“yuj”, which means “to unite or integrate”. Because pregnancy, birth, and motherhood can be powerful opportunities for physical, psychological, and spiritual integration, yoga is perfect preparation. Through asana (poses), meditation, relaxation, and guided imagery, yoga keeps the body strong and flexible while quieting the mind and uncovering wisdom and intuition from pre-conception into motherhood. Before conception takes place, yoga is an ideal practice for reducing stress and balancing emotions. Once a couple decides to get pregnant, anxiousness and impatience often set in. For some lucky couples pregnancy happens right away, however, it can often take many months or longer. Stressful emotions activate the sympathetic nervous system - part of the “fight or flight” response. This causes the body to release stress hormones into the bloodstream, possibly interfering with fertility. Yoga reduces stress levels, allows the energy centered in the pelvis to flow freely, and increases circulation to the pelvic organs. It gives women who are trying to conceive tools to help them stay centered and teaches them to live in the present moment during an uncertain time. Once a woman is pregnant yoga may alleviate many common discomforts, some of which are caused by the approximate 45% increase in her body’s blood flow. Yoga increases circulation and reduces swelling, providing more oxygen and nutrients to both mother and baby. As the baby grows, the diaphragm (the primary breathing muscle) is restricted. In response, many women breathe into their upper chest, causing a stress response in the body. Yoga teaches that we can direct the breath into the belly, side ribs, and even back to maintain deep and even breathing, reducing stress and anxiety. As the breasts and belly grow, compression of the lower back can cause moderate to severe pain. Yoga helps to elongate the spine and stretch and strengthen the back, relieving pain while preparing for the physical demands of holding a baby. When practiced properly, yoga stabilizes the joints which are more susceptible to injury because of relaxin, a pregnancy hormone that loosens the ligaments in the body so the pelvis can expand in childbirth. In addition to helping pregnant women feel more comfortable, yoga helps them prepare for labor

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and childbirth both physically and mentally. Physically, yoga stretches the muscles surrounding the pelvis and teaches proper posture. This encourages the baby to move to the front of the pelvis where he or she can shift into an optimal position for birth. Consistently slouching or reclining may encourage the baby into a posterior position, which causes back labor. Women who regularly practice yoga have heightened body awareness, aiding in the ability for a laboring woman to move intuitively in a way that best supports the birth experience. Mentally, yoga helps to still the mind. The knowledge of how to birth and nurture a baby is intuitive; it is beyond our often fragmented, changing, and conflicting thoughts. These thoughts can actually confuse and disrupt intuitive impulses. During pregnancy, the mind fluctuates wildly in response to emotions. Yoga helps to identify negative thought patterns that can impact the birth process and encourages surrendering to the unknown. Yoga techniques can actually be used during labor itself. Practicing gentle postures during the early stages of labor will help ease the baby into an optimal position, focus the mind, and help relaxation. During labor, oxytocin, the hormone that initiates contractions, has an inverse relationship to adrenaline. If adrenaline increases, oxytocin decreases, slowing or stalling labor. Yoga helps decrease adrenaline and other stress hormones while increasing oxytocin and endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. Many yoga poses are wonderful positions for childbirth, such as supported semi-squatting and variations of an all-fours position. Practicing these poses during pregnancy will help a woman to spontaneously and comfortably assume these beneficial positions during birth. One of the greatest benefits of yoga during labor is the ability to relax. Labor is physically demanding and can induce tension during contractions. Unfortunately, this may hinder the opening of the cervix and in turn, can make labor longer and more painful. When pregnant women practice yoga, they learn to relax even in very strenuous postures. Women in labor can use the tools they have learned in yoga, including breath awareness, slow movement, vocalization, and visualization, to relax and surrender to the natural rise and fall of contractions. During the post-partum period yoga continues to

benefit both mother and baby. Physically, yoga encourages the uterus back into place, strengthens the core muscles that may have weakened during pregnancy, including the pelvic floor, lower back and abdominal muscles, and helps balance hormones. More importantly, one of yogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest gifts is the ability for new mothers to be present and connected to their new baby. The slow pace and monotony of caring for an infant can be a difficult adjustment, particularly in our fast-paced, modern world. Yoga teaches the ability to slow down, tune in, and be mindful of the moment-to-moment attachment occurring between mother and baby.

When we surrender to this slow pace and let go of the to-do list, moments of blissful quiet turn into transformative days of getting to know not only our babies, but ourselves.

Carrie Parker Gastelu is an E-500 Yoga Instructor and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. She specializes in prenatal yoga and is Director of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training for YogaWorks. Carrie teaches a prenatal class on Sunday mornings and hosts quarterly Lamaze Childbirth Education Programs at Devotion Yoga.

Prenatal Classes weekly classes

so this is love.

MON. WED. THUR. FRI. SAT. SUN.

@ @ @ @ @ @

11:00am 6:45pm 6:45pm 11:00am 11:30am 11:00am

workshops november 2013

lamaze childbirth education

december 2013

yoga for labor & delivery

march 2014

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june 2014

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TRAINING january 2014

PRENATAL TEACHER TRAINING MOD. 2

itsy bitsy yoga:

a bit of yoga, a bit of love.

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY SERIES

Itsy Bitsy Yoga

速 is

a compassionate, fun-loving, and interactive program focused on deepening the bond between parent and child through yoga. Itsy Bitsy Yoga速 was created by Helen Garabedian, an Infant Developmental Educator and Yoga Teacher. The program includes over 75 calming and nurturing yoga poses and rhymes that are developmentally nutritious for a baby from birth to 24 months and their parent. Most importantly, yoga fosters affirmative ways for children to love their whole self - mind, body, and spirit! This class is for babies who are 5 weeks old to just about crawling. Liza, mother of twins, has been teaching Itsy Bitsy Yoga速 for 8 years. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Michelle Goitia, CPYT, is a Yoga for Labor & Delivery Teacher, Certified and Experienced Birth DoulaCD(DONA), and mother of two.

