Isn’t it time?
Tonight we spring forward. We arbitrarily get to make the time something different then what it was today. Daylight savings time began so we can enjoy the extra sunshine during the warmer months. It is a reminder that Spring is here and with it comes warmer temperatures, daffodils, fresh air, and spring cleaning.
The practice of spring cleaning is rooted in several different ancient traditions from around the world. Traditionally it was the time to remove any unleavened bread, down to the tiniest of crumbs, to prepare the home for Passover. In American history it is associated with the removal of all the soot from your house that has built up over the long winter when fires kept your house warm.
In yoga philosophy Saucha is one of the Niyama’s, or tenants, as part of the 8 limbed path of yoga. Saucha translates to cleanliness. This could be the rituals you do to keep your own body clean and healthy, it could be ridding your mind of unhealthy or negative thoughts and feelings, or as simple as removing your shoes when you walk into a yoga studio. The idea of a yoga practice is to allow us to notice our habits and to discern the ones that serve us and the ones we can get rid of, coming towards a state in which everything we do aids us towards being happier, healthier, and more awake and aware in life.
I have been spending an inordinate amount of time in the yogaview studio this year....by myself. I have practiced and taught out of a studio that is normally filled with brilliant yoga teachers and a vibrant community. But for the last year it has been me and the plants. yogaview is re-opening this Monday, March 15th.
It is clean. I re-potted all the pants. My hope is that it is time.
May this Spring allow you to recognize the things that serve you and keep you happy and whole. Supporting small businesses, like yoga studios, have an effect on the entire community. I have really missed teaching and practicing with all of you in person.
I am adding a new Friday 4:30 class that will be IN STUDIO and not online and it begins this week. For those local, join me for this new class to end the week. The Vin/Yin class will be 30 minutes to get us moving followed by some much longer stretches with a dash of restorative. Sunday at 4pm I will be IN STUDIO beginning next Sunday, March 21st. It will remain virtual on Zoom too!
I also have two more FREE yoga classes through Giving Hearts Yoga. This organization is a non-profit and the classes offered are by donation. The charity I have chosen is The Innocence Project whose mission is to exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. Join me the next two Thursdays for class, or donate directly by clicking HERE and use the drop down box in PayPal and select “Jenny Kaufman- IP”.
Lastly, Jessica Sandstrom and I celebrate our 9th LIVE LOVE YOGA retreat May 24th - May 29th to Mexico and we have a few spots left. If you have been thinking about an experience like this, or just need to get away, IT IS TIME!
xoxo
JK