Spring Fever, ya'll!

“Of seasons, I am the flower-bearing Spring.� ~Bhagavad Gita 10:35

We are so happy to share the delights of the practice with you all, day after day, taking the time to open with courage and dedication, so we don’t go ripping the flowers open to get them to bloom...

It's been a great workshop season so far, and it continues as we welcome Jasmine Tarkeshi from the Laughing Lotus in San Francisco back to the Shop! We are over the moon to have our dear friend share this delightful weekend of beauty and depth as she guides two soulful vinyasa practice on April 21st and 22nd. These two 9am public classes on April 21 and 22, Saturday and Sunday, will fill your heart and free your spirit on and off the mat. Sign up online ASAP as these get stuffed to the gills every year! Remember, these replace Lisa Mae and Matt’s regular 9am classes, so if you are planning on coming, sign up ahead of time! Level 2+ so be ready!

Also, for teachers and teachers-to-be, Jasmine is giving two special workshops just for you! Friday, April 20th from 2-5pm, she is sharing her course called “Floetry: The Sacred Art of Practicing and Teaching From Your Soul,” a dive into the creative process and the journey to share what you love. On Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, from 3-7pm, she shares her amazing “Chakra Vinyasa: Sequencing With The Subtle Body” classes, where she gives a guided tour of the chakras and how they can help us design beautiful flow sequences. These are poetic and useful workshops, and we would love to see you there!

We are overjoyed to welcome back another Satsang and Kirtan with Swami B.V. Tripurari, our dear friend and most influential guide on the path of bhakti yoga. Friday, May 11th from 5:45-7:45pm (Please note the cancellation of the 5:30pm class on this evening.) We are most fortunate that he will join us to speak about the path of devotion for one and all. This is a real opportunity to deepen your understanding of bhakti, and we hope you will join us. By donation.

Cancelled Class Alert!
Gosh we hate to do this, but the following classes are cancelled due to visiting teachers. Mark your calendars!

• Friday, April 20th at 4pm (Visiting Teacher Workshop)
• Saturday and Sunday April 21st and 22nd at 9am both days (Jasmine Tarkeshi from the Laughing Lotus is subbing for both Lisa Mae and Matt! Sign up now!)
• Wednesday, May 9th at 5:30 and 7pm (Yoga School Graduation!)
• Friday May 11th at 5:30pm (Swami Satsang and Kirtan)

We do have a few things up our sleeve for you this summer in the realm of retreats, for example:
Foundations of Yoga: The first ever (in the history of the world!) Beginner’s Retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs!
That's right... Join Tasha and Jeannie, two of our most dedicated and beloved Yoga Foundations/Level 1 teachers for our first-ever retreat exploring the joys of yoga, at the beginner level. If you have ever expressed trepidation at coming with us on a yoga retreat, or worried that the level would not be appropriate for you, or that you don't quite feel comfortable enough with the practice to consider such a thing, this is the retreat for you! You will build a very strong foundation, focusing on your alignment and skill-building in the physical practice, with a focus on breathing techniques, exploring the beauty of mantra and meditation, and of course sharing good company. Tasha may even share some of her therapeutics training, and Jeannie may bless you all with some deep restorative practice, too! Space is limited, so call Breitenbush directly to register at (503) 854-3320.

I also hear swellings about Tasha and Hari-bhakti teaching a retreat together somewhere in Hood River, and possibly another local Monicka and Hari-bhakti collaboration is being hinted at as well. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, if you are planning ahead, New Year’s in Mexico 2012-13 (yes please!) and Costa Rica 2013 are already getting sign-ups, and are waiting for you to come and have the most fun possible in yoga and on vacation with us!

For now, that is that. We are thrilled to know you, and if you have any ways you can think of that will improve our little yoga Shop, or things you would like to see happen, please offer it up! We are solely here for YOU, and are grateful for it every day. We love you!

To the flower-bearing Spring!
Lisa Mae and The Bhaktishop Family

Rainy March Love to you all!

