News of my upcoming trip which affects Zoom classes. Also a bunny in Savasana

 

Yoga peels back the edges of your Mask. It pushes you to the edge of who you’re pretending to be, introducing you to what lies beneath. Your Mask doesn’t have to distract from your luminance. IN the end, it’s how your light is gonna shine.
― Jessamyn Stanley, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance

 

drawn bunny laying on ground. "Savasana" written underneath. Starting at the top and working around the sides and bottom the words read, " palms open towards the sky, lie flat on back, belly expands as you breath in, feet pointing outward.

Hello Friends,
Stanley’s words remind me of 5 Koshas (5 bodies) practice, where we begin with our physical body (mask) and work inwards through energy body, mental body, wisdom body, and bliss body. I am particularly in love with the notion of taking care of our physical beings because we house preciousness within us. And then of course our physical beings is how we interact with the world, how our “light is gonna  shine.”

As it turns out, I will be taking care of my body on an upcoming trip to see my sister in MI. I can barely wait to have some sister time!

For Root River Yogis, this means Hallie will be filling in for me Thursdays, March 14th and 21st. For those of you who practice with me on Fridays at Dharma River, Gretchen Mulkey is going to sub for me, in person classes only. Zoom classes are taking a little break. We will meet next Tuesday the 19th, and then begin again April  2nd. If you usually attend on Zoom, but would like to try a Friday class in person with Gretchen, there is room for you, and Gretchen is delightful to practice with, I encourage you to make it, if you can!

love,

Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays (no class March 26th)

Thursdays

Fridays (In Person only March 22, 29)

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

 

Upcoming Yoga Offerings and a New Year’s Day Love Letter

 

You don’t need to hide anything or pretend that something’s not there. All your sadness, all your anger, all your doubt, all your frustration, all your confusion. It’s all welcome here. All of you is welcome here.
― Jessamyn Stanley, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance

 

"You are Enough"

Hello Friends,
First, a quick reminder that Tuesday Dharma River Zoom classes begin again on January 9th 2024. Friday DR classes, and Thursday Root River Classes will continue without interruption.

As the calendar year begins, like many of you, I find myself looking back on the last year. Thinking about what inspired me, and what I remember. A lot of what I loved this past year is wrapped up in our friendship, and for some of you, our practice together. Thank you for being in my life.

In my own practice I’ve been thinking a lot about nurturing and asking myself the question, “Where do I need more nurturing in my life?” I’ve also been reflecting on Ahimsa, which translates as compassion and non-harming for all living beings.  It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. It’s also, as you know, a core philosophy of yoga. It is about bringing compassion to ourselves, our community, and our world. It speaks to us of interconnectedness.

If you’ve practiced with me this past month, you’ve likely held this intention with me. In our asana practice, we can narrow this focus to just ourselves, and only what happens on our own mat.

If you, like many, are thinking about resolutions and intentions for 2024, I invite you to ask yourself these same questions, widening your lens a bit to bring your practice off the mat.

What in you needs more nurturing?
What are the ways you can be compassionate with yourself? Your community? Your world?
How can you practice non-harming with yourself?  Your community? Your world?

For me, I find that this process can  start with myself and grow larger, or I can gain inspiration for what I want to share with my community and then notice what support I need for that. I find the more I practice, the more my experience of interconnectedness grows.

Happy New Year Everyone!

love,
Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays (Resume Jan. 9th)

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

 

Happy Solstice/ Holiday Schedule

 

In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
Albert Camus 

 

 

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to write a quick note to say Happy Winter Solstice and to give you a heads up about Yoga offerings during the next couple of weeks.

In short we’re taking a couple of Tuesdays off, there are no other changes.

I knew for sure about the 26th last Tuesday so most of you Tuesday Zoomers are prepared. I’m also taking the 2nd off. I offered to help clean up after a gathering on the 1st and am giving myself some gentleness the next morning. So Tuesday classes will resume Jan 9th, 2024. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Love,

Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays (Resume Jan. 9th)

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

 

Yoga Offerings for the Week of Nov. 20th 2023

 

“The quest to acquire and maintain balance is ongoing, deeply personal, and usually imperfect. It requires a commitment to monitor your body, mind, psyche, and spirit.”
―Mark Taylor

 

An image of the 5 Koshas or Sheaths. "Annamaya Kosha - Physical Body, Pranamaya Kosha - Energy Body, Manomaya Kosha - Mental Body, Vijnanamaya Kosha - Wisdom Body, Anandamaya Kosha - Bliss Body"Hello Everyone,

I am writing to let you know this week I’m sharing some meditations and intentions designed to help us regulate our nervous systems. I’ll be sharing a practice based on one I learned from Susanna Barkataki to balance our Koshas, and also variations of a practice Mark Taylor presents in his article, “Accessing the Wisdom of Your Body: Balancing the Three Brains.”

