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Ambry Yoga & Meditation, Bayport, NY (2025)

08/03/2022

Follow the signs. The Universe, Spirit, God, Yahweh (choose the word for Divinity that most resonates with you) are always sending us signs and messages. Maybe it’s a butterfly fluttering by or a cardinal landing on a tree branch or Angel numbers popping up on a license plate. Maybe it’s coincidence. Or maybe it’s magic. All we have to do is keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to receive them.

Our yoga practices exercise us in the stillness and silence that help us see the signs and hear the whispers from within. Would you like to open up to your intuition? Do you want to feel fully in your body? Do you seek to remember your inner knowing? Do you long to feel the interconnection of us all?

We can’t promise all the secrets of the universe will suddenly be revealed to you but we can light the path to deeply nourishing and sacred practices that have been bestowed upon us from another world, another time. (Ancient South Asians and Africans were brilliant when they created these systems!) We have been very intentional in curating group class offerings that are rooted in these teachings that will slowly, with time, give you the tools for exploration and inspiration.

Can we guide you toward class recommendations? We’re happy to offer a few. 💚 [green heart emoji]

[Image ID: a photo taken by Janesa in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica. The photo is of multicolored direction signs nailed to a tree that read, Mindfulness, Passion, Self Control, Hope. Behind the tree is a light beige sand and rocky beach with gentle ocean waves breaking. The sun is shining brightly. To the right of the tree is are two white bodied people sitting on beach blankets in swimsuits and a small, blonde, curly-haired child playing in front of them.]

07/28/2022

“Svadhyaya, or self-study, is about knowing our true identity as Divine and understanding the boxes we are wrapped in. This process of knowing ourselves, and the boxes that adorn us, creates a pathway to freedom.” -Deborah Adele

In her book, ‘The Secret Power of Yoga,’ Nischala Joy Devi, interprets the concept of Svadhyaya in Yoga Sutra II.44 to be “Sacred study of the Divine through scripture, nature, and introspection [that] guides us to the Supreme Self.” It “guides us to know ourselves through outward observation and inner reflection.” When we work through our stuff, unpack our baggage, it saves us, and the world, from some of our shenanigans.

It’s a beautiful thing that comes from the full spectrum of a yoga practice. We are here to hold space for you as you [re]discover the Divinity within yourself, within all things. We are here for it — to witness you witness yourself. 💚 [green heart emoji]

[Image ID: a photo of Dana’s crossed, extended legs sitting on her yoga mat during her home morning practice. A journal for reflection sits next to her in the floor.]

07/20/2022

For thousands of years, cacao has been used for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. Discovered first by the Olmecs of Mesoamerica, then used and cherished by the Mayan and Aztec of Central and South America for its mental, physical and spiritual therapeutic properties. Long before European imperialism reached their shores, indigenous peoples used cacao in sacred ritual. Though it is not of our native cultures, with deep reverence and respect, we draw inspiration from the healing wisdom of the ancients and share this practice as it has been shared with us.

Led by longtime Ambry friend and ethereal spirit, Melinda Reidy , we join in our first Cacao Community Circle! Ceremonial grade Cacao is known to open your heart, awaken your creativity, uplift your spirit, and clear out negative energies and emotions. This ancient plant medicine will assist you in an inward journey towards self-discovery and connection, helping you return to your most authentic self. The Spirit of Cacao will leave you feeling grounded and supported, while also being uplifted and inspired.

This circle will focus on “opening up” as we will be energetically opening up to ourselves, to others, and to the new energies meant for us. This event will include ceremonial grade cacao, intention setting, a guided meditation, and journal prompts. Join us in this brave and supported space to drop deep within and emerge anew.

💚 Friday, 8.5.2022
✨ 7:30-9p ET
💚 $30-$50 Sliding Scale
✨ In-studio Only

07/19/2022

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Together, we move and breathe and stretch out to reach the little parts of our world. As the Ambry community grows, so do the ripples. We are overjoyed we all have found each other. 💚 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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[Image ID: Reel of the Ambry community practicing asana in the studio.]⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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07/14/2022

It is a heartwarming pleasure to watch this budding community grow. We encourage connection and communication amongst all of our Ambry friends but we know human-ing can be tricky and sometimes we need guidance about how to build bridges across spaces of difference; about how to navigate intimate connections.

