Baby Massage Workshop October 5th

Baby Massage Workshop, Sunday October 5 from 2-3:15pm. Stacy Wooster, R.M.T. and R.Y.T, 200 will be holding this Baby Massage Workshop at the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi. This will tie into our Baby and Momma yoga classes that Jennie Woelpern, R.Y.T. 200 and Pre and Post Natal Certified Instructor will be teaching starting October 21st, 2008.
Space is limited for the workshop. Only two more spaces available as of September 29th.

Due to popular request there will be another Baby Massage Workshop scheduled November 15th, 2008. Contact Maria at The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi to register early!

Be sure to schedule your massage with Stacy for this weekend, October 5-6th, 2008. There are only two more spaces for these as well. As a special treat Stacy will be teaching our Friday Restorative Yoga class with some Yoga Nidra. It would be silly to miss this experience. Be sure to register early (either by phone or on line). This class is on a first come, first serve basis. Your pre-registration saves your spot!

Jivamukti Yoga ~ Focus of The Month~ October '08

Halloween and All Saints' Day
During the equinoxes, the fabric of space and time becomes thinner and the atmosphere becomes more porous. And, of course, Halloween (also known as All Hallows' Eve) and All Saints' Day occur at the time of the time of the fall equinox, when the boundaries between dimensions are more transparent and disembodied spirits can move more freely between the world of gross and subtle forms. We know that many disembodied souls exist in other dimensions only looking for an opportunity to find a body to possess.
It is a great privilege to have a body because it is easier to work out karma when you have one. With only an astral, or etheric, body, it is much more difficult to resolve your karmas. All disembodied spirits know that life in a physical body is precious, something to value, unlike some of us who take our lives for granted, neglecting or not appreciating the body. In some traditions, these disembodied souls are referred to as "hungry ghosts." They are hungry for a body and want the experience of life, which offers the means to resolve their karmas, so they can be at peace.
On All Hallows' Eve, these hungry ghosts can be seen in the world of the living, as they are able, on that night, to pierce through the boundaries that normally separate the dimensions. They can make mischief as only hungry spirits looking for bodies to possess can. They want to feel what living beings feel, and they can be demanding about it, saying, "I want this, I need this, give me this."
In the past, people anticipated the arrival of these ravenous ghosts by preparing food offerings for them. They wanted the food to be so delectable that the ghosts would be completely sated and forget about trying to possess their bodies, so they made sure their offerings were very tasty, that they would be a treat for the spirits. This tradition is still practiced in many parts of the world. In India and Ireland, for instance, people leave food on their doorsteps for spirits at certain times of the year. In India and parts of Indonesia, people also hang scary, demon-faced masks above their front doors to scare away unwanted guests. It is best to choose a mask that is scarier than the demons, so that it scares them away and they leave you alone.
When you know the origin of this particular holiday (holy-day), you can see how it evolved into what it is today. For example, when delectable offerings were left on the doorstep of every home in every village, some people who might have been hungrier than they were afraid ventured out to steal their neighbor's food. To ensure that they weren't caught or recognized, they might have thrown a cloak over themselves or masqueraded as a demon or ghost. If someone happened to hear a noise and peered out a window, that person would think he or she had seen a hungry ghost taking the delicious food that had been left for just that purpose.
Nowadays, the tradition on Halloween night has become one of going out dressed in costume rather than staying home and praying to the saints for protection. There are basically two camps of masquerade: the demons and the saints. You see lots of vampires, ghosts and headless corpses, as well as fairies, nuns and winged superheroes. Millions of kids dress up and go door-to-door asking for candy, or treats.
In the old days, no sane individual would have gone outside on that night. People would probably have spent all of Halloween night locked up inside their houses praying to the saints, gods and goddesses, or their ancestors to protect them from possession by hungry spirits. If someone survived the night of being harassed by the hungry ghosts, and in the morning still retained the familiar form of his or her own body, it was because he or she had had the protection and help of holy beings-saints, angels and ancestors. That person would then spend the whole rest of this next day in gratitude, thanking those saints for protection the night before. This is why the day after All Hallows' Eve is set aside for remembrance of the saints and is called All Saints' Day.-Sharon Gannon, October 2008

Jennie's Back!

Jennie will be back teaching Gentle/Pre-natal Yoga on Monday's 1:30-2:45. We will also introduce our new Mommy and baby class Tuesdays 1:30-2:30. We will be watching the attendance of this new class because we would love to have it on Thursdays too (same time, same place)!

The Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi would like to thank everyone for their support. Over the past 3 1/2 years we have developed a family feel in the studio and are always excited about welcoming new faces to the studio (as practitioners and teachers). It is very exciting to be able to share yoga with someone and to watch them go through the process of self discovery. This is the reason the studio exists. With our library, workshops, teacher training, and availability to talk with your teachers on a personal level we are promoting your personal growth. My friend Pamela Walsh from my Teacher Training at Yoga Yoga and Immersion with Christina Sell had such a beautiful blog the other day which summed up the studio's intent perfectly. I would like to share it with you and you should take a look at her site (http://potentialwithin.wordpress.com/). My past training experiences have been amazing and I have met the most wonderful people. I am grateful for yoga and believe yoga has changed us all and for the better. Here is that quote:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

May many miracles come your way. Don't be afraid to go out and let your light shine. While you are at it help someone else discover theirs. Serve the greater good!

