Growga, a North Carolina-based organization that recruits and trains yoga teachers, is expanding to Charleston, holding a teacher trainingthis February. The company, founded by yoga teacher Emily Behr, brings yoga and mindfulness both to kids and to workplaces.

Growga takes an "un-studio" approach to delivering yoga to consumers, "breaking down walls" of hypothetical studio spaces and bringing yoga directly into workplaces and classrooms.

In a press release Behr lays out the three reasons she launched Growga, noting that there was a need from organizations to offer yoga; a need from consumers who wanted to practice yoga but were intimidated by it; and a need from yoga teachers themselves, who had received certifications but could not find opportunities to teach.

Local teachers interested in Growga training ($275) will receive four weeks of online content including course materials and lesson plans, an in-person training, group video calls, and eligibility to join the Growga team and teach with community partners.

The in-person training will take place on Sat. Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at a local O2 Fitness location (exact location TBD).

Learn more about Growga online and check out the video below, produced by Raleigh's News & Observer, for a peek into what a Growga session looks like.

See original here:
Yoga startup, Growga, expands to Charleston and offers teacher training this February - Charleston City Paper

Emily Burton hadnt been living in Manhattan long when the 9/11 terrorist attacks brought the city to its knees. Like most around her, anxiety began to grip her daily life in the aftermath of the horrific event.

In search of healing and calm, she found herself in her very first yoga class. It would eventually change the course of her life.

I had a strong emotional reaction in that first class, she said. I realized there was something really deep in the experience that I wanted to continue to explore.

Burton later moved to Los Angeles, where she obtained her instructors certification and began teaching yoga classes. In 2011, she moved to Northern California with her husband, Sean Manchester, who got a job as the director of special education for the Nevada Joint Union High School District.

A PERFECT MATCH

While teaching yoga in Auburn, Burton met student Laura Brownell and the two who were both pregnant at the time formed an instant bond. Later, feeling the isolation that can often come with being new mothers in a new town, the two started tossing around ideas.

We both wanted to do something creative that we loved, said Burton. We wanted to find community and kindred spirits.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

In December of 2016, the duo opened The Yoga Dive in a small studio inside the Miners Village in Nevada City. By that time, Burton had been a 10-year veteran yoga instructor, so it made sense that she oversee the instructional side. Brownell, a longtime yoga student, was a whiz at administrative duties.

At first we didnt know if anyone would show up, said Burton. But they did and we were squealing with joy. Then, through word of mouth, publicizing classes and collaborating with other businesses, our classes eventually grew to capacity. We were so grateful.

I think our approach or vibe appealed to a lot of people, continued Burton. Were very welcoming, nonjudgmental and non-competitive. Our students are a broad spectrum of ages and we know them well were familiar with their injuries and know the names of their kids.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The feeling of strong community was never more apparent than in March of 2019, when Burtons husband suddenly died in a kayaking incident on the South Yuba River.

Brownell, the teaching staff and yoga students all immediately swept in, embracing Burton and her two young children fully, she said. For the next six months the five other yoga teachers covered every class and even taught for free in order to donate money to Burton and her children. Brownell made sure the business itself ran smoothly without troubling Burton.

Without this amazing yoga community in my life, this traumatic experience would have been completely different, people showed up in every way, said Burton. To see it manifested in actions of support and kindness was very moving. Im so grateful my students have become friends. Nine months later, I still have meals showing up for me.

NEW STUDIO, OPEN HOUSE

Today, with the successful business now more than three years old, the small studio has clearly outgrown its current space. As a result, The Yoga Dive is now moving to Grass Valley, where the studio is nearly double the size. A grand opening is scheduled for Jan. 26 at the new location at 448 Colfax Avenue, with a day that includes free morning yoga classes and an afternoon/evening of vegetarian appetizers, drinks and giveaways. The new room, bright with natural light, is accented by a stunning new floor and colorful mural painted by local artist Miles Toland.

The newly renovated building is designed to stay cool in the summer and warm in winter. State-of-the-art radiant heaters have been installed for students who are seeking a warmer temperature during class. Those who dont like heat can enjoy cooler temperatures across the room, said Burton.

In addition to daily classes and a weekly kids yoga class The Yoga Dive offers weekend workshops for those interested in deepening their practice. Classes are 70 minutes long and designed to challenge and nurture your body, open your heart, and quiet your mind.

These past three years of owning The Yoga Dive have been deeply moving for me, said Brownell. Ive met so many amazing people and felt really loved and supported. I knew when we opened that it was special for Emily and I, but to see such beautiful connection form around the space for other people has felt like a deep honor. As we grow and embrace a bigger community I know well continue to hold true to the love, friendship and openness that has guided us this far.