Tots @ 10:30am, Babies @11:00am BABY & TOT SERIES DATES: THURSDAYS: drop-ins welcome as space permits October: 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14,11/21 January 2014: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13 February 2014: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3

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April 2014: 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15 June 2014: 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26 July 2014: 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY series

Mommy & Baby Yoga with Momilates® with Mary Vidal Tuesdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm Drop-ins welcome as space permits

5-Week Series: 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 6-Week Series: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11 6-Week Series: 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/14/4 5-Week Series: 4/15, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20 (no class 4/22) 4-Week Series: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 6-Week Series: 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12 This postnatal class is a fusion of the best in yoga and Momilates® (pilates for mommies), designed to get the postpartum mother back in shape while playfully bonding with her new baby. This multilevel class focuses on postpartum needs such as restoring integrity of the pelvic floor, establishing core strength, regaining alignment, and strengthening key muscle groups. Babies are included throughout the class and will enjoy age-appropriate, stimulating exercises. Take an hour for yourself and come practice in a safe and loving environment where you can bond with your baby and connect with other new moms. Babies aged 5 weeks up to crawling are welcome. Mary Vidal, RYT-200, is certified in Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Momilates®. A down-to-earth mother of two, she is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of postnatal moms.

Zumbini™ with Susan Pascale

Fridays, 11:00am - 11:45am FREE DEMO - January 10, 2014 6-Week Series: 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28 Make-up class: 3/7 (No Class on 2/21)

One drop-in allowed per family at $20, as space permits. Designed to let you and your little ones 0 to 3 years old wiggle, sing and learn together, the Zumbini™ program is where the science of child development meets the magic of Zumba® – for the ultimate bonding experience! Classes feature cool Zumba® music packed with world rhythms and catchy, kid-friendly tunes created just for this program. Parent/Caregiver participation is key! The Zumbini™ Philosophy is music is inherent. We all have music in us! This program is unique in its design to build positive associations with living a musical lifestyle at the earliest possible age, with the attention focused on social, emotional, cognitive (mental), and motor and language development. Children are born with musical aptitude. If they are not exposed to music at an early age, this aptitude can diminish. The Zumbini™ format helps them tap into this element. They learn to feel the music, feel the beat and feel free to express themselves. This makes learning with music a natural process. Susan Pascale is a group fitness instructor with over 12 years of dance experience. Her passion for dance is evident in her creative routines inspiring others to dance, let go, and feel good about themselves. Her goal is to create a “Celebrate Life” Zumba® community in Hoboken and to thrive as the first-ever Zumbini™ instructor in Hudson County. Susan’s charm and expertise has become a positive hit with the fit n’ fab and mommy-oriented in the Mile Square.

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY SERIES

FREE DEMO - March 28, 2014 6-Week Series: 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/9, 5/16 Make-up class: 5/30 (No class on 5/2) $150 (price includes a new Zumbini™ Bundle, including two 20-song CDs and a songbook for each session)

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY series MUMs Sharing Circle-Bring Your Little Ones!!

OPEN TO ALL MOMS! Free for MUMs Members; All Others: $10

During MUMs Yoga & Sharing Circles, mothers meet in a sacred space to share, connect, find encouragement, and learn from each other. Bring your baby, meet other moms, and gain support on your parenting journey. A facilitator will guide discussions by presenting relevant topics as well as yoga philosophy, postures, breath-work, and/or meditation. Give yourself this gift of selfcare so you can be a more mindful and balanced mother. Tuesdays, 12:15pm - 1:15pm Upcoming dates: 11/5, 12/17, 1/14, 2/11, 3/18, 4/29, 5/20, 6/10, 7/22 Thursdays, 9:30am - 10:30am Upcoming dates: 11/21 & 4/10

Personal Renewal Groups Support when women need it most, at all stages of motherhood with Liza Bertini Mondays, 6:30 - 8:00pm 4-Week Series: 12/2, 1/6, 2/3, 3/24 4-Week Series: 4/28, 6/2, 7/14, 8/18 $150 per series, Price includes a copy of The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal

Join a supportive community and discover how to tap into the power of self-care, build a support network, be more present, manage your energy, and reconnect with the true you - as an empowered woman and mother. Groups meet once a month for 4 months.

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY SERIES

Based on the award-winning curriculum from Renee Trudeau’s book, The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life, a Personal Renewal Group will offer you: • Monthly resources for creating balance from the inside-out • Strategies and insights for self-renewal • Ways to reconnect with “who you are” • Community and meaningful connections with like-minded women RTA-Certified Personal Renewal Group Facilitator, Liza Bertini, leads PRGs for moms of all stages of motherhood. She will share her experience in motherhood of her twin toddlers and her professional skills as a life coach, entrepreneur, and yoga and meditation teacher.

Infant Massage Instruction for Parents and Caregivers with Stephanie Radler Sundays, 11:30am - 12:20pm 4-Week Series: 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13 $95 per adult/child

Practice the ancient art of infant massage to bond and communicate with baby! Learn techniques that can help relieve discomforts such as fussiness and colic while promoting relaxation, sleep, and optimal growth. Appropriate for infants from 7 weeks to 9 months old. As a yoga teacher, doula, and proponent of integrative gynecology, Stephanie provides holistic support to women and families during pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY ®

Postnatal Yoga with Momilates with Mary Vidal

workshops

Saturday, November 16, 2013 2:00pm - 4:00pm $40

This workshop, a fusion of yoga and pilates, is designed to help you unwind and get your postpartum body back in shape. Practice a series of asanas and exercises focused on restoring integrity of the pelvic floor, establishing core strength, building stamina, and relieving tension. Learn about postpartum physical and emotional changes. Relax and renew with breathing techniques and a brief restorative and meditation practice. Mary Vidal, RYT-200, is certified in Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Momilates®. A down-to-earth mother of two, she is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of postnatal moms.

Lamaze Childbirth Education with Carrie Parker Gastelu Sunday, November 24, 2013 1:45pm – 7:30pm $125 per couple

Carrie is an E-500 Yoga Instructor and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Carrie specializes in Prenatal Yoga and is Director of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training for YogaWorks.

