Fear of flying?

If the idea of being held up in the air by a fellow student is intimidating or the thought of supporting another human being as they seek to find balance off the ground makes you queasy, you’re in good company. Before taking their first class, many students question if they’re strong enough, flexible enough, or otherwise fit enough for AcroYoga.

What outweighs the uncertainty however is the intrigue that this yoga style brings. There’s a ‘magic’ in the poses and a beauty in seeing the partnership of two AcroYogis in action. And you can discover what it’s all about at this Saturday’s AcroYoga 101: FUNdamentals with Leyna Schaeffer. To help you look past the fears and consider the possibilities we’ve put together this collection of videos and articles.

Here’s a video from instructor Leyna Schaeffer giving a quick look at what happened at a recent AcroYoga 101 class.

Here is one of many available TED Talks on the interpersonal benefits of AcroYoga.

Yoga Journal’s sample class gives a sense of how AcroYoga poses are learned.

AcroYoga 101: A Classic Sequence for Beginners

Leyna shared this video for a look at some of the poses you’ll learn.

For a quick summary on AcroYoga’s benefits check out this article.

At the end of the day, the best way to decide if AcroYoga is right for you is to try it. Don’t miss this opportunity. Find your wings and fly. Register today.

February 16, 2017February 16, 2017

Does separation make us feel more connected?

Despite the technology that allows us to message or speak to one another at any time, you don’t have to look very hard to see the growing struggle for individuals to connect with others. In the news and social media, inflammatory comments are rampant and creating walls between people of differing ideas and beliefs. What is going on?

Noted author and speaker Brené Brown has done extensive research on connection which she defines as “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

Because Brown contends that we are hardwired for connection, it’s puzzling to see the surge in “othering” (the purposeful separation created between a perceived “us” vs. “them”) that’s appearing in our daily discourse. Whether it be political leanings, skin color, religion, or ethnicity, the divisions in our country are growing deeper.

If connection is so vital to us, why then are we working so hard on separating ourselves?

There seems to be an evolutionary drive behind ‘othering.’ Psychologist speculate that having strong distinctions between groups was important in our tribal past when knowing who wasn’t a part of your group was essential for survival.

Despite the progress in globalization, societies around the world continue to cycle through periods of self-imposed divisions, most notably when fear and uncertainty are left unchecked.

The reason for our resistance to connection during times of stress, may be found in the teachings of the Tao Te Ching. It reminds us of the value of opposites. There is no black without white, no light without dark, no good without evil, no left without right, no front without back. We experience things only in contrast to other things. The more we focus on the differences, the more value we give to the commonalities.

Could the reason for the increase in ‘othering’ and separation simply be a natural response to our increasing need to feel connected? With our 24-hour news cycles and constant bombardment of bold, sometimes shockingly candid discussions on social channels, could we be feeling less safe, less certain and be in greater need to seek comfort among those who are like us? And as we seek to make those connections, is it possible we inadvertently create more divisions?

I think so. I believe, too, that we can find connection without ‘othering’ by bringing more yoga to our lives. In upcoming posts, we’ll explore yoga’s role in helping us find greater connection – and unity – in a different way.

~ K

December 19, 2016December 19, 2016

Save Up to 25% On the Gift of Yoga!

Now through December 24, enjoy special savings on the items below to help you wrap up your final week of holiday shopping.

SAVE 20%! Aromatherapy Balms, Mists, Rollers, and Bath Salts. Hand-crafted savasana spray mists and balms in tins and tubes make great stocking stuffers and are available in a variety of scents like lavender, citrus, and flower power! Pair with essential oil rollers and bath salts for a gift of stress-relieving bliss. Available in studio only through 12/24.

SAVE 25%! Gift Cards of $50 or more. Gift cards for special events and workshops provide the yoga lovers in your life an opportunity to deepen their studies. Gift cards are available in every denomination. Buy online and email the Gift Card to the recipient or pick up a certificate in the studio. Gift Cards can be used for in-studio merchandise, special events/workshops, private lessons, and class cards. Buy online – no code required. Discounts end 12/24/2016.

>> BUY a $50 Gift Card for just $37.50
>> BUY a $75 Gift Card for just $56.25
>> BUY a $100 Gift Card for just $75.00
>> BUY a $150 Gift Card for just $112.50

SAVE 25%! Private Yoga Sessions. Delight any beginner or experienced practitioner with one-on-one lessons with a BAMBU teacher. Available in 1, 3, or 5 session packages, each 60-minute lesson is tailored meet individual goals and needs. Privates are ideal for learning to master or modify poses, develop a home practice, or address specific therapeutic needs. Buy online – no code required. Discounts end 12/24/2016.

>> BUY Private Lesson Single($75 Value) for just $56.25
>> BUY Private Lesson 3-Pack ($200 Value) for just $150
>> BUY Private Lesson 5-Pack ($300 Value) for just $225

ONGOING SAVINGS! Monthly Membership. For the ultimate in year-round giving, set up a flexible monthly membership gift plan. We offer 4x, 8x, and unlimited monthly levels. Please email us for details.

Create a Custom Package. Still not sure what to get someone on your list? Email us or and we’ll set up a time to work with you on selecting the perfect gift.

