Yoga and the Winter Solstice

For thousands of years, humans have been celebrating the return of the light at the winter solstice, when the days get longer and spring is on its way. This ancient ritual signifies rebirth, new beginnings, and invigorating our minds and bodies by feasting, dancing, singing, praising, and communion with loved ones.
The flip side of the winter solstice is that it is indeed the longest and darkest night of the entire year. This time of the year can literally shed LIGHT on the dark aspects of our lives, something that is not always looked upon with joy. But wait. This is a visionary time! Winter solstice represents not only this darker part of our life and psyche, but also the possibility of something growing, sprouting, and unfolding in the coming year. This is a time to celebrate that you can always count on the light to come back, even on the darkest night.

The posture I have chosen for this auspicious time is Trikonasana, or Triangle pose. This is a posture that extends our energy into mother earth and then sends it back up and out through our radiating heart, hands, legs, and into the world. Legs are wide open, powerful, and grounded. Breath and blood circulates through all the organs, tight spots, and spins the heart up towards the light. Arms expand out, fingers spread like rays of the sun, and the gaze is up towards the infinite possibilities that exist for us if we have faith and believe in the light that is in us, around us and through us. Try this posture up against a wall, on your sticky mat, or next time you are in class, and imagine yourself as a luminous expression of this pivotal time of year!

Happy Winter Solstice!

This weekend we celebrated the solstice with a party on Friday night, Acro Yoga on Saturday, and a Yoga Mala (108 sun salutations) on Sunday.  It was wonderful to get the teachers, local students, a few brand new people to the studio, and several part time residents come in for these events. The party Friday night was an intimate group, and began with the teachers gathering for a re-gifting exchange. It was wonderful to see the way they brought such wonderful gifts to share from their hearts, and to have our community of teachers gather to laugh, eat, and get to know each other. The Acro Yoga with Tess and Joan was so much fun! Learning partner postures and getting to “fly” was inspirational and we are hoping to do that workshop once a month because everyone loved it so much! The Yoga Mala was a beautiful ritual to invoke all the 9 directions to inspire and illuminate us on the official earths New Year on Monday. I felt cleansed and inspired for the year up ahead. What’s nice about celebrating the solstice is that it comes before Christmas and New Years, and during Hanukah, so it gives us the opportunity to get clear and present without becoming overwhelmed with the holiday flurry. It is easy to get caught up in it all, but I feel all of us that celebrated together will have a little more presence and peace of mind to offer all those we come in contact with. 
I offer you all the magic and light of the solstice to fill you with all the divine illumination to know your path and stick to it, to clean out old habits, unnecessary worries, doubts, and fears, and to uncover and release dark areas and let the light transform and fill you with the radiance of all your wildest dreams for the new year. In these next weeks of holidays, may you step into the vibration of your answered prayers, and spread your gifts and love in selfless service to your loved ones, community, and global family! 
Om Happy Holidays! 

Buddhism and Meditation Workshop

Please join Sarah for this transformational workshop on December 5th!

Learn multiple meditation techniques that you can do at home to help you de-stress and quiet the mind! Begin to understand the philosophy of Buddhism and how it compares to your personal spiritual philosophy. We will spend the day learning about the history and teachings of the Buddha and how we can apply them to our lives today. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the philosophy of Buddhism and looking to begin or deepen their meditation practice. We will explore the worldview of Buddhism and how it may relate to our lives through learning the story of the Buddha and his teachings. We will explore the Theravada lineage found in Thailand today, the Mahayana lineage found in Japan, and the Vajrayana lineage found in the mountains of Tibet.

When: Saturday, December 5
Time: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Cost: $ 18 Where: Yoga for the Peaceful Studio

Please bring a vegetarian potluck item to share

Sarah was introduced to yoga by Mary Beth Nehl in 1999 and thus began her journey. She had a transformational experience in college that caused her to move to the desert of Arizona and begin her study of Religion and Philosophy at Prescott College. While there, she spent much of her time looking deeply at the philosophy and practice of Buddhism. Since graduating, she has spent three years teaching Buddhism courses to students at Western State College and leading meditation groups at Yoga for the Peaceful in Crested Butte, CO. She will always be grateful to Mary Beth for challenging her to look deeper.

Please join us for Yoga Bootcamp!

Please join us from November 16-20 for Yoga Bootcamp at Yoga for the Peaceful!

For more information or to RSVP, please see us on Facebook!

Many, many thanks!

Ginny is a dear student and friend of mine and Jay is her awesome husband who doesn’t do yoga (yet), but supports the studio any way he can.

Lauret is also a student, mentee, and a volunteer for the studio that does so many things it’s hard to list it all. One thing she does is all our graphic design, including the recent brochure for the Sustaining Membership Kula Program. Bobby is her race car driver husband who wants to run for president next time…

They live in Crested Butte part time and suck the marrow out of every moment they spend here. Before Lauret even finished the brochure, she sent me an email telling me to sign her up right away. Ginny walked into the studio last week with her Sustaining Kula membership form and check all filled out and handed it to me.

