Give yourself the gift of spaciousness December 2017 Aparigraha, Non-Attachment This time of year I am easily reminded of the fifth yama, Aparigraha, which translates to non-attachment or non-grasping. I have an antique dresser my parents bought for me as a baby. It was in my room all through my childhood and teenage years. When I went to college, it stayed at my mother’s home. After I got married, I moved the dresser into our first home. When we decided to have children, my husband refinished the dresser and gave it new life in my daughter’s bedroom. We moved houses and my daughter grew. After the 2014 flood, the dresser sat in knee-high waters and we moved once again. We kept the dresser, dried it out and gave it a new home in our storage room. The dresser now holds wrapping paper and bows. It takes up space, the wood is chipped and the drawer is creaky. I no longer have any need for this dresser, yet I have struggled letting it go for years. Last weekend, we were pulling out the holiday decorations. The dresser stood there, taking up space, and reminded me that I have needed to let it go for years. It provides an obstacle to get to other things. My husband asked tentatively if we could get rid of it, knowing my response in the past was to hold onto the dresser despite its lack of use. In a moment, I said, “yes, I don’t need it anymore.” It was no longer the place I put on teenage makeup and it no longer held my daughter’s clothes. Somehow I had reached the point of being able to let this thing go that was no more than old, broken, wood and peeling paint. When I think about letting things go, I realize there is often fear around it. In yogic philosophy, this fear is based on ignorance, or avidya. Maybe we have fear that the memory or a part of mySelf will leave with the item or the feeling. Maybe, guilt around moving on from something that only serves pain now. Whatever it is that we hold onto, whether tangible items, relationships, old memories both happy and sad, we are blocking space where growth and new opportunities may take place. By releasing attachments from the things that do not serve us in a positive way, we create space in our minds and our bodies to open up to joy. And maybe free up some space in your storage room so you no longer have to climb over that old dresser to reach your wreath. The memories will stay with me even as the dresser does not. I will remember being a child, a young adult, a newlywed, a new mother, an adult weathering the harshest storm and flood, and a human living this life to the utmost joy possible. I will also experience new found space and freedom by letting go of this attachment. ~Kerry Whiteley Freedom and space are gifts we offer ourselves by practicing Aparigraha. Wishing you all gratitude, spaciousness, and the realization of wholeness.. We have everything we need and more. Namaste We love you, The URU Yoga Crew **December Special** 3 Months $175 Sweet Mystery: The Sound of Healing with Dr. DeMaria TONIGHT! Friday, December 1 6:30-9:00pm URU by the airport In many native languages the translation for Creator or God is Great Mystery – a phrase that has spoken deeply to me over the years. The rational, strategic, analytic mind wants to split the world into duality, which severs the innate wholeness of life, which is at its core paradoxical. To honor the mystery, we must learn to be exquisitely present to the here and now of each moment, and embrace the currents and cross-currents of being and becoming – as we learn to traverse the rapids of modern life. We will drop in and explore the mystery through sound healing, movement, laughter, and explorations of deep inquiry into the mysteries of life and death, day and night, male and female, sound and silence, movement and stillness. Investment: $25 Check it out on Facebook Reiki Levels 1&2 with Tracey Owens Saturday, December 2 9am-4pm URU Gulf Breeze Description: Learn about Reiki, a universal energy that has been used successfully all over the world to heal emotional, physical, and energetic imbalances. Join us to discover how to help yourself & others with Reiki energy.Pricing: 12/2/17 Level 1 and Level 2 9am-4pm Investment $250 In this comprehensive course you will learn:: *The history of Reiki, where did this practice begin. *How it works & why *Energy Anatomy: Chakra system *Daily meditations and positive focus for each day. *Self-Healing techniques to utilize each and every day! We will have a Dinner Break until 6 and then those wishing to return to meditate in the Reiki energy, are welcome to join us for light yoga and meditation! *Students wishing to attend these classes as a Reiki refresher must contact me directly for availability and pricing! Check it out on Facebook Yoga Philosophy & Tea Time with Dave Donaldson Sunday, December 3 11am-12pm URU by the airport Please join Dave for Yoga Philosophy and Tea Time. Dave is a true Yogi. He shares his love of life with all he meets. He shares his love of yoga with all Yogis beginning and seasoned. Please join Dave for a talk and discussion on Yoga Philosophy. ❤️ Check it out on Facebook Sacred Song Circle Sunday, December 3 3:30-5:30pm URU by the airport Please join us as we join our voices together in sacred songs from all traditions. We would be honored if you would share a song from your tradition with our circle. You are welcome to share a song, sing along, listen, and/or dance. It is time for us to come together in unity, peace, healing, connection and love. Bring friends and family. Bring