While many warn friends not to go into business together, Burton said their experience has been nothing but positive. In fact, its brought them closer, she said, and students feel it.

The Yoga Dive teachers beautifully balance nurturing my own personal practice while fostering a loving sense of community, said student Kim Culbertson. Mostly, though, this studio is authentic never shying away from exploring lifes challenges and why our practice helps navigate them.

Going forward, Burton says she knows she is exactly where she is meant to be.

I love teaching yoga I feel purposeful and present, she said. I offer my truth and my heart to people. The biggest gift for me is that I get to teach.

To contact Staff Writer Cory Fisher, email her at Cory@theunion.com.

Read the original:
MEET YOUR MERCHANT: Two young moms created a yoga studio and a sense of community all in one - The Union of Grass Valley

Frozen yoga is now happening at The Banks every Sunday through the rest of January.The "cool" new experience offers an hour-long class with popular instructor Stacey Walsh.The class will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. under the breezeway of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, off Joe Nuxhall Way in Cincinnati. Registration is $20 and includes an admission wristband to Snow Banks at The Banks and an after-class beer or wine near the Frontgate Snow Lounge fire pits.Registration is now open for Jan. 12, Jan 19 and Jan. 26. The class is limited to the first 20 to register. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mats. Click here to register.

Frozen yoga is now happening at The Banks every Sunday through the rest of January.

The "cool" new experience offers an hour-long class with popular instructor Stacey Walsh.

The class will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. under the breezeway of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, off Joe Nuxhall Way in Cincinnati.

Registration is $20 and includes an admission wristband to Snow Banks at The Banks and an after-class beer or wine near the Frontgate Snow Lounge fire pits.

Registration is now open for Jan. 12, Jan 19 and Jan. 26. The class is limited to the first 20 to register. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mats. Click here to register.

Original post:
You can now do frozen yoga at The Banks every weekend in January - WLWT Cincinnati

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA TV) - Move over hot yoga, now there's "Yoga on the Ice."

Sol Yoga Collective partnered with Main Street Square to offer an all-levels hatha yoga class in downtown Rapid City.

Yoga on the Ice is an annual winter tradition free to the public.

Seventeen people practiced yoga on the ice rink Sunday morning, led by a new teacher with the yoga studio.

As the only donation-based studio in town, January has become the ideal month to offer this outdoor class.

Maggie Fleming is a new instructor and said this type of yoga is an experience she is excited to teach for the first time.

"That's the best part of teaching yoga here and in the studio, I started teaching it because I loved practicing it, and then teaching it is just this wow feeling because you get to sort of feel like you've delivered that fresh start," said Maggie Fleming, teacher at Sol Yoga Collective.

Fleming said yoga is a combination of helping people mentally and physically.

Sol Yoga Collective is located on Main Street and has a $12 suggested donation for drop-in classes.

Visit link:
Yoga on the Ice: winter tradition in downtown Rapid City - Kotatv

We all know that there are quite a few hacks to get away with wearing leggings to work. At this point its become fairly easy to disguise our favorite piece of loungewear to create a truly office-appropriate outfit.

Though wearing leggings to work might feel like a breeze for more casual office environments, it can be a lot harder for workplaces that have a stricter dress code culture. But weve found the perfect pair of dress pants that are actually comfy yoga pants in disguise available to order from Amazon right now!

Get the Bamans Womens Skinny Slim Stretch Yoga Dress Pants for just $25, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 15, 2020, but are subject to change.

These Bamans stretch pants are without a doubt the best example of crossover yoga pants that weve seen to date. Their design is the epitome of perfection and they are ideal to wear on our laziest of days when we still have to go to work. Bamans also emphasizes that they like to make products that can be worn from work straight to the gym. Theyre all about making our lives easier a mission that we most certainly appreciate!

The key here is the cut of the pants at the top. Theyre high-waisted and have a fairly wide waistband, and have two front pockets on either side of the hips that presents the illusion that youre wearing a pair of dress pants. They can also fit loose at the top depending on the size you order, which can enhance this illusion further. You can pick up these Bamans leggings in three different colors: black, navy blue and grey.

Get the Bamans Womens Skinny Slim Stretch Yoga Dress Pants for just $25, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 15, 2020, but are subject to change.

If youre worried about how your mid-section might look while wearing these yoga pants to work, then fear not! Theyre equipped with tummy-control properties that can help give you a sleeker silhouette, which in turn can make you feel more confident while wearing these yoga pants in a professional setting. Each of these hues can be styled perfectly to fit practically any office setting, though we think that the black version is the best way to go!