I wanted to thank Ginny and Jay, and Lauret and Bobby, for being the first Kula members!

If you don’t know what I am talking about, please see the info on the website. This is a plan I have been percolating for a long time now that I am hoping will enable the studio to cover its monthly recurring costs so we can continue to serve the community of locals and visitors. It’s a great deal for some who live here all year round, and for those that don’t, it’s a way to support our community and family business so the studio will be here when you come back. I hope you will all consider joining and supporting our studio so it’s here for years to come!

Twenty-Somethings

Just recently about 10 new students have come into the studio in the twenty-something age bracket. Some of them came together, some of them just met, some of them just fell in love here in Crested Butte, and somehow, they all made their way to the studio.

They have made a huge impact on me. Their eyes shine, their hearts are full, they have big dreams, plans to change the world, guitars, mandolins, sprouts growing, and smiles that make my eyes tear.

They are hope for the world. They come to classes at the studio and fill up the space with the most incredible energy I have felt in a long time. Where did they come from? What will they do while they are here? Ski, work, love, play? Yup. Probably some will stay and some will go. I am their teacher, but they have taught me so much already. So, look out for them. You can’t miss them. And they just might bring you a loaf of home baked bread.

Ps-

If you aren’t sure who they are, treat everyone like they might be those amazing kids.

Hanuman

On Saturday, Sarah Darval and I headed to Telluride to take a workshop with Tim Miller at Telluride Yoga Center. One of the owners, Sharon Caplan had taught some classes for me last May while I was teaching my retreat in Colombia. I had not gotten to meet her before I left but she stayed here with my mom and just became part of our yoga family. So, this was a chance to study with a great Ashtanga master, meet Sharon, get to know the Telluride Yoga Center, and even see my cousins who live there. I had a lot going on in CB and considered cancelling the trip, but knew there was some reason, even beyond all that, that I was supposed to go. 
Sarah and I pull into town and I call my cousin while we cross the street. He says, “Hey, are you wearing pink pants?” So he is the first person we see when we pull in and he walks us to the studio.  We came just in time for the Kirtan (call and response chanting the names of God), which is my favorite thing ever (besides surfing and lovemaking, teaching, and being with my kids, not necessarily in that order). Now there are hundreds of chants out there, but Tim just happens to chant all my favorites. We talked about Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba (my guru) the whole time, and even chanted the Hanuman Chaleesa. That might not make sense to all of you, but it was very auspicious for me. I knew it was my guru’s way of saying, “I got your back Monica, and you’re on the right track…”  
Knowing that Tim is a bhakti (devotional yogi) like me really made his teaching special. My teacher Shiva Rea will always be my living guru and teaches what I am most connected with, so sometimes I don’t get that much from other teachers. This was very special though and his class was infused with more stories of Hanuman, (strength, courage, fighting for justice, accomplishing great feats and miracles due to his faith and devotion) and a soulful class that was inspiring in a way that only a bhakti and yoga master can convey. 
I got to know Sharon in 2 days and know that she is a soul sister and friend for life. I got to see my cousin and his wife in a stage of their life requiring great courage, strength, faith, and devotion, (sound familiar?) and know that I am a part of this beautiful tapestry as well. I know YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL will begin a beautiful relationship with TYC and many good things will come of our studios collaborating.
Synchronicity at it’s best.  
We left Sunday, feeling full and had great conversation on the way back home. Wise twenty something year old Sarah and me. Full of Hanuman strength, courage, devotion, and faith. Knowing I can accomplish feats and miracles for love, justice, and peace.  
We all can. 

With Love in my Heart

Last Thursday I got some bad news that really threw me for a loop. On top of that, I have some pretty big stuff going on in my personal life so it was a tough blow. I tried everything in my yoga toolbox to get back into alignment and I when I had to teach my 5:30 class that day I think I did ok, but definitely didn’t feel like I delivered my best. I stuffed my emotions and just pushed through it. 
On Friday morning I woke up and again did the things I know to do to get my strength and courage back up. It was getting close to time to teach my 9am class and I was feeling pretty weak. All I could think of to do was either send people home, have someone else teach it, or show up with tears in my eyes and teach from my heart whatever I could. I thought shit; you own this place girl, be a role model and just do it. So, I lit some candles before anyone got there, sat at my alter and cried while I chanted the Hanuman Chaleesa with Krishna Das. I heard people starting to arrive and lay their mats down but knew all I could do was chant and let the tears flow. So I did. And they all just came in and started chanting with me. I knew I was baring my soul but also knew I was blessed to be receiving their love and strength by showing them my need for support. The tears eventually diminished and I slowly turned around to face them. Instantly I saw my family of students with so much love in their eyes.  Some new, some old, some souls sisters, even a soul brother I just met who gave me his Shakti strength. More tears. So finally I stood up and taught a class mostly in silence specifically to raise not only my vibration, but also theirs. We raised the roof up, did kriyas and namaskars and asanas and mudras and handstands and backbends and partner work and massaged and ended with Sufi dancing and falling down for Savasana. Rolled over and sat in a circle with smiles on our faces and gratitude for the alchemy that had occurred during the class. Together, we are so powerful, and our love can heal and soothe and awaken and pacify and strengthen and move us out and into wonderlands despite the earthly conditions of our lives. 
It took courage for me to teach that class, to be so ME, so raw, so vulnerable. But I could do it because I am so loved and because this studio is so special, people can come here (even me) and be REAL. We can laugh and cry and dream and BE. I learned it is good to be human when you have friends. It is good to show people life is not always easy. It is good to let yourself be loved and supported and held. It is good because now they all know they can come to class when the going is rough and let themselves be supported by me next time.  
We all left there with a luminous heart and a radiant spirit, and I knew there’d be magic in store for us all that day.  
Thank you to all those who were there with me on that day. And thanks to all who are always there for others in this kind of way. Its good to be human. Show all your colors, and let yourself be held.