We will have a gentle practice on Tuesday (tomorrow) and I will see about Friday. I came off a step wrong last week and tweaked my knee. Though it is healing fine and already much less sore, I need to take it a bit easy.

We will also not be having Root River Yoga class on Thursday morning. If you are a part of Root River and you’d like to attend the Friday morning class instead, please just let me know.

Om Shanti,

Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

Thursdays (No Class Nov. 23rd)

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

 

Reminder: No class tomorrow (Tuesday)

 

“To learn to play seriously is one of the great secrets of spiritual exploration.”
―Rachel Pollack The Forest of Souls

Hello Everyone,

I reached out to the Zoom regulars, but wanted to make sure everyone knows there’s no Tuesday class this week. I’ll miss you and look forward to practicing on Thursday!

Please feel free to make use of the many videos you all funded, and/or attend Gretchen Cohenour’s SomaNest Yoga, information on that is below.

See you on your mat soon!

~Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays (No Class Oct 3rd)

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

SomaNest Yoga with Gretchen Cohenour

The following is an email I received from Gretchen, shared with her permission. 

We’ll start a new Fall session on W. Sept. 6 at 5:30- 6:45 pm and continue every Wednesday for 8 consecutive weeks through W. Oct.25.  You are welcome to attend all or feel free to drop in for a single class any Wednesday as your schedule allows.

Practicing together is a wonderful way to move, relax, and re-awaken somatic awareness.  I look forward to sharing Body Mind Centering® applications in our SomaNest yoga practice sessions that continue to explore new themes.  Click and visit the zoom registration link below for details about this practice and what to expect in class.  Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Fall 2023 SomaNest Yoga Zoom registration link:

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://minnstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkcuCvpjgtGdSXUWKN6SWQAG1pGNzZSHL_

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

These classes are freely offered and available to anyone who might benefit, regardless of ability to pay.

Suggested donation for the 8-class session is $80 ($10 per class).  Please Venmo payment (@Gretchen-Cohenour) or mail any ‘pay from the heart’ donation for this series or for a single class experience.

*I omitted Gretchen’s address since a version of this email goes online, reach out to me if you need a way to contact Gretchen directly. 

News for Week of Sept 25th

 

“Now I am going to reveal to you something which is very pure, a totally white thought. It is always in my heart; it blooms at each of my steps… The Dance is love, it is only love, it alone, and that is enough… I, then, it is amorously that I dance: to poems, to music but now I would like to no longer dance to anything but the rhythm of my soul.”
Isadora Duncan

 

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to get back into the rhythm of writing early in the week, or at least before our class on Tuesday. As always if you have any questions, please reach out.

A few of you asked me about the Somanest yoga classes Gretchen Cohenour offers online on Wednesday evenings. You will find that information below. Brett and I have been joining when we can and I highly recommend them.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the mat soon!

~Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

SomaNest Yoga with Gretchen Cohenour

The following is an email I received from Gretchen, shared with her permission. 

We’ll start a new Fall session on W. Sept. 6 at 5:30- 6:45 pm and continue every Wednesday for 8 consecutive weeks through W. Oct.25.  You are welcome to attend all or feel free to drop in for a single class any Wednesday as your schedule allows.

Practicing together is a wonderful way to move, relax, and re-awaken somatic awareness.  I look forward to sharing Body Mind Centering® applications in our SomaNest yoga practice sessions that continue to explore new themes.  Click and visit the zoom registration link below for details about this practice and what to expect in class.  Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Fall 2023 SomaNest Yoga Zoom registration link:

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://minnstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkcuCvpjgtGdSXUWKN6SWQAG1pGNzZSHL_

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

These classes are freely offered and available to anyone who might benefit, regardless of ability to pay.

Suggested donation for the 8-class session is $80 ($10 per class).  Please Venmo payment (@Gretchen-Cohenour) or mail any ‘pay from the heart’ donation for this series or for a single class experience.

*I omitted Gretchen’s address since a version of this email goes online, reach out to me if you need a way to contact Gretchen directly. 

Info about Friday’s class and Squash Blossom Farm Invite

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” ~Maya Angelou  

Hello Everyone!

Before I tell you about what I’m up to at Squash Blossom Farms this weekend, I wanted to give you a heads up about this Friday’s class. I will need to end a few minutes early as I have to get to an appointment. Thanks in advance for your understanding!