Find out why Amazon shoppers say these Bamans pants are the best pants theyve found and order a pair for yourself! One reviewer said that these are their favorite leggings that theyve worn and that they regularly emulate the coveted these-are-pants-not-leggings look that we want.

See it: Get the Bamans Womens Skinny Slim Stretch Yoga Dress Pants for just $25, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 15, 2020, but are subject to change.

Looking for something different? Check out all of the styles from Bamans and shop all of the Amazon Fashion here!

Check out more of our picks and deals here!

This post is brought to you by Us Weeklys Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.

The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping!

Visit link:
These Incognito Yoga Pants From Amazon Are Your Answer to Dressing Comfy at Work - Us Weekly

Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series about how parents can learn some important life lessons from their kids.

If you want to live your best life, theres no shortage of social media gurus, self-help books or life advice memes. I should know, as one look at my Audible and Kindle library will reveal Im a bit of a self-help junkie. Amazon has even stopped recommending new self-help books and is starting to recommend I just get help.

Its not that Im a hot mess, per se; its just that Im obsessed with the pursuit of joy. And Ive learned its a choice, not a result. So I gobble up everything I can about taking responsibility for my life and learning how to be disciplined enough to make the right choices.

But Im starting to think the best education I can get on the topic isnt in a book, but in the child with a runny nose currently begging me to catch her boogers.

Ive learned three huge life lessons by simply observing my girls. Theres actually more than three, but my editor reminded me this was a column, not a book. So Ill break each lesson down into a short series.

The first lesson Ive learned is this: Love what is, rather than wanting what isnt.

For example, if one finds themselves insecure with low self-esteem, just watch a child catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirror. Quick, find a pen! Youll want to take notes.

If there's one thing I know about my girls, it's that when they look in the mirror, they like what they see. Girlfriend's hair will be all matted up in the back like a neglected poodle, yet when she sees her reflection, she sees a rock star. A rock star who enjoys wearing her pink lip gloss a full inch off the lip, mind you. Thats how she rolls and she rolls good.

She grins, poses, prances and spins. She even gets inspired to pretend shes Elsa. I mean, whos gonna stop her?

Now, compare this to her own mothers reaction to her reflection. There are days when I completely avoid eye contact with my mirror, let alone light up like Lady Gagas in my house.

Children give us a glimpse of how its supposed to be. Their innocence shows us a beautiful side of our inherent humanness that, for so many of us, eventually gets soiled with pain. But the truth is still there, buried under our learned and experienced baggage. Children dont see imperfections because they arent aware they even exist. Theres no comparison; they delight in who they are. They simply celebrate what they have and shake what the good Lord gave em. Hair isnt too red, too brown, too straight or too curly. Eyes arent too big or too small or wide or narrow. They see themselves and think, Wow, here I am! And I dig it!

I wonder if I could learn to see through this lens of loving what is rather than wanting what isnt. Is it even possible, with all of our cultural programming? All the hurts, baggage and traumas that took our eyes away from the beauty thats there and started searching endlessly for what we wish was there instead?

I dont know, but I think Id like to try.

As a naturally ambitious person, I cant tell you how blind Ive become to the incredible life thats around me while my eyes scan for more. For better. Always better. Its not a lesson in settling, Ive learned. Its a lesson in enjoying, while trying.

I mean, listen. I can make positive changes to my health fueled by loathing the way my thighs rub together, or fueled by deep wonder that I even have these amazing thighs to rub together in the first place.

Kids choose wonder. Why cant I?

I can. If I choose to. And the first step is learning to love what is, rather than wanting new thighs.

Anna Lind Thomas is a humor writer and mom to daughters Lucy and Poppy and English bulldog Bruno, wife to Rob Thomas and founder of HaHas for HooHas. She writes for momaha.com.

Read the original here:
Forget gurus. Learn how to live your best life from kids - Omaha World-Herald

Self-help books have exploded this past decade, with offerings from renowned celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and even the late Elizabeth Taylor.

The genre focuses on the popular psychology of virtually any aspect of the human experience, from romantic relationships to spirituality. The ultimate goal is to get readers to optimize their self-awareness, so they can take action and achieve satisfaction with their lives.

This all sounds wonderful, but how can a publisher relay the goal of a self-help book to readers? Through the book cover of course. Theres a woman looking into the distance, a heavenly cloud with the sun peeping over it, and flowers of course.

Unfortunately, these dont tell readers anything about a books content. To be fair, there arent many images that loyally relay a 10-step plan to a better life without looking like a PowerPoint slide. The solution seems to be one of two things: an image of the author or text with the authors name clearly displayed.