“Listen, everyone has a chance. Is it spring, is it morning? Are there trees near you, and does your own soul need comforting? Quick, then–—open the door and fly on your heavy feet; the song may already be drifting away.” –Mary Oliver

Thank you for the great blessing of the many dozens of new friends that you all have brought in since January! And a big warm welcome to all you that are new to our space. You are what make this yoga house a real home!

This Spring, enjoy some massive spring cleaning, on us! We are offering our 3-Month Unlimited Spring Cleaning Deal for just $300. That is a $60 savings on 3 months of your favorite soul-stirring, mind-softening, heart-widening yoga. Purchase anytime during the month of March!

Spring is also Workshop Central around here! This month, we are offering you a few awesome ways to tighten up your practice and loosen up your heart:

• Our awesome Ayurveda and Yoga Series continues with a workshop for Kapha Balancing on March 24th with Marianne and Nancy Schneider. Learn some practical tips and dietary fixes to start clearing out the Spring/Allergy/Sludge, and a great asana and pranayama practice for the season. Kapha-appropriate treats and more. Spring Cleaning!
• Beginners, want to start to transition from Level 1 to Level 2? Join Monicka for her awesome Strong Foundations Workshop on March 25th. This is a great workshop for learning some deeper foundations of support in asana with your breath at the starter level. Open to all!
• And... ain’t we lucky to get to offer you this: A Sanskrit Language Weekend for everyone on March 31st and April 1st with our funny, skilled and charming new Sanskrit teacher, Joshua Michaell from the American Sanskrit Institute. Any student of yoga with any interest at all in the beauty of sound vibration, mantra, or the glorious light of this language of yoga, this workshop is for you!

Cancelled Class Alert!
Gosh we hate to do this, but the following classes are cancelled due to visiting teachers. Mark your calendars!

• Friday, April 20th at 4pm (Visiting Teacher Workshop)
• Saturday and Sunday April 21st and 22nd at 9am both days (Jasmine Tarkeshi from the Laughing Lotus is subbing for both Lisa Mae and Matt! Sign up now!)
• Wednesday May 9th; 5:30 and 7pm (Yoga School Graduation Party!)
• Friday, May 11th at 5:30pm (Swami B.V. Tripurari Lecture and Kirtan)

Jasmine Returns!
Our dear friend from the Laughing Lotus in New York and San Francisco returns with a delightful weekend of beauty and depth as she guides a soulful and beautiful vinyasa practice on April 21st and 22nd. These two public classes on Saturday and Sunday at 9am will fill your heart and free your spirit on and off the mat. Sign up online ASAP, these get stuffed to the gills every year!

Our annual Spring Equinox Practice with Uma falls on Tuesday, March 20th from 12 noon to 2pm this year. This traditional Arrival-of-Spring practice celebrates balance, growth, and emergence into the light. Wake up to the light of the soul!

We are delighted over and over again to share this loving community and practice with you all. We say it all the time, and hope you know we mean it—this place would be nothing without all of you!

In Loving Springtime Service,
Lisa Mae and The Fuzzy Hutch of Bunnies at The Bhaktishop

From our open hearts to yours, Hello February!

Greetings loves! Hope you are greeting the winter with grace, and if not, there is always yoga...

All month long we are continuing to support you and yours in yoga. First, our awesome $20 for 1-Week Unlimited Intro for new students just got awesome-er: Double The Love means 2-Weeks of Unlimited Yoga for the whole month of February for just $20! Tell your friends there are no excuses now. And second, to support your yoga-related resolutions, we offer you the Re-Resolution Sale! From Feb. 1st to Feb. 7th only, get a 20-class pass for just $160, so you can re-commit over and over again! And, it is now possible to purchase class cards online from the website, anytime!

Problem: Freezing weather, feeling under-inspired, flagging yoga practice, vitamin D-starved, chapped lips, gray skies. Solution: 8 days of blazing sunshine, mega-doses of yoga and meditation, monkeys, surfing, sunsets and walks by aqua oceans, waterfall hikes, hammocks, and no cooking or cleaning or shopping, weird animals, great company. This could be you, with us, in about 3 weeks, in Costa Rica. A few spaces still remain in the fun-in-the-sun legend of yoga trips. You comin'?

