Living Yoga

09/09/2021

Join us on Wednesday, September 15th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm for Applied Embodied Social Justice.

This session is an extension of Living Yoga’s Embodied Social Justice training, which explores the root causes of trauma, systemic inequities, and the particulars of how body-based somatic practices are the key to healing our personal and collective selves.

Whether or not you have attended the Embodied Social Justice training, we invite you to join others who are committed to collective healing in our continued practice.

Our anti-racism work needs to be ongoing. We cannot simply learn about the cultural operating system of white body supremacy and expect it to disappear. Because it is part of our bodies, and is something we ingest on a daily basis, we need to actively face it and work to dismantle its hold on our personal operating systems.

Each Applied Embodied Social Justice session will focus on a new topic and will include dyad work and body-based practices for grounding, orienting, and relaxing.

Held online via Zoom.

This workshop is open to the public. Pre-registration is required.

Sliding scale payment options range from $15 to $45.

Registration: https://living-yoga.org/continuing-education/2021/2/27/applied-embodied-social-justice-e235b-9kckg-tkfpx-h7zp4

07/09/2021

We were on the news this morning! Check it out!
Thank you KOIN 6 for hosting us and letting us share the importance of trauma-informed care. 💜

Health experts say stress and trauma live physiologically in the body, and that mind-body practices can help to alleviate negative impacts.

06/14/2021

Since the pandemic began, we have been adapting our lives - adjusting our ways of being in the world, changing the ways we relate to others, and shifting how we teach yoga. It’s time to talk about what lies ahead. Please join us to discuss what the future holds. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Please join us for Teaching Now - a continuing education class where we can: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Join together for support, collaboration, & revitalization.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Consider the specific social and political landscape that is shaping our collective experience.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Examine the pros & cons of teaching via Zoom.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Discuss current teaching needs, desires and hopes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This workshop will be held online via Zoom. Pre-registration is required. Sliding scale payment options range from $15 to $45.

Register here: https://living-yoga.org/continuing-education/2021/6/17/teaching-now-emergent-strategies-for-current-times⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Living Yoga’s sliding scale payment system allows our workshops to be available at multiple price points based on personal financial circumstances. Any amount you pay for this training helps to support Living Yoga's trauma-informed yoga programs.

06/08/2021

Join us this Saturday, June 12th from 10am to noon for Applied Embodied Social Justice.

This class is an extension of Living Yoga’s Embodied Social Justice training, which explores the root causes of trauma, systemic inequities, and the particulars of how body-based somatic practices are the key to healing our personal and collective selves.

Whether or not you have attended the Embodied Social Justice training, we invite you to join others who are committed to collective healing in our continued practice.

Our anti-racism work needs to be ongoing. We cannot simply learn about the cultural operating system of white body supremacy and expect it to disappear. Because it is part of our bodies, and is something we ingest on a daily basis, we need to actively face it and work to dismantle its hold on our personal operating systems.

Each Applied Embodied Social Justice session will focus on a new topic and will include dyad work and body-based practices for grounding, orienting, and relaxing.

Held online via Zoom.

This workshop is open to the public. Pre-registration is required.

Sliding scale payment options range from $15 to $45.

05/31/2021

Today is the last day of Yogathon and we are so close to reaching our goal!
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Will you make a donation to support our trauma-informed yoga classes and resiliency services? Link to donate is in our bio!
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Donations of all sizes are meaningful and make a difference.
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Today is also the last day to help us access monthly donor matching funds. Sign up to be a Roots Monthly Donor by May 31st (link in bio), and AppTree will match your donations 100% for the first three months (up to $500 total).
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Perk Alert! Living Yoga Roots Monthly Donors are invited to attend two Applied Embodied Social Justice sessions per year for free!
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Your contributions help us:
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- Maintain weekly classes for those impacted by incarceration, substance use disorder, and health disparities.
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- Provide free, online, trauma-informed movement, meditation, and breathwork classes in The Living Room.
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- Offer sliding-scale continuing education classes on trauma-informed best practices and social justice.
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- Support community healing through embodiment and connection.
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If you are not in a position to make a contribution at this time, please consider sharing our donation page with others.
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We are profoundly grateful for the community involvement and support this Yogathon. Thank you! Please stay tuned as we announce our prize winners and final numbers later this week. 💕
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[ID: Card 1 - "Today is the last day of Yogathon but it's not too late to give!", Card 2 - "Make a donation of any size and be entered to win prizes!", Card 3 - "Double your impact. Become a roots monthly donor by the end of today and your first three months of donations will be matched!"]