I have shared with some of you that I’ve been playing hand percussion again after decades without even putting my hand on a drum. It has been such a joy to play music again in a group.

And our group is playing African rhythm’s at Squash Blossom Farm this Sunday at noon as part of their fall festival event. Here’s a link to more information about the event in general. 

And here’s a link to their website for more information about the farm.

It’s an hour away just north of Rochester, which if you love a drive could just add to the fun. Especially if some of us carpooled. If you don’t like to drive, then of course consider another option that weekend!

Love you all,

Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

Dharma River September-October Schedule and Information

“Do you already know that your existence–who and how you are–is in and of itself a contribution to the people and place around you? Not after or because you do some particular thing, but simply the miracle of your life.” ~Adrienne Maree Brown, Emergent Strategy

Hello Everyone!

I love the transition seasons the best, truth be told! The cooler temps at night are especially welcome, and even though I’m not personally back in school, there’s a feeling of beginning anew in the air.

I have written all of you that practice with me in person at Dharma River personally to make sure you have the information you need, but wanted to make a more public announcement as well that the question of a second Dharma River class has been answered! Thank you all for you input! I so appreciate your support and caring.

This fall we are going to stick with Tuesday and Friday classes at 8:15am. Since there isn’t room in the studio at that time on Tuesdays, for now Tuesdays will be Zoom only. Fridays of course will be in person as well as over Zoom.

These are still both Dharma River classes so that I can use the Dharma River insurance to cover them both. Thank you Paul and Trish! Since I’ll only be paying rent on Fridays because that’s when we’re using the studio space, this gives us a bit of time to increase numbers to make sure our group can easily support rent on 2 days.

love,

Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.

Social!

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”~Kurt Vonnegut

A group of hands forming a heart connoting community.

Hello Everyone!

Thank you everyone who took the time to respond to my query about what would work best for you concerning a second practice time. I am mulling over your responses and weighing them against the options available, and will let you know as soon as I know. We will be taking the week of Labor Day off irregardless of when and where we convene.

For now the big news is an outdoor social after our Friday class this week! Root River Yogis are welcome. Please let me know if you plan to attend class in person at Dharma River.

See you on the mat soon!

Social!

Please join us after class Friday August 25th down by the Levee. If you’re not attending class but still want to meet us for social time we’ll likely arrive around 9:30am.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Outdoors at Winona Public High School. More info.

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.
    • Any classes purchased to practice with me through Infinity/HALO will be honored, just let me know.

Fall Schedules and One More Outdoor Get Together!

“…Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them.”~L.M. Montgomery

Hello Everyone!

As the title implies, September is on my mind, and I’m trying to figure out how to offer a second class out of the elements.

I wanted to let you know what options I’m mulling over. If you’re reading this, and are interested in a class in addition to the Dharma River Friday offering, please send me a note letting me know what would work best for you. Though this is ultimately my responsibility, your input is greatly appreciated!

The Dharma River space is not available on Tuesday mornings because Trish has clients booked during that time. This is why I’m looking into other options.

Possibilities:

  • Keep class at 8:15am Tuesday mornings but Zoom only.
  • Offer in person class Tuesday mornings through community education. We would have an indoor space to practice, but it wouldn’t be a studio.
  • Move back to a 8:15am Monday morning practice time. This time is available at Dharma River.

Thanks in advance for your openness

~Elle

Social!

Please join us after class Friday August 25th down by the Levee. If you’re not attending class but still want to meet us for social time we’ll likely arrive around 9:30am.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Outdoors at Winona Public High School. More info.

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.
    • Any classes purchased to practice with me through Infinity/HALO will be honored, just let me know.

Outdoor Yoga info and this week’s schedule

“We crave and need challenge, adventure, and a daily diet of delight.”
~Ana Forrest

outdoor yoga

Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for your caring patience with me as my back recovers! I am feeling better every day, and was even able to do a little triage gardening over the weekend.

For anyone who is interested in practicing yoga with me outside at the Winona High School, the information you need is here.

There is considerable construction right now so you need to approach the high school from the direction of the small lake. The Sarnia entrance is blocked off, as I hilariously learned last time!

See you on the mat soon!

~Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Outdoors at Winona Public High School. More info.

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.
    • Any classes purchased to practice with me through Infinity/HALO will be honored, just let me know.

Gentle Classes and Registration Information

““We crave and need challenge, adventure, and a daily diet of delight.” ~Ana Forrest

Cheerful little boy with sunglasses lying on hammock in a pine forest

Hello Everyone!

