Be Present Now

In this moment - This breath - This body - This precious moment.

Dear Friends and Students,

     As we move from Spring into Summer, give yourself a moment to think about the changing seasons of your life.  Are you moving through your changing seasons gracefully and joyfully, or is there resistance to change and perhaps even resentment about not being able to do what you once used to be able to?

    As I watch people in their yoga practice, I have observed that those who sometimes have the hardest time are the ones who keep thinking about what they used to be able to do, instead of honoring where they are in their lives and bodies right now. 

    Yoga teaches us that we cannot prevent growing older, but the way we age is a choice, based on our thinking, decisions and actions.

     I also hear about our student’s husbands, wife’s, or friends who are not coming to yoga because they say they need to loose weight first. Sadly, I have even heard of other Yoga Studios telling students they are too fat to do yoga.  You will never hear this at A Gentle Way.  As a large woman, I remember how hard it was to walk into my first class.  At a Gentle Way, you will find a warm friendly atmosphere that welcomes all.  You will find teachers that care and customize classes for the students who attend on a regular basis.

    Yoga is about bringing your life into balance, and summer the perfect season to let go of excuses and start balancing your life and body now.  If you wait till all the circumstances in your life are “right,” you will be waiting for rest of your life.  If I waited to loose weight before I came to yoga, thousands of students would have never been introduced to yoga.  At A Gentle Way, you will not find perfection.  You will find welcoming students and teachers that are deeply grateful for what yoga has done, and is doing, for them. 

   This is a recent email from a newer student:

Hi Lanita,

I just wanted to let you know that I have reached a milestone through yoga. I have gone down one full clothing size since beginning yoga with you, your beautiful teachers, and kind clients about three and one half months ago (I don't weigh myself--so I don't know about poundage). I lost this size without even one stitch of dieting. I ate the same food I always had--some of it good, but a good chunk of it bad.

I began with committing, as you suggested, to 2 days a week. By 3 weeks in, I was feeling so good, both physically and mentally (so much calmer and so less easily irritated), that I started in with 3, including at least 1 "active" class. At one point, I started to worry that something was wrong with me. My stomach area felt different--it didn't hurt, but it felt weird. I worried about it for about a week and then I realized that it was abdominal muscles that I had never before had. Granted they were, and still are, hidden under a layer of fat, but I have abs for the first time in my life!! Even when I was thin so many years ago, I didn't have them. I became totally hooked as I began to notice even more changes to my body, muscles, and mind. Now I am up to 4 days and if I can fit more, I will.

My first class, I remember kind of laughing about the "Namaste" of yoga--now, It is an integral part of who I am. I feel better connected and more compassionate with myself and all of the people around me--strangers, friends, and family.

I just want to say thank you for all that you and, once again, all of your truly kind, inspiring teachers have helped me do.

Namaste, Patti 6/09

Let this be the summer that you let go of all excuses, and make the time to take care of you now.

Let us know how can we support you in a consistent yoga practice.  If you think it is the money holding you back, go to our price page and read about our pay what you can classes.  Even our regular package prices have been lowered in price to fit the needs of our students and our changing economy.  Make yoga the most important meal of your week – at least twice a week – and you will breeze through the summer with a happy body and great new yoga friends. 

Hoping to see a lot of you this summer!

Lanita Varshell -Owner of A Gentle Way