inner power yoga

In response to last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, we have decided to collect donations for the Doctors Without Borders Emergency Relief Fund at our Yoga Day USA class on January 23 at 11:30a. See the IPY site for more details about this special class with Jessica.

If you are not able to make it to the class, or would like to donate now, please see the Doctors Without Borders site.

Kids Yoga Workshop Price Change

We’ve lowered the price of our Kids Yoga workshop. For parents with an IPY unlimited pass, the cost is $10; for all other kids, the cost is $15. See the IPY site for more details about the class. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your kids doing yoga!

New Candlelight Yin Class

Due to the popularity of our Wednesday night Candlelight Yin class with Coleen, we are adding a second class on Monday nights at 7:45p beginning January 25. If you haven’t been to Coleen’s class yet, come and see what you’ve been missing!

January Pass Special

All month we are offering our monthly class pass for $90. If you come just twice a week, that’s $11/class; three times a week is $7.50/class! It’s a great deal that is only available through January 31. (See the IPY site for more information about our fees.)

IPY is Lululemon Studio of the Month in February

Our teachers will be at Lululemon at Tysons Corner each Sunday in February leading free classes at 10a. We’re honored to be chosen by our favorite store!

We’re starting 2010 with a series of workshops and special events. Don’t miss Jessica’s free class on Yoga Day USA (January 23); introduce your 7-11 year olds to yoga with Ursula’s kids yoga workshop; or, bring your sweetie to Keith and Tara’s partner yoga workshop for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s day.

Yoga Day USA with Jessica

Saturday, January 23, 2010, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Join Jessica for a FREE yoga practice in honor of Yoga Day USA. This celebration was created by the Yoga Alliance to imake yoga available to everyone and to support our community through service to others. Class will include a short discussion about yoga followed by a Vinyasa Flow practice.

Free for everyone

Kids Yoga with Ursula

Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

The benefits of yoga are endless for grown ups and children alike. Here is a perfect opportunity to introduce yoga to your kids to help them increase their overall fitness, especially coordination, balance and flexibility. Studies show that yoga helps to boost self-esteem, confidence and to deal with everyday stresses our kids face on a regular basis.

During this introductory class, students will learn the basic yoga poses, sun salutations and breathing techniques in a fun and supportive setting.

$20/child; for ages 7 – 11

Partner Yoga with Keith and Tara

Sunday, February 14, 2010 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

For a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, join us for two and a half hours of partner yoga with Keith and Tara. Partner yoga can be practiced by any two people: friends, colleagues, parents, children, siblings and couples. Come with a partner or on your own, and we will pair you up. Whether complete beginner or advanced practitioner, or any level in between, the benefits of this practice are yours to discover. Practicing yoga with a partner provides a fun and safe way to deepen your experience of yoga poses or to take your very first yoga class.

Keith and Tara have been studying and practicing yoga for well over two decades. While Keith began his journey in the Vinyasa style of Ashtanga Yoga, Tara is deeply steeped in the tradition of Iyengar Yoga. Fusing the two styles, they teach Vinyasa yoga infused with Iyengar alignment. Their classes are welcoming, fun and full of great instruction.

$35/person; $30/person for IPY unlimited pass holders

In case you haven’t heard yet, the new studio is opening soon!

Join us on December 12 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

• Get a chance to win a free fitting and top from Lululemon
• See the spacious, light-filled classroom space
• Meet and talk with Ursula, Tanya, Elaine, Coleen and Jessica
• Watch a partner yoga demo by Lululemon staff at 4p
• Purchase gift cards, class passes, and IPY shirts and towels
• Enjoy refreshments and mingle with other students

46090 Lake Center Plaza, Suite 205, Potomac Falls, VA 20165 (map and directions)

Regular classes will begin on Sunday, December 13. Please see the website for information about the schedule, our teachers, class fees and our referral program.

We look forward to seeing you there!

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin

Change is uncomfortable. For those of us who are usually content and happy in everyday life, change is downright scary. It is so much easier to stay in the status quo and follow the same routine day in and day out. But, life is short, and we might regret the missed opportunities and chances not taken later on.

I believe deep down that we all know when the time is right to make significant changes in our lives – personal or professional – we just don’t always want to, or dare to listen to that sometimes quiet voice.

When I decided to leap, many nets appeared! I can’t say everything has been smooth and easy, but all the help and support of my friends, family and students have made this process very special.

I am grateful beyond words to so many people, especially to Chris, Tanya and Jean. With your help, I can’t wait to open the doors of Inner Power Yoga and to offer this space to all who would like to make yoga part of their lives.

