Is Yoga exercise?  Is it breath, meditation, and/or spirituality?  Is Yoga everything?  Is Yoga nothing?

The most agreed upon definition of the Sanskrit word yoga is "yoke" or "union".  It is also possible that the word yoga derives from "yujir samadhau," which means "contemplation" or "absorption."  Historically, a yoke was used to unite a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load.

In the west, most of us hear the word yoga and we think of a series of asanas, vinyasas, or kriyas that create a physical practice.  Experienced practitioners understand that infusing these physical movements with the breath, philosophical, meditative, and inspirational aspects of yoga creates a much greater benefit than just the physical.

The physical postures and vinyasas that are popularly practiced today are modern compared to the ancient history of Yoga.  Most of the physical practice we know today has been developed in the last 100 years.  Anthropological evidence, however, shows that the meditative and contemplative aspects of Yoga are thousands of years old.  Hatha yoga, or the physical practice, is growing, changing, transforming, and developing every day.  However, even yoga postures are just exercise unless they are infused with presence, breath, prana, and awareness.

Here's the thing...anything you do...walking, kiting, biking, sitting, cleaning, pruning, gazing, dancing, talking...anything...if done with real presence, infused with the wisdom of the breath, united with deep energy connection, and ultimately creating deeper awareness and loving acceptance in your life is further yoking or uniting you with what is True.  The realization that we are all yoked, united, connected...that ultimately there is no separate self.  We are all connected through a matrix of energy, life, love, God...whatever you like to call what is True. This is Yoga, and all its practices, styles, and paths seek to deepen our consciousness and understanding of Truth.

So, at Flow, as we add classes like Fly or Fusion, you will see that they are challenging the body in diverse and unique ways, but they are infused with the Heart of Yoga.  This presence, breath, energy, joy, and awareness will inspire and empower you beyond the body.

Thank you for creating a community of Yoga at Flow by your beautiful & diverse presence.

Our theme this month at Flow - is Yoga - all ways.  Lets explore what Yoga is to you.  What does it mean to you?

Much Love to All of You,
We Are One,
Steph

STARTS SUNDAY, JULY 4TH! YES - you can pamper yourself in our beautiful day spa while your kids have a great time - enjoy a massage, facial, pedicure. Come do yoga as a family -- Flow, Fusion or Fly classes held during these times for adults to attend in the other studio. 

Tuesdays 10:30-1:30-camp
Weds 10:30-1:30-camp
Thursdays 9:15-10:30-class
Fri 10:30-1:30-camp
Sundays 9:30-10:45-class

We’ll teach your kids the joy of yoga as movement while you have the opportunity to do your own yoga class or enjoy a well-deserved spa treatment in the next room – we all deserve time to relax, rejuvenate, and focus on health, balance & joy in our lives!

Kids ages 3 and older are welcome to attend (must be potty trained). Ideal ages are 4-10.

Cost:
$5/child/hour (or per class) - with an adult enjoying yoga or spa service
$10/child/hour - drop-off 

Flow...Ride...Fly...
Over the River...Through the Woods...

Into Energy...for Your Life!

FLY Training - A method of whole-body empowerment that redefines physical training as an inspiring, creative, personalized session of transformative evolution.

Your body and gravity become the challenge: using TRX suspension trainers, plyometrics, splinter techniques, and other functional and gravity-inspired methods and equipment you will achieve a level of mind, body and heart fitness you never imagined possible. Language and coaching will speak to your heart and inspire your body.

Debuts Monday night, July 5th 5:30 & 6:15 pm

July Introductory Class Times:
Mon & Weds 5:30 & 6:15 pm
Tues 11:15 & Noon
Mon & Weds 8:45 & 9:30 am
45 Minute Classes - limited to 7 students
(reserve your space online or call)
 

We keep a minimum schedule of Cycle Training classes year-round for a few reasons.  First, cycle training indoors, while a great specificity training option for outdoor riding, is not the same as outdoor riding.  Indoor riding can be great cross-training because it is similar, yet slightly different, in how it challenges the muscle fibers and the load on your spine, etc.  There is more range to raise your handlebars to ease lumbar strain.  Your coach will emphasize and train for alignment so that when you are on the road you can pedal for years to come.

