Valentine’s day sent some love to the women of DASH, the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc., in the opening of the Cornerstone Wellness Room. Brought to you by Anahata Grace and funded by Verizon, services offered in this room will include acupuncture, acupressure, Thai massage, yoga therapy, cooking classes, and other wellness programs for women who have been victims of domestic violence. There to partake in the ribbon cutting ceremony was acupuncturist Nicole Mires, who shares with us a bit from her first day offering what wellness her hands are able to provide.
I had a great time yesterday. Anticipation on my way to the house… worrying if the women would like me, if they’d like the treatments, and if we could really make a difference here. I worked as a behavioral health counselor while I was in grad school, but that experience was years ago and miles away, and not a very positive one. I wondered if the women would look at me as a privileged middle class white girl with no experience of need or pain. I wondered if they would accept their treatments without me telling them “you can trust me, because I’ve seen the bottom”. I shuffled through these thoughts and insecurities and then I realized with a pang that my ego was running away with me. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about me being able to tell my friends and family, with my chin held high, that I was doing something selfless for someone else. This isn’t about my experience or my ego or my expensive shoes. I’m a conduit. The treatment works. The healing is in them, as they have probably already figured out. I’m just a conduit, and whatever I think I might be able to add to their healing is stubble and hay, burned away by their own curative fire.
Continue reading 'Room to Heal'»
DC Local Projects, Teacher Guest Blog
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acupressure, Acupuncture, anahata grace, cooking classes, Cornerstone Wellness Room, District Alliance for Safe Housing, Domestic Violence, Inc. (DASH), Nicole Mires, reiki, Ribbon cutting ceremony, Thai massage, Valentine's day, Verizon, yoga therapy
Sick of the same old new year’s scene and the feeling you wake up with the morning after? Connect with the intention of new beginnings and community in this sacred and celebratory evening.
Purify through a vigorous asana practice, release through deep yoga nidra, and reconnect with your spirit through sacred silence – come ring in the New Year with Jivamutki.
Celebrate and Elevate
New Year’s Eve 2010 with Agi Glowacki and Justin Blazejewski
Date: Fri 12/31/2010
Time: 9:00 PM – Midnight
Flow Yoga Center, Washington DC
Purify through a vigorous asana practice, release through deep yoga nidra, and reconnect with your spirit through sacred silence.
9-10:30pm – Special Jivamukti class with Agi Glowacki
10:30-11:30pm – Yoga Nidra practice with Justin Blazejewski
11:30-midnight – Mauna (sacred silence), with traditional Puja ceremony and meditation
Midnight – Sparkling cider toast!
REGISTER HERE.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the important work that Anahata Grace is doing in bring healing to soldiers. Specifically the money will go towards the next “Troop Retreat” for veterans where, at no cost to the veterans, a team of trauma therapists spend 3 days helping them heal from the trauma experienced in war.
DC Local Projects, Events, Fundraising & Outreach
| Agi Glowacki, anahata grace, Asana Practice, Celebrate, Community, flow yoga center, Jivamukti NYE, Justin Blazejewski, Mauna, Meditation, Puja, Sacred Silence, Troop Retreat, Washington DC, Yoga Nidra
Hard to believe that November is around the corner, but as we start to think about this year’s Halloween costume, please take a moment to check out our November volunteer opportunities. We run because of your generous support of time and commitment to our mission.
Saturday, November 6th is our monthly potluck in the park! This month, the lovely Shawn Parell will be teaching the yoga class starting at 11am on the upper level of Meridian Hill Park. The class is open to anyone who would like to start their day with some flowing yoga under the trees, then stay for a special meeting lead by Michell Stanley focused on Anahata’s Wellness Room in a domestic violence shelter in NE DC. She will have details about the schedule, volunteer opportunities and answer questions you may have. Please join and bring friends – more details can be found here.Volunteer opportunities: if you’d like to learn more about one of the opportunities below, please email findinggraceyoga@gmail.com.
Continue reading 'November Volunteer Opportunities with Anahata Grace'»
DC Local Projects, Events, General
| Angela Cerkevich, Arlington, Boston Trauma Center, certified yoga teachers, Flow, flow yoga center, Georgetown Lululemon, Hala Khouri, KidPower, Manisha Tare, Meridian Hill Park, N Street Village, November Volunteer Opportunities, Off the Mat and Into the World's Leadership Training, Ricky Tran, Seane Corne, Suzanne Sterling, trainings, VA
This week, yoga teacher, musician and writer Holly Meyers blogs about living yoga in everyday life, and the impact of taking your practice off the mat and into the world around you.
“Trauma is a fact of life. So is resilience.” – Hala Khouri, Off The Mat Into The World Co-Creator
In 1993, I was emotionally, physically and spiritually bottoming out – again. In my 28 years of life, I’d experienced enough unaddressed trauma to leave me without possibility for healing or growth. I’d “lost my way,” my life was a mess and I felt empty inside.
A friend suggested yoga, and I’ve been “on the mat” ever since.
At first, my practice was selfish. Yoga’s initial “ahhh” brought immense relief and I started to feel better. Then came the intense transformation from being guided by teachers who embraced and passed on yoga’s comprehensive design for living. Self-examination and change are not always gentle processes. Surrendering, I fell back into the arms of supportive yogis and others devoted to healing. Years down the line, teachers started to suggest carrying the benefits of yoga into the world. Having gained so much from this precious practice, I knew I wanted to give back however possible. The seeds of Seva (selfless service) were planted.