Thanks to everyone for the great support this past week and all the loving reach-outs and healing energy sent for my back. I am on the mend, but expect some great Lower Back Care classes coming up!

It was so great to see so many of you last week at our river social after class! In fact, I hope we can have more. If you have ideas for outdoor meetups this summer, reach out. I will also do some thinking!

On the schedule below you will find updated links for registration and pricing info for Dharma River and Outdoor Yoga.

The big difference for Dharma River practitioners is we’ll be thinking about it in 8 week chunks (for my sanity) rather than purchasing anytime passes. Some of you are bringing classes from HALO, and some of you may have other special circumstances. I anticipate a small amount of figuring it out this first time. If what I wrote doesn’t make sense, just show up and talk to me, we’ll figure it out.

For Outdoor Yoga, register with Community Services for a nominal $10 fee. The fee is intentionally small (thank you Community Ed for your generosity!) so that all donations will go towards Our Voices.

See you on the mat soon!

~Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Outdoors at Winona Public High School. More info.

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.
    • Any classes purchased to practice with me through Infinity/HALO will be honored, just let me know.

Please Read. Important Announcements and Fun Social Event

“At the time I did not know that stories of life are often more like rivers than books.”
~Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

Hello Friends!

We have a bit to get through today, so bear with me! If you practice with me through Root River, all you need to know about is a meetup event. Feel free to read the rest, but no need!n

If you practice with me through Infinity, now HALO, and you haven’t been to class recently, there are a few exciting changes to be aware of.

 

Beginning this Friday July 7th, our 8:15am Friday classes will be held at the beautiful Dharma River studio at 686 W. 5th St., Winona, Minnesota. The first class is my gift to you, meaning no charge, followed by some social time down at the Levee. More info.

Beginning July 11th, our Tuesday 8:15 am classes are moving outdoors for the summer. We’re once again partnering with Community Education to fundraise for Our Voices. My intention is for us to get back to our roots as human beings, experiencing the earth, sun, and breeze, rather than visualizing it. I also need to get back to my roots as a yoga instructor who is off her mat assisting students rather than on her mat being filmed. All of us can honor the roots of yoga by contributing to our local BIPOC community. I will send you more information later this week.

You are likely putting together that all of this change is happening as Infinity Yoga Studio changes hands and becomes Studio HALO. Please know that this move came with love and support on every side, and everyone involved supports you in your practice, wherever you end up.

Message from Elle and Heather

To call you valued members of Infinity Yoga, now Studio HALO, barely touches the surface of what you’ve meant to us and to our studio. The words to express how important you are to our community simply aren’t easy to find in the English language, and so this letter has been difficult to compose, and thus slow in coming to you.

As we discussed the possibility—now reality—of the Tuesday/Friday 8:15am group moving to another space we, of course, relived all the adventures we’ve had together… and found humor in a few misadventures as well. Mostly, though, we spoke about you and how much you meant to us and to the studio. Without you, it’s quite possible neither of us would be leading yoga. Without you Infinity certainly would not have survived, especially through the COVID stay-at-home orders.

We know some of you will be following Elle to Dharma River, some of you will continue practicing at HALO, others of you have already—or soon will have—found other places to practice. And all of this is good. To us, what is most important is that you find the place to practice that suits you best. Please know you have not only our blessing, but our sincerest gratitude for the honor of being part of your journey.

Om Shanti,
Heather Lorenz, and
Elle Newman

Ongoing Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

kitten on yoga mat covered in yarn that used to be a ball.

Tuesdays (No class July 4th)

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Outdoors at Winona Public High School. More information to follow! 

Thursdays

Fridays

  • 8:15 am- 9:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Dharma River In person and Zoom
    • Space is limited, please make sure I know if you’re attending in person.
    • Contact me if you don’t already have the Zoom Link.
    • Read here for more pricing info.
    • Any classes purchased to practice with me through Infinity/HALO will be honored, just let me know.

Realizations, Revelations, and Schedule for Week of June 11th

Hi Friends,

I wanted to let you in on a part of my life I’ve been fairly private about until now. As many of you know, I have been playing the game that so many of us middle aged, chronically ill people play: unpacking which symptoms are actually illness and which are just parts of myself I’m no longer able to ignore. For me a large part of this mystery was solved with a realization of autism followed by an official autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis in 2021.

I have written a version of this letter about 500 times over the past couple of years. If I shared everything in my heart, this would be a book rather than a newsletter. So let’s just consider this a place to start the conversation.

