November 2021 Newsletter

As the Fall weather slowly progresses towards Winter weather, I watch Mother Nature create beautiful changes in the landscape.  The maple tree in the backyard is yellow and many of the leaves have fallen to the ground.  The tall stately sycamore tree is changing color very slowly, and the huge leaves are releasing from the branches and are carpeting the yard beneath.  I can now see a nest of a squirrel in its branches!

And I can’t forget the burning bushes which have turned bright red, welcoming friends and neighbors to our home along with the standing bear 😊 who calmly watches the seasons change. 

I contemplate these many changes and wonder how the trees, squirrels and earth feel as winter approaches.  Last month, I was feeling so urgently busy as I harvested my garden, put tools away for the winter and cleaned up the yard.  I’m feeling calmer as these tasks are nearly complete – nearly because I keep finding one more thing!  And then at times, I feel agitation or unsettled; and notice the spilled milk, lost keys or irritable words.  I have learned it is normal to fluctuate between calm and unsettled energies as well as any in between. 

Can you identify?

As the seasons change, we can spend more time feeling our energies and using grounding as a way to be intentional about managing them.  If you would like to try a grounding practice, you could:

• Step outside in your bare feet into your lawn or even a patch of earth. Yes!  In your bare feet 😊 Pause and take in all the sensation – temperature, soft grass or damp earth….   I have been doing this while the weather has been above 40 degrees, although am wondering if I can continue as temperatures drop.
• Find a seated position in a chair with a firm seat. Rock from side to side and feel your “sitz bones”.    Press sitz bones into the chair.  Then notice your feet.  Bring them to “hip distance apart” right under your knees.  Press your feet into the floor and feel engagement in muscles all the way up your legs and into your abdomen.  Pause and feel.

Practice “grounding” every day and notice your energies.  Notice how they might change from day to day.  You may like to journal your experience.  Take time to pause, contemplate – see what you can learn about yourself.

Please let me know what you learn 😊

News and Notes:

For students local to Bloomington/Normal, Illinois; I will not be teaching at ARC in November or December, although I am thinking about returning in January if conditions remain stable with the COVID pandemic and enough students are comfortable joining me.  Please let me know if you are feeling comfortable and have interest in practicing in person even if masks are required.

A clarification about the class cancellation policy (cancelling classes with no registrations 24 hours before class start time) — you will not see the cancelled class on the calendar/schedule and so you won’t be able to register, so if the class is there, you can likely assume others have registered.

The November and December class schedules are now on the website.  -> Events for November 2021 – Yoga with Ada (yogawithada1.com) and Events for December 2021 – Yoga with Ada (yogawithada1.com)  Please be sure to register for classes in order to fully use your subscription.  If you would like to take more classes than covered by your subscription, you can log out of your account and purchase as many single classes as you would like.

I received a few responses to my survey questions last month, thank you to those who responded!  If you weren’t able to respond, it’s not too late!  Please respond this month – I am including last month’s questions and adding more for this month.

• Based on survey feedback, I will be planning a Meditation Workshop and weekly meditation sessions for early next year.
• I am also considering schedule changes, so please let me know your thoughts.

If you are looking for a birthday/anniversary gift idea for a special someone, maybe a yoga class with Ada is a perfect choice!  Here are the steps you can take:

1. Go to YogawithAda1.com
2. If you have a subscription, go to your account and Logout before proceeding to #3.  Those without a subscription can go straight to #3.
3. Go to the “Class Schedule” and purchase the class or classes, using your own email address and credit card.
4. Forward the confirmation email to the gift recipient along with your personal greeting.  Please CC me at YogawithAda1@gmail.com, and I will add them to the class roster and know to expect them.

November Survey:

Please “reply” to this email, answering these survey questions:

1. Would you be interested in a 1-hour Meditation Workshop at $10, followed by free weekly 1-hour meditation group sessions? Yes/No   The workshop would be offered when students are interested, or every couple of months.
   1. Which of the following Days would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) Monday, or Thursday
   2. Which of the following times would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm
2. Would you be interested in a 1-hour Yoga Nidra at $10? This could be purchased with your subscription or as a separate class.  Yes/No 
   1. Which of the following Days would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) Monday, or Thursday
   2. Which of the following times would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm
3. Would you be interested/consider changing Chair Yoga or Gentle Yoga classes to a different day and/or time?
   1. Change Chair Yoga (currently taught on Tuesday and Thursday at 9am CST) – Yes/No
      1. Which of the following Days would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) -Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
      2. Which of the following times would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) – 9am CST, 10am CST
   2. Change Gentle Yoga (currently taught on Monday and Saturday at 8:45am CST) – Yes/No
      1. Which of the following Days would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) -Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
      2. Which of the following times would work for you? (Please indicate all that work) – 8:45am CST, 10:15am CST
   3. I am considering shortening the “gathering time” before class starts from 15 min to 10 min. For example, with our current schedules, this would mean:
      1. Gentle Yoga would open at 8:35am CST
      2. Chair Yoga would open at 8:50am CST
      3. Please share any concerns or support you have for this idea.

I am thinking adjustments would begin in January 2022.

As always, please let me hear from you!  Your feedback and suggestions continue to inspire the additions and changes to my teaching and website.

Ada