Yoga for Community Care + Spring/Summer offerings

 

 Each year, I look forward to the beauty and cheer from the flowers. I love finding my favorite blossoms and wait each spring season for the glory of the lady slipper orchid to bloom in the woods close to my home. These endangered flowers show up at the end of May into June and stand strong in a sea of dead leaves and dirt. Their presence is essential for maintaining our ecosystem relying on a process of symbiosis to grow and thrive. The symbolism and history of the lady slipper or moccasin flower, is rooted in Native American folklore telling the story of a brave, young woman searching for medicine to save her tribe. As she journeyed, she lost her moccasins in the snow, collapsing with swollen, frozen feet. The lady slipper that grows in spring is said to sprout up where her footprints once were, and remains a reminder of strength, courage, and the healing power of flowers. Honoring those who came before us and sharing these stories brings perspective to the power and purpose of nature.

Nature is all around us, we are connected to every moment and seasonal/climate shift. As urban populations grow and environmental degradation increases, the human nature connection is vital to preserving biodiversity. Promoting sustainable practices, ensuring access to green spaces for all, and making nature connection a priority can ensure our health and well-being. Spending time in nature has positive effects on our mental and physical health, reducing stress, improving mood, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

Nature is the great connector, serving to inspire creativity, resilience, emphasizing a greater sense of connection with others and the Earth. Erich Fromm's use of the word 'biophilia' describes the human drive to connect with nature and other living things influencing all aspects of our health. Whatever season we are in with nature and our lives, taking the time to observe, notice, and be present has powerful benefits threading us together in this big, expansive, unknown universe we live in. 

This time of year is busy as work/school schedules change and we look toward warmer weather and summer vacations. Finding time to slow down and enjoy the quiet moments of stillness through all the action and movement our busy days bring is at the heart of yoga practice. 

I hope you will join me for a FREE in-person or virtual 4-week yoga series through the Melrose Public Library. We will meet Friday mornings in June at 11:00 AM for an hour long yoga practice. Each class will include accessible yoga poses, attention to breath, and mindful awareness to bring in supportive care and community connection as we shift from spring into summer. Suggested props for class include a yoga mat/towel, and/or blanket, strap, yoga blocks, extra pad for knee cushioning, and an optional eye pillow. Classes are free and open to all to join, expect a a moderate yoga flow where we will move from seated to standing to lying down poses. Register online for either in-person or virtual attendance. If attending in person, please allow extra time for parking and settling into class. 

Yoga and meditation highlights for this season:

Mobility Flow {for the upper body} is a ~ 26 min practice that focuses on releasing tension and tightness in the head, neck, shoulders, and arms.  

'Soften & Shine'  is a guided meditation honoring the beauty of spring into summer.

Please find my updated schedule and links to FREE yoga and meditation below.

Weekly in-person yoga classes:

Wednesday Chair Yoga (10a-11a) at the Melrose YMCA.

Thursday Mat Yoga (8:45a-9:45a) + Chair Yoga (10a-11a) at the Milano Senior Center.

*NO YOGA on 6/19/25 and 7/3/25.

I'll continue to sub in yoga classes at all Metro North YMCA branches in Melrose, Saugus, Peabody, and Lynn as my schedule allows. 

For June, I'm scheduled to sub Yoga Sculpt on Wednesday 6/11 8:30a-9:30a at the Melrose YMCA .

FREE yoga videos on YouTube

FREE guided meditations on Insight Timer

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning both "circle" and "center" representing the visible world around us and the invisible world within us. I made a nature mandala for our current new moon cycle that leads us from spring into summer. The scent (grape juice & honey) and sight of the purple bearded iris is a spring favorite ~ symbolizing passion and action surrounded by allium flowers, pansy, mint, and bright yellow coreopsis. These small moments help me to stay clear and focused on my intention/goals for this season.