Tag: yoga

Sunrise Yoga News & Updates for June

Posted on by kathygorohoff in yoga

breathe

When Life Gets Crazy – Use Your Breath 

Do you ever feel like your head will explode with your next breath?

Do all the things going on in your life make you feel disconnected and untethered?

That is how I have been feeling lately. My life is going through a major transition right now and sometimes it’s hard to stop and breathe.

Every transition, big or small can be challenging in different ways. Whether you are moving, downsizing, changing cities for a new job, new babies, all the things that come in and change the way you were doing things, they all take a toll on your being.

During these challenging times, I try to remind myself that in each moment I have a choice. A choice to make the most of that moment and find the joy in every situation or to be annoyed, unhappy or bitter.  It might not be easy and I may not always make the right choice, but when I get overwhelmed I try and remember to practice what I teach, using the breath in each stressful moment that arises. To ground my feet to the earth or take a moment to notice the beauty in the trees or the sky, when I connect to my body and breath and the world around me, I am able to center and remember this is one of the little things. People move. We struggle. Yes, it is hard. But the payoff will be worth it and it doesn’t have to be perfect.

I will glue my head back on and we will move on with each day.

PS_yoga

 

SUMMER YOGA SCHEDULE

We are getting ready for the June Sunrise Yoga Series. The classes for June will be as follows:
June 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 (No Class on Friday, June 14th)

For more details and to sign up for the series, click here.

Summer is a busy time for everyone, I will be traveling and I know a lot of people have changing schedules, therefore there will be NO CLASSES in July and August.

I will keep you posted about the September Sunrise Series and I will continue to teach at Kula Movement in Ballard and there may be others opportunities on the horizon, stay tuned for more news at the end of the summer.

YOGA IN THE PARK sunset hill park

Join me at 9:30 am on Friday June 21st, International Yoga Day, for yoga in the park. We will practice for about an hour on the grass at Sunset Hill Park (rain or shine – might be shorter in the rain).

It will be a wonderful way to start the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, by connecting to the earth and honoring this planet we are on.

Class is donation based, you don’t need to be signed up for the series, but please click here to RSVP, then bring your mat and maybe a friend and show up! 

Dating back as far as 5000 years, in ancient India, yoga was considered a mental, physical, and spiritual way to practice meditation and transform the body and mind. So grab your yoga mat and let’s get to work. Namaste!

john-lubbock-summer

 

Happy Fall! September Is Here – Take Care Of Yourself!

Posted on by kathygorohoff in yoga

Taking Care of Yourself During the Vata Season 

Summer is behind us and we are now moving into the fall season. In Ayurveda (the sister science to yoga or science of life), fall is known as the vata season, when air and space combine and increase movement in our external environment, we see more wind these days, our skin might be a bit dryer, as well as the leaves, drying and falling from the trees. This season tends to leave us a little scattered, unbalanced and can lead to anxiety. This transition from summer to fall often seems to come on quickly. The temperature is cooler, the days are shorter and suddenly were looking for our wool sweaters because now it’s fall. During these shorter vata days, it is important to nourish and take care of yourself properly.

Here are a few tips that can help you move through the vata season smoothly:  

Food: During the fall and vata season, we are moving away from the cooler meals that we focused on over the summer and looking for more nourishing, filling meals. Things like whole food casseroles, hearty soups and baked veggies. And of course, splurge on pumpkin spice everything! One of my favorites of the season is the Pumpkin Bread mix from Trader Joe’s. It’s easy and you can make muffins or bread, add in dried fruit, nuts or chocolate chips for a treat.

Keep Moving:  The best advice for daily activity is to check in and ask yourself “does my physical movement/practice make me feel more grounded?” If not, skip it. Maybe this is the season to investigate more nourishing and slower paced yoga classes, slow down your running schedule or start swimming to take some of the pressure off your joints. In the end, make sure whatever you do helps you to stay grounded and connect with yourself. Remember, that every little bit of movement helps, parking a few steps further from the grocery store or setting reminders to do some chair yoga at your desk will give you a nice little boost in your day.

Lifestyle: The fall season also brings a lot of transitions, not just the changing temperatures, but family schedules and activities tend to ramp up during this time of year. Therefore, creating and sticking to a schedule is important to keep that vata energy in balance. While you are adding things to the schedule plan in some self-care time and some connection time with your partner or loved ones.

Vata season also allows for creativity, spontaneity and lightness. This is the time to dive into your creative endeavors, enjoy time connecting with friends and immerse yourself in the changing seasons. Get outdoors, play in a pile of leaves or take a hike in the woods and enjoy the transition of nature.

 

LOVE & KINDNESS … 

This week in class I wanted to focus on the theme love and kindness.

I recited the following chant: LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU, the meaning of this chant is simply, “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

When life gets difficult and challenges arise, keep this mantra in mind and try to connect with what brings happiness and joy to yourself and others.