Global Mala

Last week was one of the best weeks I have had in a long time. On Friday, September 18th, I left for Tara Mandala for the retreat with Shiva Rea and Lama Tsultrim. Going to Tara Mandala is always a pleasure, but this time the convergence of events and auspiciousness was an alchemical mix that created one of the most memorable weeks of my life. We celebrated the new moon, my birthday, The Global Mala Event, Rosh Hashanah, Navaratri, the solstice, and being with Shiva and Lama Tsultrim all at the same time!  
The Global Mala Event was concepted by Shiva Rea for Yogis all over the world to come together and practice to raise Global consciousness on the day United Nations has declared World Peace Day. Studios around the world practice a MALA, 108 sun salutations as a body prayer for peace and to raise funds for charities. This was on Saturday, September 19th, my birthday, and coincided with the first day of the retreat. We started the day with meditation, then a silent hike up to Prayer Flag Ridge, continued up to an astonishing lookout point, then an amazing lunch, a tour of the temple, then 108 sun salutations! (Surya Namaskars). A delicious dinner, cake, and then for me, a watsu & waterdance session at Pagosa Springs! Five of my students from Crested Butte came for the retreat, and about 13 more friends including my kids for the Global Mala! I fell into bed at midnight grateful for one the best birthdays I could remember! 
The rest of the retreat just continued to be filled with surprising depth and gifts that can only be experienced. The way Lama Tsultrim and Shiva combined the teachings of the Yab Yum Mandala of the Male and Female Buddhas was extraordinary! The meditation practice and the embodiment through Yoga was a magical combination.   
Although I was there to assist Shiva, it was a much more relaxed atmosphere that the teacher trainings I usually assist her for. For me, I was able to fully dive in and become immersed in retreat mode. My Zen-like accommodations, extraordinary organic meals, and soulful people allowed me to relax and open myself for new teachings that I am eager to share and integrate into my life.  
Coming back to Crested Butte to the festivities of the studio’s 3rd Anniversary Party was a perfect way to keep the high going.  It was a great party, and seeing all the different kinds of people always makes me smile. There were some new people who have never even been to the studio, as well as most of the teachers, volunteers, and even kids.  The fire and poi spinning was a big hit and seeing some of my friends giggle and erupt with joy as they got the hang of it was wonderful! 
Well, we are officially in Fall (“Off”) Season, and it is a time when all businesses in Crested Butte cross their fingers and brace themselves for things to slow down.  Well, we’re in it for the long haul, so I am going to have faith that the season, although a little slow, will continue to bring infinite possibilities and blessings that enable us to continue to grow, thrive and serve our community.

Happy Solstice!

It is a powerful time this week! Starting tomorrow, we celebrate the new moon, Rosh Hashanah, Navaratri, and the solstice! With all of that going on, we have the opportunity to jump on the energetic train and utilize the forces to propel ourselves to a higher ground. My birthday also happens to fall on Saturday, which is also the day of the worldwide Global Mala Event to unite for peace and activism. This event was begun by Shiva Rea (my beloved teacher), and this year we are lucky enough to be hosting her at the Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs. It is in conjunction with her retreat for sacred union with the divine and we will be exploring Tantric Yoga as well as the Buddhist teachings that Lama Tsultrim will be presenting.  
I leave for this tomorrow, and although I am assisting Shiva for this event, I am sure that I will be submerged in the retreat space of these teachings and enjoying the sacred beings that are all converging for it. Several of my students from Crested Butte are coming for the retreat and even more coming just for Global Mala! I know it is going to be amazing and full of surprises and I am so ready to dive in! 
I also want to take the opportunity here to say that we have begun our fall schedule and “off season” is upon us. For most businesses in CB, it’s a kinda tenuous time. This is when we really count on the community support of our locals and extended yoga family to keep the abundance vibes flowing for us. We do not skimp the schedule at this time. It is so juicy, with classes that include dance, meditation, ski-conditioning, and many yoga offerings for all. Donation classes are offered every day, and we always work with what you got. So, come in and if you’re not “here”, know that we are working hard to thrive so that we’re here when you return. I adore the visitors that come here from Texas, Oklahoma, NYC, Cali, Louisiana, and so many other places…I am missing you all… 
Thanks for a great summer, and I know we are all going to have a wonderful and transformative fall.
My prayers are with you all on this sacred retreat. Thanks for letting me be a part of your lives and do what I love! 
Monica