Cycle classes can also be a great way to get more miles/intensity on the bike and vary your intensity on your own terms (instead of nature's terrain) in less time.  We train to push our anaerobic thresholds for a total of 6 minutes in each class - which equals about one hour of regular aerobic riding.  So, its like your are getting two hours in one.  Plus, its FUN.  We have a variety of great music to inspire us, and a great community of riders.

We are here for you.  So, if you want to be able to get in/out and get a great workout on the bike in one hour regardless of wind, flat tire, reliability of a friend, etc., these classes are a great way to feel good...improve cardiorespiratory health, mood, energy.

Mon nights 5:30 pm with Stacy

T & Th mornings 8 am with Steph

*Experience beginning every day with renewal, restoration, & energy
*Take time in your life for clearing out ~ making space
*Inspiration to practice several days in a row
*Bring more awareness and presence to your life

Join Stephanie & Sybil for a weeklong early morning intensive:

-Daily yoga classes where we guide you to discover your inner energetic harmony - facilitating discovery of YOUR personal balance of active and calm.
-Classes will explore a variety of methods to balance and harmonize energy, including restorative poses, vinyasa, pranayama, meditation, and more.

Each day will focus on a theme to inspire growth and transformation: breathing, strengthening, softening, exploring and expanding.

Bring freedom into your schedule, let go of who you think you are, take a playful look at inversions and back bends.

July 12-16 – Cost is $95
Early Bird: $75 if signed up by July 10th
Mon-Fri 6-8 am
 

“There’s a great saying in Zen that says, ‘the pursuit of enlightenment is solving the great riddle of life and death.’ We spend so much time avoiding death, trying to attain a happy life. It is not really possible to attain a happy life until we have looked very deeply at our own death. In dying before you die, you discover everlasting Life to be your very own nature. It is possible to find out what dies, who dies, and take a leap right here, right now.

This intensive will be for just that—solving the great riddle of life and death… $65 Adi will be leading Dharma Talks, Meditation, and Excercises For cultivating the investigation into the Great Matter.

Mon 8 am - Mastery Meditation in the tradition of Dhyan Vimal presented by Michelle Yamamoto

Weds 8 am - Zen Zazen Meditation with Adi

Thurs 7:05 am - Pranayama with Jody

By donation, to benefit the Dharma Sangha Prison program.  Even a dollar or two is a great help to this worthy cause.  Make a difference in a prisoner's life, by supporting the Flow Sangha's expenses to travel to Pendleton to vounteer their time with these amazing men.  Everyone has a story, and prison can be a transformational experience, and, for some, is a great catalyst to awakening.
 

4th of July Holiday Schedule

July 4th

9:30 am Flow w/ Adi
9:30 am YogaKids w/ Savvy
11 am Satsang/Dharma Talk

(8 am Flow & 6:30 Yin/Restore cancelled)

July 5th

All classes are happening that day, except:

morning 8:45 and 9:30 Fly - cxld
(Fly classes officially start Mon night)
afternoon 4 pm Core Flow - cxld

Pregnancy Yoga Classes - Cancelled for July & August, but will return in the fall.  If you are pregnant, please join us in the Gentle Flow or Basic Yoga classes.  These teachers are trained to modify for pregnancy and can provide you with props like a chair, bolsters, etc.  We plan to have a Pregnancy Yoga Workshop or special class sometime end of July or early August to bring together our pregnant students for the benefit of sharing and community.

We wish The Pilates Studio a fond farewell as it relocates to the Heights, sharing space with Columbia Gorge Physical Therapy.  We love Virginia, and although her equipment is moving, her heart is still always with us.  Virginia will still be teaching Monday Pilates Mat classes at Flow, so come by and see her Mondays at noon.  For more information on her new location, you can call Virginia at 541-490-0660, or visit HoodRiverPilates.com.