February 8, 2016February 8, 2016

Maria De Noda On Core Strength Vinyasa and Her Upcoming Workshop

Maria De Noda has trained in many styles, and is influenced by many teachers but her biggest influences in body movement, alignment and anatomy have been Sadie Nardini, Leslie Kaminoff and Tom Myers. She has studied extensively under the guidance of Sadie in Core Strength Vinyasa and has a personal yoga practice of over 20 years. Maria is registered through Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Maria brought Core Strength Vinyasa to BAMBU at her sold out workshop in October. She returns later this month with Rediscover Your Power: Warrior Flow. We had a chance to ask Maria a few questions about the event on behalf of BAMBU students.

Core strength vinyasa yoga sounds like something for only very strong and athletic students. Is that true?

Not at all. Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga (CSVY) is a practice open to everyone. I teach it to all levels from individuals with health problems who practice in a chair to those who ran a marathon over the weekend. The practice works with the deep core line of the body, engaging deeper muscles than other practices. Most of us use the outer muscles of the body, but in this style of yoga, we learn to engage the muscles that are deep inside the body to make your yoga practice more effective no matter what your experience or fitness level is.

What differences will I notice with this style of yoga?

What is different about CSVY is that with it the body moves in a more natural, holistic and therapeutic way than the traditional yoga practices. The poses are the same, but HOW to get into them is different. A yoga pose is a template, and students in this style learn to fit their body appropriately into that template, with what feels right for them. Everyone’s pose shouldn’t be the same exact one and that’s OK. CSVY is about true balance and finding a practice that is right for you so you can own it. The practice is based on new, real world anatomy and biomechanics. As we learn more about the body a yoga practice needs to evolve and change. I will be bringing you the latest information.

Who is this workshop designed for?

The workshop is designed for everyone. New students can come and learn more about the body and how to safely transition from one pose to another. There will be plenty of modifications and suggestions. Advanced students will learn how to enhance their current practice by engaging deep core muscles that don’t get engaged in a traditional yoga practice. CSVY doesn’t take away from anyone’s practice; it adds to it. Yoga Teachers can come and get CE credit by studying with me and learn new ways to lead students in a more holistic, safe and natural way. Keep in mind that I am the only yoga teacher in this area qualified to teach this style as I am a CSVY Master Trainer and have spent the last couple of years studying the style with the creator, Sadie Nardini, in person and assist at her workshops. Come learn something unique. Your body will thank you.

Is this the same as the workshop you did in October?

No, this workshop is new and different from the previous one. While we will be reviewing some of the information from October as a refresher and also for anyone who might have missed that workshop, we will be learning new poses and new ways of coming into them. This workshop will focus on the Warrior series and I will be bringing in more things that I have learned as I continue to train with my teacher.

Click here to register and learn more about Maria’s Rediscover Your Power: Warrior Flow workshop on February 20 from 2-4pm.

February 1, 2015February 1, 2015

Discover the Power of Loving Kindness

I close every class I teach with these words from a loving kindness meditation:

May all beings everywhere be healthy
May all beings everywhere be happy
May all beings everywhere be safe
May all beings everywhere find peace.

Meditating on loving kindness (also known as mettā meditation) is a practice intended to develop benevolence. Through this process, the practitioner can experience joy in celebrating the happiness of others. It’s a somewhat simple, yet potent practice. I find reciting just the four lines above – a mere portion of a complete mettā practice – is a powerful reinforcement of my intentions and aspirations for compassionate living.

A traditional mettā practice begins with an offering of loving kindness directed toward oneself. The offering is then repeated several times, each time directing the energy to a specific person or group such as a ‘neutral’ individual, a loved one, an enemy, and then to all beings throughout the universe. In the meditation, the practitioner breathes in suffering and exhales happiness.

Research on the benefits of mettā meditation are mounting and show how mind training in loving kindness impacts the practitioner’s own happiness. The evidence shows that it:

Improves Well Being
Promotes Healing
Builds Emotional Intelligence in the Brain
Combats the Negative Impact of Stress
Strengthens Social Connections
Increases Self-love

Emma Sappalla, Associate Director Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research & Education, provides a stunning checklist of metta meditation benefits along with links to the corresponding research in her post 18 Science-Based Reasons to Try Loving-Kindness Meditation Today.

Mettā meditation is a highly accessible practice. I’ve even used this with my kids as a bedtime ritual to close out the day. As with any practice, the key is to – well – practice.

This 30-minute guided meditation from Sharon Salzberg author of Loving Kindess: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness provides a lovely introduction.

January 3, 2015January 5, 2015

Let’s Savor Our Successes in 2015

Each and every day students and teachers achieve milestones in their yoga practice. From finding stillness in savasana for the first time to coming into handstand in the middle of the room, there are always new achievements to be grateful for and to celebrate.

Moments like these easily get lost as we focus on the next ‘big’ thing we want to do. But when we make the effort to enjoy the things we did get done, we keep our energies in a state of celebration and that energy fuels us to do more.

So anytime you experience a ‘win’ or a ‘shift’ in your practice, we invite you to mark these landmarks along your yoga journey in our Community Celebration Jar. To record those experiences, victories, and observations, simply jot a note on one of the colored paper squares in the studio. Date your note and add your name if you like, then place it in the jar.

Each time we look and see the notes filling our jar with all the colors of joy, we’ll be reminded of how far we’ve come together! We’ll then commemorate our journey and acknowledge these beautiful memories at celebratory events throughout the year.

Namaste.