Feng Shui Swap Party
January 23rd is Lunar New Year (aka. Chinese New Year) and in honor of this opportunity for new beginnings we are having our first annual Feng Shui Swap Party!
Party Date: January 20, 2012
Party Time: 4:30 to 8:30 pm
What is it all about: Come and sip some wine and explore great finds from infant clothing to craft supplies. Bring what you no longer need and pick up what you can use right now.
Here is how it works: On Sunday, January 15th, any time between 10:00 am and noon, drop off some of the following:
- infant or children’s clothes in any size,
- cloth diapers (stripped and in good condition),
- maternity clothing,
- sweaters
- toys (stuffed animals, puzzles, games, teethers, etc.)
- blankets,
- coats,
- purses & tote bags,
- fabric, yarn, craft supplies,
- clothing for women and men
- cds, records, dvd and vhs movies
Please drop off in boxes that are very clearly labeled and separate your own items. If you have anything else that you are interested in giving away that isn’t on the above list (ie. baby gear, electronics, camping gear, furniture, kitchen items, etc.) then please take a picture and make a single flyer and indicate how you can be contacted regarding the item(s). The only “rule” is that, to be a part of the swap, no items can be sold. Everything must be given freely. I will hang up flyers at the party.
Then, on Friday afternoon and evening, January 20th, come for a glass of wine and a snack and peruse the goods. Take what you can use and anything that isn’t taken by our community will be donated to a good cause. Clean out your closets, garage, basements and storage areas. Liberate your yarn, fabric and craft stash to make room for new ideas and materials. What comes around goes around! Trust that, when you need something, the Universe will provide it. If you aren’t using it now, there might be someone who really needs it now. Start this new year out with space for new beginnings and allow creative energy and open space into your home. Children are warmly welcomed!
Good Reads
Neither of these books are, well, fabulous. But, both of them are good reads. What makes a good read?
1) A good read isn’t life altering. It’s just a book. The characters won’t drive you crazy, you won’t cry as you try to fall asleep, you won’t quiver in your pajamas.
2) A good read has enough of a well-developed plot that you want to finish the book and feel engaged, but you aren’t going to take a sick day to plough through it.
3) A good read is well crafted without being so well written that you need to keep a dictionary next to you at all times so that you can figure out what is going on. Interesting without being intellectual. Engaging without being complicated.
I hope that these authors don’t find this personal definition of a “good read” discouraging or negative in any way. The truth is that I love to read and I need as many good reads in my life as possible. My life is demanding and between the kids and the studio and my husband and the laundry—seriously, the laundry!—well, these books are the sugar in my bowl. I enjoyed them both and hope that you might enjoy them too!
Hydrate!
Thank you to JoAnn Brickley of Hydration Health and Fitness, Matrika’s wonderful neighbor, for the absolutely amazing treatment today. JoAnn not only helped me find some long lost abdominal sensation, but she also picked up my daughter and kept her entertained and smiling.
JoAnn is obviously a wonderful healer and I would highly recommend her to anyone who feels lost in their body. After two cesarean births, I really needed this guidance and care to help find my core. Even after just one session, I feel like I, at the very least, have a map.
Hydration Fitness is located next door to Yoga Matrika at 1408 S. Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. You can reach JoAnn to make an appointment by calling (412) 877-0452.
Online Enrollment
The short answer is “no.” Classes that are on the weekly drop-in schedule do not require pre-registration. You can simply arrive at the studio 15-minutes before your class is scheduled to start and, space permitting, you can take class.
Enrolling online is highly recommended for the following reasons:
A Sutra is for Saying
In order to understand Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we can’t just read them. We must chant them and chant them together so that we absorb the vibration of meaning on the deepest level possible.
You are welcome to a Satsang this Friday night at Yoga Matrika, 1406 S. Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 for an interactive and festive lecture/discussion on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and their significance for our practice and our lives.
Read more and register here ($15 pre-register/$20 at the door).