Much Love To You All!
Michelle

Pre-Natal massages at the studio for a limited time

Stacy Wooster, R.M.T. and R.Y.T. 200 will be in town September 7-September 11th. She specializes in Pre and Post-Natal yoga and Pre-natal massages. We will be offering pre and post natal, Swedish, Deep tissue and myofascial release massages on an appointment only basis. Massages will run $65/hour or $90 one and one half hours. You are guaranteed to feel fabulous. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to experience one of Austin's finest!

Be sure to sign up for the infant massage workshop soon. Space is limited and this is a popular workshop. Also, look for information on the Yoga Nidra class soon. Stacy will be teaching these as well.

Welcome Abigail! Our newest member of the Studio Family

Jennie and Ryan announce Abigail's arrival.

Abigail Rose has arrived...
Our beautiful Abigail Rose arrived September 5th, 6:44am 6lbs. 11oz, 19" long and most important in perfect health. She gave her mom a quick labor & delivery, even though it was quick still not easy, but I did it all natural. I feel it is the number one accomplishment in my life that I have ever done!! It is hard to describe in words how it feels to give birth, it is very powerful and amazing! I still can't believe I did it!!So here is my birth story:I went to bed at 9:30pm on Thursday 4th, woke up at 10:30pm with bad hip pain and light crampy back pain. I thought oh great another night of no sleep, but then I realized that I was contracting pretty regular, so I started to time them and they were about 10 minutes apart. Still not convinced I was in labor I called Stacy (my good friend in Austin, who is also my doula) and she said sure does sound like it, I am leaving now. She lives in Austin so she had about a 3 1/2 hour trip to make. Now it is about 11:30pm. Then I had to call Ryan, because he was away at a hotel for work. He didn't first believe me. After convincing him this is the real deal, he called work and they released him to be sent home, but he was still about 3 hours away. The contractions were coming quicker and I was having lots of back pain, at this time it is about 12:30am. I called my friend Tiffany to come over and sit with me until Ryan and Stacy got her, I didn't want to be alone at home. When she got to my house a little while later, my contractions were then about 4-5 minutes apart and very regular and I was feeling the pain. I was so worried that Ryan and Stacy were not going to make it in time before I had to go the hospital, it was getting to the point that I was going to ask Tiffany to take me, but I kept waiting it out, and using yoga breathing and poses to get through the contractions. Finally Ryan arrives about 3:30am, and I said we need to go now, but he was like no I think we should wait and make sure, I was like I am sure! So he went and got his stop watch and my contractions were 3 minutes apart, so he said yes we better go. Stacy was still in route at this time. So we left for the hospital, got checked in at 4:10am, Stacy arrived just as I was getting in the labor room. Nurse Mary (she was the best nurse, well actually all the nurses were very wonderful while we were there) checked me and I was 8cm dilated, I said thank God! So then I knew it shouldn't be too long and thought at this time I think I will be able to do this. I really got in a zone, I just kept a gaze or shutting my eyes and meditating, relax, relax, relax. I had one hand in Ryan's and one in Stacy's hand. Ryan was keeping a cold wet rag on my head and telling me to relax, and Stacy was doing the breathing and it helped me concentrate on my breathing, she also used some oils/herbs for relaxation and energy. I really didn't even notice the nurses or the doctor in the room. About an hour of being there it was time to push and I was so thankful! When I started the pushing process, I was in a zone, didn't even know what was going on around me. I just focused on my breathing and mediating internally. Ryan and Stacy did a wonderful job doing the counting. Too me it was like a game/a goal. So about an hour after pushing, Abigail arrived. I was very lucky and didn't tear or need an episiotomy. I know it was the yoga that got me through the labor and delivery and also my wonderful husband and friend Stacy. I did though break a blood vessel in vagina and am also sore and bruised, but that is to be expected. So like I said even though it was a fast labor & delivery, I wouldn't call it easy. But it is all well worth it to finally have our wonderful perfect daughter in the world. She is the most amazing thing on earth to me. I can't believe the feelings I have for her. I can see in Ryan's eyes too, that he feels the same way for Abigail too.So now we are home, we were released Saturday afternoon. Since we have been home, I have finally been able to get a few hours of sleep, but no complaints at all. Ryan has been super dad and super husband!! He has so far changed all her diapers, burbs her and gets her to me for her feedings. Since right now it is a little hard for me to get around, but I should be back on my feet in know time at all.Our first night home went very well, Molly is like mother hen watching Abigail. She has this look in her face that she wants to help. Junior hasn't adjusted yet, he is distant, but hopefully he will come around. Our first morning home, well up early, but when you have a new baby, you really don't operate on a normal schedule/time. We gave Abigail her first bath, Ryan has done two loads of laundry and already been to the grocery store in back. So now we have the day to enjoy our family time together.Posted are a couple pictures taken right after she was born, we have tons of cute pictures of her, but right now being a new mommy, all my priorities, responsibilities, worries, and concerns have changed and all focus in on Abigail; Ryan and I's number one and most important person. As I have more time, I will get more pictures for you all to see and enjoy.Also I want to say thank you to everyone that has helped us, been here for support, and giving us gifts. You area all very important and very dear to me!!
Posted by A Journey For Life at 6:49 AM 1 comments
Saturday, September 6, 2008

Be sure to look for more information at http://ajourney4life.blogspot.com/

Much Love and Happiness to the Woelpern family.