The Goddess Retreat and Habitat for Humanity

The Goddess Retreat was an intimate group of the most amazing southern women! They laughed, cried, prayed, shopped the racks of the studio, soul searched, and had a great hike up to the top of Mt. CB for the Living Journeys fundraiser for women living with cancer. We also had a YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL team for the summit hike and raised well over $1000! It was a wonderful weekend and I am very proud and honored to have gotten to know these women and the people on our summit team. 

This weekend we took part in the “Women Build” fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. This wonderful fundraiser was to encourage women to get involved in the building of Habitat homes. Chris Klein headed up the program and several other construction workers came out to lead and teach a large group of women many skills. The current house we were working on is being constructed for a single mom and a woman with MS. We got pink hard hats and tool belts, were treated to lunch from the Firebrand, and even got served wine and cheese afterwards. I was pretty excited to be wielding a hammer, staple gun, and get up on ladders and do such burly work. Much laughter, camaraderie, and teamwork made the time fly, but by 2:30 I was exhausted and fell asleep in the grass. I am not sure if most construction workers get to do that and I am duly impressed by the amount of work and physical labor that goes into this impressive profession. I think I am going to run a special from now on just for people in the construction industry!

It was very heartwarming to know that we were a part of something so special and I am looking forward to helping them out on other work days. Please consider lending a hand for this special project and come out with us next time. Especially needed are skilled workers. I know we are all busy these days, and working hard to meet our own needs, but there is something so special about lending a hand, and so much gratification that comes from it! For the yogi’s in the house, this is karma yoga, one of the most important aspects of being a yoga practitioner. This is what we call taking yoga “off the mat and into the world.” 

That’s all for now! I am very busy working on the fall schedule which begins on September 7th, so look out for it! 

If you did not receive our August newsletter, please sign up for it, or let us know, so you can get a peek at the upcoming specials and events. 

It’s getting chilly, huh?

Stay warm with Yoga! 

OmLove, 
Monica

Venice has been an amazing trip!

I have been in Venice for almost 2 weeks now, assisting Shiva Rea. Although I miss the studio (and my kids!), it has been a great trip for me. Being with Shiva is one of the greatest highlights of my adult life. She is a living Yogini, Shakta, and huge voice and force of change in the world. She inspires and mirrors to me the best that I have inside myself, and being with her is like being immersed in grace and joy, one of those unexplainable things in life that just ARE.  
This time, I had the honor of being her lead assistant, and was able to step up in a way that catapulted me to a new expression of my skills as a teacher. It was very empowering! I also had the honor of working with Twee Merrigan, a world class yoga teacher who taught several parts of the training, and the other wonderful assistants that are devoted to serving Shiva, all the participants that come to the training, and working with Exhale Yoga studio, one of the best yoga studios on the planet. (That is not an exaggeration.)  
I will be back teaching class on Wednesday full of Shakti and excited to see all the lovely faces of my yoga students. I have gotten lots of ocean time as well, and am coming back refueled and full of new energy, ideas, and inspiration to continue teaching the transformative practices of yoga at YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL! 
Today the theme in our morning Fire class was igniting the flame inside of ourselves for that which we want/need to devote ourselves to. Each breath (a total of about 26,000 in one day) is a breath of God/Prana/Life-Force. Focusing on the amazing reality of that fact, we can direct our energy and propel ourselves to live a life of service, love, and joyful expression of our desires and dreams. Summer is not over until late September, so we can use the fire element of this season to ignite this flame that is inside us all. May you all strike that sacred flame inside of yourselves! 
OmLove~ 
Monica