Yoga for Labor and Delivery with Michelle Goitia Saturday, December 14, 2013 2:00pm - 4:30pm $95 per couple

Birth is your own unique experience. This workshop provides you the opportunity to explore the process of labor and discover the strategies that might work best for you and your partner and can be used in any birth setting. Through coping strategies including movement, massage, breath, visualization, and vocalization, your partner can provide emotional support during labor, helping to manage its intensity. Appropriate for couples in all stages of pregnancy, with or without yoga experience. Michelle Goitia, CPYT, is a Yoga for Labor & Delivery Teacher, Certified and Experienced Birth DoulaCD(DONA), and mother of two.

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY WORKSHOPS

Lamaze childbirth education promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. Lamaze education and practices are based on the best, most current medical evidence available. They can help reduce the use of unnecessary interventions and improve overall outcomes for mothers and babies. This workshop will help prepare you for labor, childbirth and early motherhood by learning how to trust your body, the energy of the birth process and your instincts as a mother.

MOTHERHOODworkshops & FAMILY

2014

Yoga for Labor and Delivery with Michelle Goitia Saturday, March 8, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $95 per couple

Postnatal Yoga with Momilates® with Mary Vidal Saturday, March 29, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm $40

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY WORKSHOPS

Lamaze Childbirth Education with Carrie Parker Gastelu Sunday, March 30, 2014 1:45pm – 7:30pm $125 per couple

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY Yoga for Labor and Delivery with Michelle Goitia

workshops

Saturday, June 7, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm $75 per couple

Lamaze Childbirth Education with Carrie Parker Gastelu Sunday, June 22, 2014 1:45pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30pm $125 per couple

Carrie is an E-500 Yoga Instructor and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Carrie specializes in Prenatal Yoga and is Director of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training for YogaWorks.

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MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY WORKSHOPS

MOTHERHOOD & FAMILY Prenatal Teacher Training: Module 2 with Carrie Parker Gastelu

Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, 2014 Saturday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm, Sunday: 12:30pm - 6:00pm $375 before December 15 , 2013; $415 after Module 2: The Subtle Body (13 hours) • Subtle body anatomy: koshas, nadis, prana vayus, and chakras • Yoga philosophy and the primal period • The effects of emotions and thoughts on pregnancy and birth • Breathing and pranayama • Prenatal yoga sadhana including pelvic bodywork, kegels, pain coping techniques, and vocalization • Visualizations, savasana, and meditation for pregnancy and birth Carrie is an E-500 Yoga Instructor and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Carrie specializes in Prenatal Yoga and is Director of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training for YogaWorks.

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eserv a t i o n . " -

t u o b a t o n is

l u d n i f l e s

A u d

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it is a

lf-p r nce,

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TRAININGS the greatest teachers are eternal students

TRAININGS for teachers Prenatal Teacher Training: Module 2 with Carrie Parker Gastelu

Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, 2014 Saturday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm, Sunday: 12:30pm - 6:00pm $375 before December 15, 2013; $415 after Module 2: The Subtle Body (13 hours) • Subtle body anatomy: koshas, nadis, prana vayus and chakras • Yoga philosophy and the primal period • The effects of emotions and thoughts on pregnancy and birth • Breathing and pranayama • Prenatal yoga sadhana including pelvic bodywork, kegels, pain coping techniques,and vocalization • Visualizations, savasana, and meditation for pregnancy and birth Carrie is an E-500 Yoga Instructor and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Carrie specializes in Prenatal Yoga and is Director of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training for Yoga Works. Other Prenatal Modules are offered by Carrie- please check our website for future dates.

The Art of Intelligent Sequencing with Patrick Franco Saturday, July 19, 2014 12:15pm - 3:15pm $75

TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS

Vinyasa Yoga is a step-by-step process that involves knowledge of how one builds, in gradual stages, toward a “peak” within a practice session. This progression includes a clear beginning, middle, and end, using asanas of increasing complexity and challenge to prepare the body for more strenuous poses. In this workshop, we will break down individual poses and identify their key features. We will then utilize those key features to construct and sequence classes that have clarity, purpose, and intention building toward a “peak pose.” The workshop will include both a theoretical and practical component. We will begin with an asana class followed by analysis and discussion or “dissecting the class.” You will learn how to create specificity and focus for yourself that will take your teaching (and your students) to a new level. It’s important to remember that a Vinyasa is not just ANY sequence of actions; it is one that awakens and sustains consciousness. Patrick, E-RYT 500, is the Yoga Director at Devotion Yoga. His classes are devoted to creating a light hearted atmosphere that encourages self study through traditional yogic philosophy and rhythmic movement. He offers an energetic and devotional Vinyasa practice infused with a gentle, compassionate, and soulful spirit that comes from his own daily practice.

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TRAININGS

Are you ready to transform your life? Become a part of a community of like-minded individuals? Make a living pursuing your passion? Dedicate one year to deepening your practice to a level that would usually take many years of classes to achieve?

Welcome to Bright Spirit Yoga Teacher Training!

BSTT one of the largest and longest-standing yoga teacher training programs in the NY/NJ area. We have had the joy of guiding hundreds of graduates deeper into their own practices as well as initiating them into the dynamic world of teaching yoga. Our training program fosters an open and nurturing environment that helps trainees share yoga in a way that is meaningful and exciting to them. Bright Spirit Teacher Training is a 200-hour program designed for serious yoga practitioners interested in either deepening their practice or teaching yoga, as well as teachers who want to enhance their skills or work towards national certification. Our mission is to guide you on an adventure deeper into your own practice while helping you to discover more about who you are and what you can share as a teacher.

