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By cuzzell, 22 May 2011

Do you remember your first Sirsasana? I don’t, but I’ll never forget the first headstand for one of my students last month. “I did it!” she crooned ecstatically, “That was my goal and I did it!” Rising from her counter, Child’s pose, she was still thrilled and glowing.

You won’t typically find headstand in many Anahata Grace classes; if we do any inversion, it would be the safest and most accessible, Viparitakarani (“Legs Up the Wall”). At first, in my class, there wasn’t even a wall, since we were practicing in the middle of a living room. The small group of teenage moms would gather at the house where some of them were living, and while child care went on below, we would push away the furniture and roll out the yoga mats. Occasionally, Savasana (“Corpse Pose”) would end, not with the gentle awakening of fingers and toes, but the gleeful squeals of the children racing up the stairs to jump on their moms.

Continue reading 'A Community Class with Heart'»

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By alexis mitchell, 30 August 2010

Fall is proving to be a busy time for Anahata.  Below is a list of upcoming events and opportunities for our Anahata Friends to add some more seva to your day.

• September 4th, please join us in the upper level of Meridian Hill park for a yoga class open to all (and taught by the lovely Emilia) followed by a potluck/picnic for Anahata volunteers and those that are interested in becoming volunteers. It’s a great way to spend some time getting to know like-minded wellness activists + have some time outside doing what we love – moving with breath. More details about our monthly potlucks can be found here: http://www.anahatainternational.org/index.php/news/volunteer-potluck/

• September 12th, Flow will have a table up at this year’s Adams Morgan Day Festival – a crazy time on 18th street with lots of people and opportunity to spread the word about the yoga studio + Flow’s outreach which includes Anahata! I will be there but need a number of volunteers to take 2 hour shifts to help chat with folks as they stop by the table. All help is appreciated :).

Continue reading 'Lending a Hand'»

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By cuzzell, 16 April 2010

Every week, Anahata Grace will honor our volunteer teacher experiences through a weekly blog.  To start off, Finding Grace Executive Director Caitlin Uzzell will tell her story of last week’s class with homeless teen moms.  Remember to check back weekly, as our journey of compassionate action has just begun.

Last week I taught my first class with a new service partner, Borromeo Housing, an organization that provides housing for new moms that have a few more challenges to add to first-time parenthood – they’re young and homeless.  After teaching a number of classes to middle school and high school aged kids in low-income neighborhoods throughout D.C., I was ready for the type of class where a great sense of accomplishment is achieved simply by helping my students feel calm enough to hold silence for just a few moments.  When I walked in the front door the moms were holding a house meeting, one of two times a week child care is provided so that they’re able to come together and discuss issues pertaining to their current living situation.  Their energy was focused but low, and I recognized that the energy would need be ramped up instead of quieted.  It’s a fine line to walk – encouraging movement for those that don’t stretch often for the physical health, while recognizing that initially that movement can detract from achieving peace of mind.

Continue reading 'A New Beginning for Homeless Moms'»