Rest
Dear Oyster Bay Yogis,
Happy December! Go EASY on yourself. I hope you can continue to take some time out of your busy holiday/end-of-year schedule for a little bit of rest, it’s our theme of the month! As an added incentive, this month in my classes we’ll be taking extended savasana. Don’t worry, if savasana is the hardest posture for you, We’ll be guiding you through some relaxation techniques so your busy mind has something non-stressful to chew on.
Consider what you might need to receive from your practice this time of year. It’s ok to let your practice grow, or slow, or change WITH you. That’s what will help sustain us, and keep us coming back. Take some time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished this year on your mat - thank yourself for each and every conscious breath! And, if the people you love the most in this world are annoying you through the holidays - leave your house, skip down to the studio for an hour, and come back to your breath. Nothing makes me happier than to see you get your break for the day within our 4 walls. Thanks for filling our space with your smiling face these past 12 months. Cheers to a happy, healthy 2024!
See you on the mat,
Amy
Pose of the Month
Viparita Karani: Legs Up the Wall
This month at the studio we breakdown
Viparita Karani: Legs Up the Wall.
Learn how best to practice this pose in any class all month long!
Sutra of the Month
Patanjali's teachings in Sutra 2.5 emphasizes the concept of avoiding future suffering or pain. It suggests that through the practice of yoga, individuals can prevent or mitigate suffering that might arise in the future. The implication is that by living a life in alignment with yogic principles, one can reduce the causes of suffering and lead a more harmonious and fulfilling existence.
In this sutra, Patanjali introduces the concept of "klesas," which are mental and emotional obstacles that can disturb the balance of the mind. He identifies five primary klesas as ignorance (avidya), egoism (asmita), attachment (raga), aversion (dvesa), and fear of death (abhinivesah). The Yoga Sutras emphasize that these klesas are the sources of suffering and that by recognizing them and working to overcome them through yoga practice, individuals can attain a state of mental clarity, tranquility, and liberation from suffering. The practice of yoga, including ethical guidelines, asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation, is aimed at reducing the influence of these klesas and achieving a state of self-realization and inner peace.
Oil of the Month
Our December OOTM is:
Tranquil
“Tranquil was formulated to assist you in achieving mental relaxation, helping you to feel more at ease and bringing about a sense of well-being. The soothing aroma is refreshing to the body and the mind, supporting a sense of serenity. It makes a wonderful bedtime companion, as these soothing and grounding oils will help calm your mind and fall into a restful sleep. This blend also works to reduce worry and its effects that can cause you to feel out of control at any time of day. It promotes a calming atmosphere that promotes mental relaxation and a sense of tranquility.” -Plant Therapy
Enjoy 20% off your purchase of Tranquil essential oil all month at the studio.
Monthly Challenge Winner
Our Monthly Challenge Winner for November 2023 is:
Amanda Russo
Congratulations Amanda! You attended 25 classes in the month of November, and you’ll get your next month of membership for free! Great job!
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community. We love having you in class!
Who will be our December winner?
Holiday Stroll by the Bay 2023
Once again, the Oyster Bay - East Norwich Chamber of Commerce & the Oyster Bay Main Street Association brings to you this beloved annual Holiday event.
Oyster Bay Yoga will have extended hours, from 1:00-6:00pm on Saturday, December 9th, for all your gift giving needs! Take a stroll around town, check out the shops and market, grab some gifts for friends and loved ones, grab a bite, grab a drink, and be merry!
Festivities kick off at noon with the kid's ice skating rink. The market begins at 1pm! There will be continuous activities throughout the afternoon including a visit from SANTA! Tree Lighting will be around sunset (appx 4:30). See you there!
Members: Gift One Free Class Pass
We wanted to say a special happy holidays to all of our members!
To all of our current members, we are gifting one free class pass to each of you to bring a loved one to the studio! The next time you visit, be sure to stop by our front desk to get your pass. Once you've gifted the pass, make sure that person fills out their name, email and phone number so we can add them to their class of choice.