Think Sheryl Sandberg leaning in with her right hand under her chin and Rachel Hollis kneeling next to a fire hydrant, drenched and smiling.

As bibliophiles, we are constantly warned to not judge books by their covers. But lets be honest, everyone does. Why? Because to a reader, a well-designed cover denotes quality. Publishers know this, so they carefully design covers to attract the right readers. For example, a fantasy book might have a warrior standing in front of a magical city, like on The Fall of Gondolin cover. Talk about selling a high fantasy book.

Self-help books relay personal philosophies of their authors, who rarely hold degrees in medicine or psychology, begging the question if they are qualified to give the advice in the first place (but thats a different story). The standard draw that a respected expert would have, such as Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, writing about the history of cancer in The Emperor of All Maladies or Sarah E. Hill, PhD, writing about the effects of birth control on the female brain in This Is Your Brain on Birth Control, does not exist for self-help authors. Instead, the draw is the authors public reputation and brand.

Take Lilly Singhs book How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life. As a fan of Lillys YouTube channel, her face is instantly recognizable to me. On her book cover, shes staring boldly at the camera, clad in a power suit. Her book is speckled with quotable self-help advice such as Dont give up before you even try and Words lie; actions can lie too. Consistency speaks the truth. This is all advice that is in line with her brand of a female being a bawse. The book cover reflects this because her confident portrait makes her look like a bawse, making a fan like me inclined to trust her advice.

Since the self-help industry is largely unregulated, the experts, who are mainly life coaches, successful business owners, and celebrities, rely on their reputations to convince audiences that their personal philosophies are sound. The self-help industry has no formal peer review process, so readers must trust the author to give sound personal philosophies.

In many cases, the authors image is recognizable and will attract potential readers, especially previous fans. Because authors arent certified experts in self-help, they rely on their relationship with readers. It is that relationship that gives readers confidence in the authors personal philosophies, like my aforementioned confidence in Lilly Singh.

Ive been a loyal listener of Rachel Holliss podcast Rise for two years now, so when her book Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals came out in 2019, I was immediately interested because I have a relationship with her work. It also helps that the image for her podcast is her portrait, so I recognized her image the book cover and associated its content with the branded self-help advice that Ive grown to enjoy on Rise.

Despite all the strategizing that goes into developing book covers, all that matters is the content. Two of the most famous self-help books of all time, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey, both with 4 stars from over 400,000 ratings on Goodreads, have arguably unattractive covers. And yet, it has been several* decades since they were published, and both still have consistent readerships. Why? Because the advice is solid.

Dont get me wrong, turning to a book in a time of need is an exercise in trust. I always turn to authors whose work Ive admired because I trust the quality of their work, and a cover that sports a friendly face is much more appealing than a nonsensical illustration. At the end of the day, a books cover is superficial to its content.

Editors Note: This post originally stated that close to two decades had passed since the publication ofHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.While the anniversary edition was published in 1998, it was originallypublished in 1936.

Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles.

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Read the rest here:
Why Self-Help Books Feature Authors on the Cover - Book Riot

Money paid into a fund by housing developers who opted not to offer any affordable units may be made available Tuesday for a pair of new affordable apartment complexes in San Luis Obispo.

People's Self Help Housing will ask the San Luis Obispo City Council Tuesday to approve a loan worth $700,000 for the Tiburon Place apartments and $1.3 million for the Broad Street Place apartments.

Those dollars would be withdrawn from a fund that's comprised of in lieu fees, which are paid by housing developers who don't offer affordable units as required by state law.

Money in that fund is reserved for housing projects specifically designed to be affordable to low-income renters.

The two complexes presented by People's Self Help Housing will add over 100 affordable units: 68 units in the Tiburon Place complex and 40 units in the Broad Street Place apartments.

"There's always more work, as you know there's a housing crisis in California," People's Self Help Housing CEO John Fowler said. "We need all the housing we can get. There's different numbers but we're falling behind 100,000 homes per year in California, that's been happening over a decade. So it's going to take us a while to dig out of that deficit of housing for not only market rate housing but affordable housing as well."

The Tiburon place apartments, which is slated for 3750 Bullock Lane, will include offer units at rent 30 to 60 percent of the average monthly rent for SLO.

And the Broad Street Place apartments being built at 3720 Broad Street across from Damon Garcia Sports Field will feature units at rates that are affordable for low, very low, and extremely low renters.

"Affordable housing is usually defined by "is it affordable for the people living there, is it affordable for them?'" