Check out our very own Intern, Lisa Chow and her wonderful blog!

It's Tiki here, and if I seem a little older and more mature the next time you see me, it's because tomorrow is my 7th birthday! Marking the passage of another year got me thinking about how much I've learned in my seven years.

You see, when I was but a young pup, I used to push and push myself until I almost collapsed. Whether I was taking a walk, guarding the studio, or just playing with my doggie friends, I approached everything with the attitude of wanting to dominate it. Over the years, as I gained a little wisdom, I began to realize that this approach was stressful and was wearing me out. Little by little, I started approaching life from a new perspective, the perspective of listening to my body and not pushing too hard when my body told me to back off.

Now sometimes it's hard for me hear these messages from my body because I'm always on the run and my mind seems to always be racing. That's when it's important to take a minute to relax and breathe deeply so that my mind can quiet down and I can listen to what my body is telling me. I realize that even though I ran a certain distance or jumped a certain height last week or last year doesn't necessarily mean that distance or that height is right for my body today. And you know what, with each passing year, I realize more and more that I'm completely happy and grateful to be exactly where I am.

This is how we want to approach our yoga practice, as well. Sometimes maybe we feel the need to muscle our way through poses or fight to dominate the pose, but the more we practice, the more we increase awareness and wisdom about our bodies. Through the yoga practice, we gain a wisdom and sensitivity that makes us realize that sometimes the most benefit can be obtained just by relaxing and breathing, instead of pushing. Just as I learned that I may jump different heights on different days, we learn that our yoga practice will vary from day to day, or year to year. And we realize that wherever we are in our practice is right where we need to be. This awareness gives us a peace that truly allows us to let go and be happy in our own skin, both in our yoga practice and in our lives. r practice is right where we need to be. This awareness gives us a peace that truly allows us to be happy in our own skin in

So this week take a little time to breathe, quiet your mind, and listen to your body. Take a little time to appreciate every experience in your life because those experiences have helped you gain the wisdom you have today. And take a little time to celebrate life's wonderful journey, with its birthdays, its yoga poses, and its surprising new experiences around every corner!

Namaste,
Tiki

Join us for a yoga class with LIVE MUSIC accompanied by Wynne Paris! Joy will lead you through an exhilarating All Levels yoga class, made even more energetic by live music! And stay for an uplifting Kirtan, led by Wynne Paris!

Yoga class with live music: 4:00-5:30pm

Kirtan: 6:00-7:00pm

When: Saturday, August 29th

Where: Joy Yoga Center, 4500 Washington Ave., Suite 900

Investment: Early-bird pricing of $25 for 1 session (class or Kirtan) or $40 for both before Aug. 20th. $30 for 1 session, or $50 for both thereafter.

About the artist:

Wynne Paris has been joyfully involved in Kirtan music for over 14 years; his family Karma with yoga and jazz goes further back. His Grandmother, Grace, has been a Yogananda follower since the 60's, and his Grandfather Wynne produced Jazz recordings with the legendary clarinetist Sydney Bechet. Paris spent 10 years as a nightclub musician around Washington DC, in 1994 he started collaborating with Astrologer Caroline Casey and famed Washintonian mystic Dr. Wu, creating and performing music for holistic and new age audiences. In 1997, after a performance w/ the Indian saint Ammachi, he received Darshan that inspired him to move to California, where he learned Kirtan ( Yogic Mantra singing ) by accompanying and supporting “Be Here Now” counter-culture Icon and Kirtan Godfather Bhagavan Das.

In the last decade Wynne has recorded with and performed with many well known Yoga, Rock, Jazz and World Beat musicians, including Badal Roy, Krishna Das, Rick Allen (Def Leppard) , John Molo (Phil and friends) Mark Karan (Ratdog), Dave Stringer, Rasa, Sophia, JT Thomas (Bruce Hornsby band), David Newman, Girish, Perry Robinson, David Newman, Guru Ganesha, Wade Morrisette, Shyam Das, Doug Derryberry (Bruce Hornsby band) Tony Levin (King Crimson/Peter Gabriel) , DJ Lorin (Bassnectar), Tina Malia, Gary Grainger, Forrest Robinson, and many other spiritually & groove oriented musicians, shamans and dancers and artists.

