The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.
Yoga and creativity share a special connection. Both require us to move beyond the confines of the familiar, to explore the unknown, and to embrace the perspective of a beginner—a fresh lens through which we see the world. This convergence of yoga and creativity is a catalyst for inspiration, opening doors to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of being.
Yoga therapy is fundamentally about empowering you to take an active approach to self-care through the tailored application of yoga. Unlike general group classes, which aim to benefit a wide range of participants, yoga therapy offers a personalized and evolving practice that addresses specific health challenges and promotes overall well-being.
iRest Yoga Nidra can be perceived as resting, especially since rest is in the name, and we all are not people who rest. Resting can even be a bit scary. It is easy to wonder: Will everything be OK if I slow down and rest? What if I told you that iRest Yoga Nidra is active resting? You are doing something. You are actively listening to a voice, following the prompts, re-wiring your brain, and improving your health.
Before we turn over this new leaf (or calendar page), let us reflect on the year behind us and on the moments of joy, peace, and happiness. True joy comes from the meaningful service we were able to offer to the wider community in 2023. We are all so grateful for the opportunity to be of service and to provide space for people to BE, to LEARN, to GROW.
This week is Service Week! All are welcome to participate by joining us for any of our group classes October 9th-13th. You can sign up for classes using subscriptions and packages throughout the week. All proceeds will be donated directly to Healing Pines Respite. You may also contribute a donation of any amount to Dogwood’s Healing Pines Respite Fund. We hope sharing our yoga practice and raising money can provide a refuge of compassionate practice for all.
In the midst of our busy lives, finding inner peace is an invaluable pursuit. While yoga is often seen as a solitary practice, it teaches us that the journey towards inner peace can be greatly enhanced when we embrace the support and connection of a community.
Fall Service week 2022 will benefit Healing Pines Respite in Chapel Hill, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides healing for women with cancer through rest, connection, and nature. Proceeds from our classes during the week of October 31st - November 6th will be donated to support women who are actively undergoing treatment and women who are up to three years post-treatment, and promote the healing of mind, body, and spirit.
This quarter we have updated and expanded our Karma Class initiative to a full week of service. Our intention is to make participation easily accessible. The proceeds from all of the group classes during the week of February 14th, which we are calling Service Week, will be donated to Compass Center for Women and Families, a 501(c)3 charitable organization aligned to our values. When the community comes together to support each other and those in need, everyone benefits. Service Week is an initiative to keep our DE&I statement a living document.
Service promotes togetherness and builds a strong community. That’s why service is one of the five components of resiliency. Service along with mindful movement, stretching, humor, and pranayama offer a roadmap to thriving when faced with adversity. Doing something good for others is an antidote to isolation. Studies have shown that between 2020 and 2021 there was an increased rate of depressive symptoms. Isolation contributes to poor health such as heart disease, depression, and premature death. In stark contrast, studies have found a correlation between those who help others and reduced mortality.
