December: Celebrate the Joy of the Season
As we all prepare for our own special Holiday rituals, whether they are the traditional ones you’ve grown up with or they are constantly evolving as they are in our family, be certain to do your best to keep your body/mind in balance by treating yourself with loving kindness. Don’t let yourself get so caught up in the frenetic activities if the Season that your physical, emotional and mental self are sacrificed. Find ways to nurture your body and soul in addition to your yoga practice. Make time to give yourself the gift of silence, even if for only a few minutes a day. Remember that in addition to Religious traditions it is also Winter Solstice, Mother Nature’s holiday and it applies to all people and all life. The Shambala (Tibetan Buddhist) community observes Children’s Day on the winter solstice to celebrate the “royalty” inherent in every child. The night prior to the solstice children put out food offerings and awaken to find baskets of gifts for all members of the family. As you plan and shop and trek up and down “the trail”, be aware of how you feel in the moment. Try to find the joy in every aspect of it, take yourself to the “It’s A Wonderful Life” place, grateful for even the smallest of experiences, and yes even annoyances. In our goal-oriented culture we obsess about the destination and forget that the actual minutes, hours, and days of our lives are passing right now. They are not waiting for us at some day or destination. Only in this moment are you really alive…all else is either the past or the future. The one who arrives at some distant goal will be different from the one who is here today. So celebrate today!
A Warm Namaste'
Tess and Jackie
The Boutique
We have new items arriving daily for your Holiday shopping pleasure. Lots of new clothing including new Joyful Yoga Tees with our new logo! (Our logo is evolving as is everything else. We are using the symbol of the Sanskrit Om, enclosed in a heart which becomes the gratitude spiral.) They include tie-dyed, short sleeved, super soft cotton in delicious colors, three-quarter length raglan sleeve, also in a variety of beautiful colors. Yoga pants and Tees, including the long sleeved Chakra Tees from Be Present and Prana (we have exclusives on these in S.W. Florida!). For gifting we have Onsies with our logo for your favorite yoga baby, Joyful Yoga mat bags in cotton canvas with assorted color piping, YogiToes non slip yoga towels, Eco-friendly extra thick yoga mats in assorted colors, hand made Neti pots from JoyPots in Mt.Home, Idaho. We have a new shipment of Cotton Yoga Blankets from Mexico in assorted colors. These are the perfect size and density for use as adjustable padding for your Yoga and meditation practice. The Jo-Sha mat wipes are a natural, aromatheraputic way to gently clean and freshen mats. For the occasional thorough cleansing we have the Unity Mat Wash from N.California. These seven special formulations include essential oils specifically to balance the Chakras.
In keeping with the season we have handmade brass “PEACE” and “JOY” ornaments that can be displayed beyond the holidays. Be sure to check out our CLEARANCE section to save over 25% on Joyful Yoga merchandise!
The Secret
Due to popular demand we have received a huge shipment of this incredible DVD. Since we could not keep a copy on hand (our three copies have been continuously checked out!) and since so many had requested it for purchase we have it available for both. (Since it is not available wholesale yet we offer it to you at our cost because we love it so much!) If you have not seen it yet, check it out at the studio. You too may want to give it this holiday season!
Joyful Yoga Bonita Springs
This is just a little teaser because the plans are not completely firm but we seem to be steadily moving toward a wonderful, huge, easy access, beautiful new location that will include a space twice as big for classes, three times the retail space and a separate space for massage, Ayurvedic treatments and ? I mention it because we believe in the Law of Attraction and if everyone reading this sees the same vision we do it will just add to our power in manifesting it! We are anticipating an early spring opening and as it is a huge undertaking we will need all your positive thoughts, prayers, intentions, etc.
Joyful Yoga Ft Myers will continue to expand and thrive as it has been doing thanks to all of your support.
Teacher Training
We have a wonderful new group of teachers that just completed their first in a series of trainings. We are so excited to introduce them and all their individualism and personalities to you as we include them in new classes. We hope to have something for everyone, understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all, even in yoga. We will be offering a variety of classes to appeal to your individual Ayurvedic (body/mind) constitution. (If you have no idea what I’m referring to, please go the Ayurveda section of our website and answer the questionnaire to determine yours.)
As usual, if you have an interest in completing the Joyful Yoga Teacher Training to either expand your practice or join our Yoga family please contact Jackie at the studio. We already have a list for next Training starting in February.
Holiday Mantras
Sanskrit is the root of all language. The primordial sounds that make up all words are very basic yet powerful tools that can be used to create a rhythmic relationship with the vibrations of the universe. This is called “entrainment”. The science of Mantra, the repetition of sacred sounds, silently, whispered or chanting, says that every sound is able to affect the chemistry of the body and mind and alter thought patterns. It is a very powerful technique that has a very distinct and definite effect on our energies. Our senses become more acute and our minds become sharper and more perceptive as the jumble of unnecessary dialogue clears away. It has the ability to alter reality, including our physicality. With that intellectual information we offer you these two Mantras:
Mantra for Energy:
Om Ojo Vatyei Namaha ( ohm oh-joh vaht-ye-ah nah-mah-hah )(Salutations to Her who is full of limitless energy and makes it available to me.)
Chanting this mantra puts you in touch with the limitless energy of the supreme feminine.
Great to begin or end a silent meditation.
Mantra to celebrate Winter Solstice:
Lokah Samasta Sukino Bavantu (lo-kah sa-mastah suki-noh ba-vantoo)
(May all beings everywhere be happy and free.)
Holiday Gift Certificates
The Holidays are a great time to introduce loved ones to yoga painlessly. Give the gift of health, well-being, and pampering! Yoga has been used for centuries as preventive healthcare for body, mind and spirit. Share Yoga’s healing, loving energy with your loved one. You can purchase them in any amount for use in classes or merchandise. Our Joyful Intro package includes:
A one hour private yoga session to evaluate and personalize a practice
A ten class package to be used within 4 months at any class or location
A yoga mat
A Joyful Yoga mat bag
A cotton yoga blanket from Mexico
The package has a retail value of $270, yours this Holiday season for only $220.
We also offer Monthly Unlimited Package for $140.00, a great way to start a New Year with the Joy of Yoga, the gift that truly keeps on giving!
We look forward to sharing this Holiday Season with you!
Namaste'
Tess and Jackie
