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COMMUNITY YOGA DAY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th, 2023
Our fourth group of 200-hr Yoga Teacher Trainees (YTTs), affectionately known as "DELTA" are graduating on September 10th! These past nine months have been nothing short of amazing so we're inviting you in on the celebration :) As part of their final practicum, YTTs are to: 1) lead a 60-minute community yoga class; and 2) create and facilitate a Sankofa Seva, a service project applying yoga's ethical principles to address social justice issues. Read below about their amazing work and join their community classes on Sat., September 9th from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Classes are FREE and held IN-STUDIO only!
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Upstairs Studio (please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier)
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8:30 – 9:30 am Power Flow w/ Haley
10:00 – 11:00 pm Eclipse Flow w/ Shanté
11:30 – 12:30 pm Room for Rest w/ Kendra
1:00 - 2:00 pm Release + Flow w/ Pamgrace
Downstairs Studio (please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier)
9:00 – 10:00 am Limitless: A Boundless Vinyasa Flow & Sound Bath w/ Javaz
10:30 – 11:30 am Power and Push w/ Tia
12:00 – 1:00 pm Sweet and Slow Flow w/ Natalie
1:30 – 2:30 pm Own The Room - A Vinyasa Flow w/ Adrianne
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Haley Reynolds
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Power Flow
Sat. September 9, 2023
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Upstairs
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Looking to build some heat and challenge yourself? This yoga class is a combination of vinyasa and power yoga. A mix of breath, traditional sun salutations, and strength building postures to ignite the power within.
The power of Saucha. Where Attention goes, Energy Flows.
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Through the lens of Saucha, Haley’s SEVA project is to bring awareness to the negative impact of pollution in our environment and mindset.
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MISSION: Inspire the community to welcome Saucha or purity of thoughts and surroundings into their lifestyle. Allowing themselves and others the ability to receive grace. Embracing the power of the mind and the impact it can have on your environment.
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GOAL: Help others cultivate a practice centered in Saucha. Encouraging you to let go of negative thoughts and what we cannot control. Instead focusing on things we can control, like our outlook on life and how we show up in the world. One way I can do this is by facilitating a mindful flow in nature, followed by a community-based effort to clean up litter in surrounding areas. This is a simple way for anyone to embody the power of Saucha.
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DATE: 09/01/2023
LOCATION: Baltimore County
Javaz Huntington
Community Yoga Class
Shanté Owens-Young
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Limitless: A Boundless Vinyasa Flow & Sound Bath
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Sat. September 9, 2023
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Downstairs
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Embark on a transformative journey with this invigorating flow. Move, breathe, and expand to dissolve limitations and embrace your true capabilities. Unleash inner strength, radiate boundless energy, and conclude with rejuvenation through a soothing sound bath.
Sankofa Seva Project
Empowering Women of Color Through Menopause: Embracing Change and Finding Balance
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Explore the unique importance of the menopause journey for Women of Color and its broader community impact. Inspire women to embrace the possibilities of this life stage, guided by the yogic principles of Ahimsa - fostering self-compassion amidst physical and emotional changes. Svadhyaya encourages introspection, empowering informed decisions about well-being, while Santosha cultivates contentment, promoting acceptance of menopause-related changes and gratitude for wisdom gained during this transformative phase.
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MISSION: To foster a nurturing and inclusive haven where Women of Color can openly share their unique experiences, navigate challenges, and find collective support during their transformative menopause journey.
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GOAL: To initiate thought-provoking discusisons aimed at raising awareness and enhancing understanding of the multifaceted menopause phase. Through these conversations, we aspire to introduce the healing potential of yoga, empowering women with invaluable insights into their health choices and rights.
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DATE: August 19, 2023
LOCATION: Laurel, MD
Eclipse Flow
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Sat. September 9, 2023
10:00 AM -11:00 AM
Upstairs
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Balance is essential to life both on and off the mat! In this vinyasa influenced flow, we will warm and cool our bodies by exploring Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) and Chandra Namaskara (Moon Salutation) to deepen the mind and body connection to create balance.
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The Caring Bears
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The Caring Bears workshop was designed for Black women in the field of education and/education to explore Asteya (non-stealing), Tapas (Self-discipline), and Svadhyaya (Self-study) through community discussion, journaling, yoga flow, and breath work.
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MISSION: To create a space for Black women who work in education and/or mental health fields to learn ways to release emotional trauma and stress in order to make room for nourishment to care for oneself.
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GOAL: To provide the Caring Bears with tools and strategies to care for themselves to foster and encourage space for self discovery and exploration by prioritizing rest and self nourishment.
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DATE: Friday, July 28, 2023
LOCATION: The Harriett Tubman Cultural Center Columbia, MD
Theodorsia (Tia) Finisterre
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Power and Push
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Sat. September 9, 2023
10:30 AM -11:30 AM
Downstairs
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This is a fire building flow. We will start with a deep release, move into dynamic stretching and eventually into a yoga meets HIIT flow. This class is recommended for people who want a burn.
Yoga for the Elderly & Blessing Bags
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My project focuses on two parts. First, It introduces Santosha to seniors through breath work and flow. It focuses appreciation and gratefulness of movement and allows us to thankful for what we can do today. The second part focuses on Aparigraha , which teaches not to become attached to things of the world. I will create health conscious blessing bags for each senior that attends the class using my own resources.