First please know, I haven’t been intentionally secretive, I just needed time to process and learn about what this means for me. For some, like myself who was/are largely unaware of what autism looks like in adults highly skilled in masking their traits, this is a surprise. For others who are more knowledgeable about autism, this all makes perfect sense.

Please also know this isn’t a sad thing I’m sharing, this realization has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me because it explains so much! The bouts of non-functioning exhaustion I’ve experienced and felt so much shame over are actually very understandable and predictable autistic burnout due to me not knowing how to take care of myself.

The love of and reliance upon repetition, ritual, and routine aren’t annoying traits, but actually reasonable, necessary ways for me to give my very busy brain a rest.

The seemingly conflicting strong need for connection and community, coupled with needing lots of alone time to recover from social situations, is actually a common struggle for autistic people, and completely understandable when taking into account that social interaction doesn’t come intuitively to an autistic brain.

Sensitivities and executive functioning issues just have to do with how my nervous system is organized. The tendency to invert words, or have trouble talking at all when I’m exhausted. The list goes on and on. I am finding new ways to accept and love myself daily, which is what I wish for us all.

There is nothing  you need to do differently to meet my needs. In fact I am quite grateful for how you, have held me through illness, injury, and severe autism burnout. During most of this time I didn’t yet know what was going on with me, so I could not even ask for what I needed. And somehow your support came through anyway. You’re amazing. Tears come to my eyes when I think of how lucky I am to have you.

Below I included a graphic and a link that are meaningful to me, and helpful as I began to learn about autism. The graphic shows the difference between how we’ve historically understood autism and what current research, taking into account autistic experience, tells us. We are learning the autism spectrum isn’t a straight line representing more or less autistic with Asperger’s syndrome on one end and severely autistic on the other. As a point of interest, Asperger’s syndrome was retired from DSM-5 in 2013. Rather the Autism Spectrum is a circle representing individuals on the spectrum’s talents and struggles.

See you on the mat soon, as we continue to get to know ourselves and each other!

Love,

Elle

Nick Walker, PhD.’s definition of autism.

Weekly Practice Schedule

Tuesday

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Studio HALO and Zoom

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity and Zoom

 

Honoring the Exhale

“There’s another reason why we breathe with out-breaths first, and then in-breaths. The first breath we ever took, as we came out of our mother’s womb, was an in-breath. And the last breath that people take, lying on their deathbed, is an out-breath. Yoga, as it was meant to be by the ancient masters of India and Tibet, is a protest against this normal way of things. We don’t need to get old the way we do, they say. We were meant for life and not for death. Let the last breath out come first and then let us breathe in—let us live.”

The Tibetan Book of Yoga: Ancient Buddhist Teachings on the Philosophy and Practice of Yoga. ~ Geshe Michael Roach.

My Friends,

Let me be honest, this newsletter is all letter and no news. Our classes are as they have been, there’s nothing you need to know that the owners of the studios where you practice haven’t told you. These are just some things on my mind.

To give the Root River folks context, Heather Lorenz, the recent manager of Infinity Yoga Studio, recently purchased it, and as of June 1st we are now Studio HALO. This is good news, our studio needs someone to devote the time, energy, and resources needed for it to thrive.

As we mark the beginning of Studio HALO we are also marking the end of Infinity Studio. I am not meaning to be overly dramatic. We are meeting in the same space, and Heather has assured us that right now all she is thinking about changing is the name and the aesthetics like paint and props. So we are perhaps saying goodbye to a concept, or a feeling more than anything else.

Part of how I’m put together emotionally means that before I can legitimately get excited about what’s to come, I need to honor the moment we’re in right now. One could call it SHIFT~ (Sharon Mansur), one could simply call it transition. For me what it feels like is a deep exhale. Though we know our lungs will soon be full of fresh air, right this moment we are letting go of a bit of what has been sustaining us. I’m writing because perhaps I’m not alone in this sigh.

I keep thinking of the way of breathing I learned from reading Roach, Geshe Michael who in turn learned this from the Dalia Llama. I love it, so we have all practiced it together many times. We turn our perception of the breath around. To think of the exhale first, and then let the inhale follow. The quote above explains this more eloquently than I can.

As we prepare for a new look it feels appropriate to tell the stories of what exists around us as now. Love it or tolerate it, Infinity Studio had a specific look and feel which was created by the very community who gathered, and in many cases, still gather here.

Perhaps, most striking, are the murals on the wall which were created by Lynn Carlson, our beloved Qigong instructor. Whether Heather is planning on keeping them or if they will be covered, I’m not certain, but either way they deserve a moment of our attention.

