A NEW Story for a NEW Year \ \ \ \ \

/// START A NEW STORY


As we live through each season we move forward through cycles, change and choice. Within us and all around us.  On the solstice we move from the time of Ether to Earth.  Each of the seasons is symbolized by one of the 5 elements: Winter = Earth, Spring = Water, Summer = Fire and Fall = Air.  The element of Ether is symbolized by the time between Halloween and the Solstice.  The element of ether is symbolic of our intuition, our ability to close our eyes and sit still.  It is a place of creativity before boundaries, judgment, insecurity and this freedom is what ignites the creative spark at our core. It's where the story begins. It gives us a light in the dark, our word for the year, an idea about how we would like to tell our story for a new year.  

But in order for our word, dream, desire to manifest it has to become physical, like a seed.  It has to take shape, to have a place to root into and grow.  The element of earth is symbolic of the body.  As we move from ether to earth we start to manifest our idea physically.  We begin to make choices about the way we breathe, move and rest to build a body that reflects where we are now and what direction we want to go.  Our bodies literally take the shape of our hearts and minds, each pose a reflection of our awareness as we weave and unwind our narrative of experience.

 Next week we move from Ether to Earth.  We will move from one season to the next and into a new year.  We will step into a new cycle of change and choice and create the story of a new season in our lives with us as we go.


w LAUREL VAN MATRE

Monday 12.21

6:30 - 8:00 PM - All Levels Vinyasa

Stay for a toast to a New Season after class!!!!

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) ) )) 1 Minute MEDITATION (( ( (

Lord knows we could all use a little down time during the holiday season.

Enjoy the first of many podcasts and recorded meditations and classes to come in 2016!

p.s. - you can also go to the YG website and download the MP3.

+  SHOW Up EVERY Day +

www.yogagardenmpls.com

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> > > Our Body's Potential To Wholeness < < <

Realize Your Body's Deep Potential to Wholeness Yoga Garden is a space—physical and spiritual—very dear to my heart, where I have realized the deep potential of my body’s relationship to grace, empowerment, community, and wholeness, and my capacity to continually evolve in my practice, through the brilliant guidance of Laurel Van Matre. In more ways than one, Laurel has facilitated healing in my life, and has instilled in me a deep understanding of yoga’s expansive potential to create openings, in the body and in the world, for healing. I was especially impacted by Laurel’s gift after experiencing a fully ruptured disc in my cervical spine, which doctors insisted required nothing less than surgery and spinal fusion. Laurel’s research into this condition, and her personal attention both in class and private sessions, supported my eventual full recovery with literally no medical intervention. In addition to fostering all levels of asana practice, Laurel also cultivates arts and culture events among her students and in the community—I, along with many other artists, have been warmly hosted in performance and sharing, and her classes always incorporate metaphoric resonance and myriad portals for not just somatic, but imaginative and intellectual comprehension as well. She is a goddess! And Yoga Garden Minneapolis is truly a special, welcoming, peace-affirming refuge.  —Sarah Fox /// / / / / / / // //\ \ \ \ \\\ \\ \\\\\ \ \ \\ \ \ \ \ \ \  + + + +++++ + + + + + +++ + +++ # # ## ## # ##### # # A lucky lady am I to be surrounded by such a great community of students and teachers.  We have an amazing group of yogis, artists and entrepreneurs @ YG I am forever proud to be a part of.  I love and appreciate each one of your voices and the energy you bring to the studio.  Thank you to Sarah Fox for the beautiful words and insight on her experience there.  For any of you looking to deepen your body's potential check out the info below.  A TTing is for all teachers and students and anyone looking for more.  Love to all.  LVM Understanding Alignment Through Action EXPLORING DEEPER INTO STUDY, PRACTICE AND TEACHING YOGA FOR TEACHERS & STUDENTS Winter/Spring 2016 /// February 18th – May 19th Weekly schedule will be: Thursdays 5:00 – 10:00 pm Saturdays 11:00 – 5:00 pm Sundays 12:00 – 4:00 pm REGISTER HERE There will be a break March 17th – 20th.  No class Easter Sunday. For questions please call Laurel @ 763-458-2190 or email laurel@yogagardenmpls.com Training taught by Laurel Van Matre $2,650 by January 13th /// $2,850 after January 14th, 2016 Credit Cards Accepted + Show Up Every Day + www.yogagardenmpls.com \ \ \\ \ \ \\\//// / / / / / /