Greeting the Solstice
What will your offering be?
I’m writing this from my parents’ kitchen in El Paso, Texas. My yoga and mindfulness teaching is on a two-week hiatus until after the New Year. It is less a vacation for me than it is what we call a karma yoga practice, aka yoga of action, with the point of focus being acts of service. Yes, there will be a bit of time spent in repose or gathering with loved ones, but make no mistake - the bulk of my time will be spent cooking, cleaning, decorating, or helping to run errands. Those of you visiting older family members this season probably know what I’m talking about. My first deep sleep of winter likely will not come until I board the plane back to New York.
Gratitude Journal Prompt:
Outside of physical gifts, how might I give back to my loved ones, my specific communities, and/or to nature this holiday season?
When I return, I’ll be back teaching in-person at Heights Meditation & Yoga and have high hopes that the Mindfulness program at The Met Cloisters will continue through 2025. I also plan to start offering membership online yoga classes on Tuesdays (early morning) and Wednesdays (evenings) over Zoom - details on that to come. If this interests you and you live in a different time zone than EST, please comment here and let me know your time zone! I’ll try keep that in mind as I build my online offerings.
Need a Self-Care Break? Try Some Yin & Restorative
For my regular students or for those of you spread out across the country, I have a story series highlighted on my Instagram account called “Yin & Restore” which I encourage you to explore. Yin & Restorative postures are typically held anywhere between 2.5-5 minutes (though if you want to hold a posture longer, don’t let me stop you). If a pose is done on one side, don’t forget to do the other side, too! Commandeer a bedroom with some floor space for whatever time you can muster, shut the door, and pop on some relaxing music. If you don’t have yoga props at home, you can grab some pillows off your couch or use some stacks of books in place of bolsters and blocks.
Give Yourself the Gift of Private Yoga
For those of you who are Manhattan residents and are looking to build and/or deepen your yoga practice in the comfort and privacy of your own home, I am offering discounts on both 5- and 10-class packs through 12/31.
5-pack of 60-minute, in-home private classes = $375 (usually $450)
10-pack of 60-minute, in-home private classes = $750 (usually $900)
If you’re interested, please reach out and I’ll send over an invoice. Venmo, Zelle and Paypal accepted.
For Fans of Poetry
I launched an Instagram account a couple of months ago called Meditations on the City. Please feel free to check that out and follow if it resonates.
Happy Winter Solstice. Best wishes for comfort and joy in 2025!