We sent out a newsletter earlier this week that shared our Community Care Guidelines. (Have you signed up for the newsletter yet?) In it, we shared a list of agreements and affirmations that will help guide us when moving on and off the mat.

These guidelines are directly attributed to the works of , , Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens ‘From Safe Space to Brave Places: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice’ and inspired by learning spaces facilitated by , and .

Ambry is a space of refuge but it is not an escape from the world. It is assumed that lived experiences enter our space with each individual. These are the assumed truths that we carry into space together. It is important to name them. By participating in the spaces we hold together, in-person and online, you are agreeing to respect and abide by these community care guidelines.

Here are a few that we shared. Keep an eye out for the full list to be posted in the studio.

-Use, respect and embrace one another’s pronouns.

-Speak and listen deeply from the heart.

-All bodies and all identities are welcomed, celebrated and uplifted; especially those who have been marginalized by dominant culture.

-Keep respectful confidentiality when you are in conversation with others.

-We each have agency to make choices for our own bodies. The right to give and revoke consent to be touched is absolute.

[Image ID in comments]

07/08/2022

Using their Singing Bowls, Harmonium and gift of voice, Ocean Simms, they/them, leads a sound bath to inspire inner healing and reconnection with the most unique parts of the self. Rolling intention into song and instrument into vibration, Ocean spins sound waves to foster deep relaxation and whole-system wellbeing utilizing the ancient practices of sound healing; a modality that brings the body into vibrational balance through tonal frequencies. It creates a state of harmony in the listener by using the science of sound and sacred geometry to unblock discordance from one's energy fields. Each practitioner, united in collective savasana, is bathed in sound waves to energetically clear and balance the chakras while improving physical and mental health.*

Pay-What-You-Can-Afford (with a suggested donation of $25) for this healing and balancing workshop. All proceeds will be transferred to Planned Parenthood to support reproductive justice and freedom of choice for all people with uteruses, the medical staff who support them and those who love them. Planned Parenthood ensures all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. Founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider, educator, and passionate advocate here in the U.S. as well as a strong partner to health and rights organizations around the world. Each year, Planned Parenthood delivers vital s*xual and reproductive health care, s*x education, and information to millions of people.

Accessibility: This workshop will explore a single reclined posture on a mat. Practitioners who use a wheelchair or prefer to stay seated in a chair are invited to participate alongside those who practice while reclined on the earth.

This workshop is being offered in-person and online. Zoom calibrations will be offered for maximal online experience.

Props we love to use: blankets, blocks, bolsters, chair, eye pillow.

*Though rooted in science, sound healing is meant to be an enhancement to, not a replacement of, medical advice provided by a medical / health specialist.

[Image ID in comments]

07/05/2022

It’s Disability Pride Month! We have an opportunity this month to amplify the stories of folks with different kinds of abilities and encourage allies to continue take action to eradicate ableism (recommendation from ).

Are there any authentic stories — yours or someone elses’s — that you would like to uplift?

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The month of July is dedicated to Disability Pride in memory of the Americans with Disability Act, signed July 26th, 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. People with disabilities have long been marginalized, overlooked, and forgotten, but as society continues to develop and wake up, we can accept individual uniqueness and honor natural human diversity.⁠
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As I have learned in the last few years, no one gets out of this life able-bodied or alive. For many of us, we lose our ability to fully participate in society when we become “prematurely disabled” - meaning it is not based on natural aging.⁠
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I have no control over the fact that my body is disintegrating faster than society agrees is average. But I should not be disposed of and bound to a life of poverty because of it.⁠
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Disability rights are human rights. I’m proud to continue our fight.

07/01/2022

In Chakra Flow this week, guided us through a flow meant to open the Anahata Chakra, the heart chakra, to unconditional love. With the challenging times in our country, with constitutional rights being stripped and others hanging in the balance, with the persecution of our trans siblings and what feels like a plethora of other injustices and traumatic events, there is just so much we can hold before breaking down. The reminder to move with love, for others and ourselves, is timely. We can’t escape what’s happening in the world and we can’t ignore it either. But, we can hold each other up, hold each other in our arms (with consent, of course) and hold space for one another to move and feel and move through our feelings.

