Welcome to Flow Yoga Center where classes are a celebration of life awakening the very essence of who we are.  The warmth of our eco-friendly center and the excellence of our teachers offer a natural haven for those who seek a nurturing and soulful environment.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER...

Studio updates
Special events and workshops
Focus of the month - Shoulderstand
Kirtan with David Newman
Flow Launches Yoga Therapy Program
Movie Night for Charity- Sat Night
Glow
Inspiration - Practicing Together- 30 days of
Live Green 

This month's newsletter is a bit of a confession. I moved to D.C. from New York City on a whim seven years ago, because my boss gave me an option - relocate to Washington or go back to the home office in San Francisco. I had only been to D.C. a handful of times and thought it was a pretty city with a global flavor and an amazingly clean Metro (especially when compared to Manhattan). What most influenced me, though, was that my boyfriend lived here. Even though he said "It would be great if you moved here but don't do it for me," I took the leap.

My instincts were right - the relationship deepened, we married, but (and this is my confession) it took a long time for me to really fall in love with Washington. In my early days here, I would often ask people - especially those who came from New York, San Francisco, or some other cosmopolitan city - what did they like about the District?   They would respond: "The museums are free! Rock Creek Park is great! It has cultural diversity! It's filled with smart people!"

Their enthusiasm was not as contagious as I had hoped it might be. While I agreed with all the points they raised, I think I concentrated on what I felt the city lacked, including not being near an ocean or the fact that summers were so incredibly hot, sticky, and filled with mosquitoes. I complained that Starbucks was on every corner but independently owned coffee shops, book stores, and movie houses were nowhere to be found .... where Chinatown was really just China block .... and that Sunday brunch was not the charmingly funky affair of my San Francisco days.

However, this year, I finally opened my eyes and I got it. This city is amazing, beautiful, thriving, and filled with an energy that I have never felt in any other place I've ever lived.   Brunch at Java Green is wonderful.  Sundays in Malcolm X Park is such a vibrant scene.  There are farmer's markets in almost every neighborhood and cultural events to do every night of the week from fancy parties at embassies to picnics and jazz in the Sculpture Gardens.   More and more independent shops are popping up all over the place and there are practically more styles of yoga offered here than in LA!  But, what really changed my perception was getting to know and understand the people. Never before have I met so many who are so dedicated to making the world a better place.

Yes, Washington is still a city filled with deep economic contrasts, a poorly rated school system, and a staggering AIDS crisis, but everywhere I turn, I find people working daily to help alleviate these issues and more.

And all of this is the true essence of yoga. In one of the most beloved spiritual books in the world, the Bhagavad Gita, the deity Krishna tells his charge Arjuna about the wonders of doing good works and changing the world not retreating from it, but by engaging it. Here in D.C., I see countless people taking yoga off the mat and into the streets -- exactly the place it needs to be.

In honor of this inspiration and the gratitude I feel for our thriving studio, this year I'm turning my efforts to give back to the community. While I'm still dedicated to serving up the most nourishing yoga possible, I also want to reach out beyond our doors to our neighbors. I have chosen a few projects and am hoping you will join me in helping make this city even more spectacular!

My first goal is to raise $10,000 for a wonderful group, One Common Unity. Their project,  "A Nu View," is an annual youth film-making  program for inner-city, D.C. -area high school students. As an alternative for kids who might spend their summers uninspired and on the streets, 'A Nu View' gives promising D.C. students two months of out-of-school learning about the arts, media, and non-violence and culminates in the production of a full-length social-commentary documentary film.

Our efforts begin this Saturday, May 2 with a movie night (please reserve your space online, and if you can't come - why not make a donation!)  featuring the film One Common Unity completed last year, called " A Weigh With Words".  We'll be raising funds for the organizations newest film topic, an investigation of Martin Luther King Boulevards across the country and why they often reside in the poorest of neighborhoods.

In joining our efforts not only will you make a difference in these young people's lives, but you will be immersed in and inspired by a flourishing community. We are joining hands with the folks from Java Green, Pete's New Haven Style Apizza, and more.

These are my ways of living my yoga now, and someday, I hope I can inspire some new Washington transplant to enjoy the city as I have by connecting with the people who make it so great.

warm oms,

Debra

º Join me at the NY Yoga Journal Conference as I present a session on Going Green

º Flow wins DC Mayor's Award on Environmental Excellence

º Our Summer Schedule begins May 1 and includes a variety 7am and 10:30am classes each weekday, plus new classes and some time adjustments  

º Our beloved teacher Jill Ableson returns from SF and will be a guest teacher throughout May and beyond.  Check out all the classes she is subbing!

º  DC Yoga Week begins May 2


º JavaGreen, Pete's New Haven Style Apizza and Flow join with One Common Unity for Movie Night May 2

º  Join our community on Facebook and receive special invites and connect with community 

º The ever popular Midnight Yoga is now offered first and third Fridays!

º We are now accepting applications for our Fall Teacher Training.

Yoga Therapy Program Launches at Flow

Yoga therapy encompasses a wide range of applications and is used to treat injuries and chronic conditions of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive, and endocrine systems.  Yoga therapy addresses conditions on the physical, psychological and spiritual levels and assists in the recovery from and management of injuries and chronic conditions.   Many of our teachers are trained in the therapeutic application of yoga as a healing art to improve overall health and well being.  Our therapists are available for  both private and small group yoga therapy sessions.