The murals we’ve had the pleasure of practicing under for the past many years represent weeks, probably months, of Lynn’s research, meditation and creative energy. Before they existed on our walls they existed in her mind and in her dreams. Those of us who had the excitement of seeing them grow from one week to the next, have a feeling for how much time and skill it took to create them even once they were designed. Thank you Lynn. Your work has brought depth to all of our experience.

Speaking of painting, the colors on the walls were chosen by Dr. Kristin Noble, representing her family’s Greek roots. Specifically the brilliant blue waves and white sand where she feels so at home. For what it’s worth Dr. Noble is not the only woman I know who has had healing experiences basking in the sun on Greek beaches!

The walls were actually painted by Kristin and I, and a group of Infinity teachers and friends. It was a long night of laughter and music and stories. Including the story of how one of the painters was actually responsible for the body sized hole that had obviously been repaired in the wall behind where I usually teach. Apparently when the space was a martial arts studio either he threw someone through it, or he himself was thrown…. the details are blurry but the history remains.

We can’t leave out the amazing window displays created by Gretchen Mulkey. Is there anything this woman can’t do? Seriously, yet another wonder we’re lucky to have in our midst.

Our mismatched array of props are full of stories. Perhaps the most meaningful are the wooden blocks on long term loan from Shellie Nelson, they were created by her father before he passed away because Shellie and her friends wanted sturdier support in some of the standing poses than our foam blocks allowed. I don’t know how her father felt about yoga in general, but he certainly supports our practice in a beautiful way.

The piles of couch throw pillows were donated by Jen Bayer, or perhaps it’s more accurate to say they were an accidental gift from the company who erroneously sent them to her along with a couch. In those days our Yin class was growing far faster than our bolster collection. So when the company refused to pay shipping for Jen to return them and suggested instead she find a use for the truckload of pillows she didn’t want, we joyfully took them off her hands. I will admit these cushions were not exactly the beautiful support I envisioned for my fellow Infinity yoga practitioners, but I could not have been more grateful for them.

The table at the front of the room, where we used to sign in is another long term loan. This is a table I grew up with our front hall. It housed a predictable bowl of keys on the top, usually accompanied by a pile of mail, and our family photo albums on the bottom shelf. If you look closely you can see teeth marks from a particularly wild puppy we raised named Sammy. I often think of my mother when I see it, and how surprised she would have been to learn her awkward, shy kid — who was allergic to exercise — became a yoga instructor!

There are more memories, more details, more gifts of  the practical, the joyful, and the ridiculous.  I don’t mean to imply they are all disappearing, or that the ones I have shared are the only important ones.

I, like you, am looking forward to much more time practicing together. The name of place where we practice, or the color of the walls, or the newness of the props aren’t what’s most important to me. You are.

Let’s finish this collective exhale and take the next breath together.

Much love to you all,

~Elle

The Newsletter Resumes/ Links you might need

“The three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.”

Dalai Lama XIV, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Hello Friends!

Before I get into it, make sure to check out my out-of-town schedule. Brett and I are heading to Michigan to see my sister and her kiddos! Hallie is subbing for my Root River class and Gretchen is subbing for my Infinity classes. To keep things nice and manageable for Gretchen, please note there are in-person classes only those days. Online folks, please consider joining Hallie with Root River on Thursday, or going to my website and making use of all the videos you all helped fund!

The other thing on my mind is that I’ve been revisiting the idea of inversions, specifically ones that use wall space.

For those who don’t love going upside down, let me take a moment to reassure you that one can certainly practice asana without ever attempting a hand stand or shoulder stand! It is 100% not necessary. For that matter asana is only a small piece of the wisdom that is yoga, but that is a conversation for another time. My point is, friend, there is no pressure and you won’t be left out.

The reason I’m revisiting this is that Forrest Inspired classes pre-2020 included use of walls and going upside down against them. Some of us miss it. So I have been dreaming up a way that we can have our cake (responsibly sequenced practices taking into account everyone’s needs and doing my best to be an ambassador for inclusive respectful yoga) and eat it too (upside-down playtime on walls)!

Next Tuesday, March 20th you have the option of staying after class for a few minutes and practicing some inversions on the wall. We will all have the benefit of a practice that warms us up for this, which incidentally is also great for your back, shoulders, and general well being…. so if for any reason you don’t want to go upside down, end with us at Savasana and don’t go upside down. There is no pressure and you won’t be left out of anything during our regularly-scheduled practice.

If you practice from home and want to try a few wall inversions (maybe couch inversions) but have questions about how this could work for you, please reach out and we can think through it together!

