Summer is a season of expansion - longer days, warmer nights, and a chance to open ourselves to the full and abundant energy. Summer invites us to embrace the vibrant qualities of the season: growth, activity, and celebration. Yet with all this outward energy, it’s easy to get caught in the busyness of “doing” and forget the value of “being.”
Imagine practicing yoga surrounded by the delicate beauty of spring—wildflowers nodding gently in the breeze, the scent of fresh herbs and tea leaves in the air. This is the magic of the Tea House, where nature and mindfulness intertwine to create a space for deep connection. We invite you to embrace the season’s rising energy in our April yoga series.
Meditation is not a linear journey. It’s not about achieving a specific state or reaching a final destination. Instead, it’s a variable practice that shifts and evolves. This fluidity makes meditation an opportunity for exploration rather than a pursuit of perfection. It invites us to let go of binary perspectives such as good or bad, right or wrong, failure or success.
Do you feel like meditation just isn’t for you? You’re not alone. Meditation is often seen as a gateway to calm, clarity, and balance. But the truth is, sitting in silence can feel anything but peaceful. It’s important to understand that meditation isn’t about achieving peacefulness. It’s about learning to focus on a single thought, noticing distractions, and gently guiding your attention back.
As the calendar turns and the new year approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the tide of resolutions and the pressure to “start fresh.” We draft lists of goals and set rigid expectations, believing that January 1st marks the start of a perfect, linear path toward self-improvement. But what if we approached the new year differently? What if, instead of rigid resolutions, we embraced curiosity, intention, and a willingness to ease into this next chapter with grace?
Yin yoga incorporates the opportunity to spend more time in lying, kneeling and seated yoga poses. This practice provides an environment where we can spend time nourishing the deeper layers of the body and energy meridians, while incorporating mindfulness practices to support calming of the mind and nervous system.
Aviva had the pleasure of sitting down with her friend Melissa Russell for an interview about the upcoming iRest Lunchtime Learning on May 17th 11:45 am - 1:00 pm. iRest is a yoga nidra meditation that takes you on a journey through the koshas (the feeling, breath, mind, wisdom, and joy bodies) to facilitate deep rest and healing.
Meditation is an invitation to mindfully switch from thinking to observing. A regular meditation practice has the power to open your heart and mind to the present and keep you focused and grounded in the face of adversity. The best part is, it can be done anywhere, anytime!
Dogwood Studios is excited to be hosting many opportunities to commit or recommit to your meditation practice. Keep track you commitment to enter into drawing to win a prize. Sign up for a lunchtime learning, group yoga class with 15 minutes of meditation, Friday Evening or morning mediation using the calendar on our Class Sign Up Page.
This May, Dogwood Studios will be hosting many opportunities to develop a steadfast and determined commitment towards mediation. Natasha Rizopoulos explains in Yoga Journal Article, “If you can be resolute in your efforts and, in equal measure, not be fixated on the outcome of those efforts, your consciousness will become less hectic, and your vrittis (mental modifications or habitual thought patterns) will still or settle.”
When we experience joy in our yoga practice - the whole body benefits. The mind, body, and heart are aligned. When we connect with joy, we are reminded of why we show up to practice yoga. There’s less need to put pressure on ourselves, and instead we find space to live more intentionally and in harmony on and off the mat.
You don't always need to roll out your mat to do your yoga practice. The tools and techniques of yoga can be practiced in your everyday life and they can help you find good posture in your daily activities. Practicing sitting well in everyday life such as driving, working, eating or relaxing on the couch can help reduce stiffness and pain in the lower back and hips.
