“You can always begin again.” This is one of my favorite quotes from Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzburg. It is one that came to mind for this year’s anniversary party as we truly are beginning again. New studio. New students. New teachers. New virtual offerings. New schedule. New parts of life to contend with. But the idea of beginning again feels even more right as we make the decision to postpone this year’s anniversary party. I love our anniversary time as it is a celebration of community, of longevity, and the fact we are still here together. But celebration and being here in a large gathering feels a little tough right now. We need our yoga. We need our quiet. We need our rest. We need time to honor the tenderness or restlessness we may all be feeling in this moment.

With this in mind, we are moving our August celebration and will begin again on Saturday, October 9th. It will be a combination Planting Party and Anniversary Gathering.

Our main goal has always been to take care of each other. So… In following with CDC recommendations, we ask all students mask up indoors regardless of vaccine status. Masks required in the lobby, optional for practice room (air purifier is still running strong in there). We will be reducing class size for additional distancing between mats aka more breathing room. Virtual classes are still going strong and you can always join us there. #greenvilleyoga #thisisyourtime

Did you ever meet someone that changed the energy of the room by their mere presence? Lorraine was like that. She would immediately get people laughing and make everyone feel completely at home. …Last April our dear friend passed away. And due to covid, we were unable to say goodbye as a community of family and friends. Over the last year I have tried to figure out the best way to honor our sweet Lorraine. And last week it came to me in a flash.

Are you exhausted, no matter how much you try to catch up on sleep? When we are deeply worn, our human reaction is often to lean into “doing” rather than relax into “being.” Everyday responses to fatigue are to run more, exercise harder, push on through. Now and again, we might slow down by binge watching a show on Netflix or spend a few hours on social media while slumping on the couch. Yet we’re still tired. Science now shows what yogis have intuitively understood for centuries: engaging in intentional practices of rest, both passive and gently active, are not only healthy but necessary for our well-being.

Welcome to Greenville Yoga! Whether you are new or planning to return to the studio for in person classes, here is what you need to know.

We are slowly shifting into more in person and hybrid classes, with this there are a few things you need to know. Be sure you know how to sign up in advance and be sure to de-register up to 12 hours before class begins to avoid no show fees beginning May 1st. Read on…

This story begins further back than I even know, but in 2005 I met Reverend Nancy Neal. I had just moved to Greenville and was leading an open house at Stone Academy as a teacher. I was super nervous as I know I am not the norm for a 4th grade teacher. In walked Nancy and her daughter looking just like they stepped out of a poster for California. They immediately put me at ease and made me feel at home. Nancy and I continued to talk and stay connected over the years through community events, friends, and healing work. There is more to this story, but for this newsletter the magic begins here… the story or Nancy & Ron & their dream brought to life.

During the year of 2020, we were all asked to rest, to reset and to take on the sense of wintering (getting dormant, quiet and still) for an entire year! While winter seems dull and bleak, so much is often happening below the surface. This quote from Wintering by Katherine May (a great, easy read) perhaps says it all, “We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” In winter, our leaves have fallen, our bare bones have been revealed and we wonder what next? Beneath our bare bones lies the answer…

We are offiically open! Our parking isn’t quite done yet, but our studio is ready to go. Be sure to check our calendar and sign up in advance.

Here’s how we plan to keep you safe once our doors open… Opening date is potentially set for Sunday, 1/10. Inspectors are there inspecting now, asphalt for parking is being poured and our fingers are crossed.

Coronavirus cases are still on the rise and it is still something on the forefront of our minds. So what is best to keep our community safe both physically and mentally? What is best to keep Greenville Yoga sustainable and here to serve for the long term?

It is a process to transform from catterpillar to butterfly. The same has been true for us to get to today’s news that we actually get to move in! More details will come soon, but for now please know we will continue to zoom most of our classes. I do not feel ready to return to "normal" or spread covid through our actions.

Our new home is in Sans Souci- which means without worry or care. It is a neighborhood I had been watching for a while as I love the people, the diversity and it feels like a place we can truly create something special.

This week we were gearing up to re-open our studio with a minimal schedule of one to two classes per week. But now Greenville has been deemed a “hotspot” for Coronavirus and that has left us wondering what is the best thing to do to meet the needs of our students, our teachers, our community and long term viability of our business?

I have received many phone calls and emails asking when we plan to reopen. The answer, in my mind, is very complex. We will open when the time feels right for all of us, not just when the state says it is okay. The current state mandates say we can reopen, however, with only 3-5 people based on the size of our studio and extensive sanitation mandates. This is not physically or economically sustainable for us at this time (physically due to a shortage of toilet paper and cleaning supplies). Until we can have access to what we need for our physical environment to be clean and properly sanitized, we will be unable to open.

What is this moment trying to teach us? Many are struggling and grappling with our “new normal.” But I also know some of us have found a deep and profound healing at this moment. For me, our studio is running beautifully and we are operating from a place of sustainability. My livelihood is not in question. My children are older. They can get online and do their e-learning without any prompting from me. I have a roof over my head and food in the pantry and even an extra roll of toilet paper. I know some people are truly struggling at this time…

Dear loved ones,
I have been sitting on this newsletter for a few days now. I believe there is a balance between response and reaction and we are working on a mindful response to the events of the world and to help do our part to slow the spread of Covid-19. So we have been in the background working on a plan to bring your yoga to you!