Fabulous February
In this month of love and compassion, we celebrate the most precious of emotions in all its many forms, the romantic love of our partners in life, the endless and amazing love for our children and grandchildren, the evolving love of our friends and family, and the love of our companion animals and all the life on our precious planet. What about the love of Self? Through time, many wise poets and sages have spoken of the need for the love of the self first and foremost. Yoga asana (the physical poses, accompanied with the breathwork, intention and attention) in its purest form is the practice of self love. As you learn to create this union of the physical body, the energy body and the emotional body, you begin to truly love and appreciate who you are. In turn, this enables you to be more loving and compassionate to others. Love purifies the human nature and cleanses the mental and emotional field.
It is so much easier to feel loving when one is full of joy and gratitude! We are full of both… We recently signed the lease on our beautiful new Joyful Yoga Ayurvedic Spa and Boutique in Bonita Springs. The location is perfect, the building is new, the parking is excellent and the staff of instructors and massage therapists is poised and ready. We will have five massage/therapy rooms, three of which will be Dosha specific (special colors, temperatures, fragrances, lighting and sounds to make your experience as good for your particular Dosha; body/mind type, as it can possibly be. If you have no clue what I am talking about, go to the Ayurveda section of our website, take the little quiz and begin to understand your dominant Dosha. (Vatas reading this are probably worried about understanding it, Pittas definitely want to know all the information, and Kaphas are probably thinking….”whatever…just give me that massage”.) We will have a spacious cork yoga floor and a wonderful Boutique with all the clothing, props, books, music, and everything else one needs to support their practice. We are not sure of the opening date (we have many hoops to jump through and lots of redesign work to do) but we think it will be late summer. The location is the corner of 41 and Old 41 in the Bernwood Plaza. We will now have 2 Joyful Locations for your convenience! Yay!
The Boutique
We have a brand new batch of Joyful Yoga Flow DVDs in stock so you can take your practice home or on the road. This DVD was filmed without a lot of “fluff” intentionally. There is no big explanation of yoga theory, chapters, explanations, bios, etc., just a thorough, get-to-the-point practice. Even if you are new to yoga, you can pop this DVD in your player and pause whenever necessary to modify or connect back to the breath. The sequence was filmed on Bonita Beach at sunset with the sounds of ocean waves and Native American flute in the background. Just watching the video and breathing along with the ocean waves will put you in the “Relaxation Response” and alter the body-mind in a positive direction. (Check out the behavior of the birds that were observing us as we filmed. It seems as if they knew we were filming them!)
We also received a new shipment of the always-in-demand Colonix. If you have never experienced the feeling of a clean digestive system you are missing out. Not only does it improve your overall health and energy levels but if you are constantly trying to get rid of the “pooch” on your lower abdomen this may be just the thing that will do it. This product is an all natural herbal concoction that is so gentle you will not need to alter your behavior or eating routine. It can be safely taken for three months (which is highly recommended if your diet has been lacking in FRESH fruits and veggies) and will make you feel like a new you.
Be sure to check out our New Joyful Yoga Logo t-shirts for men and women! Our new logo is an expression of our vision: Seek Yoga. Find Joy. Centered in Love and Gratitude, one is sure to find Joy in their practice and as a result, also in their life!
Ayurveda
As we are still in Kapha season take care to stay in balance. Kaphas; make sure to avoid getting chilled, if feeling out of balance, take a dry sauna. Limit or omit ice cold foods and drinks, dairy products, sugary anything, (as you are already so sweet by nature), and foods that are oily and heavy. Favor foods that are warm and dry (grains, beans, peas apples, pears and potatoes), bitter (broccoli, cabbage, all green leafies, celery), and pungent (onions and garlic). Pittas; enjoy the cooler weather. Favor cool and warm foods, moderately heavy foods, bitter and sweet foods. Avoid salty, sour and spicy foods all of which heat the body. Vatas; extra care should be taken to keep the body warm. One of the best methods of balancing Vata dosha is a warm shower, bath or steam bath, afterward, massage your body with a light oil to retain moisture in your skin. Favor warm hearty foods, sweet foods, and oily foods. Avoid cold salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables and undercooked foods. Also anything that makes dining a calmer more restful experience will help to pacify Vata dosha.
Workshops
Sunday 2/11: 1-5pm: Yoga to Live your Bliss
Life Force Yoga to Find Your Bliss, with Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression will be at the Ft Myers studio February 11, 1pm-5pm for an afternoon of asana, breathwork, and meditation techniques that will empower you to improve the control of your emotional state. We are limiting attendance and only have a few spaces left so if you would like to learn more about how to balance your daily moods and energy levels, join us for a fabulous time with the expertise of one of the most renowned yoga teachers today, call and reserve your spot. For more information contact the studio. The cost is $75, the experience itself…..priceless.
Friday 3/16: 7:30-10:00pm: Didgeridoo Meditation
Join us for an exciting musical meditation with Sound Therapist Phil Jones. A recording artist from Australia, Phil has traveled extensively offering an interactive workshop where he will teach us meditation and breathing techniques accompanied by the amazing sounds of the Didgeridoo, which is an ancient mesmerizing instrument made from a eucalyptus tree and traditionally played in ceremony and healing rituals by the Aboriginal clans in Australia. The sound of this instrument creates soothing and resonant harmonics that easily induce a state of meditative calm, enhancing mental clarity and emotional stability. The primordial sound vibration combined with the breathing techniques create a state of relaxation, regulate blood pressure, relax the heart, improve digestion and significantly reduce sleep apnea and snoring. No experience is necessary. All participants will have the opportunity to play the Didgeridoo as well as listen to it.
Cost: $20 pre-register/ $25 at the door.
Saturday and Sunday 3/10-3/11
Joyful Yoga 50-hour Teacher Training Starts!
Dates for this Training:
3/10, 3/11, 3/24, 3/25, 4/15, 4/21
Call or email Jackie for details, space is limited!
239-482-6677 or jackiechiodo@yahoo.com
Cost: $545 includes classes taken during the training period, a training manual and certificate of completion.
Sunday 4/29: 1-4pm Chakra Workshop
Details coming soon!
We are continuously growing and evolving and so is our teaching! Jackie will be attending many Master Class workshops in the upcoming months, and is eager to share all of her experiences with you in class, as well as offer more workshops on exciting topics in order to help you, our beloved students continue to evolve to new levels and understanding of your practice!
From our hearts to yours, we wish you a Fabulous February, filled with experiences that make your soul smile! We continue to grow in gratitude and love sharing this life experience with each of you! We are here for the JOY!
Namaste'
Jackie and Tess Chiodo