Headed to Santa Monica

I am sitting in the airport on my way to my hometown shores of Santa Monica to assist Shiva Rea. As I was driving from Crested Butte to Denver to catch my flight I started feeling my vibration electrify. That always happens to me when I begin my journey towards being with Shiva. Being in her presence and the members of our “tribe” is like getting filled up at a gas station. This gas tank is filled with Shakti! When we are around each other, the love flows, laughter resounds, creativity flows, surf swells, and magic is everywhere. I am soooooooo lucky to be a part of this wonderful group of people and to have Shiva as my teacher.  
Leaving my kids and the studio is not easy, especially in the summer, but I am doubly blessed to have a great assistant (Kelly:), fabulous teachers, and  many volunteers who will run the show while I am gone. And my mom just flew in to help with the kids! 
I am very excited about our Goddess Retreat & Summit Hike that is happening August 8, and am flying back just in time to lead all the participants in a yoga class before we start. The Goddess Retreat is the first of many CB Yoga vacations we will be hosting almost every month, so we are pretty excited to collaborate with many different businesses for this pampering and adventurous retreat that raises money for women living with cancer and their families. There is a hometown price as well as one for people who need accommodations, so check the website for more info. 
YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL also has a team for the summit hike and anyone can be on it (men and kids too!). Personally, I’d like our team to raise lots of money and have a great time doing it! So, come join us!!! 
Meanwhile, the studio is still rockin’, t-shirts are back in stock, and as summer slips by into August pretty soon, I want to thank all the amazing people who have come into the studio from all over the country. It fills me up to see all those smiling, peaceful faces after class and know that they are leaving our studio and town, with a little extra Shakti. And I think they know it. CB wouldn’t be the same without all of you, and you help our studio thrive, so thanks from the bottom of my heart!  
OmLove! 
Monica

Happy 4th of July!

The week of the 4th of July is when business owners and the locals who work in the service industry here must be in shape and ready to rock for the throng of visitors who descend upon our little town. And boy did YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL rock! We had packed classes all week and even had to turn a few people away. (Sorry!) I think with all the great exposure we have had with the article in the CB summer Magazine and the latest profile on me in the newspaper J, as well as all the great word of mouth spreading, our little studio has been officially “discovered”.
It was another fabulous weekend in the Butte and with all the activities we finished it off with a Candlelit Restorative Yoga class. A precious time to relax, renew, and let go. As busy as we are here with work, family, or outdoor activities, I think it’s vital to find a little time for R & R. It was much needed for me too. Raising three boys, running a blossoming yoga studio, teaching classes, workshops and retreats, as well as finding some time for my own outdoor activities and dawn patrol yoga practice, has me burning at both ends sometimes. As my teacher, Shiva often says, it’s a full life!
We have some fabulous events happening at the studio; Tantra, breath workshop, partner yoga, Goddess Retreat, adventure hikes, outreach with Habitat for Humanity Women Build Day and so much more. Stay tuned to our website, newsletter, Facebook, and come enjoy all you can.

It's almost July

Well, summer is officially upon us! The rainy weather changed on the actual day of solstice, and now Crested Butte is in full swing into another summer in paradise. 
We started off the summer by having a solstice party at the studio and had live music, lots of wonderful people, prizes, and some last minute spinning outside. (photos coming soon!) 
YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL has made some schedule changes to help you integrate yoga into your summer schedule. Early morning classes, as well as later evening classes, more CorePower, and special events planned all summer.  
A recent change in policy is to pre-register and pay for all special events due to our “intimate space” in order to guarantee your spot. This also helps us by bringing world class teachers and programs to Crested Butte.  
Classes are still on first come, first serve basis, so coming a few minutes early will definitely help if you are really counting on it.
A little secret for all the people who read my blog is that we are hoping to get more stable this summer and our goal is to acquire a bigger space by fall. You can hold that in your prayers for us! 
We have recently gotten some new retail items of the Be Present clothing line, new Y4P t-shirts coming any minute, the LifeForce line of energy drinks and Body Balance, and new eco-mats. Check out these, and all the other wonderful things I hand pick for you, that are either from local or socially responsible companies! 
We are right in the middle of Fat Tire Bike Week and have had many special classes all week just for all those bikers out there. Truly though, ALL YOGA is good not only for bikers but for hikers, runners, kayakers, rafters, climbers, tennis players, even couch potatoes. (Are there any of those in CB?)
I know that may sound too broad but it really is true. The best athletes have the combination of strength, flexibility and balance equally distributed through all the muscles, and the goal of yoga is just that; to balance the body (not to mention the spirit and the mind).  
Well, I am off to go ride the Bridges of the Butte (fundraiser for the Adaptive Sports Center) on team YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL, so stay tuned to our website and facebook page for a summer of YogaLove. 
OmBlessings! 
Monica 

My fabulous trip to Colombia!

Well, I just got back from teaching a retreat in Colombia (South America) and had an incredible time. If I can be a little bold, I’d like everyone to know that Colombia is spelled ColOmbia. I have found it fascinating over the years how many people spell it ColUmbia. (That’s in Ohio). Anyways, being proud of my Colombian heritage, I felt like I needed people to know this. The retreat was incredible, and I feel very lucky to be able to have my teachers and volunteers help run the studio while I am away teaching or assisting Shiva Rea. The studio is still in the growth stages as many of you know and does not provide me with a substantial salary, so for me it is vital that I continue to advance my yoga teaching career abroad when I can. I feel very lucky to have reached the stage where people are inviting me, so it is with much gratitude that I am able to travel, as well as run the studio here in Crested Butte. I will be posting photos of the retreat on the Y4P Facebook page, so check it out if you are interested in coming to this exotic eco retreat in the Caribbean with the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding. I will be going there next in November!

