Sunset on 2021. Sunrise on 2022!

I hope that you are all enjoying the holiday season in spite of our evolving "test" named Covid. I trust that you are all staying as safe as possible: vaxxed, boosted, masked and staying away from large crowds.

I enjoyed time with family on Christmas Day and ate (and am still eating) plenty of sweets, because, you know, tradition! Speaking of tradition, I am pleased to announce that there will be a special New Years Day class on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:00 AM. As I've done since 2014 when we did 14 Sun Salutations, this year we will do 22 Sun Salutations!

Our practice will begin with a contemplation and mediation on 2021 and begin our manifestation for all that we wish for ourselves and the world in 2022. I know that 22 sounds like a lot, but once you're in the rhythm of the flow, they will breeze by.

Here are 5 Benefits of Surya Namaskar A

(Sun Salutation A):

1. Heart-healthy, cardiovascular activity. Think of all of the up and down and moving with the breath as well as the heating of your body.
2. Improved mental focus. Think about how while you're practicing (especially when being led by a teacher) your thoughts slow and you're able to drop down and in to the body, mind and spirit. I often experience clarity after Sun Salutation practice.
3. Greater breath capacity. By connecting the movements with ujayi pranayama, and inviting the lungs to expand when the body expands and the lungs to compress as the body compresses, we become more mindful breathers and over time we can actually increase our lung capacity.
4. Strengthening. Planks. Downward facing dogs. And, yes, even tadasana (when done with proper muscular engagement) all build your muscles.
5. Flexibility. Cobra pose increases the flexibility in the back especially along the thoracic spine and standing forward fold helps release the lumbar spine and hamstrings. And of course, downward facing dog fixes everything! At least in my humble opinion!

The Saturday practice will be at 11:00 AM. We will do 11 in a row, paced to allow for maximum alignment, pause, then do the remaining 11 as a true vinyasa practice (movement on the inhale and exhale). Both 11 and 22 are considered Master Numbers in Numerology and I'll tell ya a bit more about that while we practice.

We will also be practicing at 12:30 PM this Monday and 9:00 AM this Thursday. Please join me! You can register at https://www.toembodyyoga.com/offerings where you can pay with your card. This is processed by Stripe and I will not have access to your account information.

For now, you can also pay via PayPal or Zelle at juliesholly@gmail.com or by Venmo Julie-Holly-4.