November: A Time for Giving Thanks by Nancy Weshkoff

November: A Time for Giving Thanks

By Nancy Weshkoff

It is hard to believe that November is here and that Thanksgiving and the holiday season are not that far away.

Thanksgiving has always been a special period of time to me.  It is not the hectic period of December with its holiday shopping.  It is a time to reflect and be THANKFUL and GRATEFUL for the blessings in our life.

I would like to start with a message of gratitude to all who have supported Moonflower Yoga through the years, and especially in this crazy pandemic period in which we are now living.   I am grateful to those who continue to attend online yoga and meditation classes via Zoom, including students from out of state, as well as those living on Long Island.  THANK YOU for helping to keep the studio alive.  I am grateful for the technology that has also enabled Moonflower Yoga to introduce “hybrid yoga classes” that began this summer where we can have 4 fully-vaccinated students in the Moonflower Yoga studio in Bellmore, while simultaneously running the class through Zoom for those who are more comfortable attending remotely.    And for those who join us in the studio for the classes, it has been so nice to see your smiling faces walk through the creaky front door of the Bellmore, Long Island studio and enjoy a class with us. Thank you for walking through the Moonflower Yoga doors to practice with us!

I am grateful for the great Moonflower Yoga instructors (Theresa, Rose, Lynn, Jessica, Cathi, Vicky, Dona Dovie, and Rosanne) who share their knowledge and love of yoga and help to create a wonderful space in which students can enjoy a fabulous yoga or meditation class, whether you are a seasoned practitioner or seeking a great beginner yoga class.   They enhance the schedule so there is always an interesting class available to attend that can help you stretch, become stronger, improve your balance, and relax.  I am also grateful for the monthly workshop presenters: Bhante who leads his meditation evenings from Sri Lanka (even though it means getting up at 3 AM to be with us), Jackie Lee who leads a monthly, relaxing Yoga Nidra for deep relaxation, and Cathi who offers a lovely monthly gong relaxation at the studio.

I am also very grateful to my husband, Bob, who is as much a part of the studio as me.   During this year, Bob has led the monthly “In the Kitchen with Bob” online cooking workshops where we have fun cooking delicious and healthy plant-based meals from our kitchen, while simultaneously you are cooking alongside us from your kitchen.   We have had lots of laughs (and some yummy wine) as we prepare these meals together, and then all sit down at the end of the event to eat the meal together in our respective homes.  And with the transition to the hybrid classes, you may have heard me lovingly refer to Bob as the “IT Guy” because he jumps into the studio room and helps with any technical issues to keep the classes flowing.  He also provides me moral support when things are challenging.

I am grateful for the essential workers who are keeping things flowing in these unprecedented times.  We have nurses, teachers, and other essential workers who are part of the Moonflower Yoga community.  Thank you for working tirelessly to help others!

I am also grateful for my yoga, meditation, and Reiki practice.  When things are tough, rolling out a yoga mat or sitting quietly to meditate or do a Reiki self-healing session is what helps me cope.   It is why it is so important to me to keep the studio going in these difficult times – yoga and meditation can help you to feel better and cope too!

When things do not go as planned, I encourage you to think of 3 things during the day for which you are grateful.  It can be something simple, such as having your morning cup of coffee, a gesture from a stranger such as holding a door open for you, a sunny day, or a smile or hug from a family member, or your family pet offering a paw.  When things are challenging, it can help us re-frame the day and put you on a positive path.

THANK YOU for all your support, and I wish you all a wonderful and happy November and Thanksgiving season.  Namaste!

New Year, New You! by Nancy Weshkoff

New Year. New You!

By Nancy Weshkoff

Hello 2018!   When we ring in a new year, it is a great time to start fresh with new goals and ambitions.  I am reminded of a quote from one of my favorite books “tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it”.

For Moonflower Yoga, we are starting 2018 anew as well.   2018 welcomes in several great yoga teachers to the Moonflower Yoga staff.    We are pleased to have Danielle Meill, Jackie Lee, Rose Edelman, and Cathi Nashak join the Moonflower Yoga teaching team.   Each of these great yoga teachers bring their own unique style of yoga to the Moonflower Yoga studio.   You will learn ways to strengthen your body, become more flexible, improve balance, link breath with movement, and most importantly de-stress and take care of YOU.