May you find a refuge within these walls for your tender hearts. 💚

[Image ID: Dana in ustrasana/camel pose with green studio lights shining down on her.]

06/29/2022

Be like Reina. Slow down. Rest. Try not to take on too much. Conserve your energy. The world may be burning but you don’t have to single-handedly put out all the fires. It’s ok. You can be like Reina.

If you’d like us to help you slow down, we have a bunch of classes that will gently press the brakes and bring you to that radiant place of rest. Check out:

💚 Yin & Restore, online-only with Dana , Mondays @ 7:15 a ET beginning 7/11/22

✨ Align & Restore, in-studio and online with David , Thursdays @ 7:30p ET

💚 Aligned Spirit, in-studio and online with Janesa , Tuesdays @ 6:15p ET

✨ Deepen Your Awareness, in-studio and online with Dana, Mondays @ 6:30p ET

💚 Sun & Moon, in-studio and online, Tuesdays @ 7:30p ET and Saturdays @ 9a ET

Check the link in our bio to see all the rich class descriptions and schedule.

[Image ID: a photo of Reina, Janesa best dog friend, laying on her belly on the back deck, sunbathing.]

06/22/2022

We tried to have very expansive thinking about accessibility. How can we share yoga in a way that makes it approachable for as many people as possible?

Some of our friends are far away. Some of our friends prefer practicing solo in the comfort of their own homes. Some of our friends like to be in the studio. And others have conflicting schedules.

So, it takes us a few extra steps and there are sometimes fun, unpredictable tech issues, but we livestream and record every single class. Some classes take place live in the studio. Some are live only online. And then they can all be found in the Digital Library for all time to come. You can practice with us from the studio in Bayport or from a computer in Timbuktu!

We believe so wholeheartedly in our mission to be accessibility minded, spiritually focused and an equity centered practice space for your sacred vessel. Join us, won't you?

[Image ID: Light green square on a dark green background. Headline reads, "Did you know... we are a fully hybrid studio?" Three lines below read: Practice Online with a computer icon; Practice In-studio with an icon of a person seated in meditation; Mix and Match with an icon of a person with full hair. The Ambry emblem is in the bottom right corner. Assorted stars dotted around the image.]

06/21/2022

Happy Summer Solstice! On this day in the northern hemisphere, our Earth is closest to the sun. It's the longest day of the year! If you can, get outside, let the sun pour over your face and limbs. Feel the magic of the life-giving energy it exudes. Know that our ancestors and our ancestor's ancestors smiled at the same sun. Feel their imprint in your bones and allow the alignment of energies to light you up. Be in your vitality, prosperity and illumination.

May you be as radiant and abundant as the sun's rays kissing the oceans and lands.

[Image ID: The Ambry logo at center. In a half circle along the top, in green letters the words "Happy Summer Solstice." Copper and green stars in the top corners. Leafy branches in the bottom corners.

06/20/2022

In honor of Pride Month, and in support of our 2SLGBTQIA+ siblings, David is opening his heart and sharing his gifts to raise funds and awareness for The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the world’s largest su***de prevention and crisis intervention organization for le***an, gay, bis*xual, transgender, q***r, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people; an organization near and dear to his heart.

In this Share-What-You-Can-Afford restorative class, you will experience the benefit of increased awareness and the balancing and alignment of your energy as areas of stress and tension melt away in this restorative practice. Give yourself the gift of discovery of your inner Light, clarity, and peace. This is a gentle, all-levels practice that emphasizes the use blankets, bolsters, pillows, and other props to completely support the body in basic yoga postures with no muscular effort. We take our time to build and customize your posture for your body and your needs.

Each pose is held for 5-10 minutes. During the long holds in these fully supported positions, we can relax the body, deeply, slow the breath and invite stillness of the mind, initiating the “Relaxation Response” by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Through relaxation, the organs and glands are saturated with a fresh supply of oxygen and blood, leading to renewal and revitalization at a cellular level.