 

FALL RECIPE: Slow Cooked Chickpea Coconut Curry With Sweet Potatoes from PopSugar 

During these busy fall days, throwing a bunch of ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and letting it cook all day is one of the best ways to get a fast and healthy dinner on the table. Not to mention all the spices will make your house smell amazing!

Click here to check out this easy, healthy and delicious recipe.

 

It’s not too late to join the September Sunrise Yoga Series. Classes are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 6:30 am at the Sunset Hill Community Club in Ballard. For an hour we will focus on nourishing and energizing our bodies to get ready for the day ahead. Click here to sign up online. $100 for the unlimited month or $15 to drop in. 

Offering New Yoga Classes in Ballard!

Posted on by kathygorohoff in yoga

I am SUPER excited!

Next week, I will start teaching yoga three mornings a week at a new spot in Ballard, 5 Lights Wellness. The practice space is beautiful! It holds about 8-10 people so classes will be small and intimate, allowing me to focus on what students really want and need.

FullSizeRender-2
Beautiful practice space at 5 Lights Wellness
Starting on Monday, September 11th, I will be teaching Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 6:30am (Vinyasa Flow class) and 9:30am (Yoga Energetics class), both classes are 60 minutes long and will be focused on moving energetically and gently in our bodies.
You can view the schedule, read about the classes and sign up at the website: https://5lightswellness.com/yoga/
We are offering a Grand Opening Special, $50 unlimited classes from September 11th – October 11th.
Sign up online to reserve your spot and let me know you are coming (you don’t need to pay until you come to class) – I would love to have some familiar faces join my classes! Feel free to tell your friends and family and pass the information on.
Let me know if you have any questions or if you need more information. I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

HAWAIIAN YOGA – LIVING ALOHA

Posted on by kathygorohoff in Family, Travel, yoga

Our family recently returned from beautiful vacation in Hawaii. We stayed on Maui and spent time in Ka’anapali, Lahaina and Paia. During our days in Ka’anapali we were traveling with family and we jumped into the resort mindset and made sure to pack our days with plenty of activities.  For me, I was thrilled to see that the resort offered multiple yoga classes on the lawn, overlooking the ocean. The yoga classes were 45 minutes long and targeted to the general public, they were gentle and relaxing, allowing the class to take in the view of the ocean and be still for a few moments. When I didn’t attend class I practiced on the beach on my own, which in some ways was better than the organized class because I was able to tune into my body and make sure I was moving in the way that my body needed, on that day.

Sunrise at Haleakela

During the week we signed up for a variety of adventures: we took a helicopter trip to see the other islands around Maui, we enjoyed an outrigger canoe tour, we snorkeled and swam in the ocean, took a dinner cruise and Andrew and I got up in the middle of the night to see the sunrise at the highest peak on the island, Haleakala National Park.

While we were on the top of the mountain Andrew took some yoga photos of me because I wanted to make the most of this amazing view and backdrop.

pregnant dancer… but not really, just a puffy coat :-

Although we were in Hawaii, the temperature at the top of Haleakala (over 10,000 feet) was about 50 degrees, the wind was blowing strong and it was bitterly cold. We had planned on this adventure before we got to Maui, so we knew what we were getting into, we made sure to pack our down jackets, long pants and warm hats. When I was totally layered up the photos Andrew took made me look like I am about 9 months pregnant, which I guess is ok considering yoga is for everybody, but it was not quite the silhouette I was going for!

Sun Salutations on the mountain… an amazing way to start the day!

Overall, it was amazing to see the sunrise from the highest point on the island and to be able to practice my Sun Salutations while watching the sun come up. Even if the photos may not have been prefect, the experience it self was one I will always remember.

After leaving Ka’anapali, our family of four extended our vacation and took a few extra days to stay in Paia, on the north coast of Maui. This cool, little town had an awesome hippie vibe and every where you looked it seemed everyone was “Living Aloha”. Aloha is more than a greeting or a farewell, it also means love, kindness, compassion and regard for others.  The concept of “Living Aloha” is similar to the philosophy of yoga, which explains why there are hundreds (if not more) yoga studios and classes all over the island. It is clear from our visit, people living in Hawaii truly love their islands, they take great care and are eager to share the Aloha spirit with others.

 

 

 

 

News, Tea and Yoga

Posted on by kathygorohoff in Uncategorized

This blog will be where I am able to share articles, stories and news about yoga. I will also start sharing Ayurvedic  recipes that I come across and try, like this one for Ayurvedic Chai Tea. This tea was delicious and it made my whole house smell wonderful! chai2

I will also use this site to post updates on when and where I am teaching.  This week I will be at Sunset Hill Park on Wednesday, June 21st at 10, teaching a lovely outdoor class on the first day of summer. Donations are Welcome. Sign up here is you are interested.