Space is limited, so call 713-868-YOGA (9642) or visit www.JoyYogaCenter.com to register today!

Free Intern Classes
Schedule Beginning...


(08-24-09) Mondays 6:00 - 7:00 am All Levels - Ryan Rice
(08-24-09) Mondays 7:30 - 8:30am All Levels - Ryan Rice

(08-18-09) Tuesdays 7:30 - 8:30am All Levels - Jana Zacek
(08-18-09) Tuesdays 7:30 - 8:30pm All Levels - Bob Pattan
(08-28-09) Tuesdays 3:30 - 4:30pm All Levels - Megan LaBernz

(08-19-09) Wednesdays 7:30 - 8:30am All Levels - Jana Zacek
(08-19-09) Wednesdays 4:30 - 5:45pm All Levels - Ryan Rice
(08-20-09) Thursdays 7:30 - 8:30am All Levels - Ryan Rice
(08-25-09) Thursdays 3:30 - 4:30pm All Levels - Megan LaBernz

(08-21-09) Fridays 6:00 - 7:00 am All Levels - Rick Pagel
(08-21-09) Fridays 7:30 - 8:30am All Levels - Rick Pagel
(08-21-09) Fridays 6:00 - 7:00pm All Levels - Lisa Chow

(08-22-09) Saturdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm All Levels - Rick Pagel

(08-23-09) Sundays 4:00 - 5:00pm All Levels - Lisa Chow
(08-23-09) Sundays 9:30 -10:30am Beginner - Rick Pagel

Left to right: Bob Pattan, Megan LaBernz, Lisa Chow, Rick Pagel, Ryan Rice & Linda Van Den Bosch.
Bottom left to right: Jana Zacek, Joy Winkler & Tiki Winkler.

It's Tiki here, and I'm very happy to announce that today the Joy Yoga Center has graduated its newest class of teachers! Since July 10th, this wonderful group has been studying, practicing, learning, and transforming into yoga teachers.

One of the exciting parts of teacher-training is that now, these new teachers will have a 30-class internship. During their internship, their classes will be completely free for y'all. And of course, if the classes are well-attended, we'll keep their classes on as regular classes after their internship. I've asked my good friend, Nadira, to list the intern classes for you below, but you can always find them online, as well.

Now I realize that most weeks, I send out a message to inspire you. This week, however, I would like to share how I have been inspired by the teacher-trainees. These teacher-trainees, who are now interns, have been working very diligently for the past 6 weeks to take a huge step forward in following their hearts. Following your heart can be scary and at times exhausting, but they have persevered. Even when my mommy made them (and me!) come in for marathon 14-hour days of training, they stayed focused and learned the importance of tapping into prana, that infinite supply of energy and hope. This is such a wonderful reminder to all of us how limitless that supply of energy and hope is: even when we're tired and stretched to our limits, we can always tap into prana and allow the same power that created the Universe to flow through us. I had the privilege of seeing the teacher-trainees learn to connect to that energy of love and joy, and allow that energy to flow through them to break through their barriers and move way beyond what any of them had thought was possible. I was amazed that even when I was exhausted and napping in my little house, they were energetic and still even smiling!

Even though following your heart may not always be the easiest course or the most popular, I know these interns have had the courage to do so because of their passion for yoga. They have all experienced the amazing life-transforming benefits of yoga and are so passionate about sharing these benefits with you that they have embarked on this journey. In the coming weeks, let's all support them, encourage them, take their classes, give them constructive feedback, and help build them up. We are all in this life together - when we encourage others and help build them up, we are all built up! Congratulations, Joy Yoga Interns; this little yoga-dog loves you, is very proud of you, and can't wait to see where each of your yogic journeys leads you!

Namaste,
Tiki.