Kirtan is Sunday, February 12th from 6-8pm. This month we serve Baby Blues Connection, a non-profit in Portland helping new mothers and beyond with a host of issues, including post-partum depression. Join us in song and great loving company, and stay for treats afterwards. By donation, and you can read more on our Bhakti Soul Fund page. Chant and be happy!

Hard Times? In a pickle? Let us help. The newly-hatched Hard Times Benefit allows us to give even more to you through an application for yoga classes or workshops to get you through. Go to the Hard Times Benefit Page for details.

Don't go deep into hibernation this winter, go deep into your practice! Join us this month for some great opportunities to tune into yourself and your spirit in workshop-land:

• Inner Space geeks, we offer you Subtle Body Anatomy this Saturday, February 4th with Emily Soiney, local Cranio-Sacral Physical Therapist Yoga Teacher legend. Any interest at all in charkas, nadis,the sushumna, or other energetic aspects of the body, this is your class. All are welcome!

• Micro-mega retreat w/ Uma and Jessica March 10th, How does yoga, Loyly Sauna, organic food, & radical self-care sound? Join Uma and Jessica for this 1/2 day micro-retreat, the perfect way to get away.

• Harmonium Huggers' Workshop! March 17th! Join resident harmonium-hugger Lisa Mae on an easy, rewarding trip into the beauty of this Indian instrument. Working from simple Western musical notation (no experience required) we will sort through the care and feeding of a harmie, the ease of accompanying yourself, and some simple mantras that you know and love. Come away from this workshop playing and singing!

• Ayurveda and Yoga Series: Kapha Balancing on March 24th. Clear out the mucus, the crud, the sludgy dullness with this clarifying workshop to get us leaping freely and lightly into Spring time! Join Nancy and Marianne, one of our steady and soulful kapha spirits at the Shop in this course that is open to the public, but will be useful for teachers learning how to understand sequencing with the seasons, and to teach with some of the basic language of Ayurveda.

• Strong Foundations: Transitioning from Level 1 to Level 2 with Monicka. Sunday March 25th. The key to a healthy and balanced yoga practice is the foundation upon which it is built. Find the freedom to move with more ease by unlocking real strength and support in your own body. Find comfort and efficiency with breath supporting your movement, and take a closer look at some of the most common yoga postures, deconstructed and rebuilt in a way that best suits our own individual needs.

• Sanskrit: The Gorgeous Language of Yoga with Joshua Michaell 3/31 and 4/1, Register now! Vibrate Higher! Since ancient times the practice of yoga has included the study of Sanskrit and the chanting of Sanskrit mantras. Sanskrit is integral to the practice of asana: it is a helpful adjunct for harmonizing and balancing the mind. Knowledge of Sanskrit, even at the most beginning level, makes it possible to grasp more of the subtleties of yoga philosophy. Open to all seekers, join our charming, funny and excellent new Sanskrit teacher for a super-fun weekend of vibration and light.

Remember that you still get a 10% discount on your class card if you send us a pic of you in your favorite Bhaktishop tee, doing something awesome...

Join us on Facebook for teacher's inspiration, readings from classes, musical offerings, and much more!

So much gratitude to you all for your loving presence and your AWESOME commitments to yoga! We are grateful to each and every one of you for your contribution to artful living, dynamic practice, and open-hearted JOY!

In Loving Service,
Lisa Mae and Team Bhaktishop

HAPPY 2012, FAMILY!!

"And now let us celebrate the new year, full of things that have never been."
~Rilke

Thank you for making this a wonderful, amazing, happy, and warm place to open the door, every single day. We are here because of and for you, and are so grateful that we can share what we love with all of you in the form of waking up! And what a year it has been...

Celebrate the arrival of the New with TWO celebration classes on Sunday, January 1st, at 10am and 12 noon with Jeannie and Matt. Always the sweetest, rightest way to ring in the joy, set intentional hopes for the year, recommit to the practice you love, and lift your heart high. Sign up in advance if possible (so we don't have another Christmas stampede...)

We have a beautiful, shiny new website, thanks to our dear friend Neal. Loads of beauty to feast on, and new ways to navigate the goodness. Check it out!

