Please join Join Hawah, Sarah & Alexandra, the creator of The Poetry of Yoga book and workshop and Alexandra, featured poet for a mid-week creation-workshop weaving prose and posture. Reignite the spark of life rhythmn with intention in meditative motion and written reflection. Hosted right here at Move With Grace.

Thursday May 24th, 5:15pm-7:15pm

sign up online for a $5 discount!

While many of you have met my charming and intelligent Dad in the neighborhood, lots of you don’t know the story of my mother.

Joy Morris (Mom) on her wedding day in Guyana (2nd on the left)

My mother, one of the most supportive, caring and silly personalities in Brooklyn (by way of Guyana, South America) is one the the main inspirations for this Yoga studio. My parents worked very hard to send us to schools that seemed to be closed to the elite and wealthy of NYC; foreseeing unlimited possibilities with the right amount of exposure. While our hometown of Brooklyn (in the 80′s and 90′s when I was growing up) was raw, rustic.. sometimes prone to violence, drugs and depression, Everyday I emerged out of the 86th street subway into a different world of Manhattan. Compared to Brooklyn, the sidewalks seemed to be paved in platinum, so clean that everything about this tiny grande island seemed right and rich. I grew up in two different worlds. And while I saw a great extension of wealth, still I was grounded in the reality of living life. Movement, friendships, discipline and service were the 4 point principles of my upbringing. Love weaved through all of these creating the foundation for my life. My mother saw that I found joy in all of these. Through teamwork and individual athletic and dance pursuits, I learned how to connect with friends to practice and reach higher goals. Spoiled by love and friendships in a small school community I was encouraged to give back. Coming from a middle class family, I wondered how much I could possibly give, and if so, who on earth would possibly want my outgrown clothes and shoes?! As I transitioned from child to young adult, and my mother transitioned to study Buddhism, the timing seemed right to give up disposable birthday and christmas gifts to take trips to the Bedford Avenue Armory to give out birthday cakes and clean socks & underwear. (My education was the greatest, most lavish gift I could ever receive) Before I could work a paying job, my mother had me volunteer at my old pre-school (Montessori of Mill Basin R.I.P!) Most important of all was the presence she had in my life. Every game, concert and public speaking event was a chance for her to show she would always be there.

For the short 15 years that I could call on my mother as my best friend, I can look back now and be grateful beyond words for the nurturing, love and life lessons she has taught me. All of the lessons she has given me through action, movement and relationships and most important through service and purpose are the pillars of how I try to live today. I look forward to the lessons and blessings as they reveal themselves though my meditation and karmic actions. So on this Mother’s Day, I will continue to be inspired by her presence as I am surrounded by the fruits of her labour and sacrifice.

Thank You, Joy (Mom) and give thanks to all of my friend’s mothers who embraced me as their own.

Brooklyn Sunrise photo borrowed from a google search

Rise & Shine, yogis…

…rise.

and.

shine!

Alexandra Moga formally known as the Tuesday 10am yoga teacher, soon to be known as the 7am yoga teacher wants to help you find some poetry in motion the last the duration of the longer and soon to be warmer spring and summer days.

Alex explains more about the class:

Too many poets to fit on one flyer.

Between the New Year, the New Moon and The Year of the Water Dragon what does this all mean…to you?

No matter how you celebrate the new year can give us all a new start and more importantly we can leave the old years behind us. What better than to let go, clear out baggage and take in a fresh clear breathe.

Out of the MANY reasons to look forward to the new year, here are five signs that can show us how promising the new year will be.

5. Resolutions – I’ve sensed a change in how people approach the new year, not only  have a I sensed it, but I’ve pretty much done an informal survey with students here at the studio. Resolutions seem to be a thing of the past! No longer are most of the tiny sample size of MWG yogis outwardly listing their goals, instead they and I decided the intention is to do better, relax and work on becoming better people everyday.

found on xoxopriority.com

4. Embracing the spiritual self and our natural and local resources - The war in Iraq is over, Occupy Wall Street is now a household name, New Yorkers seem a lot more interested in building community, fresh food coops are sprouting up(Shout out to the Greene Hill Coop), farmers markets everywhere from Harlem to Brownsville our nourishing all open minds and more people are practicing some type of yoga, meditation or fitness as a means to reduce stress…

3. Twenty million people practiced yoga in 2011! - That’s over two times the population of the entire city of NY. I’m not quite sure if they included all the babies, toddlers, teens, prison inmates, seniors, and babies still in the womb. Whether you want to practice Yoga in its’ purest form or you want to include Steak and wine to your mindfulness meditation, there is a class for you. Now imagine if everyone had access to a yoga mat/rug, a class or a place in their heart to dedicate to stillness…pursuit of happiness and respect for our planet? I can image how powerful Yoga Month will be this year (if you believe in that divine union of energy type stuff.)

Flavorpill Hosts 10,000 Yogis in Central Park

2. Ron Artest – changed his name to Meta World Peace. Now I remember Artest from the 90s in Queens (when I used to play/watch basketball in L.I.C.) You might remember Artest in the 2000′s: A controversial, fierce defensive player that happened to fight with his fans. Being in the world we live in now we  shouldn’t be surprised that he’s using his name and fame to flame away the negative rep and bring about thoughts of world peace every time the announcer acknowledges him in a game. It’s common knowledge that if you’re seeking a higher path, you understand that words have power. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he practiced yoga…

We're all human...even the 6 foot + humans.

1. Full circle – This month we celebrate 5 years open. With 5 new teachers. And i’m looking forward to the next 525,600 minutes. For my sake i’ll just stay focused on the next one, Which is my only resolution for the new year.

Enjoy the new website.

Gung Hei Fat Choi!!

In these cold months following the holidays, the body tends to be more stiff than usual and the mind tends to be more stressed than usual. It’s an ideal time to pay particular attention to the hips with yoga!

The hips are the largest joint in the body.  Whatever happens there tends to radiate through the rest of the body in a domino affect. They link the legs and torso, bearing most of the body’s weight.  They support and protect the organs of digestion and reproduction.  And in yoga, it is said that emotional baggage is stored in this area.  The hips are also often the place where yoga students notice the most tightness!

Caring for this joint with sensitivity and compassion will bring relaxation to the body and a sense of ease to the mind.

Here are a few poses to open up tight hips.  Remember to breathe and only go as far as you feel comfortable:

Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana):

Step 1

Step 2

(remember to breathe and relax the shoulder and hips)

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana):

Step 1

Step 2

Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana):

Step 1

Step 2

Tip: It is very Common for people to have tight hips! Keep practicing at least twice a week and things will begin to open.

Suzy teaches Gentle Yoga every Wednesday from 10-11am

Namaste

We teach yoga, meditation and other awareness based practice to “at risk” NYC Youth.

I’m so honored to be apart of this social change in my own city…

And when Beth Navon, our Executive Director sent me this link today, I was not

only happy to find that the work of finding an inspirational post to start the weekend

was out of my hands, but I was literally grinning from ear-to-ear and clapping

behind to studio desk to hear this story of Yoga in South African Prisons.

BBC … I can always count on you for diverse and insteresting world news!