05/26/2021

We hope you'll join us for our final Yogathon benefit class with .dalsfoist on Sunday. Emily is a valued member of our volunteer teaching team at Living Yoga. We asked her to share a bit about her experience with trauma-informed mind-body practices and self care and here's what she had to say:
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How can trauma-informed mind-body practices like yoga support our personal and collective healing?

"I believe being embodied is a radical act and a practice that will help to create a beautiful and just world for all of us. Trauma-informed mind-body practices like yoga encourage us to move gently into our bodies at our own pace and offers us tools of resilience for our journey of feeling & healing. When we are embodied, our mere presence can allow for more nervous system regulation in others thus, supporting personal and collective healing."
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What helps you feel safe enough to show up as your true self?
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"I know that how I live contributes to creating the world I/we live in. Since I feel passionate about wanting to live in a world where everybody feels safe enough to show up as their true selves, that heartfelt desire is what gives me the courage to show up as my true self. I want to add and acknowledge that my proximity to power and advantage has a part to play in my feeling safe to show up as my true self."
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What allows you to feel replenished and rested?
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"Nature!! Doesn't have to be a big outing. Simply touching a tree, listening to the sound of birds, feeling the wind on my skin or the rain on my face. I let nature replenish me."
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[ID: A photo of Emily on a white background with green and pink design elements. The second card includes a quote from Emily that reads, "When we are embodied, our mere presence can allow for more nervous system regulation in others thus, supporting personal and collective healing."]

05/26/2021

We are so glad to have spent the past few weeks with all of you investing in personal and collective healing. For our final week of Yogathon, we’ll have our last benefit class (outdoors to live music!) with our incredible volunteer .dalsfoist (she/her/hers). Join us this Sunday at 10:00am on the rooftop for a relaxing and beautiful end to our month-long Yogathon! There are just a handful of spots left!
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All benefit classes are donation based and open to all. Pre-registration is required to ensure safe social distancing. Sign up via the link in our bio!
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[ID: The first card is Emily's class on May 30 from 10:00-11:15 am PST at Tabor Space. The next two cards read the "what to expect from a trauma-informed Living Yoga benefit class", which includes "a sow and supportive pace" and "freedom to keep your camera and mic on or off during virtual classes". The last card is a brown background with a white lotus centered.]
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05/21/2021

Join us tomorrow morning for an in-person, outdoor benefit yoga class with .hevia , taught in Spanish (Saturday, May 22nd, 10:30-11:30am PST). We'll be practicing on the rooftop of ! Please register via the link in our bio. This class is donation-based.
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Acompáñanos a la clase de beneficencia para el Yogathon con Alejandra Hevia, voluntaria de Living Yoga. Esta clase será en la azotea del “Breathe Building” y se dará en español. En la calle hay espacio de parqueo gratis. Por favor registrarse con anticipación ya que es cupo limitado para asegurar el distanciamiento social requerido. El uso de máscarilla es obligatorio. Vamos a tener mascarillas y alcohol anti-bacterial disponible. Esta es una clase de beneficiencia por donación.
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We asked Alejandra to share a bit about her experience with trauma-informed care and resilience. Here's what she had to say:
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What is your favorite tool/practice for grounding yourself, or tapping into your own resilience?
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"For me, one of my favorite grounding practices is seating in the floor, eyes closed, hands on the floor or in prayer position inhaling through my nose and exhaling through my mouth for at least 5 long inhales/exhales. Then staying for a couple of breaths noticing where I am, feeling the parts of my body that are touching the floor, hearing the sounds around me, the temperature of the room, connecting with myself."
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"Para mí, una de las prácticas para centrarme y reconectarme es sentándome en el piso, con las manos apoyadas el suelo o en oración inhalando por la nariz y exhalando por la boca por al menos 5 ciclos completos de respiración con inhalaciones y exhalaciones largas. Luego me quedo por unas cuantas respiraciones más observando “internamente”."
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Thank you for your service and your dedication Alejandra! ❤