Passes expire January 31st, 2024, so grab them ASAP!
Happy Holidays
The studio will have some schedule changes for the Christmas & New Year’s holidays. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, December 24th: The studio will be closed for Christmas Eve
Monday, December 25th: The studio will be closed for Christmas Day
Sunday, December 31st: The 4:15pm Flow & Restore class will be canceled
Monday, January 1st: There will only be one class on this day. Sign up now for our 75 minute New Year’s Day All Levels Flow Class at 10:30am with Sydney Matuszak.
We wish you a very happy holiday season with your friends and family! ❄️
Follow us to stay connected for upcoming events and news
Events
Pajama Yoga
Friday, December 1st
6:30pm-7:30pm
with Diana Singh
Bring your little ones (ages 4-10) dressed in their pajamas to a fun and interactive yoga class! Class includes gentle stretches, games, and stories to help them wind down and prepare for a peaceful sleep. And to top it off, we'll provide milk & cookies for a sweet treat before bed. Don't miss out on this cozy and enjoyable experience!
Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.
$20 per child
Healing Hands: Restorative Aromatherapy
Sunday, December 3rd
2:00-4:00pm
with Nancy Rich & Peggy Adair
Join us for a soothing 2-hour Healing Hands Workshop, a truly transformative experience that will leave you feeling replenished and renewed.
In this workshop, Nancy and Peggy will expertly guide you through the realms of meditation, restorative postures, and gentle movement. But that's not all—prepare to be embraced by the soothing touch of hands-on adjustments and the delightful scents of aromatherapy, enhancing your journey into relaxation and healing. Allow the stress to melt away!
Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.
$55 per person (10% off for members)
Yoga Nidra
Friday, December 8th
7:00-8:30pm
with Nancy Rich
Yoga nidra is the art of conscious relaxation. You will learn techniques which will allow you to reach new states of conscious awareness with acute perception of both your physical and subtle body. As you practice these techniques you will feel the flow of prana move through physical, emotional, and energetic blockages. The end result is the healing of the body and mind and the expansion of consciousness.
The sessions are done laying down or sitting and are appropriate for EVERYONE, regardless of physical limitations.
Yoga Nidra allows us to heal deeply held patterns of energy in our bodies, manifest health and wellness, and consciously create whatever it is that we want to create for ourselves in this lifetime!
Experience the peace and joy that you are.
Nourish yourself in the many additional benefits of Yoga Nidra:
✦ Improves functioning of the immune system
✦ Lowers blood pressure
✦ Pain & inflammation reduction
✦ Helps to stabilize blood sugar
✦ Calms & cools the nervous system, while improving & stabilizing mood
✦ It treats insomnia, psychological disorders, & psychosomatic diseases.
✦ Relaxes the mind, relieving stress & anxiety
✦ Helps in enhancing memory & increases capacity for learning
✦ Relieves muscular, emotional & mental tension
✦ Results in increased energy levels
Please dress in comfortable layers and bring a bed pillow.
$45 per person (10% off for members)
Yin Yoga
Sunday, December 10th
2:00pm-3:15pm
with Barbara Kataisto
Are you moving too fast?
Doing too many things at one time?
Too much "mind chatter" or just want to slow down?
Yin yoga can provide an antidote for this.
This class will guide you through a series of poses that are primarily done sitting and lying down. The poses are held for 2-5 minutes at a time to allow connective tissues (fascia, ligaments) to soften, lengthen and lubricate. A yin yoga practice compliments a yang practice and allows for a more balanced approach to life.
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Friday Night Flow: Holiday
Friday, December 15th
6:00pm-7:00pm
with Anne Davidson
'Tis the season to celebrate! Join us for an hour of festive tunes and a spirited all-levels flow class that will get you into the holiday mood.
$15 to drop-in/FREE for members
Tween Yoga
Sunday, December 17th
2:00-3:00pm
with Sydney Matuszak
Winter is just around the corner, and at Oyster Bay Yoga, we're gearing up for an exciting adventure! Imagine a world where a massive snowstorm blankets our studio, and we embark on an epic journey to reach our cozy cabins. We’ll travel through a snowstorm, across the lake on slippery ice, and up the mountain to warmth!
