Happy Happy New Year our beloved Yoga Garden Readers!!!

IN STUDIO

While our doors are still closed, and most likely will be for a while, We have created all sorts of methods for you to practice, to be inspired and to be with us!

This NEW YEAR starts off with our very first Zoom class.

Are you new to zoom? A pro? Do you live on Zoom? We will be hosting three zoom classes weekly. Monday’s at 18pm, Wednesday’s at 19pm and Friday mornings at 9am. We will lead our classes the way we would in class, guiding you by word, and giving you the opportunity to be fully immersed in your practice, at the comfort of your home. Drop in classes will be at 110 crowns while the monthly package of all 13 classes is available at 750 crowns. Each class will be 60 minutes in length, with some time to chat in advance and also a moment to chat after savasana.

We have heard your feedback, and we are really excited to announce that January 15th will be the day to start our Monthly challenge! It is the same wonderful November challenge, with some minor alterations, and modifications. Thirty days of you committing to your practice, again at the comfort of your hOMe for the same awesome price 750 crowns.

Are you an English speaker and can’t do the zoom classes( until we include English ones?) Are you looking for something in English? We have an English audio Podcast 21 day Challenge just for you. It is a marvellous way of developing trust, and a self practice. Instead of focusing on a screen, you allow yourself to be guided by my voice for 75 minutes of practice. Available at just 750 crowns.

Not every BODY is able to challenge themselves

and that is why we include the zoom classes. Not only do we have Zoom classes but we also have our incredible closed courses. These courses are available for two entire months, you can go at it, as you wish. Some of you might do a class per day, some might do 20 minutes a day. Our closed courses are both visual and audio. Are you new to Yoga? Start off with Yoga Foundations. Are you at the computer all day long? Computer Yoga is the thing for you! Maybe you are feeling aches and pains in your back?the Spine course is just the package for you. Are you an intermediate or advanced practitioner? Do you feel ready to switch things up? The arm balance courses are for you!

One of the hardest aspects of this Pandemic for me while running Yoga Garden,

has been the lack of community gatherings. We are able to create on line classes and we have really successfully had great ideas to keep our yoga practice diverse and entertaining. Yet with the Pandemic shining light on social distancing, we have not been able to wrap our arms around community matters.

The greatest most successful part of 2020 for me personally was when we did our Yoga Adventure retreat and walked from Telc to Zbudovice. Each step, I shed off all the vast amounts of stress and fear that I had collected during the first lockdown.

This second major lockdown which has been with us since September, is much more intense, now we know people who have had Corona. We know how we have reacted to people, if we are supportive, loving, compassionate, if we deny it… We see how our limitations(mental and emotional) guide us or influence our behaviour.

This Pandemic has asked us to take a side.

Black Lives Matter has resonated a lot with me, even if I live in a white Euro centric town, which doesn’t have too many people willing to do the work of dismantling structural racism, I firmly advocateBLM are on the right path. I strongly support women (especially from MINORITY groups be it Indigenous, Aboriginal, Black, women of colour experience being a woman so differently than a white woman). When in lockdown, and we are only thinking about ourselves, our little bubbles, then we aren’t connecting to the bigger picture.

The bigger picture is that again North America and Europe and China and Russia will get vaccinated, while others get left behind. This is structural racism. The amount of shaming that has come with this Pandemic is vile. Hearing people be dismissive of obesity, diabetes, and old folks. The divisions are Enormous. The need for REAL YOGA not instagram, social media, flash images of perfect white acrobats in the newest leggings and bras.

THIS NEW YEAR 2021 COULD BE THE YEAR THAT WE START STEPPING ASIDE AND LISTENING TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, EXPERIENCES, CULTURES, RACES, SHAPES, SIZES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS.

It could be the year where we get off our high horse!

It has been said, and well researched that when humans help others be it people, or animals or even the planet, that our endorphins increase and we feel better. When we empathise and help we can provide that inner glow for ourselves and for others. There is no doubt that people are being left behind, and are not accounted for, think of the entire cultural scene, all the artists, musicians, actors, singers, performers, all their institutions closed for the majority of 2020 and also aren’t going to open any time soon. Think of restaurants, gyms, yoga studios, schools, places of work, travel industry….it is a shift! Of course the blame can go on the government, but maybe we can also look at ourselves, and see what are we supporting? What are we advocating for? How are we intentionally going to make choices that provide opportunities and support?

We have so much work to do! We have so many trees to plant, so much hugs to give when the time is right. In the meantime it is winter here, so be kind, and do less. Chew your food slowly, drink lots of water and tea, include more greens into your diet. Take the opportunity to be still, gain strength and clarity.

So much love to you. Be brave, and kind! And wash your hands!!

Love, Christina and YG

P.S LAUGHTER IS ALSO AN AMAZING REMEDY