As meditation is something that is important to learn, Moonflower Yoga has also added a great new class on the yoga class schedule: “Stretch and Meditate 101” with Lynn on Thursdays at 5 PM.  This gentle yoga class will help you de-stress from the day and then learn meditation tools to enable you to relax.

And to give the studio a great start to the new year, we have completed the facelift on the studio so it has a new design, better layout, beautiful colors on the walls, and new tapestries to help you feel relaxed as soon as you enter the doors.

It is our 2018 commitment at Moonflower Yoga to continue to offer great yoga classes with great yoga teachers where you receive personal attention and don’t get lost in the crowd.  And we have made the studio a warm, friendly place in Bellmore, Long Island, on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York, where we also welcome students from the neighboring towns of Merrick, East Meadow, Seaford, Wantagh, Massapequa, and Freeport.   Moonflower Yoga is also a great place to learn something new in one of our fun workshops or in one of our clubs.  Check out the Moonflower Yoga Book Club, the Moonflower Yoga Mah Jongg Club, the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group where you learn to crochet or knitting, and the new Women’s Gathering.

So what are YOUR plans and goals for 2018?   First and foremost, it should be about taking care of YOU.  If you do not take care of you, you cannot take care of anyone else.   We often find excuses why we can’t take some time for ourselves.   When we DO take care of ourselves good things happen.  We sleep better at night, and sleep is important to giving our bodies and minds the down time it needs to function better.   We reduce stress which lowers blood pressure.   High blood pressure can lead to so many diseases including heart disease, the number one killer of women in the US.   Just giving yourself a couple a hours a week of YOU time can make a big difference in how you feel physically as well as mentally and it can make you MORE productive as you have a clearer perspective.   Are you a beginner and feeling nervous about starting a yoga practice?  No worries – Moonflower Yoga offers beginner-level  yoga classes 7 days a week.  You’ll see a full listing under the FAQ tab above.   Have problems reaching the floor?  Try Chair Yoga offered 3 times a week.

Yoga and meditation can help put you on a great path for 2018.   You can strengthen your body and de-stress while learning that important message of taking care of YOU.  Come try it!   You will be glad that you did and you will find yourself on the road to better health in 2018.  Happy new year, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Beginner Yoga by Nancy Weshkoff

Beginner Yoga

By Nancy Weshkoff

 If you have never tried yoga before, the best way to start is with a beginner yoga class.    It is in a beginner yoga class where you will begin a wonderful journey to better health and well-being.

Contrary to what you might think, beginner is not just for people who have never tried yoga before.   Beginner yoga is great for everyone.    In a beginner yoga class, you will move at a slower, gentler pace.   In doing so, you can concentrate more closely on your pose and really feel your muscles moving and stretching from posture to posture.   You can focus on linking your movement with your breath which helps you move more deeply and brings you renewed energy.   And you can pick up some helpful tips on how to improve core, fundamental poses.  

Prior to becoming a yoga teacher, I spent many years practicing yoga at various studios.   I often attended beginner classes, even though I had several years of yoga experience.   I enjoyed the flow of a beginner class as it gave me an opportunity to concentrate more deeply on my movement.   I also enjoyed talking with new students and encouraging them while sharing my yoga experience.

Newer students have asked me how long they need to take a beginner yoga class before moving to a more intermediate level.    Each person is different, and there is no set period of time.   I strongly encourage everyone to be truly comfortable and understand the basics of core, essential yoga poses before trying something more challenging.     You may find, as I did, that beginner yoga is perfect for you at every stage of your yoga practice.

If you are looking for a great beginner yoga class with a great yoga teacher, Moonflower Yoga has a wonderful variety to offer you.   We have beginner yoga classes on weekends, weekday mornings, and evenings.   Whichever time frame you pick, you will have a find a class that meets your needs.    If you are in the area of Bellmore, in Long Island, New York’s Nassau County, come give one of our great beginner yoga classes a try!    Our class size is small and semi-private so you can receive personal attention, and our instructors pay attention to you so that you can have a wonderful yoga experience.    And remember beginner yoga is a fabulous choice for everyone!