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MISSION: To introduce subtle movement and bring blessings to a community of sedentary seniors by teaching yoga moves, breathing techniques and handing out healthy blessing bags.
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GOAL: To work with seniors by introducing movements that can be performed in their day to day lives as well as putting together blessing bags with healthy senior friendly items.
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DATE: September 2, 2023
LOCATION: Lynchburg, VA
Kendra Watson
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Room for Rest
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Sat. September 9, 2023
11:30 AM -12:30 PM
Upstairs
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Join me for an hour of deep relaxation and centering. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life so make time and space for yourselves today, you deserve it! In this restorative class you will connect your mind to the body and the breathe and leave feeling grounded, centered and serene! Suitable for all levels.
Showing up for our Community: Back to School Drive
According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, twenty-two percent of children live in families with incomes that fall below the poverty line (NCCP). Throughout a two week period our community will come together to provide for those in need. I approach this community event through the lens of aparigraha and saucha, hoping to cultivate a space where those with excess can release attachment to material things and/or cleanse clutter from their lives, all with the goal of helping provide for students before they go back to school.
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MISSION: To provide support to individuals as they head back to school by providing a space for them to receive the materials they need in a community-oriented way.
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GOAL: The goal of this project is to bring the community together to address the school supply gap that is a reality for so many of our young students.
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DATE: August 14, 2023 - August 26, 2023
LOCATION: Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
Natalie Cone
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Sweet and Slow Flow
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Sat. September 9, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Downstairs
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Take some time to slow down, relax, and recenter through this grounding and accessible yoga class. This moving meditation will create space for you to nourish your body and spirit by connecting with your breath, moving with ease and grace into a slow vinyasa flow, and finding comfort in restorative postures. All levels are welcome.
Rooted in Ritual: A Contemplative Experience For Women Leaders to Reground, Renew, and Release
Guided by the yoga principles of Svadyaya (self-study) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), this gathering will use the tools of yoga, breathwork, meditation, nature, and silence to guide and support women in self-reflection and create space to vision and align with values. This event will also be an opportunity to collect clothing and toiletries to donate to a local shelter.
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MISSION: To gather a group of women together to rediscover and reconnect to what matters most and to cultivate the grounded practices and rituals that support them in showing up fully and authentically while giving back and serving others.
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GOAL: To create a safe space for women leaders to reground in their bodies, reconnect with their values, and to leave with a renewed sense of spirit.
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DATE: September 4, 2023
LOCATION: Hyattsville, MD
Pamgrace Gachenge
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
RELEASE + FLOW
Sat. September 9, 2023
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Upstairs
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Move your body with an active intention to RELEASE. Flow engaging in active pranayama (inhale x exhale) paired with total body activation cardio. This class is design to give you that extra push and reminder that you need to do the hard stuff. Ideal for those who want have a fitness and cardio experience.
Mindfulness Ahimsa (Non-Violence) Flow
Through the lens of ahimsa, Pamgrace’s Sankofa Seva project addresses the power of mind and the art of kindness. Brief Description: The Mindfulness Ahimsa (Non-Violence) Flow will be based on Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the principle of not causing harm to self and others. Avoiding physical, verbal, and mental harm with speech and thought. In essence, it is intentional love, kindness, and grace to yourself, neighbor, and any living thing.
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MISSION: Breathing New Life. Restore power within all of us through awareness of ahimsa we can be proactive in creating a world of peace, love, and joy. A place free of violence and filled with kindness.
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GOAL: To create facilitate yoga to participants at the Project Pnuema - 5K Breathing New Life 5K.
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DATE: August 12, 2023
LOCATION: Baltimore, MD
Adrianne L Atwater
Community Yoga Class
Sankofa Seva Project
Own The Room - A Vinyasa Flow
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Sat. September 9, 2023
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Downstairs
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Own The Room is a Vinyasa flow with the goal of inspiring participants to take charge of their space. Using body movements to bring awareness to self; while finding stability, safety, and comfort in the spaces we hold. It is hoped all participants leave the class feeling emboldened, strong, confident, self assured to show up as their authentic selves - and carry that energy into all places traveled. It's your [body/ mind/ life/ world/ moment/ space]. Own it!
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I'm Focused - Back to School MIndfulness. A time to breathe for mom and son.
The purpose of this Seva project is for mom and teen-son to take a collective breath. Getting ready for B2S can be stressful for both mom and son, with many unsaid challenges on both sides. Our sons face stereotypes from the public/ adults/ teachers. Peer pressure from fellow students. They are curious about relationships/ attraction. What is a reputation? Is it helpful or harmful? Clothing - the "right" style/ Breaking the bank for mom. How do our sons see Black culture and community today, and do they have a place in it? During this program we want to try to filter some of these questions and regulate thoughts with a honest group discussion to get minds and spirits on the right track. Today we will continue to build community/ a supportive network of Black moms and sons with 90 minutes of information and resource sharing, mental health check-ins, and lively group discussions concentrating on sending Black sons back to school safely for an amazingly productive school year.
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MISSION: To get Mind and Spirit Right for Black Moms and Teen Sons.
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GOAL:
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Increase awareness of mental health fragility and stress in all stages of life. Mapping out coping strategies for moms and sons.
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Naming supportive ways to capture moments of self care.
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Showing support and community to our Black sons.
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Preparing for academic, social, emotional success
DATE: August 26, 2023
LOCATION: Private residence