Program Starts April 2014 10-Month Weekend Format: April 25, 26, & 27 May 9 & 10 June 6, 7, & 8 June 20 & 21 July 11, 12, & 13

August 8, 9, & 10 September 12, 13, & 14 September 26 & 27 October 10, 11, & 12 October 25 & 26

November 21, 22, & 23 December 13 & 14 January 9, 10, & 11 January 24 & 25 devotionyoga.com

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TRAININGS - BRIGHT SPIRIT TEACHER TRAINING

SHARE YOUR LOVE FOR YOGA & DEEPEN YOUR PRACTICE with Jillian Pransky, Carrie Parker Gastelu, Liza Bertini, Patrick Franco, and Tam Terry

TRAININGSfor teachers Bhakti BusinesS Bootcamp

Professional Training for Yoga Teachers to Refine Their Career and Grow Their Community Six workshops for yoga teachers. Take one or take them all. Learn how to do what you love while making a successful living. $75 for 1 workshop $195 for any 3 workshops $330 for all 6 workshops

Sunday, February 9, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm

one

Building the Foundations of a Teaching Career with Liza Bertini

Whether you’ve just graduated from a teacher training or have been teaching yoga for years, this workshop will provide you with tools to create a stable yoga teaching career. We will discuss ways to diversify your offerings, find teaching gigs, create a sustainable teaching schedule, and avoid burnout all while increasing your income. Learn ways to set up your teaching “business” so you can focus on and enjoy what you love - teaching yoga.

Karma Yoga: Making a Difference as a Teacher with Julie Pasqual Seva is “the art of truly giving of yourself”. In spite of the clichéd phrase, everyone knows that it really is better to give than to receive. Yogic texts tell us that’s what we are made for - to give! In this workshop, we’ll open our physical hearts with asana, then open our minds to ways we can tangibly and authentically give to our community and world around us.

two

TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS

Sunday, March 23, 2014 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Julie Pasqual is a 500-hour RYT - which means she is always realizing how much more she has to learn. Her recent travels to India have made her even more in love with the practices of bhakti yoga.

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TRAININGS for teachers Bhakti BusinesS Bootcamp

three

The Art & Science of Profitable Private Teaching with Heather Seagraves Sunday, April 27, 2014 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Join Heather Seagraves for an insightful workshop about “The Art & Science of Profitable Private Teaching”. In this workshop you will learn about the roles of client/ teacher relationships and how to gather private students. You will not only learn how to gain a strong private student base, but also how to maintain and build a strong private client roster. We will also talk about schedule management, logistics of bookings, boundaries, and much more. This workshop is sure to be fun and informative. Be sure to reserve your spot! Heather is a NYC/Brooklyn based independent dance artist, massage therapist, and a 500hr certified yoga/anatomy Teacher and Trainer at YogaWorks in New York City.

Teaching from the Heart: Being Creative and Authentic with Liza Bertini & Patrick Franco, Owners of Devotion Yoga Sunday, May 4, 2014 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives. Patrick, E-RYT 500, is the Yoga Director at Devotion Yoga. His classes are devoted to creating a light hearted atmosphere that encourages self study through traditional yogic philosophy and rhythmic movement. He offers an energetic and devotional Vinyasa practice infused with a gentle, compassionate, and soulful spirit that comes from his own daily practice.

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TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS

four

Amid an ever-growing number of yoga teachers, students are seeking those who add depth to their instruction with creative themes and inspirational and purposeful asana. To teach successfully, teachers must find their own voice and passion, candidly share their experiences, and stay inspired. When these aspects are missing, a teacher’s confidence suffers, classes may be less dynamic, and students are less likely to come back for more. Join Liza and Patrick for a discussion about how to teach from your heart, remain creative and inspired, and motivate your students to revisit their mat, day after day.

TRAININGSfor teachers Bhakti BusinesS Bootcamp

Creating an Experience: Crafting Workshops & Retreats with Liza Bertini & Sarah Bond, Owners of One Hundred Skies Yoga Adventures Tuesday, June 10, 2014 7:00pm - 9:30pm

five

Yoga workshops and retreats provide distinctive yoga experiences that encourage students to deepen their practice beyond their usual yoga class routine. Join Liza and Sarah, who have been running memorable workshops and retreats for over 8 years, to learn key steps for delivering meaningful and successful yoga experiences. Learn to craft curriculum, market your program, handle negotiations, manage logistics, and build community. Expand your offerings beyond classes to add variety to the way you share your yoga, boost your income potential, and extend opportunities to students who want to explore deeper aspects of their yoga practice. Yoga workshops and retreats help to refine your teaching skills while providing a setting for you to share your specific interests and the sophisticated knowledge youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gained from your studies and trainings. Liza Bertini, E-RYT 500, is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and life coach. She is the founder and director of Devotion Yoga. Her dharma is to foster community and provide experiences that inspire others to live conscious, healthy, full, and authentic lives. Sarah C. Bond is a Nutrition and Health Counselor with a private practice. As a yoga instructor she is able to complete the mind, body, spirit connection necessary in keeping balance and harmony in life.

Saturday, June 28, 2014 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Yoga is about community. When yogis feel that they are part of a like-minded community, they are inspired to return to their mats again and again. After ten years of building a strong and consistent community at Devotion Yoga, Liza and Patrick share their tips and ideas about how to grow your community of students through inspiration, consistency, connection, and engaging promotion. Learn how to share your love of yoga with a larger audience by identifying your special gifts as an instructor, building relationships with your students, other teachers, and studio owners, and enhancing your studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience on the mat.

six

TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS

More Mats, More Mats, More Mats: Growing Your Community with Liza Bertini & Patrick Franco, Owners of Devotion Yoga

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“Your work is going to

fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly

satisfied

do what is to you believe is great work. And the only way to do

great

work is to

love

what you do. If you haven’t

found it yet,

keep

looking.

Don’t

settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when

you find it.” - Steve Jobs

Recent Graduates of the Bright Spirit Teacher Training 200 - hour program.

TRAININGSreiki Bene Mudra Reiki Certification Training - Level 1 with James Bene Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2, 2014 Saturday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm, Sunday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm $275 for Level 1 $300 for Level 2 $525 for both if purchased together

Learn the powerful art of Usui Reiki Healing with Karuna Reiki Master Teacher James Bene in this twoday certification training. This unique Reiki training includes: • Introduction to Reiki energy • History of Reiki and the lineage of Dr. Mikao Usui • Guided energy meditation • Reiki Level 1 attunements • Self-healing techniques and exploration • Teaching of the 12 basic hand positions • Group healing energy work • Free 30-minute Reiki session • Completion of Reiki Level 1 Certification James is an intuitive Reiki Master and meditation/metaphysical teacher certified in Usui and Karuna Reiki. He is also the Wellness Director of Devotion Yoga.