Our class is all about finding balance, both on and off our mats. We'll also learn how to calm our minds before the start of the holiday season. We invite parents to bring their tween kids, ages 8-13, to join us on this journey of self-discovery. It's a wonderful opportunity for tweens to connect with themselves and find joy in the present moment.
$20 per child
New Year’s Day All-Levels Flow
Monday, January 1st
10:30-11:45am
with Sydney Matuszak
Let us all take that LEAP forward into the New Year.
This year is a leap year! One extra day in this year to become more aligned with who we want to be in our lives. How can we become more in tune with ourselves after the busyness of the season?
In this class, we’ll find ourselves in a lot of twists and folds as we look inward. Class will end with a 15 minute meditation practice to find stillness, which allows our minds to become quiet and cultivate mindfulness.
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Exploring the Mind: Pranayama, Prana and the Mind
Sunday, January 14th
2:00-4:00pm
with Martha Flanagan
Join Martha Flanagan for a three part series as we explore the mind through breath, mantra and meditation. Each workshop will be an illuminating journey to discover the depths of your mind and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
This first workshop will be an introduction into the practice and experience of awakening, directing, and stabilizing prana through the breath and body. The breath is the link that connects the mind with our body and subsequently our spirit. When we direct the flow of breath, we can control our thoughts and direct our mind. This will lead to a sense of freedom and peace.
All workshops will be 2 hours long. The classes will culminate in the sacred sound of the gong. This is a beginner friendly series. Please be prepared to sit for longer periods of time. If you’ve always wanted to delve in deeper with the mind, these gatherings are for you. Tea will be provided.
Feel free to attend one, some, or all sessions.
The dates for these workshops will be:
Sunday, January 14th
Sunday, February 4th
Sunday, March 3rd
$75 for Each Workshop
$55 Early Bird Special (Ends 12/22)
10% Off for Members
Yoga Book Club
Sunday, January 21st
6:00-8:00pm
with Peggy Adair
Save the date for our next Yoga Book Club meet up! Get ready to move with Peggy Adair in a one hour all levels yoga flow. Following the yoga session, we'll delve into a book discussion on Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Bring all your insights on this remarkable book!
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to nourish your body, expand your mind, and connect with like-minded individuals who share a love for both yoga and literature! Make sure to stop by our neighbors, Theodore's Books, and get a 15% discount on the book. Grab your mat, BYO drinks & snacks, and write down all your questions about our book pick!
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates
EVENTS
Pajama Yoga: Friday, 12/1 & the 1st Friday of each month at 6:30pm with Diana Singh
Healing Hands: Restorative Aromatherapy: Sunday, 12/3 at 2:00pm with Nancy Rich & Peggy Adair
Yoga Nidra: Friday, 12/8 at 7:00pm with Nancy Rich
Yin Yoga: Sunday, 12/10 at 2:00pm with Barbara Kataisto
Friday Night Flow: Holiday: Friday, 12/15 at 6:00pm with Anne Davidson
Tween Yoga: Sunday, 12/17 at 2:00pm with Sydney Matuszak
New Year’s Day All Levels Flow: Monday, 1/1 at 10:30am with Sydney Matuszak
Exploring the Mind: Pranayama, Prana and the Mind: Sunday, 1/14 at 2:00pm with Martha Flanagan
Yoga Book Club: Sunday, 1/21 at 6:00pm with Peggy Adair
SCHEDULE UPDATES
Sunday, December 24th: The studio will be closed for Christmas Eve
Monday, December 25th: The studio will be closed for Christmas Day
Sunday, December 31st: The 4:15pm Flow & Restore class will be canceled
Monday, January 1st: There will only be one class on this day. Sign up now for our 75 minute New Year’s Day All Levels Flow Class at 10:30am with Sydney Matuszak.
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Until then, stay well,
Amy
