As we enter into 2023, we invite you to join Dogwood Studios with the intention of LOVE and LIGHT.
We will explore this intention in two classes this week: January 4th 10-11:30 am Mindful Movement and January 6th 6:15 pm-7:30 pm-ish Yin Yoga. We would be honored if you joined us.
Wednesday January 4th at 10 am EST Mindful Movement and Yoga will be held at The Parlour. Space is still available to participate In Person. You can also participate Online.
Friday January 6th at 6:15pm EST Sam will host Yin Yoga at Yoga Shala. Participate In Person or Online.
Learn more about our monthly Yin Yoga offering on our website.
Too often this time of year we are bombarded with messages of New Year’s resolution. We ought to have a new year and a new you. Hidden in these messages is an underlying tone that you are lacking and that you need to make yourself better. However, simply creating a resolution usually doesn’t stick. We think we need to change our external environment and make the resolution to exercise more, lose weight, eat less sugar… Typically, a month later we give up on these resolutions and think I just couldn’t do it. Setting a resolution often attempts to change a habit without changing the internal mindset.
Instead, a more practical and long lasting approach is to set a New Year Intention, one that is not associated with an external habit. When you set an intention, you plant a seed in your subconscious that blossoms into a new thought pattern, which in turn allows one to change their mindset and ultimately change behavior. Dr. Joe Dispenza explains, “By holding a clear and firm intention and heightening our emotional energy, we have to create a new internal experience in our minds and bodies that’s greater than the past external experience. When we decide to create a new belief, the amplitude or energy of that choice must be high enough that it’s greater than the hardwired programs and emotional conditioning in the body.” When we hold onto a heartfelt internal intention, we can train our brains to hold onto new thoughts that are aligned to our intention. This environment will support cultivating awareness of Your Internal Refuge, a place that helps us be less reactive to feelings of wanting or judgment that comes from fear, and supports our getting familiar with our true Self.
Take time to pause and encounter a sense of inner peace and calm connection filled with Love and Light.
What comes to mind when you read these words? Set your phone timer for 5 minutes. Invite yourself to pause, sit and mentally recite "Love and Light". If sitting is hard, do this on your back.
Now add the mental image of a safe glowing light. Maybe stay for a few minutes or until the timer chimes. As you finish, hug across your chest and rock like you would a trusted friend . . .Your Light as that trusted friend.
Doing small contemplative practices to reveal Your Light, a true New Years Intention.
Pausing to connect to Your Light or your Internal Refuge, supports our mental health and can help with anxiety. Our Inner Light dispels thoughts that are misunderstandings (false, like "I am not good enough.") - from our fear and being unblended with your true self (Light). We can support relief from common suffering by simple practices that support our accessing our inner refuge to explore our Inner Light.
Also, practicing exploring our Internal Refuge with a community can support the awareness of the interdependence of each of Our Light to Others.
We hope to continue to share our yoga practice with you in 2023. Sign up for a class today!
The Dogwood Team is collaborating with Bev Dyer and the NC Botanical Garden to offer a full day of yoga and art retreat, The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden on Saturday, March 11 from 8:30am-3:00pm at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill.
Explore and express the garden of your inner landscape.
Tend to the inner garden of the heart with mindful movement and creative art journaling
Immerse in the beautiful backdrop of the fall landscape at the Botanical Gardens.
Registration is through NC Botanical Garden. Reserve your seat HERE.
Reach out to us with your questions at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.