Bene Mudra Reiki Certification Training - Level 2 with James Bene Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2014 Saturday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm, Sunday: 12:30pm - 8:00pm $275 for Level 1 $300 for Level 2 $525 for both if purchased together

Delve deeper into Reiki as you learn the appropriate steps to administer Reiki to others and begin your own practice. During this two-day certification training, you will learn the sacred Reiki symbols as well as distance and planetary healing techniques.

James is an intuitive Reiki Master and meditation/metaphysical teacher certified in Usui and Karuna Reiki. He is also the Wellness Director of Devotion Yoga.

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TRAININGS - REIKI

This unique Reiki training includes: • Recap of Reiki Level 1 • Guided meditation • Teaching of Reiki symbols • Reiki Level 2 attunements • Group and individual healing practice • Table protocol and etiquette • Distance healing and cleansing of spaces • Deeper understanding of the chakra system of healing • Lecture on building your Reiki business • Completion of Reiki Level 2 certification

Q&A INTERVIEW

withwith a devotee, Valerie Sorge a devotee

Meet Valerie Sorge

, one of our amazing “devotees”! Almost every day, Valerie walks into Devotion Yoga’s Urban Sanctuary with a sunny and open-hearted disposition. Her laugh and smile are infectious and help lighten the mood within the studio walls. She takes many yoga classes, participates in weekly meditations, attends special workshops, and enjoys Reiki healing sessions. We are proud to have Valerie as a student and view her as an intrinsic part of our community. We love Valerie so much, we want you to get to know her too! Enjoy a special Q&A Interview with Valerie!

Q A Q A

When did you first visit Devotion Yoga? I actually started coming to Devotion in January of 2013, so a bit under a year now.

What has been your experience with us so far? Um, I absolutely love the space and love coming here. No joke, I have seen a massive improvement in my life inside and outside of the studio. I see people who I take class with on the street and I feel a real connection to them! I love being here. I love that you can come here and get the whole mind-body experience. The classes are spiritual but challenging; the teachers help me to center mentally and feel better. I love being able to have Reiki sessions and work on my spiritual healing. I know that I will leave feeling better. I have been to other studios that are more like a big box where you come in, take class, then walk right out. Here, you make real connections with students and teachers. There is so much to do, from yoga classes and wellness sessions to workshops and get-togethers.

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Q A

So you feel like you joined a community? It is absolutely a community! It’s no fluff. Other studios claim to build community but fall short. Devotion really does offer community, and it’s nice to be a part of it.

“When I walk up the steps to the studio, I feel like I have come home!”

Q A

How did you hear about us? I was searching for a studio and found you guys on Google. All of the on-line reviews were really great and the location is perfect, so I joined! I recommend this studio to everyone, all the time. I literally sell people on the new client special (which is $40 for one month of unlimited classes for all new students).

Q A

What are some of your favorite classes & teachers?

Can you speak a bit about how your life has changed since joining Devotion Yoga?

One of my favorites is Eileen’s Yin Yoga class because she really helps with mindbody balancing. If I want more of a physical workout, I love Jay’s classes, as well.

When Devotion’s teachers open their class with lessons on compassion and love, and share stories about how to incorporate them into your life, I find myself taking those lessons out of the studio with me. I practice them in my daily life. I am becoming more mindful and even have an altar at home where I light my candles. I am much more patient with people and am able to come from a place of love, not fear. I am way more grounded, as well. Devotion Yoga as done all of this for me and I appreciate being here.

her s t fec he r e e p a at t i r e Val sasan ch! Sir bea

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Q A

What workshops stand out in your mind? The Reiki Healing Circle with James was amazing. I was able to really find deep healing from that while learning a lot about the chakras. I am also signed up for Eileen’s Yin Yoga workshop. I am excited for that!

HOLISTIC HEALTH care for yourself inside & out

Let’s face it

POWER OF ENERGY HEALING

- in today’s world there are many methods by which you can find balance and inner harmony. You can take a yoga class, meditate, read Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life for the tenth time, stick yourself with needles, or simply tune in to TV’s OWN network. Life has opened a plethora of resources and tools geared toward all of your “inner work” needs. As yoga and New Thought were becoming mainstream (you might remember a book called The Secret), so were many of the not-so-popular energy healing techniques out there. As a matter of fact, Reiki Energy Healing is now available in many hospitals across the nation! Reiki, a Japanese healing technique that focuses on realigning the body’s energy centers, has proven to be a powerful healing modality. Both Western and Eastern doctors recommend Reiki healing to cancer patients going through chemotherapy, patients who suffer from depression or anxiety, and anyone with acute to severe nerve disorders. Reiki is a great addition to the treatment of any disease or physical condition that is unhealed within the body. What some do not realize, however, is that on a spiritual level, Reiki can eliminate energetic blockages that hold you back from becoming your greatest imagined self! The word “Reiki” is made of two Japanese words “Rei”, which means “God’s Wisdom” or “the Higher Power”, and “Ki”, which means “life force energy”. Literally, “Reiki” is “spiritually guided life force energy”. This technique for stress reduction, relaxation, and healing is administered by

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“laying on hands”. It is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If our life force energy is low, we are more likely to get sick or feel stress. If it is high, we are better capable of being happy and healthy. My journey with Reiki began about 8 years ago when I met my mentor and guru, Kelly Pipper. Kelly was a very gifted spiritual healer and advisor located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. At the time I felt lost; I realized and accepted the fact that I was allowing my past to dictate my future. I had so much fear and doubt within me and, at a core level, I believed that I was not good enough, nor deserving enough, for success and happiness. I began to seek help. I knew that I wanted to heal myself through spiritual connectivity because I have always been a channel for spirit. So, who better to go to? Kelly became my living spirit guide.