Today, I try to take yoga off the mat and into my everyday world, every day of my life.
Continue reading 'Yoga in Action: Off the Mat Into the World'»
DC Local Projects, Teacher Guest Blog
| Chakra Asana, Claire Williams, Facebook, Hala Khouri, Healing, Holly Meyers, Kerri Kelly, Off The Mat Into The World, Om Shanti, OMT, Seane Corn, Suzanne Sterling, The Urban Yoga Den, Wordpress, yoga, Yoga In Action
As September 26th approaches, Anahata Grace just wanted to remind folks about the purpose of the
Global Mala. All across the globe people unite, joining yoga communities from every continent, school and approach to form a “mala around the earth” through collective practices based upon the
sacred cycle of 108. Along with yoga practitioners in more than 50 countries around the world, DC will once again come together for a day of dharma speakers, meditation, music, and a dedicated practice of 108
surya namaskar. This year, Anahata Grace is honored to be the DC Global Mala’s chosen non-profit recipient of proceeds earned and to be considered a valued organization committed to healing the planet and its inhabitants.
Please continue to check our
DC Global Mala page for up-to-date information and details as the come to fruition. We look forward to once again creating a worldwide garland of the human heart and affirm the power of unifying consciousness through sacred movement, breath, and intention.
Warm oms,
Team Grace
This week, Anahta Grace volunteer and psychotherapist Michell Stanley announces the creation of our very first wellness center, to provide healing for those inhabiting the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH).
The mission of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) is to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for victims of domestic violence through the development and management of safe housing and related services, while increasing the capacity of other community-based organizations to expand housing for victims throughout the District of Columbia. As part of fulfilling this mission, DASH has honored Anahata Grace with the responsibility of facilitating wellness programming for the organization’s newest program, Cornerstone, which is scheduled to open this fall. The Wellness room will offer a full schedule of yoga classes including acupuncture, reiki, yoga therapy, and meditation, all geared towards providing residents with wellness services from a holistic perspective.
Continue reading 'DASH Wellness Center'»
DC Local Projects, General, Teacher Guest Blog
| anahata grace, at-risk populations, community-based, Cornerstone, District Alliance for Safe Housing, Domestic Violence, holistic, Inc. (DASH), Meditation, Michell Stanley, promote health, reiki, Social Change, Wellness, Wellness Committee, yoga therapy
What a difference a yoga practice makes.
As part of the yoga community, Anahata Grace is fortunate enough to be surrounded by those who desire social change and hold themselves personally accountable to make an impact. Leading by example is the District’s city-wide Citizen Effect 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Spear-headed by Michael Hall of Mid City Yoga, funds raised through the 30 Day Yoga Challenge will support the construction of an orphanage in Cloetesville, South Africa.
Continue reading 'July is DC Yoga Challenge Month'»
DC Local Projects, Events, Fundraising & Outreach
| 30 Day Yoga Challenge, across the globe, anahata grace, Anahata International, around the world, Citizen Effect, Cloetesville, compassion, core values, Karma, Michael Hall, Mid City Yoga, South Africa, vulnerable communities
Every week, Anahata Grace will honor our volunteer and staff teacher experiences through a weekly blog. This week, Jamie Boese, co-founder of WelcomeOmDC, will chat about the importance of a website dedicated to yogis and other wellness-minded folks in the District in establishing networks among these inspiring communities.
Back in the Fall, during my teacher training at Flow Yoga Center, I had a random conversation with a friend over brightly colored hoodies at lululemon athletica Logan Circle. The gist of this conversation was “why is there no central place to go for yoga information in DC?” and “OMG, there are so many amazing local business owners and role models in our fitness community – why don’t we talk about them more?” And WelcomeOmDC was born in that moment.
Continue reading 'WelcomeOmDC – Your yoga, fitness, and wellness hub in the District'»
DC Local Projects, Fundraising & Outreach, Teacher Guest Blog
| Eating Right, Fitness and Wellness, flow yoga center, Indoor Sports, jamie boese, Logan Circle, Lululemon Athletica, Outdoor Sports, Volunteer Opportunities, Washington DC, WelcomeOmDc, Yoga for Runners, Yoga for Swimmers, Yoga Philosophy
Stroga has jumped on the community-based donation class band wagon and will now be offering weekly donation classes every Saturday at 10:15. Teaches will vary and so will the charities which the classes support, as each instructor gets the opportunity to choose the organization for which s/he teaches. 
This Saturday, May 22nd kicks it all off with yogi Jeffrey Platts who will lead a 90 minute class for all levels of students to enjoy. The class will include a centering, warm-up, energizing asanas, cool down and a final relaxation — all aimed at cultivating mindfulness and intention. Students can look forward to a fun class designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body, supported by a soundtrack of funky, soulful and uplifting rhythms. Come sweat and move for a great cause!
Continue reading 'Stroga Donation Class in Honor of Anahata Grace'»
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Valentine’s day sent some love to the women of DASH, the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc., in the opening of the Cornerstone Wellness Room. Brought to you by Anahata Grace and funded by Verizon, services offered in this room will include acupuncture, acupressure, Thai massage, yoga therapy, cooking classes, and other wellness programs for women who have been victims of domestic violence. There to partake in the ribbon cutting ceremony was acupuncturist Nicole Mires, who shares with us a bit from her first day offering what wellness her hands are able to provide.
Themocracy