On Saturday, October 29 from 8:30am-3:00pm at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, we invite you to The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden retreat. Step into a garden and you will encounter a bountiful display of creativity: the vining of the mischievous Morning Glory, the colorful blossoming of Chrysanthemum, the flopping spread of purple Asters and yellow Goldenrod. All around, flowers showcase their beauty, pollinators buzz around, plumes of grass sway in the wind, birds sing their melodies. Whether this garden is a container garden on a balcony or a landscaped backyard, it is sure to inspire awe and a sense of presence.
Balancing Emotional Energy
Emotion is the experience of energy moving through the body, according to social psychologist Barbara Frederickson, Ph.D. In its essence, energy is fluid and is meant to be felt and released; the same is true for emotions. Emotion is not inherently good or bad, rather it’s our physiological response to emotion that is perceived as positive or negative. Emotion is felt as a sensation that often manifests as contraction or expansion in both the physical and subtle bodies.
The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden
We invite you to explore the meaning of Hope in our upcoming mindfulness retreat The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden on Saturday, October 29 from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the NC Botanical Garden. Feel inspired by nature to explore your own inner landscape through the practice of mindful movement, meditation, and creative journaling.
Coming soon: Slow Flow Yoga Thursday Evenings!
Join us as we honor the season and slow down in Slow Flow! Starting Thursday October 6th, Ainslee will be guiding a weekly Thursday evening Slow Flow yoga class at 5:45 pm. In this class we will move through each asana sequence slowly and mindfully. We will explore the transitions between poses with curiosity while deeply strengthening the body and investigating the felt sensations of the body and the breath.
Collaboration with Acupuncture Healing Center
Yoga Promotes Overall Wellness
Since attending my first yoga class a little over a decade ago, I have become a healthier individual. I am stronger. I digest my food better. I am more confident and connect better with others. I am more aware of how I move and have maintained my flexibility. I have found my sense of spirituality and embrace opportunities to be in community. I have learned to accept my emotions and noticed that I am more balanced. I make myself a priority and don’t overextend myself. I continue to become healthier each day despite continuing to age. Yoga is not the only factor that enhanced my overall wellbeing. However, yoga was the catapult that promoted me to start making changes.
Sunrise [or Early Morning] Yoga at the Garden!
Befriend Your Monkey Mind
People often tell me that they can’t meditate because they have a monkey mind. However, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. A monkey mind can’t stop you from meditating nor does meditating stop the monkey mind. For most people it is present. As Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche so eloquently says, “The monkey mind is neither good nor bad.” Monkey mind is neutral. It is your relationship with the monkey mind that determines its label. Meditation is the perfect time to explore our relationship with our monkey mind and how to befriend the monkey mind.
Osteoporosis and Yoga Workshop this Saturday
Osteoporosis affects 24 million Americans. The most common injury related to osteoporosis is bone fracture, which is especially common in the spine and hips. Yoga practices move the spine and hips in all directions, therefore it is important to learn about and experience movements that do not load your spine so you can continue practicing yoga safely even if you experience bone loss.
There is space for the online option of our Osteoporosis and Yoga Workshop happening this Saturday.