NEW SCHEDULES!! This time, we made the grid schedule card and the workshops card separate, so please be sure to pick up a copy of both the schedule and workshop cards. Also, check out our shiny new website! Easier to navigate, more interactive, and chock-full of details about the classes, teachers, programs and yoga that you love. And so pretty for sticking to your fridge (or your forehead.)

New things for January:

The new "respect for all brunch-goers" class on Saturdays at 7:30am with Monicka! For those of you that have business to take care of on Saturday mornings, want a slightly shorter class, or just want to avoid the crush of the 9am, please join Monicka for an awesome Soul Flow 2 class on Saturdays. This means the disappearance of Meditation on both Saturdays and Sundays for the moment. We are searching for other possibilities for meditation slots, so stay tuned!

Many of the Seva (read:cheap) classes have been shuffled around for the new schedule, so do take a look to see if your favorite class is (or is not) cheaper now!

Bring a Friend For FREE! All month long, your friends and family can finally put their mat where their mouth is and come to their first class with us, totally free! Bring in anyone that you have been wanting to drag to yoga with us for the first time, and they are on the house. A great way to expand your yoga satsang to the people you already know and love!

Please welcome Audra Carmine to the schedule on Mondays at 6:15am for Solar Flow, and Fridays at 4pm for the Donation Yoga 1 classes. She is a graduate of our yoga school program, and is diligently working toward her 500-hour certification with us. She is funny, grounded, and totally real.  And you will LOVE her class.

Matt and Monicka share the love in the Donation Yoga 1 classes this schedule! On Tuesday nights, come share time with Matt at 7pm by donation at Level 1, and Wednesdays at 4pm, with Monicka. More loving from two of our best teachers, and by donation!

RETREAT ALERT!! Please join Lisa Mae and Monicka in the wilds of Breitenbush for a Winter Renewal Retreat Jan 27-29. Dive into the deepest well of your practice in this heart-focused retreat, working with individual bio-mechanics of movements, reshaping our practices and singing our hearts out. Renew your vows to self and Source, immerse deeply in the mystical practices of yoga, meditation, satsang and the curative powers of turning inward, honoring what unfolds. Please contact Breitenbush directly for registration at 503.854.3320, and register soon, as it is getting full!

We have a massive raft of workshops and adventures for you this upcoming schedule too, so many that they needed their own schedule card! Starting with some Anatomy 101 for teachers and yoga nerds (open to all students!) and continuing on to Inner Space: Subtle Body Anatomy (also open to all students) in early February, both with our dear friend Emily Soiney of Shine Physical Therapy. A fun and info-packed way to learn the ins and outs of the physical and energetic bodies! Check here for details on this and more in the workshops and events category. Go deeper!

500 Hour level Continuing Education is available in an ongoing, revolving cycle for you teachers (and super-geeks) out there. Please check the new Yoga School 500 Hour Program page on the website for all the upcoming goodness. You don't have to be a teacher to partake! Just love to geek out on yoga like we do...

Since I am writing this from the sunny and awesome Mexico retreat, I was wondering: This weather got you thinking about a mega-getaway? Costa Rica is right around the corner and we want YOU! This place is our home-away-from home South of the border, and believe me, if we could pack up The Bhaktishop and move it here, we would in a second! Next best thing? Come with us on an 8-day adventure that you will return from forever changed. Our 6th year on the Osa Peninsula, and some of the last unspoiled eco-system out there. Ask for details before you get chapped lips and are stuck here freezing!

Hard Times? We totally know, and we (my GOD) don't want you to stop practicing yoga because of it. Therefore, in your honor and in your continued service we present the Hard Times Benefit! Please click here for more info for you or someone you love, and ask about this way to apply for financial assistance from us, so you can continue the practice you love, uninterrupted.

Family kirtan with Mala is Sunday, January 8th from 6-8pm. Please come raise your voice to the New Year with us in this celebration of love and spirit. Always good company and loving vibes. Chant and Be happy! By donation to the Bhakti Soul Fund, click here to find out more about the recipient for January.

With a deep bow of heaping gratitude to you all for giving yourselves to the practice continually, and sharing it with us.

In your loving service,
Lisa Mae and The Bhaktishop Teachers