Our first small group session begins on Mondays 6/8- 6/29 with Angela and will focus on Hip and Core Stability.  

In addition to over 70 weekly classes, and our monthly First and Third Friday specialties - Acro Yoga and Midnight Yoga, Flow offers a cosmic array of workshops, special events and ways to get involved with the community. We recommend signing up early as most sell out! This month's line up includes:

º º  Insight Meditation with Hugh 5/2 

º º  Movie Night for Charity - 5/2

º º  Svadhyaya 201 with Carolyn 5/3 

º º  Candlelight Prenatal with Siobhan  5/3 - 6/7  

º º  Beach Body Boot Camp with Mariska 5/4 - 5/8 

º º Ayurveda for Yoga and Body Type with Michael Plasha 5/9 

º º Yoga - The Eight Pronged Path of Joy with Neva 5/16 

º º  Semi Private Lessons for Beginners with Megan 5/10 - 5/24 

º º  The Chakras - Your Personal Inner Staff with Tazima 5/17 

º º  Yoga in the Red Tent - Honoring Sacred Cycles with Megan 5/23 

º º  Vanquishing the Vrittis - Jivamukti Workshop with Agatha 5/24 

º º  Memorial Day Class - Art of Remembrance with Megan Davis 5/25 

º º  Yoga day at the Ballet  (use promotion code 6098 for 50% off!)  5/17 

º º  Preserve the Curve -  Shoulderstand with Megan 5/30 

º º  Third Chakra Empowerment with Gopi 5/31 

 
Learn more about each workshop and reserve your space by visiting us online

 
Focus of the Month - Shoulderstand 

Salamba sarvangasana (supported all limb pose) is called the queen of the asanas. When done in alignment, this pose is extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, and endocrine systems. When done improperly, this pose can cause or exacerbate neck and shoulder injuries.  

This month, in addition to reviewing shoulderstand in class, we will offer a special workshop.  In this workshop we will review neck anatomy and practice poses that warm and stretch the back, neck, and shoulders in preparation for shoulder stand. Based on your neck and shoulder flexibility, we will help you set up for an ideal shoulder stand for your body that allows you to flex the neck safely and reap all the benefits of this powerful asana.   This workshop also fulfills Yoga Alliance anatomy CEUs.   This workshop will be limited to 20 participants. There will be two teachers and two assistants so everyone will get plenty of individualized attention!

Kirtan Concert with David Newman, 5/9

Join us for a soulful and sacred evening of ecstatic devotional chanting with Kirtan Chant Artist David Newman (Durga Das).  Kirtan, also known as devotional chanting, is a practice that merges the ancient tradition of mantra repetition with the magic of music, thus using sound vibration for spiritual upliftment. David's approach to kirtan is unique, combining sacred mantras with his original songs of spiritual love and devotion. This union creates a musical context which both appeals to the western ear while maintaining the essence of the eastern tradition. David's kirtans are joyous, ecstatic, uplifting and at times exploding with energy.   Check out David on YouTube.  We highly recommend early registration as his  visits fill quickly!

Glow - An Eco-tique

Need some support for your practice? "Glow" is stocked with lots of earth friendly choices including yoga mats, organic yoga clothing, eye pillows, lotions, potions, soy candles, cds incense and more. We carry amazing eco-friendly brands with lush fabrics such as Even Keel, Foat, Blue Canoe, Omala and our newest offering Hard Tail
plus lots of hand-made and home-made goodies.

Words of Wisdom from Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

Last month I took a special workshop with Gurmukh at Yoga House.  Following the class, she reminded us of the profound importance power of practicing yoga together, as a group.  She says....

"In our gathering we were able to raise the vibrational frequency of the world. The best way we can offer up peace and grace, no more wars, no more famines, the way we're able to change the course and direction of Planet Earth is through our presence, through our inner light, through our prayers, and through the frequency that we gain from doing our practice. Collectively it multiplies thousands of times more. Our gathering wasn't just about us, just about our families, and just about our immediate environments. It was a gift and an offering to the whole world."

Live Green

Time and money are tight these days but thankfully, green living doesn't have to be  confusing or expensive.  Live Green, an organization that Flow has supported from their inception, has done the legwork to find truly green products and services that are high-quality, local, and affordable.  They are called Live Green Spots and joining

Live Green gets you discounts that allow you to save big bucks while making green choices.  As a Live Green member, you can get discounted home energy audits that can save you more than $1,000 on your utility bills, 10% off all of the sweet and savory treats at Sticky Fingers, $50 off a Zipcar membership, a free cookie at Java Green, and even 15% discounts at Flow.  And the great news is Live Green membership only costs $13/year.  Join now to help Live Green grow DC's green economy while you save money at great green businesses.

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Blessings, Gratitude, Love and Peace and Yoga....

Debra and the Flow Sangha

Flow Yoga Center - DC's Eco-Friendly Yoga Center
1450 P Street NW (next door to Whole Foods)
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 462-FLOW
flowyogacenter@gmail.com