This Month So Far: October 2016

Photos taken during October.

Finding the time, energy and will to blog has not been easy lately. So I’ve been blogging much less. It’s now October.

Life has changed a lot since when I first started blogging ten years ago.  Money and time available have decreased. Family responsibilities have increased. Free Yoga Boston and other social media platforms that I’m on now didn’t exist ten years ago.

Just like the seasons change, our lives change and we must adjust. Focusing on my well-being has made blogging fall away to a certain extent. But I miss it too.

Documenting my life and experiences is something that I had always loved about blogging. When others appreciated what I shared, it made it even sweeter.

To continue, blogging has to happen differently. For now, I hope you enjoy these images. These are bits and pieces of my October so far.

Have a great weekend!

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Summer Solstice Strawberry Moon

moon rising in the sky

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I love taking pictures of the tops of trees touching the sky.  Especially at dusk as the moon rises. It might be my favorite time of day. Maybe because I was born at night.

This past week I watched the moon becoming more full and tonight it’s the full strawberry moon.

It’s also summer solstice. The longest day of the year and the first day of summer! The first time that the two have coincided since 1967, the Summer of Love. Back then it was a time filled with chaos and change.

Based on the horrific and tragic event last week at Pulse and the looming Democratic and Republican conventions, it looks like we might be in for another long hot summer. I hope that as a nation we can do better than 1967heal and move towards light and love.

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Spring 2016: Free Yoga Classes in Boston

duo yoga pose While it may not be officially spring yet, it’s so close and I feel like we made it through the winter. Plus, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, so let’s just go with it.

The Winter Schedule of free yoga classes needed updating, so might as well start my spring cleaning here.

Remember there are Meetups in the area to try out.

Hands To Heart Center Yoga – Yoga for the People provides free yoga classes for people living with poverty and trauma in Boston. Check out their website and Twitter for class schedules.

The Free Yoga Boston Community Page on Facebook is updated everyday. So be sure to check there for all sorts of yoga news!

Also, if you know of other free or donation based classes in the Boston area that are missing from this list, please let me know. This “Big List” is always a work in progress. There will be updates, so keep checking back. Namaste!

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MONDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
BCYF Cleveland Community Center (Dorchester)
7:15pm – 8:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

TUESDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Complete Candlelight Flow
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
8pm – 9pm

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this class designed for yogis to advance their practice through building a comprehensive understanding of yoga techniques and philosophy. Upon arrival, each student receives a candle as a symbolic token of union with the Self and with others. No experience is necessary. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

WEDNESDAY

More To Love Yoga
Yoga Series at the Ed Portal (Harvard Ed Portal, Allston)
7:30pm – 8:30pm

Rachel Estapa, founder of More to Love, is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and professional body image coach. The class offers practical pose variations and enhances body acceptance. Harvard Ed Portal’s Yoga Series offers different types of free yoga classes through the year. Eventbrite registration is encouraged due to space constraints.

Troops for Fitness Yoga
BCYF Cleveland Community Center (Dorchester)
7:15pm – 8:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

THURSDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
4:30pm – 6pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. The Thursday class starts at 4:30pm. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Children & Family Yoga/Troops for Fitness
Walter Denney Youth Center (Dorchester)
6pm – 7pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

Glow Yoga
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
8pm – 9pm

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is an all-levels class incorporating black lights, glow sticks, dance music, and asana. You get fitness, fun and will get creative with neon body paint. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

FRIDAY

Beyond Beginner Yoga
Yoga Series at the Ed Portal (Harvard Ed Portal, Allston)
6pm – 7pm

If you’re comfortable with basic yoga poses and are looking for more sophisticated sequences and poses, this class draws on different styles of flow yoga and integrates some meditation to relax the mind as well as the body. Harvard Ed Portal’s Yoga Series offers different types of free yoga classes through the year. Eventbrite registration is encouraged due to space constraints.

SATURDAY

Winter Workout
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Back in 2009, The Liberty was one of the first hotels in Boston, or anyplace in the area for that matter, to start offering free yoga classes in the summer. They set the trend and still offer free classes in collaboration with Equinox. Guests of the hotel and members of the community are welcome to take the class for free. Classes are year round. In the summer, classes are outside in the courtyard. In the cooler months, they are indoors. Check with the concierge to find the exact class location, since it appears to change.

SUNDAY

Reggae Flow
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
9:30am – 10:30am

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this reggae-inspired yoga class. No experience is necessary for this class, where postures build through a progressive sequence, designed to cultivate total harmony in body and mind. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

Brewery Yoga
Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway, Everett)
11am – 12pm

These yoga classes take place at the brewery every so often. Take a look at their event calendar for confirmation and sign up! Kat O’Leary from CorePower Yoga teaches the vinyasa classes.

Yoga For Runners
Boston Marathon adidas Runbase (855 Boylston Street, Boston)
6:30pm

These free vinyasa yoga classes are taught by Liz Vail. A customized yoga flow will bring balance to overworked muscles used when running and will also provide strength to the areas of the body that are needed in order to run more efficiently. All levels of yoga experience are welcome, but it looks like you need to register each week.

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Image Credit: “Yoga Pose” courtesy of lobster20 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

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Winter Solstice Blooming Flowers

winter solstice blooming flowersIt may be the first day of winter, but Mother Nature seems confused.

As I walked around yesterday, I saw this tree blooming. Apparently it thinks it’s spring!

The weather this week is supposed to be downright balmy. The forecast for Christmas Eve is the mid to upper 60s!

Since I know the warmth will not last, I’ll enjoy it and the surprise flowers.

Happy Solstice! Looking forward to more light….

A Gentle Transition

tree + blue clouded skyThe past few days it’s been warm. In the 70s and I’ve ditched my jacket. October had some very cold days and nights.

But November has been a breath of fresh air before heading into winter. The change in seasons stepped back for a bit to let us enjoy a gentle transition.

pink flowers yellow leavesThe bright colors of the leaves only lasts for a few weeks, so I like to take pictures and notice the differences. The type of light and shadows. The blue of the sky. The fluffiness of the clouds. Each day, even minute to minute, there are subtle changes.

The contrast between yellow autumn leaves and pink summer flowers is striking. Within a couple of weeks, they will mostly be gone.

yellowish green treeThese trees will look different. A more permanent chill will have set in. But for the next few weeks, I’m enjoying the transition.

Have a good weekend!