Dear Yogis and Yoginis,

I just wanted to let you know that I will be teaching an afternoon workshop at Little River Yoga on 7/19, Sunday and an all-day immersion at Clearbrook Farm on 7/25, Saturday. Details are below.

Please join us if you can, and as always, let me know if you have any questions.

Hope to see you soon!

Love and Light,

Ursula

Dear Yogis,

I wanted to let you know that I will be leading a Vinyasa Master Class at Little River Yoga on 5/31, for details please see www.littleriveryoga.com or send me a note, and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Also, I will be teaching 3 vinyasa classes at the Ashtanga Yoga Center this month:

Wednesday, May 20 at 6.15 pm
Wednesday, May 27 at 6.15 pm
Sunday, May 31 at 4 pm.

Hope to see you soon!

Hugs,
Ursula

I heart lulu!

I am not a shopper. I just don’t like any kinds of shopping except one; acquiring new yoga outfits. my weak excuse is that it’s work clothes for a me, and I get to write it off of my taxes…

I have had several tops and pants from prana, be present and lesser known (i.e. target) brands I have liked over the years, but I still remember my very first lululemon top. I found it in 2002. it was navy, and I had to have it. I must have worn it hundreds of times, but it’s still in good shape after all those washes hanging in my closet. I wear a different size now, but that is the only reason why the top is in retirement. I will probably give it away some day or maybe not. it’s when I sorted out my kids’ baby clothes a few years ago and could not part with a faded blue jeans jumper from baby gap…and now my “baby” is 11 and my height. so I am keeping that navy blue top as well. I still remember many of the classes I have taught in it, the students I have met and connected with.

when we moved to germany a few years ago, I was very dismayed to find out that there is no lululemon store in europe. how come? what am I supposed to wear then? at that time there was no on-line store (it is available now, yeah!), and we were not coming back to the usa that often. I survived the first 2 years without a “fix”, then we came back to Boston during the summer of ’07 when I celebrated a “special” birthday. what should the extended family give to someone for that occasion? obviously a lululemon gift certificate! I spent a few hours at the store, spending the very generous gift I received, and more. I just love lululemon clothes; they are stylish, functional and last forever. What’s not to love? I practically live in them 24/7, being a full time yoga teacher/mom. they are perfect for me. the company itself is very impressive as well, if you are interested, please check out their website, www.lululemon.com.
I even went that far to ask my husband’s college roommate, who happened to be part of the VC firm to take lululemon to public a few years back, who I can make contact with at the company to bring lululemon to germany….mind it, I have no retail experience at all.

shortly after we came back to the usa, I submitted an online application to lululemon to become one of their ambassadors. I figured I had been spreading the words about their “components” for years anyway, why not make our relationship legal? the very next day (coincidence?) I met the tysons store manager at a studio I have been teaching, and lovely andrea and I had a nice chat. one thing let to another, and now I am a proud lululemon ambassador.

I will be teaching a free community class at the lululemon store at tysons corner on thursday, april 30 at 12 noon. if you come to practice, you get 15% discount at the store! a good deal and it’s fun! please let me know if you have any questions!

most of us, yogis, have our favorite asanas, and we also have those that are difficult, challenging and uncomfortable. let’s just call them “second favorite” poses. for me, those were backbends, any and all kinds.

early on, I tried to avoid them at all cost, which was not too difficult since my personal practice was Ashtanga, and there are not too many backbends in the primary series. but then came second series with all kinds of goodies, and I had to make peace and befriend all those great postures. it has taken me a while, and I am still working on it, but now I absolutely love backbends, any and all kinds. I still can’t say I feel comfortable a moment before kapotasana, but I look forward to practicing them.

I have had students over the years who have been able to do many advanced backbending postures at ease and don’t understand what the hoopla is about, because they are naturally bendy. it’s no big deal for them to get to their ankles in kapotasana or walk their hands up on the calves from urdhva dhanurasana…oh, the lucky ones! we, as normal not bendy people, still like them. but I, along with many others, appreciate those poses so much more, because I had to work hard to get to where I am today.

I will be teaching a backbending workshop on 4/18 at DMY (for details, please see www.dancingmindyoga.com; ). this workshop will be suitable for those who are in the process of learning to love backbends, and also for those who are naturally bendy as I will be offering more advanced variations as well. my goal is to help deepen the experience and take out the fear of practicing backbends. if you have any questions, please send me a note!