 How come every time I print new schedules I need to change them? It happens every single time. It doesn’t matter how much I plan, or how much feedback I collect before putting a new schedule together. Every time I head to the copy store I know I will be back within two days to do it all over again. My kids have a lovely collection of colored scrap paper to doodle on from all of the out-of-date schedules floating about the house. Their art is now sponsored by Growing Yogis. The only thing I have learned from this, so far, is only to print a few at a time.
I think this speaks to not really being able to plan anything entirely.
There is a saying that keeps popping up in everything I read:
“Man plans, God laughs.” This seems to hold true in my world lately. It can be so incredibly frustrating to watch the best laid plans crumble at our feet. Life's little speed bumps. We grasp at holding it all together but when it gets right down to it, there is simply nothing we can do but to go with it.
Yoga teaches us to practice non-grasping. Letting go. Going with the flow.
Spontaneity. Change. Embracing the unexpected. Rolling with it. Thinking on the fly. These are not my favorite games to play. Lately, though, these are the things that are challenging me. From tropical storms that steal my power, to locating a new preschool four days before school is scheduled to begin, I am rolling with it. Or, at least I am working on rolling with it.
Controlling the need to not control the uncontrollable is my paradox. This
is where my work is at the moment. My yoga. Yoga isn’t all physical. It isn’t all about having a flexible body, or the ability to sit still, focus on your
breath, and meditate. We have to live it. Put it into practice and live it.
Easier said than done, as usual.
Go ahead and make your plans. It’s great to have plans. Just be prepared to
accept that you may have to change them. And maybe check the schedule on the website before you head on over to class.
You've probably already heard the news. Growing Yogis is moving to its very own space soon. Really soon. Our last classes in our current locations will be May 23rd and then it's off to our new studio (other than the Kennebunk preschoolers at Nataraja School of Yoga, that class will stay where it is.)
Our new studio will be located at 935 Main St., in Waterboro. We'll be sharing a home with Always and Forever Florist and Rings Crossing Natural Foods.
There are many intentions behind this move. The first and biggest is that Growing Yogis needs to grow. I was swayed from my original plan for a few months. The glory of the coast called to me, and I was pulled away. It took a few months and serious conversations to get back on track. When I began teaching yoga it was important to me to be able to offer options in my community. As a mom who lives in semi-rural Maine, I greatly dislike travelling to Biddeford, Sanford, Portland and, yes, Kennebunk, to find activities for my kids. And, with gas prices what they are...... well, who can afford to drive anymore? Not that there aren't a few great programs already in place. Swim is offered for preschoolers and toddlers at Massabesic Health Resources. Gymnastics and art through Waterboro Parks and Rec. Dance is offered through The Konservatoriet Dance Studio, where I was lucky enough to teach my kid's yoga classes for the last year. I can personally say that these are great options for kids, so I'm not looking to compete, just to offer something else. While we're here on this topic of places that offer great programming, I'd like to acknowledge Peggy Greer, owner of Anam Cara Studio in Alfred, who was the first teacher that made yoga click for me. Thanks, Peggy.
Another driving force for me is that our school budget is dwindling each year. As our superintendent said in a budget meeting last year, we are no longer looking at the best educational scenario, there is no money for best. We are simply working with what we have to provide our kids with a basic education. As this happens families will need to supplement where they can. This is one of those gaps Growing Yogis can help fill. It takes a village and all of that business. In addition to yoga for the whole family, I'd like to provide a setting for other educational enrichment opportunities for our kids, without breaking the bank, or driving twenty miles. Foreign languages, creative arts, book groups and playgroups tops the list. If you have other ideas please share them.
The plans for expansion will begin with more yoga, for more people, at more times that work, on more days. Again, suggestions are welcome. Pricing has changed to make yoga more accessible to more families. Our new pricing structure is designed to encourage adults to come to more than one class a week. A healthy, happy family begins with a healthy, happy mom and dad after all. The new schedule will be coming soon.
A few weeks ago I asked the Girl's Class to complete a survey. The last question on the paper was 'Is there anything else you would like me to know?' One girl wrote in "I like you." Is there anything better than hearing that at the end of a long day. I like her too. I like all of my yoga families and am so blessed that they have allowed me to become a part of their lives. I hope that, by expanding Growing Yogis, I can serve more families, bringing yoga to them so that they can know, first hand, how fabulous yoga can be and what it can bring to their lives.
Woo Hoo! Summer vacation in almost here. You can smell it in the air at the bus stop in the morning. Antsy children ready to break free from the routine and get their vacation groove on. No more hectic schedule, hot classrooms or HOMEWORK.
For some families though summer also brings travel and all that comes with it, boredom- "Mooommmm, there is nothing to dooooo........", or siblings who simply need a break from each other and you. This is why your kids need to come play yoga with us.
Growing Yogis knows that summer vacation can be both a blessing and a curse for some kids. So this summer we are really focusing on schoolagers. We are offering 3 different class times to meet your families needs. We've even added a class for adults and teens. Our 6-12 classes are all mixed level classes. Yoga is all about being where you are. Through carefully planned classes Growing Yogis works to challenge the advanced students who have been with us for a year (that's right, we just had an anniversary!) and to offer extra support to the child who is new to yoga.
Each class is balanced to meet each child where they are. Games, music, yoga principles and poses are used to engage every child and foster personal and social growth. There is no judgement in yoga. Each child is unique and at yoga class we work to honor and celebrate your child's strengths while working on the areas that they need help.
Class Passes ensure that you aren't paying for classes you aren't using. So don't worry about missing a class for a camping trip or week away. We'll be here when you get back.
Yoga has so many benefits for every person, big or small. We believe that yoga is for everyone. So check out the schedule and find the class that works best for your family. At the very least, you'll get an hour each week to sit in silence or run errands with a tag-along chatterbox.
Spring is always an exciting time of year. Grass turns green again, flowers pop up out of the ground, bikes come out of storage, the smell of sidewalk chalk fills the air...........who doesn't love spring.
This year spring came early, thank god. What a nice treat to be working in the garden before the first of May. It's hard, as a parent and business owner, to stay focased on the moment. To enjoy the beauty of spring without looking ahead to summer. Summer is just around the corner after all. School vacation will be quickly upon us. As a mom I start to panic a bit around mid-May. I love my kids, don't get me wrong but sometimes the thought of the 3 months of summer vacation makes me a bit anxious. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all of that.
Growing Yogis is working to plan ahead for the summer. We recognize scheduling can get a bit crazy for families and would like to accomodate our busy families as much as possible. One way we do that is the use of Class Passes. With a Class Pass if you need to miss a week or two or three for a planned vacation or simply because it is a lazy, summer day, you aren't wasting money for a missed class. Class Passes don't expire. You come when you come. We would also like to hear from you about class times and days that work best for your family. Some thoughts on the table are mid-day school-age classes, and Saturday morning classes. We are also considering spitting up the age-groups a little differently. We want to know what ages you need classes for. We would love to get some boys in our classes. Yoga is for everyone. So let us know. Email, call, post a comment here or on our Facebook page. Let your voice be heard.
In the meantime, enjoy spring. Feel the warm sun on your face, listen to the birds chirping, invite a toddler to watch a worm squiggle, smell the earthy soil as you dig into the ground to plant those early flowers. Spring is fleeting. Be in the moment of spring before the hot days of summer come knocking on our doors.
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