Celebrate the Holidays with Yoga Tree!

I can’t believe there are only two weeks left in the year. The last few months, and the last weeks especially, have flown by.

When you’re running around trying to get everything done, taking a couple hours out of your day to go to a yoga class may seem like the last thing you have time for. But something magical happens when you do – by slowing down just for a little while and centering yourself, your time and energy become more expansive.

Luckily, Yoga Tree has created some fun and unique ways to celebrate this holiday season. So instead of your usual yoga class, try out one of these special yoga classes and workshops themed to the holiday season. Not only will you give yourself some self-care, but you’ll become more in tune with the season and connect to community.

Many yogis celebrate the solstices by doing 108 sun salutations. I try to do it every summer and winter as a way to bookend my year. You can do a practice on your own. Here’s a tip: Instead of trying to keep track by counting, prior to starting your practice fill a bowl with 108 beans (coffee, chickpea, mung – whatever you have on hand). As you do each round of salutations, move one bean into another bowl. It’s a beautifully meditative practice and you get such a feeling of accomplishment as you watch the beans pile up!

Yoga Tree is offering a few solstice practices: Pete Guinosso is leading a Sun Salutation Bonanza on 12/20 from 1:15 to 4:15 at Yoga Tree Valencia. Pete will lead students through nine unique sets of Sun Salutations, each focusing on a specific intention. The prractice will finish with a well-deserved, extended savasana.

Here are some more Winter Solstice Celebrations at Yoga Tree:

• EMBODIED RENEWAL: A Winter Solstice Yoga & Meditation with Abby Tucker at Telegraph on Dec 20 from 4:15 – 6:45 PM ($30 in advance, $35 at the door)
• REGGAE SAMBA KIRTAN HOLIDAY DANCE PARTY! with Jai Uttal and the Queen of Hearts Orchestra at Corte Madera on Dec 20 from 7 – 9:30 PM ($35 in advance, $40 at the door)
• AWAKENING PRESENCE: Reclaim Your Essential Goodness with Pamela Rosin at Telegraph on Dec 21 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM ($40)
• GRACEFULLY BALANCE YOUR BEING: RESTORATIVE YOGA HOT STONES & REIKI HEALING with John Rettger & Ewa Litauer with Live Music by Gabriel Gold at Valencia on Dec 21 from 1:15 – 4:15 PM ($50 in advance, $60 at the door)
• DYNAMIC RESTORATIVE: SOLSTICE CELEBRATION & REJUVENATION with Stacey Rosenburg at Hayes on Dec 21 from 1:15 – 4:15 PM ($40 in advance, $45 at the door)
• HAPPY with Eva Monova Rose at Potrero on Dec 21 from 1 – 3:30 PM ($20 advance, $25 at door)
  DISCOUNT TO ATTEND BOTH “HAPPY” + “KUNDALINI YOGA & LIVE MUSIC SOLSTICE CELEBRATION” ($35 for both)
• WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION – Kundalini Yoga & Live Music with Prabhu Nam Kaur & Sat Santokh Singh Khalsa at Potrero on Dec 21 from 4 – 7 PM ($25 in advance, $30 at the door)
  DISCOUNT TO ATTEND BOTH “HAPPY” + “KUNDALINI YOGA & LIVE MUSIC SOLSTICE CELEBRATION” ($35 for both)

I always try to go to a yoga class on New Years Eve or New Years Day – or both. It’s wonderful to close and open the year feeling aligned. Your regular teacher at Yoga Tree will no doubt incorporate reflection and intention into your normal class, but also consider joining one of these special classes, workshops, and a retreat hosted at Yoga Tree.

 

• NEW YEAR’S RETREAT with Chrisandra Fox Walker at Mayacamas Ranch on Dec 30, 2014 – Jan 2, 2015 (4 Day, 3 Night Retreat: Single – $995, Double – $795, Shared – $645)

• OPEN YOUR HIPS & BLOSSOM INNER POTENTIAL FOR THE NEW YEAR with Ai Kubo at Telegraph on Dec, 31 from 4 PM – 6 PM ($30)
• SOULFUL CROSSINGS ON THE EVE OF A BRAND NEW YOU with Betty Roi at Potrero on Dec 31 from 6:15 PM –
  8:15 PM ($30 in advance, $35 at the door)
• TRANSFORMING OPEN TO THE NEW YEAR with Dina Amsterdam at Valencia on Dec 31 from 6:15 PM – 9:30 PM ($50 in advance, $60 at the door)
• THE TIBETAN BELL EXPERIENCE with Karma Moffet at Potrero on Dec 31 from 9:30 PM – 11 PM ($15 in advance, $20 at door)
• YOGA DANCE PARTY with Eric Monkhouse at Corte Madera on Dec 31 from 10:00 PM – 1 AM ($25 in advance, $30 at the door)
• NEW YEAR’S EVE YOGA CELEBRATION & GROOVE PARTY with Mark Morford & DJ Hify at Castro on Dec 31 from 10:00 PM – 12:15 AM ($40)
• YOGA & MEDITATION: THE NEW BEGINNINGS with Charu Rachlis at Stanyan on Jan 1 from 8:30 – 10:30 AM ($35)
• STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD: A NEW YEAR’S TRADITION with Darcy Lyon at Hayes on Jan 1 from 10 – 12 AM ($30)
• KEEP THE PARTY ROCKIN: NEW YEAR’S DAY VINYASA with Susan Hauser at Corte Madera on Jan 1 from 10AM  – 12PM ($25 in advance, $30 at the door)
• GET SOME, GIVE SOME: A New Year’s Celebration with Janet Stone w/ Music by Girish at Castro on Jan 1 from 9 – 11 AM ($40, with an optional $10 added donation)
• POWER+PRECISION+MINDFULNESS: A Complete Vinyasa Practice For the New Year! with Jason Crandell at Potrero on Jan 1 from 11 AM – 1 PM ($35)
•  RELAX DEEPLY INTO 2015: New Year’s Day Restorative Practice with Britt Fohrman at Valencia on Jan 1 from 11 AM – 1 PM ($35)
• A DEEP BREATH INTO THE NEW YEAR: Restorative Yoga, Hot Stones & Reiki Healing with John Rettger & Ewa Litauer at Telegraph on Jan 1 from 11 AM – 2 PM ($50 in advance, $60 at the door)

 

 

Detox After the Holidays

We hope to see you on the mat soon, and Happy Holidays!

About the Author: Martine Holston

Martine Holston believes the world needs visionaries – they propel our evolution. As a Vision Cartographer (and consultant to visionaries), she’s been featured on The Daily Love, Tiny Buddha, Mind Body Green, Live in the Grey, and Brazen Careerist.

When she’s not creating strategy maps for visionaries, Martine is zipping up and down the California coast running through vineyards, hiking through forests, and doing yoga on the beach.

To learn more about Martine and Vision Cartography, spend some time exploring visioncartography.com.