“Through energy healing sessions I quickly began to transform. All of my old thoughts, habits, feelings, and stuck emotions that were buried inside me began to emerge.” Some I didn’t even realize I had! My past became something that I no longer needed to deal with because I was forced into present moment living. When in the present moment, I had

to deal with what was in the NOW - which were a bunch of untrue concepts that I, for some reason, believed to be true. Kelly made me realize my greatness! I started to see myself as love, and within that love I saw perfection. I had never dreamed that I would be able to heal myself. It seemed like it would take years of therapy and hard work, but with Kelly, it was simply about letting go and surrendering to the flow of life. Reiki poured through me weekly and l came out stronger and clearer after each session. I soon began to realize myself as a healer, as well. I felt a calling to Reiki and to helping others find the same emotional freedom I did. My journey truly began at that moment.

“I let go, surrender myself to God, and live peacefully in the flow.” This became my daily mantra. With this new quest to fulfill my dharma as a healer, I was pushed even more towards healing myself at a deeper level of consciousness. I became a sponge, reading every book I could get my hands on, taking workshops, seminars, yoga classes, and finally, Reiki Level 1 training. I found a teacher, Thomas Capshew, with whom I felt a great connection; through his teachings and guidance I was truly able to realize the healing power that was trapped within me. Not long after my training, I found out that my dear Kelly Pipper had passed away. She died of brain cancer that even John Of God could not cure. The woman who had so lovingly guided me toward spiritual

elevation was laid to an untimely rest. This news made me realize that I must carry on her lineage and continue to do the work she set out to do! I threw myself into my Reiki training, put aside all my fears, and eventually started to take clients. It amazed me to see the same changes in my clients that had happened within me. Each session brought me back to the first day of the rest of my life - my first meeting with Kelly and my introduction to Reiki healing. It gave me such pleasure to be on the opposite side of the table. I knew that because I had dramatically changed myself though energy healing, I was better able to relate to my clients. I understood exactly how they felt and knew what to do to help them release these feelings. Any time I feel alone or out of balance, I simply place my hand upon my heart. I allow the Reiki energy to fill me, inch by inch. I do not stop until I am so full of love that it radiates out of me and onto all who surround me. The best part about becoming a Reiki healer is that you can administer healings to yourself. It becomes a lifestyle, really; a beautiful way to conduct yourself within this lifetime. “Just for today I will not choose anger”, “Just for today I choose JOY”! These precepts have become a big part of my life and are the building blocks of Reiki. I dedicate my practice to all those who were once told that they are “not good enough”, and to the memory of Kelly Pipper.

ames Bene, Wellness Director of Devotion Yoga, is an intuitive Reiki Master and meditation/metaphysical teacher certified Usui and Karuna Reiki. He believes strongly that he has been placed on this earth as a healer and offers his clients a safe place to let go and begin their journey to a better life. Using Reiki as a backbone, James takes his clients on a meditative journey. Each Reiki session restores balance and harmony within all who lie on James’ table. He works through the chakra system and “unclogs” negative, non-beneficial energies trapped within. Using inner-child as well as past-life regression techniques, James brings his clients to a better understanding of their depression or fear. In doing this, clients are able to forgive, observe, and finally, LET GO! Check Devotion’s schedule for weekly classes and upcoming series & workshops that James is hosting. James is also teaching Reiki Certification Training – Level 1 in February at Devotion.

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POWER OF ENERGY HOLISTICHEALING HEALTH

MORE ABOUT JAMES

THE

URBAN SANCTUARY Treatments

The Devotee Massage 60 min 90 min $90.00 - single $240.00 - 3-pack $350.00 - 5-pack

$110.00 - single $300.00 - 3-pack $450.00 - 5-pack

This massage is perfect after a yoga class or to simply rejuvenate the body! It is a Swedish based, medium-pressure massage and includes a relaxing dry scalp massage and foot work. Healing rose massage oil is used to release stress, relax the muscles, and open the heart.

Devotee Deep Tissue 60 min 90 min

$110.00 - single $300.00 - 3-pack $450.00 - 5-pack

$140.00 - single $350.00 - 3-pack $530.00 - 5-pack

Deep tissue massage therapy, similar to Swedish massage, uses deep, consistent pressure to release chronic muscle tension. With a focus on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons, and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones, and joints), this massage is perfect for yogis who experience muscle tension or soreness.

Intuitive Reiki Energy Healing: $135.00 - single $375.00 - 3-pack $575.00 - 5-pack

BODYWORK & REIKI

HOLISTIC HEALTH- TREATMENTS MENU

Reiki is an eastern technique that restores ones “life force energy” or “chi”. A reiki session can be a deeply opening experience on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Using light touch and other methods, the energy centers of the body are re-aligned, allowing for the natural release of stored emotional and physical blockages. Reiki can aid in relieving stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, emotional imbalance, trauma, and more.

Prenatal Massage 60 min 90 min $90.00 - single $240.00 - 3-pack $350.00 - 5-pack

$110.00 - single $300.00 - 3-pack $450.00 - 5-pack

Prenatal massage shares many of the goals of regular massage – to relax tense muscles, ease sore spots, improve circulation and mobility, and make you feel at ease. However, it’s also tailored specifically to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies. Therapists who are trained in prenatal massage will adjust their techniques accordingly.

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Tapus Parvati Massage (Hot Stone) 60 min 90 min $100.00 - single $270.00 - 3-pack $400.00 - 5-pack

$120.00 - single $330.00 - 3-pack $500.00 - 5-pack

Tapus Parvati (meaning “hot stone” in Sanskrit) uses smooth, hot stones placed on the body to loosen tight muscles, more quickly and effectively. Melt under the warmth of the stones while the therapist uses techniques to align the body, relieve aching muscles and restore balance. Earthy massage oil is used for grounding, allowing for complete, delicious surrender.

Acupuncture

$150.00 for first session $100.00 for each additional Find energetic balance and optimal health with acupuncture. This ancient technique can treat a wide range of conditions recognized by the National Institute of Health. Devotion has teamed up with Arieleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apothecary and her amazing staff, versed in acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Feldenkrais

$135.00 per 75-minute session Feldenkrais Method is experiential, providing tools for self-observation through movement inquiry. It is used to improve habitual and repetitive movement patterns rather than to treat specific injuries or illnesses. However, because habitual and repetitive movement patterns can contribute towards injury, pain, and physical dysfunction, this method is often regarded as falling within the field of integrative and complementary medicine.