With lots of help from Andi Tippie, the summer schedule is now done! It is a great schedule, with most of the favorite classes/teachers offered at the same time, some new teachers and classes you will love, as well as some early a.m. classes and evening classes to accommodate your summer schedules. Enjoy! I take much care to create this schedule to suit you, so if you have any questions or comments please let me know!

With Andrew Bettinger’s help, you have hopefully all received the newsletter. If not, just send me an email and I will add you to the list. The newsletter is a special way to get you notified of special events and promotions, so I hope you will take the time to read it…

Although summer is not official for a few weeks, those of us with kids are now on summer vacation! It’s another beautiful season for us, so I hope you all enjoy it, find time for yoga, come to some of our special events, and keep spreading the YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL message so we can continue offering our programs to the community.

THANKS and OmLove,

Monica

May Events Recap!

We have had a lot of special events this spring!

Our MayDay party seemed to raise the vibration for the studio and all our special workshops and events have been well attended and very well received!

Yoga Embodiment for World Healing with Celia was very soulful. We practiced specific kriyas, meditations, writing, chanting, and movement rituals to connect with the other people in the group and focus our intentions. We all left feeling bonded and inspired to be a part of spreading healing in our own lives, communities, and the globe.

Yoga Detox Workshop was a small group of powerful women who showed up to learn specific asanas to help detoxify the body and get dietary guidelines to embark on a 3, 10, or 30 day cleanse. Some of us were lucky enough to have Molly Githens prepare us gourmet raw food that made the cleansing diet pure bliss. Andi Burnite provided the herbs to help support the cleanse too. We had lunch outside in my beautiful yard and discussed the immense benefits of cleansing on the body, mind, and spirit. I for one am looking forward to feeling rejuvenated and full of the vitality I need to have a great summer.

I am off to Colombia, the country of my heritage, to teach for the second time at a beautiful eco-retreat at Tayrona National Park. The combination of its beautiful beaches and mountainous peaks provide a magical location for me to teach in. This time I plan to surf some Colombian waves as well!

PS- If you are enjoying this blog, can you please add a comment to let me know? I am super curious. Thanks!

Our Wonderful Mayday Party!

I want to tell everyone about our MayDay Party! I knew I had not wanted to do a fundraiser. I wanted to have a celebratory party, but I was not sure what we’d be celebrating. I just felt inside it was a time to celebrate. Little did I know HOW MUCH there would be to celebrate!

As people started streaming in the door, and the place became packed with kids, teens, adults of all ages and walks of life, Shelley (who was the chair of my board), takes me by the shoulders and looks me in the eyes and says, “Monica! This is your vision!” And she was right. Tears came to my eyes as I looked around and realized that my dream for the studio to be a community gathering place for all kinds of people was a reality!

The place was standing room only! We had people reading poetry, singing songs, and even had fire and poi spinning outside! Organic food, laughter and no alcohol needed for the festive mood. After I announced all the people to be thankful for (which were many and even more that were not present should be acknowledged) I had a few very special announcements.

After being with Shiva Rea last week, I am happy and proud to report that we will be becoming a Shiva Rea affiliate studio, which means we will soon have her teacher trainings offered. On top of the huge honor of continuing to assist for Shiva, I will also be training to teach her foundational module. This is all very exciting for me and the studio!

The other exciting news is that I now have a partner in the business! This is a HUGE and AUSPICIOUS development for the studio, as it will bring stability to the studio and enable it to grow and thrive in our community. So, I am proud to announce that Juliet Stillman is now my partner in the business. She has been behind the scenes from the very beginning, providing help and support whenever it was needed. She is why the studio has made it this far in the first place! Juliet and I have a very special relationship, are dear friends, and share the same vision for the studio, so it’s the perfect partnership and a big dream come true for me! Please welcome and thank her when you see her, and if you don’t know her, check out her profile on the website and definitely come to her dreamy “meditative flow” class on Sunday mornings.

I have had a quote on my bathroom mirror that I have been looking at for many years; “What would you do if you knew you would not fail?”

Well, this is it. I am living my dream. Thanks to everyone who is a part of it!

Hello from Venice, California!

I am in Venice, California right now assisting my teacher, Shiva Rea. This is where I was born and raised, so it’s always so good to be in my root chakra HOME. It is always so good for me as a teacher and studio owner to be assisting Shiva. I have grown and blossomed with her teachings and role modeling, and in turn the studio grows and blossoms. Soon we will be offering Shiva Rea modules and I am honored to say I will be able to teach some of them myself. We will have other master teachers coming to offer modules, and I think it’s only a matter of time before Shiva herself comes to Crested Butte!

This April there has been many teachers away on spring getaways. It has been a challenge to cover some classes because some classes have been impossible to cover. The teachers that have been subbing for those of us who have been out of town have done a great job in helping us out at this time! Although many studios in our area close at this time of year, I thought it was important to stay open at this time of year. I hope everyone has enjoyed this quiet time in Crested Butte to allow for more time for yoga and going inwards. Soon, we will be busy with summer activities and I hope that you will continue to find a way to come inside and take classes to keep yourself balanced, healthy, and grounded. These times require lots of grounding!

