"Letting go a little brings a little peace.Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace."

- Ajahn Chah

Hello Everyone and Happy Spring,

If there is one thing this past winter taught me it is the power of letting go. Letting go of expectations, letting go of the illusion of control, and letting go of what does not serve me well in this life. Letting go doesn't mean losing something or ignoring something. It doesn't even have to mean detaching from something stressful or hurtful.

Letting go as a practice is a means of MAKING SPACE. When we spend time in practices that offer us opportunities to pause, notice, reflect and acknowledge, we gift ourselves with the rewards of mental clarity, physical ease and inner awareness. With these gifts we can then learn to let go of what is taking up space in our lives and in our bodies that does not serve us well, and we can better discern what to bring into our lives that offers us more contentment and support.

As many of you know last month my mother passed away. The grief of losing a loved one is of course something we are never really able to let go of. A friend told me the grief will come and go in waves, and I already understand that. And I am prepared to make space for it. I often mention in my classes how the point of Yoga is to assist in alleviating the inevitable human experience of suffering. And that may sound like a tall order if you view Yoga as simply a physical practice. That is why it is so important as a yoga teacher to share the depths of the practices with others and to, of course, practice what you preach. I for certain know that my awareness of and experience with Yogic practices beyond the physical postures gave me the strength and at times the sense of peace to get through such a difficult and emotional experience. And I wish more people had that opportunity available to them.

I invite you all to take in this idea of letting go and making space and to consider incorporating yogic practices beyond asana into your daily routine. Meditation, Pranayama, Mantra and Yoga Nidra are all Yoga and are simple yet powerful rituals that can shift your energy and mitigate your suffering. Knowing that these practices are available as a means to heal yourself is revolutionary in a world where we are constantly looking to others to heal us. It takes time and commitment, but maybe we all need to just let go of some things in order to see that there is plenty of space available in our lives to be proactive in our cultivation joy, growth and healing.

While my teaching schedule typically winds down a bit in the summer months to make room for the growing season, I am hoping to connect with everyone more often here online through newsletters and online offering as I look for ways to broaden my reach and share the knowledge I have gained through my Yoga Therapy, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra and Accessible Yoga trainings and practices. I will have more information in the months to come on how to stay connected nearby and from afar. I will also have announcements soon about my Sunday Summer Sangha offerings. But in the meantime please find some updates and reminders below on my current teaching schedule. And be well everyone!

*FREE YOGA Saturday April 12 9:30-10:30am-Belvidere Central School

I am grateful to have been invited by the Belvidere Community Club to offer FREE Yoga through support from an AARP Winter Placemaking grant. These classes are open to all ages & abilities and this weeks class will focus on creating and maintaining a yoga practice for longevity. Address: 4515 VT-109, Belvidere Center, VT 05442. More info on my website: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/schedule/b80ce633-24d4-4399-a771-898f6124ab3e_1744464600

*RESTORATIVE YOGA Sunday April 13 4pm-5:30pm-Montgomery Town Hall

This is the last of my Restorative Yoga classes in Montgomery until the Fall. There are still a few spaces available and you can register here to join: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/schedule/0ae378de-3d42-4f79-a7e8-9771017ab874_1744574400

*YOGA AT JAY PEAK RESORT Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm through May

My Tuesday evening class at Jay Peak will continue through May. This class is FREE for Jay Peak Resort employees and open to the general public as well. There have been some twists and turns with class location & availability and I thank all of you who continue to show up every week. That being said, please note that when you sign up you will receive an email a few hours prior to class start time indicating where to find me in Hotel Jay for class. Please register here: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/offerings/yoga-at-jay-peak-resort

*GENTLE VINYASA Every Thursday 9am-10am-Montgomery Town Hall

My Thursday class in Montgomery will continue as usual every Thursday. All are welcome to come practice as a community. I appreciate all of you who have committed to sharing this time with me each week and hope to see more folks join us as the seasons change. More info here: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/offerings/gentle-vinyasa-yoga-59b9c56a-d2d2-44a3-8379-fe6608a00f0a