We had an amazing time on Whidbey Island last weekend! I’m back and ready to share some of the insight I received from the fresh air, ocean, deer, silence, organic food, forest walks, meditation, horses, partner yoga, goats, sauna, candle lit restoratives, starry nights, sunny days, and the lilly pad filled pond. If you’re interested in joining us for the December 11-13th Whidbey retreat, please send your $100 deposit now so I can confirm our dates. Mexico February 13-20th also requires a $100 deposit to reserve your spot in the palapa . Please let me know if you’re interested in either retreat and I’ll send you the necessary registration forms and additional information.

Extended Practice

Mark your calendar Saturday, September 19 for our annual Autumnal Equinox celebration! Enjoy the meditative flow through 9 evolving sets of 12 Surya Namaskaras (Sun Salutations) to an eclectic mix of music. Use an unstrung mala (counting tool provided) and understand the auspiciousness of 108 (9×12) in our universal alignment. We’ll meet at Lotus from 1-4pm.

Thursday
6-7am Urban Yoga Spa, DT
12-1pm hauteyoga, QA
5:30-7pm Seattle Athletic Club, DT
7-8pm Seattle Athletic Club, DT

Friday
12-1pm Rain Fitness, QA
4-5pm Urban Yoga Spa, DT
5:30-6:30pm Urban Yoga Spa, DT

Saturday
10:30-11:45am Denali, MP
4:15-5:30pm Lotus Yoga

Sunday
9-10:30am Urban Yoga Spa, DT
11-12:30pm Samadhi Yoga

Extended Practice
September 19, 2009 1-4pm Lotus 108 Equinox Salutations
October 4, 2009 1-4pm Santosha
October 24, 2009 1-4pm Lotus
November 14, 2009 1-4pm  Lotus
November 22, 2009 1-4pm Santosha
December 6, 2009 1-4pm Santosha
December 19, 2009 1-4pm Lotus 108 Solstice Salutations

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be part of an event to raise money for cancer treatment and to leave our mark in record books as the largest outdoor yoga class. I’ll be teaching with Lisa Black, Jenniferlyn Cheimingo, Jennifer Hill, and Kirk Slobody.

All proceeds go to City of Hope which is a biomedical research, treatment and education center dedicated tothe prevention, treatment and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Their mission is to shorten the time from initial research idea to new treatment, quickly bringing cures to patients who need them. Since its founding in 1913, City of Hope has achieved numerous scientific breakthroughs and pioneered many lifesaving procedures that have impacted treatment worldwide.

Your $20 Donation gets you a swag bag (extra goodies to the first 100), an yoga class like you’ve never experienced, and the chance to set a new record. Register NOW.

July 25th, 2009 10:30-12pm

Memorial Stadium
401 Fifth Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98109 (map)

REGISTRATION

http://www.cityofhope.org/giving/regional-fundraising-offices/seattle/yoga-for-hope/Pages/default.aspx

The Yoga Lodge is a short journey, but a world away from our own.  Those who came in March had just one request: more time on the Island in their practice. I’ve created an ambitious schedule at http://www.yogalodge.com/retreats/jennifer-isaacson.html and carved out the option for a longer stay with Fri-Mon or Fri-Sun options. There are 5 spots remaining in the Lodge, and plenty more for campers and those staying off-site. All participants will enjoy local, organic, vegetarian meals, sauna, yoga, meditation, YoFlow, restoratives, pranayama, and partner yoga.

Unplug from your daily routine and soak up the beauty of summer while it’s still here!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

In gratitude,

jen

When we begin our practice (sadhana), we do so with folded knees (sukhasana/virasana), close to the earth, or in a fetal position (balasana).  Coming to the support of our own breath is the first thing our mothers expect of us independent of their womb.  Breath (pranayama) is really the only thing our practice expects of us.  We name “it” by setting intention.  Our first words are sounds organic to every language, ahhh,  ohhh,  mmm, (mantra). Through this primal universal speak (pranava) we announce our purpose.

Here the unfolding begins. Exploration of cat/cow on hands and knees is the same position where we learned how to crawl.  The transition into downdog (adho mukha svanasana) looks a lot like what brought us to our first steps.  By connecting to the earth’s support, we grow in all directions, just as we do if we have our family’s support when we’re young.  If we’re to think of the elements (fire, air, water) like the children of our universal mother (earth), it’s through their nature that we’ll find union (yoga) within our Self (atman).  Try it in your laboratory:  In downdog, connect earth energy with hands and feet, water nature of the spine, fire within breath, hallowing of the navel (uddiyana bandha) representing air.  There is no “doing yoga” on this path, it’s all being.

Verticality offers stability through the integration of standing poses.  We’re then able to explore asymmetry, rhythmic movements, sequences that create coordination, flow, and meditation in action. Transition into balance (vrksasana, natarajasana) then comes with focus and clarity.  Once that balance is found upright, we turn it upside down and explore inversions like headstand  (sirsasana), shoulderstand (sarvangasana),  and handstand (adho mukha vrksasana).  This deep connection to earth brings the intelligence we found in our feet through standing poses to the sky as an offering to the sun (masculine: HA) and moon (feminine: THA).  The force (Hatha Yoga) of solar and lunar energy in balance is what creates the cycle of a day, month, season, year, life, age…

Backward bending demonstrates this great arc in physical form.  This is the greatest peak within the structure of any class, which opens up the most vulnerable parts of ourselves: our  heart, lungs, and reproductive  organs.  Backbends allow energy (prana) to freely flow within our pathways (nadis).  It’s the strength of our legs (standing poses) that will give us this ability to open up the spine and heart.  It’s a strong foundation that will allow vulnerability in our lives.

One cannot live at the summit.  Although peaks are breathtaking (backbends) there isn’t sustenance above the tree-line.  It’s the light of the sun (surya) that got us here, but it will be the luminosity of the moon (chandra) that will lead us the rest of the way. We have no other direction to go but back down to the other end of the arc as we draw energy back in with hip opening (ekha pada raja kapotasana, badha konasana).  These quieter more contemplative moments nurture compassion and surrender.  Forward folding (pascimottonasana), supine twisting, and happy baby (ananda balasana) leads us to our end in corpse (savasana) pose.  Here we have to accept things as they are, and learn to let them go.  Death is the ultimate release, corpse pose is just preparing us for that inevitable transition.

We honor the Guru of our own heart and soul (Om Bolo Sad-Guru Maharaj ji ki JAI!  Hari om tat sat).

All love.

All ways.

All together.

Yoga for Hope will be taught by myself and 3 other instructors on Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium field.  Help make this the largest outdoor yoga class ever while contributing to a worthy cause!

July 25th, 2009 10:00- 11:30 a.m.

Memorial Stadium
401 Fifth Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98109 (map)

Registration

http://www.cityofhope.org/giving/regional-fundraising-offices/seattle/yoga-for-hope/Pages/default.aspx

I hope to see you there!

Love ALL ways,

jen

“There is no profit in curing the body if the process will destroy the soul.”  Samuel Golter, City of Hope

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