05/21/2021

Win prizes this Yogathon!!
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You’ll be entered to win prizes each time you engage in a self care, community care, or an antiracist action listed on the Yogathon page (link in bio). And, you’ll be entered to win twice if you post about the activity on your social media and tag Living Yoga (). Be sure to fill out the form on our website so we know to enter you into the drawing.
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We have more than 20 prizes including...
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- A two night cabin stay at the in Sisters, Oregon
- $200 gift certificate for custom tshirt printing at
-One of a kind artwork, photography, and jewelry made by our talented Living Yoga volunteers
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And, if you raise more than $500 this Yogathon, you’ll be entered to win the grand prize - a three-night rental in a GoCamp Camper Van ! Fundraising for Yogathon is fun and easy, and we have lots of resources to support you in your donation requests!
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Winners will be announced in early June.
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[ First card is a tan color, reads "Prizes!" and "Win exciting prizes this Yogathon! Take part in self care, community care, or antiracist actions to get entered! Swipe through to see a few of the prizes you can win, including our grand prize!!" Cards read: "Two night cabin stay at the Suttle Lodge", "90- minute float at Float On", "One month unlimited classes at Seeking Space Yoga", "One month livestream classes at Bhakti Yoga Center", "$100 Certificate to Foot Traffic", "Set of Two Poetry Books", "Two 4-hour stand up Paddle Board Rentals", "Grand Prize: GoCamp Van!"]

05/20/2021

There's still time to sign up for our virtual benefit class with movement TODAY (Thurs 5/20) at 12:30pm! Register via the link in our bio.
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Angelina has been teaching healing movement since 2001. She holds a BA in Dance from SFSU and is a certified Pilates and yoga teacher specializing in rehabilitation and trauma-informed practices. She joined Living Yoga as a volunteer in 2008 and has taught extensively within multiple sites, serving both adults and youth. In 2011, she joined the staff as a trainer. Her personal practice and professional work seek to embrace and heal the traumatized and “shadow parts”, of both the individual and the collective, to create true justice and liberation for all.
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We asked Angelina to share with us her thoughts on the importance of mind-body practice for personal and collective healing. Here's what she had to say:
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"Mind-body practices like yoga, mindful movement and guided meditation support our healing personally and collectively in that they provide an explorative, expansive place for us to feel and acknowledge multiple truths...both the difficult ones and the beautiful ones. When we actively get in touch with personal, cultural and historical truths, we can better address them with healing, intelligent responses and repairs. If we stay in the dark, so to speak, ignoring or denying our own pain, OR pain that we have caused others, we simply cannot change, integrate or heal."
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Angelina, we are so blessed to learn from you and with you, and to work alongside you. Thank you for the heart and passion you bring to Living Yoga's work every day.
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[Image Description: A photo of Angelina smiling and sitting cross-legged outside is surrounded in green and pink dots and leaves. The remaining cards include the quote listed above, and what to expect from a Living Yoga trauma-informed class, which can be found on our website www.living-yoga.org.]

05/20/2021

Help us unlock $500 of matching funds this Yogathon!
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This month only - When you sign up to be a monthly donor, our generous sponsor AppTree will match your donations 100% for the first three months (up to $500 total).
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Sign up via our new Patreon linked in our bio!
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Perk Alert! Living Yoga Roots Monthly Donors are invited to attend two Applied Embodied Social Justice sessions per year for free!
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Monthly giving is an important, accessible, and sustainable way to support Living Yoga's trauma-informed services. Your regular contributions are something we can count on to maintain our classes for those impacted by incarceration, substance use disorder, and health disparities, as well as our sliding scale continuing education on trauma-informed best practices and social justice.

05/18/2021

Join Living Yoga volunteer David Balsley .r.balsley for an outdoor, rooftop benefit class this Thursday, May 20th, 6:00-7:00pm at the Breathe Building!
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Space is limited so please register in advance: https://withribbon.com/s/113315
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As a modern dance performer from his mid-20s to early 40s, David experienced the joy of movement and physicality, as well as the surprising depth of mindful somatic practices like yoga. After transitioning to a career as an engineer, practicing yoga and being the father of two boys replaced dance as his primary physical outlets. Over the years his practice has brought solace, comfort, confidence and humility, all still accompanied by the joy of movement. Seeking to serve through sharing yoga with others, David completed a teacher training program, and joined Living Yoga in 2018.
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We asked David some questions about his relationship to movement and resilience. Here is what he had to say:
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What is your favorite tool/practice for grounding yourself, or tapping into your own resilience?
"When I'm feeling tense or anxious I find that gently resting my hand in the area from my collarbone to my heart can be calming, cueing me to let muscles soften and releasing tension from my torso, shoulders and neck."
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What helps you feel safe enough to show up as your true self?
"This can still be difficult, but as I age I understand that the perfection I often imagined myself working toward is neither attainable nor especially valuable, which helps me forgive myself for not being good enough, and makes it easier to be comfortable being my true self."