We are having a Mayday Party at the studio next Friday and I hope that you will come out and enjoy our yoga community! We have a lot of events and special programs coming up so please stay connected with us and come enjoy the awesome opportunities we provide for you to grow and blossom as well.

This spring my goal for the studio is to become a stable and thriving sanctuary for the community. I have several people who are assisting me with this and intentions to merge with a partner to help us get to that place. The most important way you can help at this time is to hold that space for us, to stay connected, to offer your talents, feedback, support, and most importantly, to ENJOY what people are now calling this “world class studio”!

Happy spring and Blessings~

Monica

Welcome to April!

The past few months have been a whirlwind…I have had a series of what I am calling “meditation retreats” that have been very intense. Transformative, enlightening, and rejuvenating in a crazy way. This has provided me with a whole new level of experience that I am happy to be able to integrate into my teaching, relationships, and being.

The studio continues to thrive and evolve and change its course back from non-profit to a regular business model. The fact that we have never truly been a “for profit” business makes it a little hard to think of it as a conventional business model, but we felt it was the proper course of action after much pondering and discussion with the board of directors. We will be keeping the same mission as always; we are a green, grassroots studio dedicated to providing yoga for EVERYONE (regardless of income) and will continue to do outreach in the community. Nothing will really change except for we now have to try and make enough of an income from our operating programs. This is a time that we really need the community (and that includes our visitors) support. Come enjoy our classes, workshops, events, volunteer for us, donate time, money, talent, air miles, or whatever you can, and most of all hold the space for us to continue to grow and thrive. We are currently looking for the perfect partner to help take the business to the next level, and believe that this studio is a vital part of our community and is worth whatever it takes to keep it going!

I am so grateful to my board of directors (now my advisory board) who believed in me and my dream of YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL. Without them, I could never have done it on my own. I have them on my side still as well as several key volunteers and a dedicated group of teachers who are what makes the studio what it is. I want you to know who they are;
The Board;
Shelley Read
Jacob Sims
Cara Bosco
Juliet Stillman
Aaron Huckstep
Andi Tippie
Brynn O’Connell
Kyleena Graceffa
Simon Park
Shiva Rea
The Volunteers;
Casey Wilson
Molly Githens
KT Joy
Kelly Beaudreaux
Lindsay Fuller
Andrew Bettinger
Sarah Darval
The Teachers;
Juliet Stillman
Brynn O’Connell
Greg Pettys
Brenda Flemming
Lindsay Schauer
Mary Picciano
Laura Mitchell
Michelle Cowell
Jesicca Frankman
Scott Sylvestor
Linda Olesen
Guy Ciulla
Sarah Darval
Martha Griffin
Becky Morgan
And so many more countless people who I now consider to be a part of the YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL family. It is amazing that our little studio is literally held up by the love and support of so many people. There is another long list of supporters who have given financial support as well as needed items for the studio, that have also made a huge impact. I imagine the list above will continue to grow so big that we become a HUGE FAMILY that spreads the Yoga Love in our little town and all those places where people go back home to after a visit to our soulful studio.
Thank you everyone, have a great spring, and know that I am sending love and prayers of thanks to all of you and the blessing of continuing to create the loving, healing place that is YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL!

Welcome to February!

I have been blessed to be able to assist Shiva Rea twice this month. This time off to my home town of Santa Monica, one of my favorite places to assist Shiva because it’s right in this funky area in between Venice and Santa Monica, one block from the beach


It was a foundational teacher training for those just starting to teach in the Vinyasa style that Shiva teaches. Two of my own mentees from the valley went to the training as well as several other students that I have gotten to know over the years. It’s always a rich experience to be with Shiva in any capacity and such a huge honor to assist her and the wonderful students who come to the trainings. There are several other assistants who joined me, including Simon Park, and that is always a joy to see the friends in the tribe.


It was chilly and a little cloudy but I still got a great surf session and got to eat lots of raw food, see my friends from Santa Barbara, and just soak in the Yoga of my maha teacher. There is a lot going on in our tribe, and in the world, and I felt tension as well as inspiration to continue to spread the teachings of the transformative path of Yoga. A unique aspect of Shiva’s teachings at this point in her evolution is to raise the vibration in our own personal lives in order to spread it to the masses by our teaching. We had an evening of ecstatic chanting and poetry on the eve of St Valentines, and a very special Valentines class with what had to be over 100 students in the room!


Coming home inspired, with sand in my toes still and so grateful to have the studio to dive back into. Looks like lots of activity in the studio while I was gone and I am so happy to see the community getting more involved with the studio. I am very lucky to have Mary, Brynn, Martha, Juliet, Laura, and Shelley helping me teach my classes while I was gone, and I am sure everyone got to enjoy their own personal style of teaching. Many activities happening in the next few weeks, so stay posted and look out for the upcoming newsletter!