Much Love,

Elle

Class information for Elle’s trip to MI:

Tuesdays 3/28 & 4/4

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity Studio only with Gretchen Mulkey

Thursday 3/30

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa with Hallie – Root River Zoom

Fridays 3/24 & 3/31

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity and Zoom

Infinity Info:

Punchpass Link: https://infinityyoga.punchpass.com

Email Heather Lorenz, studio manager, with any questions or concerns at infinitywinonayoga@gmail.com

Weekly Schedule

Tuesday

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity Studio and Zoom

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity and Zoom

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected!

Cat hugging dog

Zoom Only Tuesday Jan. 3rd and other things not to freak out about.

Hi Everyone!

I keep checking the forecast hoping it will change, but everywhere I look I see certainty that we’re in for freezing rain tonight. So to keep us all safe, we’ll be zoom only tomorrow.

Brett and I also received a notice from Spectrum that due to incoming weather we may have some service interruptions.

We’re all going to have to step into our “go with the flow” mentality about tomorrow’s class. Assuming you and I both have internet we can zoom together. If this doesn’t work, remember you have access to all the classes on my website. If you hover over the “videos” button there will be a drop down menu where I’ve done my best to separate them into type of class.

Soon you’ll get an invite from Infinity to join Punchpass. When you have a moment just press the link and do your best to follow instructions. If it doesn’t make sense to you right away, it’s ok. We’re all still figuring this out. I believe Heather is making herself available to answer your questions. I am also willing to figure it out with you, so please reach out if you need help.

Stay cozy everyone!

~Elle

Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

"be patient with yourself nothing in nature blooms all year.

Tuesday

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom only 1/3/23

Thursdays

  • 7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom
    (No class on Thanksgiving)

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity and Zoom

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Zoom only Friday 12/23

Hello Friends,

Let’s stay in tomorrow morning where it’s safe and cozy. And on the off chance we still get drifting snow and I can’t get out of my driveway, then I know for sure you won’t be waiting for me!

Below you will find all the info you need, including the links you need to get to the Zoom classes. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

If you would like to take advantage of 2022 Infinity Studio prices but don’t want to go out in the cold, please feel free to email them at infinitywinona@gmail.com and they can send you an invoice. Or call 507-453-7941

Stay cozy and safe everyone!

~Elle

 

Changes to Infinity Class Schedule

Friday Dec 22nd – Zoom Only
Monday Dec 26th – No Class
Tuesday Jan 3rd – 1st Day of Tuesday classes.

Infinity Prices in 2023

Single Class $15, Student/Senior $12
5 Class Package $65
10 Class Package $120
20 Class Package $220

Infinity Office Holiday Closings

Friday December 23rd-Monday December 26th

Friday December 30th Last day to purchase 2022 prices Dec. 29th

Ongoing Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

"be patient with yourself nothing in nature blooms all year.

Monday/Tuesday

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity/Zoom
(Changes to Tuesdays in Jan.)

Thursdays

  • 7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom
    (No class on Thanksgiving)

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom only Friday Dec. 22nd.

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Reminders about Upcoming Changes

Have a Gentle Holidays
― A meme quoting someone’s therapist who suggested that though not everyone is going to have a happy holidays, everyone, happy or not, could have a holiday season where they were gentle with themselves.

 

Snowman with a jaunty bowler hat holding a red heart.

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to make sure all the information you needed was in one place.

Root River folks, no upcoming changes for you! This is simply a message to let you know I love you.

Infinity folks, hopefully you’ve gotten Heather’s email detailing the new pricing structure. If not, I’ve included them below. You have until Dec. 29th (office closed the 30th) to purchase packages at 2022 prices, so I’ve also included what I know of the office Holiday schedule below to help this happen.

Lastly, a reminder that beginning Jan 3rd, Monday classes will move to Tuesday. If you’re practicing in person I’ll move your registration from Monday to Tuesday, unless you’ve already let me know you can’t make it on Tuesday. If you do plan to return once your schedule clears, let me know when you could come back and I’ll save your place.

Have a Gentle Holidays,

~Elle

Changes to Infinity Schedule

Monday Dec 26th – No Class
Tuesday Jan 3rd – 1st Day of Tuesday classes.

Infinity Prices in 2023

Single Class $15, Student/Senior $12
5 Class Package $65
10 Class Package $120
20 Class Package $220

Infinity Office Holiday Closings

Friday December 23rd-Monday December 26th

Friday December 30th Last day to purchase 2022 prices Dec. 29th

Ongoing Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

"be patient with yourself nothing in nature blooms all year.