Past Life Regression

Ever wonder who you were in a past life? During this session you will be guided into deep meditation through Reiki Healing, where the doors of beyond will open up to reveal the sacred information of the past. Soar from one life to another as you are guided to meet your ascended masters and guides. We learn about the past in order to remove blocks from the present.

Aromatherapy

$100.00 - Single $270.00 - 3-pack $400.00 - 5-pack

90 min

$120.00 - single $330.00 - 3-pack $500.00 - 5-pack

This massage is a great way to relax the body and soothe the mind using calming, topgrade essential oils. Let fully go and allow the aroma to transport your spirit as the therapist performs our signature Devotee Massage. Note: Aromatherapy can be added to any massage as an upgrade for $10.00.

Intuitive Tarot Reading w/ Veronica $80.00 for half hour $45.00 for 20 min

Tarot can help us understand the present in order to change our future. This modality can bring peace and joy to any situation! Veronica is a respected NYC tarot reader and teacher at the Omega Institute.

ACUPUNCTURE & AROMATHERAPY

Reflexology

$125.00 - single $345.00 - 3-pack $525.00 - 5-pack Reflexology is an ancient therapeutic technique based on the principal that reflex areas in the feet and hands correlate to every organ in the body. Stimulating these areas relieves stress and tension, balances all the systems of the body, reduces fatigue, and enables self-healing to naturally occur.

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HOLISTIC HEALTH- TREATMENTS HOLISTIC HEALTH MENU

$170.00 per 2 1/2 -hour session

60 min

What should I

{

}

by Sarah C. Bond nutrition & health counselor

EAT?

oes low fat mean healthy?

Does “low sodium” mean food will taste bland? Is “natural flavor” better than “artificial flavor”? No wonder we find it difficult to stay on the path of healthy eating with so many confusing messages out there. If you feel baffled, you’re not alone. The food industry pays big salaries to marketing firms to target the gray area of legal statements regarding our food and food labels. Their main goal is to sell products and make a profit, regardless of our health needs. So, what to do? The best solution is to read your food labels. Not just the fat and calorie chart, but the ingredients and serving size, too. If your food is made with ingredients you can’t pronounce, or if you are unsure of what they are, consider whether you really want to put those ingredients into your body. Because sugar is so highly addictive, the food industry has discovered that by adding artificial sweeteners or highly processed sugar (like high fructose corn syrup) to our foods, consumers will keep coming back for more. We have also become accustomed to high levels of sodium, found in all processed and canned foods, making foods with low or no sodium taste comparatively bland. Feeling mislead? Then keep it simple. One good solution for avoiding unhealthy additives is to stick to what you know. Fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural state are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. Raw nuts, seeds, and healthy oils, like olive oil, deliver healthy fats. Consuming foods in their natural state will allow your body to process these foods easily - your body will know what to do! Once we are aware of the marketing tactics of the food industry, it’s easier to spot their deception. Research your favorite foods, restaurants,

and baked goods to find out what you’re really eating. Cook more and become a food label fanatic. You’ll feel healthier and look better in no time!

Sarah C. Bond is a Nutrition and Health Counselor with a private practice. As a yoga instructor she is able to complete the mind, body, spirit connection necessary in keeping balance and harmony in life. Check Devotion Yoga’s schedule for Sarah’s weekly classes and upcoming series and workshops, including “Yoga for Weight Loss”. Sarah is also a co-owner of One Hundred Skies Yoga Adventures and runs both international and domestic retreats.

Guilt free Chocolate cookies Contributed by sarah c. bond www.hints4life.net These cocoa cookies are really more like miniature brownies-each one packed with enough chocolate flavor to ward off the worst cravings. And the recipe couldn’t be simpler!

Makes 24 cookies Preheat oven: 350 degrees Ingredients: 1 cup all –purpose flour ¼ teaspoon baking soda 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1 cup sugar* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Sift together flour and baking soda in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, cocoa, egg, and vanilla until well blended. (You can use electric hand mixer for this). Gradually spoon in flour mixture and blend with spoon. Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough 1 ½ inches apart onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased with cooking spray. Bake 12 minutes, then cool on the cookie sheet for 4 minutes before removing cookies to a wire rack and cooling completely. Per Serving (1 cookie): 74 Calories 13 g carbohydrates 2 g fat 1 g protein 0 g fiber *You can reduce the sugar by 1/2 for more chocolate taste, or when serving to children. No one will notice!

YEAR in review

NOVEMBER

Fire Drum Ceremony 1 Shamanic & Tarot WORKSHOP for Stress 4 Yoga Management Series Yoga & 5 MUMs Sharing Circles with 15 Kirtan David Newman Yoga 16 Postnatal with Momilates® Challenge, Change 17 Chant, workshop Yoga & 21 MUMs Sharing Circles Matrix & The Gita 22 The workshop Childbirth 24 Lamaze Education workshop Relaxation: 26 Ultimate A Pre-Holiday Retreat

DECEMBER

Renewal 2 Personal Group Series fOR MOTHERS Breathing 3 Better Series d’oeuvres for 7 Hors Easy Entertaining Flow & Live 13 Cosmic Music WORKSHOP for Labor and 14 Yoga Delivery WORKSHOP

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Yoga & 17 MUMs Sharing Circles Solstice 21 Winter WORKSHOP as Meditation: 28 Life Workshop for the Holidays Decade of Devotion: 31 ANew Years Eve Celebration

2014

JANUARY

5 7 wednesday 8 beginner series for Weight 9 Yoga Loss Series Bitsy Yoga® 9 Itsy Series and Create Your 11 Visualize Ideal Life WORKSHOP SAturday 11 Beginner Series New Year’s Mini- Retreat: Reflect, 12 Refocus, Renew workshop Yoga & 14 MUMs Sharing Circles Beginner sunday Series Mommy & Baby Yoga with Momilates® SERIES