"Raise the Vibration" training with Shiva Rea

Friday morning I left for Denver to go assist Shiva Rea at her “Raise the Vibration” Teacher Training in Denver. I left in the dark, and as I was coming over Monarch Pass, the sun was coming up over the mountains, shining on the peaks. I was listening to my Guru’s favorite chant (and mine), the Hanuman Chaleesa, and a huge smile came over my whole being. This place is so beautiful!!! I felt the magic of life, and definitely felt the vibration of my Maha teacher, Shiva, in Colorado. I could literally feel her energy as I got closer and closer to Denver. I just felt these whole body smiles come over me and deep peace and joy filled me as I knew it was going to be a wonderful weekend. I never know what will come from spending time with Shiva, but it’s always good that’s for sure.

Let me indulge you with some of the highlights for this retreat;

Prana flow, energetic Vinyasa, ecstatic Kirtan (chanting), yoga trance dance, mystic poetry, sacred activism, science of collective vibration, radical relaxation lounge (including chocolate), prana poi, and yogic ritual. Needless to say, we are not just doing asana!

We started off hearing her stories of the inauguration, where hosted a big CHANT FOR CHANGE event. I don’t watch the news much, so when she told us that even though there were over 2.5 million people there that weekend, there was not ONE arrest! That is amazing!!! It was the most watched event in the entire history of the world, and the vibration in D.C. was something she will never forget. On that note, please stay tuned as our own Andi Tippie will be giving a presentation of her experience in D.C. complete with many of her photos

We did a little bit of yoga but mostly the focus was on setting the tone for the weekend with creating the space through various rituals of sound, movement, connecting with the other participants, creating a sacred Mandala, and the Lakshmi Puja. Shiva Kumar, a Tantric Priest led the ceremony, and we were transported to India for a few hours as we watched and participated in this sacred ceremony. As soon as it began, I dropped into a deep state of peace and felt myself being lifted up by the intense vibration. Interestingly enough I happened to sit right next to Hanuman, my beloved monkey deity. We finished off with eating some of the Prasad (sacred blessed food from the altar), and went home full of Shakti!

Laughter Yoga

On Saturday, Jan. 10, the first full moon of the year, we had a wonderful workshop with Sherrill Stenson, who is co-owner of The Sanctuary Yoga studio in Gunnison. The first workshop was on Laughter Yoga. You heard that right! Laughter yoga is a bonafide system to cultivate the same health, peace of mind, and mental clarity that is a benefit of other physical forms of yoga. The statistics she had for us were very enlightening. She reported that children on the average laugh about 600 times a day! Unfortunately, adults on the average laugh about 60 times, if that! Furthermore, the best news was that whether your laughter was for real, or fake, you received the same benefits! So, with that she proceeded to crack us up with a series of silly things that made us laugh ourselves to the point of exhaustion. Or better yet, a nice deep seated meditation!



The next session was a Yogic approach to relieving stress with a very deep and long Savasana (corpse pose), with Sherrills hypnotic voice guiding us through relaxing one kosha (layer of the body) after another. It was wonderful and we all felt so rejuvenated afterwards!

We loved it so much that we are hoping she can come once a month to help us bring more laughter and relaxation into our lives.

It's January!

YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL rang in the New Year by our 108 sun salutations for all of our hopes, dreams, and prayers. 108 is a lot! This is actually the first time I had ever done this, and although it took 2 ½ hours, I was amazed at how quickly it went as I was fueled by my prayers. It was such a good way to start the New Year and I felt as though my prayers and intentions were not only in my head and heart; they were literally in my BODY. I heard from many of the other participants that it was very inspirational for them as well and it was wonderful to have teachers, students, and even some visitors from Germany all come together for this special event.

The holidays in Crested Butte are always so magical and this year was no different. It is wonderful to see all the visitors come in with that love and appreciation for Crested Butte that I can still remember from my very first time visiting here. Having three kids of my own is also such a joy during this time as Christmas is still such a favorite holiday of theirs.

I am always inspired at this time to cultivate appreciation for Jesus and the gift of faith that He has brought to humanity. For me, this is what I pray for more than anything else. For the faith to know that I need not worry and that God is always right here, around me, in me, of me, one with me. If I can breathe this in and live it, I will have no worries, no fear, no doubts, and just be content and confident that God’s got my back!

I pray that 2009 is good to us all…I pray that peace, stability in the nation and our own personal lives presides, I pray for success for all those who so tirelessly serve and work in areas that bring healing to others and to our mother earth. I pray for my own little studio to thrive and continue to be able to serve our community. I pray for all our kids, for all the families who need healing, for miracles, transformation, and blessings greater than we can imagine in all our lives. I pray that this challenging time leads the way for subtle and radical shifts in our world that paves the way for a better, more fulfilling life and future for us all.

I pray that I may continue to grow and answer the call of my Guru,

“To love everyone, serve everyone, and remember God.”

Om Namah Shivaya!

Monica