Restorative yoga slows the heart rate, regulates blood pressure and is particularly beneficial to those who suffer from anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, or other stress related conditions.

Come rest, relax, restore and align your body, mind & spirit with this gentle yet deeply healing yoga class, online or in the studio, while offering crucial support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. David is donating his class fee and 100% of all proceeds will go to The Trevor Project.

Self care truly can be collective care.

[Image ID: A variety of Pride photos, a photo of David, The Trevor Project logo and Align & Restore graphic framing the words, "PRIDE! Align & Restore for The Trevor Project. 6/30 @ 7:30p ET online and in-studio. Share-What-You-Can. All proceeds go to The Trevor Project."]

06/16/2022

We don't know about you but that full moon energy was next level because yesterday WAS. A. DAY. And it really showed its butt last night just in time for Dana's Chakra Flow class. It felt like sinister forces were conniving to keep her from getting there to lead a class she was looking forward to; a class focused on the sacral chakra, creativity, the water element and moving, like water, with the ebbs and flows of life.

Janesa started the class and eventually Dana slipped in, took over and guided us through a beautiful class. As things were up in the air, there was frenzy and anxiety (we hope we didn't let on to that too much!) but there was no better place to be than in the physical and virtual studio with you all, giving *and* getting the lesson in real time:

"Be water, My Friend."

As we are confronted with curves and jagged rocks, flow with them, flow over them, flow between them. Move with fluidity. Ebb. Flow.

We can't wait to flow with you again and again. (But hold that Sunrise Highway rush hour traffic, please!)

[Image ID: the Ambry emblem at the top and underneath, a quote from Bruce Lee "Be water, my friend." Light green and copper stars in the bottome right hand corner.]

06/14/2022

We've been open for a whole week and have been having a grand ol' time. It's been heartwarming to see old friends again and meet our new friends. And pretty cool to feel how vibey it is in here!

Since it is a new place for all of us and having now spent a few days moving and grooving in the studio, we thought we would share with you a few things about getting in and around the physical space.

✨ We don’t have signage out front… yet! But, be sure that classes are on!

💚 Parking is in the rear of the building. There is ample space around back via the driveway between Ambry and the attorney's office.

✨ The primary entrance is on the side of the building facing the driveway. Please be mindful of the first step down! There is a substantial step down into the entry space.

💚 The Middle Road entrance is reserved for folks in wheelchairs, with mobility devices or other mobility concerns as it opens up into the main practice space.

✨ Kindly arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the class start time. This allows us to respect everyone's time by starting and ending according to the scheduled class times. If the door is locked, class is in progress.

💚 Kindly remove your shoes upon entering to maintain cleanliness of our practice floor.

✨After entering, check-in and storage for personal items are to your right. Just ahead, you will see the front desk, the coat room straight ahead and the prop room on the right.

💚 The main practice space is to your left.

✨ Please remember to silence your phones and devices.

We are super excited to welcome you in!!

06/10/2022

Ishvara Pranidhana, Patanjali’s final Niyama leads us to the concept of surrender, where we relinquish our penchant to control, to know what’s going to happen next, to orchestrate each and every move and instead move with the collective consciousness. It’s to trust and have faith in the spark of divinity that is within yourself and in all things.

Can you remember a time when you felt the freedom of faith? When you let go and trusted in the Universe, Spirit, God, the Divine? Different words resonate with different people but the feeling is the same.

That’s where we are right now. We’ve given our all to create a yoga home for all beings of every beautiful identity. Our doors are open. And we hope that our love for humanity, especially those who are often left out or made to feel rejected by society, will find their way to us. So together, through this healing practice of yoga, we can, as writes, “create ripples of change” throughout the world. We surrender and make space for you and the ripples. 💚

[Image ID: Against a backdrop of dark green palm leaves the words “Ishvara Pranidhana, Surrender to divinity, collective consciousness. To allow oneself to be free from fear and attachment. A surrender to the work, to the collective, to a cause bigger than the individual ego. Let go and have faith. Surrender.” The Ambry sunburst/moon rays emblem in the bottom right hand corner.]

Ambry Yoga & Meditation