17 Zumbini™ SERIES TEACHER TRAINING: 18 PRENATAL MODULE 2 21 Yoga for Dudes Series 22 Book Club Meeting Healing and 31 Reiki Meditation Circle Series FEBRUARY

Mudra Reiki 1 Bene Certification Training Level 1 Messages: A Transforma6 Beyond tive Experience workshop of Play: Arm Balances and 8 Yoga Inversions workshop the Foundations of a 9 Building Teaching Career WORKSHOP 9 Yin Yoga Workshop JUMPS: MANIFESTING 10 BIG YOUR IDEAL LIFE SERIES Yoga & 11 MUMs Sharing Circles Wednesday 12 Beginner series Reflexology, Yoga, 13 Partner Wine, & Chocolate workshop Yoga of Drumming 15 The workshop

SUNDAY 23 Beginner series & Baby Yoga with 25 Mommy Momilates® series 27 Itsy Bitsy Yoga® Series SPIRIT YOGA TBA BRIGHT IMMERSION

MARCH

Gospel of Yoga 1 The According to Bruce workshop Yoga of Open Hearted 2 The Devotion Series 4 Better Backs Series 5 Book Club Meeting for Labor and 8 Yoga Delivery workshop Dharma Discovery: 8 The Realizing Your Soul’s Purpose saturday 15 beginners series alignment vs. 15 inner outer alignment WORKSHOP Yoga Class of a 16 Adifferent color WORKSHOP Yoga & 18 MUMs Sharing Circles Breath 19 Awakened WORKSHOP

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YEAR in review

MARCH CONT.

wednesday 19 Beginner Series Mudra Reiki Certification 22 Bene Training - Level 2 23 Infant Massage SERIES Yoga: Making a 23 Karma Difference as a Teacher workshop 29 Honoring Saraswati: Goddess Yoga with 29 Postnatal Momilates® series Childbirth 30 Lamaze Education workshop for Stress 31 Yoga Management Series

Yoga Mini Retreat: Relax, 17 Spring Rejuvenate, Renew workshop & You: A Philosophical 19 Yoga Journey Series 23 Book Club Meeting SPIRIT 200-HOUR 25 BRIGHT Teacher Training yoga 27 yin workshop Art & Science of Profitable 27 The Private Teaching workshop Renewal 28 Personal Group Series FOR MOTHERS Yoga & 29 MUMs Sharing Circles

APRIL

MAY

of Wisdom, Expression & creativity

for Dudes 1 Yoga Series 4 Zumbini™ series Yoga & 10 MUMs Sharing Circles Detox: Cooking, 12 Spring Cleanse, and Yoga workshop and Journaling for 13 Meditation Self-Discovery workshop & Baby Yoga with 15 Mommy Momilates® 17 Itsy Bitsy Yoga® Series

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from the Heart: Being 4 Teaching Creative and Authentic 5 Living Fearlessly Series Morning 5 Spring Bootcamp Series for Weight 7 Yoga Loss Series Day Restorative 10 Mother’s Workshop Breathing 13 Better Series Yoga & 20 MUMs Sharing Circles

JUNE

& Baby Yoga with 3 Mommy Momilates® series 4 Book Club Meeting wednesday 4 Beginner Series 5 Itsy Bitsy Yoga® Series FOR LABOR AND 7 YOGA DELIVERY WORKSHOP for Stress 9 Yoga Management Series an Experience: 10 Creating Crafting Workshops & Retreats Yoga & 10 MUMs Sharing Circles Balance: Life, 14 Ultimate Work, Mind, and Body workshop for Dudes 17 Yoga SERIES Flow & Live 20 Cosmic Music workshop Childbirth 22 Lamaze Education workshop Mats, More Mats: 28 Mats, Growing Your Community

JULY

7 8 10 19 21 22 23

Kid’s Creativity & MovEment Camp - Session 1 Mommy & Baby Yoga with Momilates® series Itsy Bitsy Yoga® Series THE ART OF INTELLIGENT SEQUENCING Honoring the Self: Awareness, Acceptance, & Care Series MUMs Yoga & Sharing Circles Book Club Meeting

AUGUST

4 8

Kid’s Creativity & MovEment Camp - Session 2 Summer Morning Immersion SERIES

SEPTEMBER

10 13 15

Beginner WEDNESDAY Series Beginner SATURDAY Series Living Yoga On & Off the Mat Series

devotionyoga.com

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namaste (nah-mas-tay)

My soul honors your soul. I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the light, love, truth, beauty, & peace within you, because it is also within me. In sharing these things we are united, we are the same, we are one.

Give Your Event the Sacred Space it Deserves HOBOKEN’S BEST-KEPT SECRET......UNTIL NOW! CELEBRATE DISCUSS PERFORM PRESENT MOVE EAT WORKSHOP LISTEN MOVE PRACTICE PARTY SPEAK DRINK MUSIC WORK CREATE WEDDING LECTURE NYC VIEWS

GATHER 3,800 SQ. FT.

MINGLE DJ

Devotion Yoga’s Urban Sanctuary is minutes from New York City, encompassing the entire 2nd floor of a one-of-a-kind historic building with grand skyline views of downtown Manhattan; complete with radiant heated flooring, full kitchen, beautiful stained glass ceiling rotunda and charming fireplaces; our space is easily transformed into the perfect event space. With Anthony David’s as our exclusive caterer, you can’t go wrong renting Devotion Yoga for your next special event. Email events@devotionyoga.com for more information.

Peace

Meditation

Inspiration Lightness T

ranquility

Home

Acceptance

Seeker Playful

Mindfulness

Intuition

Faith

Transformation

Awakening

ommunity C Self-study

Personal

Ease

Chanting

Renew

Clarity

Awareness

Philosophy Organic

ALLOW

Quiet

Retreat Friendship

Breathe

Integration

Amazing

Patience Alignment

Realization

Release

Just Be

Holistic

Divine Happiness

Bliss

Fun

Prana Devotion

Strength

Empowerment

Supportive

Gratitude Dharma

Wisdom Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mind Lifestyle

Heart Opening Balance