A Chakra is not A Rash
A Chakra is not a rash, a medication for indigestion or a travel destination. Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last twenty years, you’ve heard this term hundreds of times as even daytime talk show hosts like Ellen throw the word around casually like everyone must know what she means. But, do you really KNOW?
Come explore the lower chakras with Kendell Romanelli at Yoga Matrika in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh on Sunday, October 23 from 2:00-4:00 pm.
61% Discount on Monthly Membership
Available TODAY on GROUPON! Members also get discounts on workshops and events at Yoga Matrika. Groupon members are eligible to continue their membership with the initiation fee waived and you can cancel at any time without penalty. This is a great way to try a few classes at Yoga Matrika!
Posted by Sharon Rudyk, owner of Yoga Matrika, an intimate yoga studio for yoga, meditation and stress reduction in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
New Preeclampsia Research
Matrika Prenatal, Pittsburgh’s premier yoga studio dedicated to prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, family yoga and childbirth education, is always trying to stay on top of new research in women’s health. Here is a very interesting study that discusses the role of trophoblasts (a father directed cell) in preeclampsia.
Posted by Sharon Rudyk, Director of Yoga Matrika and Matrika Prenatal, an intimate, community-based yoga studio in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ashtanga Yoga at Matrika
Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga
Facilitated by Lynn Rescigno
Sundays from 4:00-5:15 pm
Series Cost $40* [REGISTER ONLINE HERE]
Dates: October 30, November 6, 13, 20
Location: Yoga Matrika, 1406 S. Negley Avenue, Squirrel Hill
*Drop-in students admitted as space permits. Drop-in tuition is available here.
[Thank you to Annie Grover Pace for this informative article. This text is taken directly from her original.]
Ashtanga Yoga, practiced in its correct sequential order, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscovering his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness—physical, psychological, and spiritual. Through this practice of correct breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama), postures (asanas), and gazing point (driste), we gain control of the senses and a deep awareness of our selves. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, one acquires steadiness of body and mind. “Ashtanga” literally means eight limbs. They are described by Patanjali as: Yama (abstinences), Niyama (observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (contemplation). These branches support each other. Asana practice must be established for proper practice of pranayama and is a key to the development of the yamas and niyamas. Once these four externally oriented limbs are firmly rooted, the last four internally oriented limbs will spontaneously evolve over time. “Vinyasa” means breath-synchronized movement. The breath is the heart of this discipline and links asana to asana in a precise order. By synchronizing movement with breathing and practicing Mula and Uddiyana Bandhas (locks), an intense internal heat is produced. This heat purifies muscles and organs, expelling unwanted toxins as well as releasing beneficial hormones and minerals, which can nourish the body when the sweat is massaged back into the skin. The breath regulates the vinyasa and ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result is a light, strong body.
Toddler Yoga
Looking for a yoga class for toddlers in Pittsburgh?
Sharon Rudyk will teach a Toddler Yoga series starting on Friday, October 28 and continuing through December 9, 2011. These classes are held from 11:15 am to noon. Toddlers should be accompanied by an adult who will participate in the class and help to facilitate the toddler’s experience in the class. Yoga experience is not required. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one, but it is not absolutely required.
These are fun classes that include stories, songs and yoga poses and concepts that have been modified to be age-appropriate for one to three year old children. Just the right combination of action and relaxation, you will be amazed at how much your toddler delights in yoga. Adults will learn tricks for using yoga during the day and in the evening with their toddler for help in communication, eating/digestion and sleep habits.
We ask that you not take out snacks or toys for your child during class so that they can focus on the class and participate fully. Of course, favorite comfort items are welcome. You may want to bring snacks or a favorite toy so that, if your child needs a break, you can provide what they need to feel better and return to the group.
Cost: $10 to drop-in or $50 for a package of 6-classes
[Please use Mom and Baby class package for payment. Please note that the package is only valid for 3-months and there are only six classes scheduled. There will be no refunds for classes missed if you purchase a package of six classes and use less during the valid period. ]