instruments. Bring your sacred songs. Bring your beautiful soul. Check it out on Facebook Holiday Card Making (Art Expression & Life Coaching) with Laurie Hansen Thursday, December 7 1:30-3pm URU Gulf Breeze No art experience necessary This is meant to be a fun and relaxing workshop. You can make & take as many cards as you like for any occasion including the upcoming holidays! Thursday, December 7th, 1:30 – 3:00 pm $20.00 – All supplies included (we will work with colored pencils) URU Yoga Gulf Breeze Treehouse Laurie Hansen, Artist/Art Teacher Laurie Hansen has been an artist and art instructor for over 30 years. In addition to a BFA in sculpting and painting, she also has a professional certificate in Art Integration. The pairing of art with any subject is a passion of hers. Currently Laurie is training to be a Life Coach. As part of her services she will offer Art Integration Life Coaching, as well as Teen and Adult Life Coaching. She is thrilled to start another chapter in her life. Check it out on Facebook Aerial Dance Holiday Edition Thursday, December 7 7:30-8:45pm URU by the airport Dance, Float, and Fly! Aerial Dance is back again! This workshop will explore moves on the aerial hoop connecting them with basic dance moves and techniques. Students will work on a short piece of choreography to explore the air to a holiday song. Preregistration is required. Registration is thru the mind body connect app or via our website, both under the “events” tab. Will post when registration is open online. www.mindbodyonline.com/get-the-app www.uruyoga.com/uru-event-schedule/ $15 for everyone non-refundable only 8 spots available Lyra can be very intense on the body. If you have any injuries please consult with the instructor before signing up: swaffordashlyn@gmail.com or post in discussion. Check it out on Facebook Metta for the Holidays Saturday, December 9 2-5pm URU 9 Mile Happy holidays to all as we move through the next few months, spending time with family and friends, shopping, festivities, parties and the list goes on… The Holidays are a special time of the year, but they can be stressful and exhausting. It can be helpful to take a break to reset, rebalance and relax our minds and our bodies into that peaceful place from which all can experience clearer perspective and lovingkindness. “Metta” for the Holidays will give you a break, to rest and care for yourself. We will do a gentle yoga practice, work quietly on an art project and end with a relaxing Yoga Nidra, a lovely lying down meditation. We will soothe our souls, relax and reset our bodies and our minds, and hold space for one another as we bring peace and lovingkindness to ourselves and one another. We will discuss how we can take our peacefulness and lovingkindness back into our holiday activities with our families and friends so that the true spirit of the holiday season can be cultivated within ourselves and with others. Hope to see you on Saturday, December 9th @ URU 9 Mile. The cost is $25 per person. This includes refreshments and all art supplies. Check it out on Facebook Don’t know what to give your loved one for the holidays? Do you want to give a meaningful gift? Or possibly give yourself a gift? Give Yoga! Gift cards are great for your loved ones or yourself to try yoga classes or invest in a private yoga session. The generous gift of private yoga will offer a customized session where student and instructor work together toward whatever YOU want to achieve whether it is more strength & flexibility, relief from stress & anxiety, a particular pose or anything else. Click here to purchase or stop by the studio you or your loved one would like to attend. Coming Up Next Month… Writing Workshop Series Mondays beginning January 8 11-11:45am URU Gulf Breeze January Writing Workshop Series with Kerry & Jessica Mondays 11-11:45am Beginning Jan 8 (following Mindful Movement, 9:30-10:45am with Kerry) 4 weeks $40 for the series  Each week Kerry & Jessica will explore a new writing prompt together. Jessica will lead us through a short seated meditation before we explore a weekly topic, share any thoughts on it to get ideas flowing, spend a few minutes writing, have the opportunity to share if you like and then take your piece home to develop more fully. If you feel called to share your developed & completed piece, you may do so in the next session. This is a time for enjoying writing without pressure of editing. These exercises are for self-exploration and expression to uncover things about yourself you may be unaware of or want to look at closer. And it is to have fun! Check it out on Facebook Life Coaching @ URU Rebecca & Kerry will complete their life coaching certifications in February. If you are interested in learning what life coaching is all about or would like to schedule a session, click here for more information! URU Yoga & Beyond www.uruyoga.com 4 Locations Pensacola: 2400 Executive Plaza Drive 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 102 100 S. Baylen Street, Ste. D Gulf Breeze: 913 Gulf Breeze Parkway Harbourtown Shopping Center, Ste. 26 URU means spacious, broad and abundant in Sanskrit. May we move from a place of spaciousness. URU means You Are You because that is who you are meant to be. May we move from a place of Being who we are meant to be CONTACT US URU Yoga | 2400 Executive Plaza Drive, Pensacola, FL 32503 Unsubscribe wps3cr3tn3wz@uruyoga.com Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by loveallbeckie@hotmail.com in collaboration with Try it free today