Monday/Tuesday

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity/Zoom
(Changes to Tuesdays in Jan.)

Thursdays

  • 7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom
    (No class on Thanksgiving)

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity/Zoom

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Worth Reading for Upcoming Schedule Changes

“What I want is so simple I almost can’t say it: elementary kindness.”
Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

 

Hello Everyone!

I have certainly fallen out of the habit of weekly emails, and I miss this way of making sure we’re all connected. One of my goals for the upcoming year is to get back into the routine of regular emails. If not weekly, at least bi-weekly.

I also wanted to let you know that after careful (some would say overly careful) deliberation I have decided to move Monday’s class to Tuesday at 8:15am. Thank you all for your flexibility in this. I know for some of you this poses a problem, especially this winter and spring. Let me know in advance if you plan to return in person this summer and I’ll make sure there’s a space for you. For those of you on Zoom, you’ll get a link on Tuesday morning instead of Monday.

Root River Yogis, we don’t have any class this year on Thanksgiving, but I am holding class at Infinity Friday morning, let me know if you want to join us and I’ll send you the link. Or you can register yourself at the link below.

However you celebrate the upcoming holidays, I hope you get to be cozy and healthy.

xoxo

Elle

Important Upcoming Dates

Thursday Nov 24th – No Root River Class
Friday Nov 25th – Infinity and Zoom

Monday Dec 26th – No Class
Tuesday Jan 3rd – 1st Day of Tuesday classes.

Ongoing Weekly Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Mondays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity/Zoom
(Changes to Tuesdays in Jan.)

Thursdays

  • 7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom
    (No class on Thanksgiving)

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity/Zoom

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Checking in/ upcoming schedule.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
Albert Camus

 

Hello!

For Infinity Yogis, I just wanted to write quickly to let everyone know Kärin Wollan will be subbing this Friday, and there will be in person and Zoom classes as usual.

For Root River Yogis, I am waiting to hear if the Punch Pass issues are worked out. If you want me to email you a Zoom link before class as back up I can do that, just let me know.

Much Love to you all,

Elle

 

Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

Mondays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

No Class Labor Day <3

 

 

Happy Labor Day with bolts and fists and hard hats. Blue background with Yellow and white writing. No Stars and Stripes. Hello Everyone,

Just a heads up, no class on Labor Day, enjoy your Monday!

I also wanted to let everyone know that if you want to invite friends to class, either in person or on Zoom, to let them know they can come as my guest, and there’s no charge for their first class. Also let me know, so I can add them to the in person list, or make sure they’re registered for the online Classe.

See you tomorrow, and Enjoy your weekend!

xo

Elle

 

 

Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

Monday – Labor Day

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

See you in the studio or on Zoom!

“Look closely at the present you are constructing:
it should look like the future you are dreaming.”
Alice Walker

 

Good News!

I’ve just heard from Heather that our internet is fixed. So I will see you tomorrow in the studio or on Zoom, whichever you choose!

Much Love,

~Elle

 

 

 

Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Fridays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

Mondays

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Reminder: Zoom Only on Monday

 

Hi Everyone,

Because of ongoing issues with internet connection at the studio I’ll be teaching from home tomorrow morning. Please check out the schedule below if you don’t usually Zoom and want to make sure to get the link in your inbox right before class.

Thank you to everyone for your patience with this, hopefully everything will be cleared up this week, and connection issues will be a thing of the past.

Much Love,

Elle

Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Mondays

8:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom only August 15th

Thursdays

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

Fridays

8:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity and Zoom.

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog

Internet Connection News and Updated Schedule

 

No additional information

Good Evening Friends!

This is a quick note just to pass on the info I have about our missing internet connection. Unfortunately, instead of someone coming out to fix it last Monday, they won’t be able to get here until this coming Monday afternoon. Which means we have  2 more classes without internet.

Right now we have as many students trying to practice from home as we do showing up to the studio. So tomorrow (Friday) I will teach from the studio, and if you want to practice online, unfortunately you’ll need to use one of the existing videos. Monday I will teach from home via Zoom, and anyone who wants to can  join me, the link is below.

 

 

Schedule

Contact me with any questions!

Friday 8/11/22

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Infinity Studio Only

Monday 8/15/22

8:15 am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Zoom Only

Thursday

7:15am Forrest Inspired Vinyasa – Root River Zoom

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Consider joining me and a great group of students for a Root River class and support an amazing studio that serves rural SE MN. Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Lets Stay Connected

Cat hugging dog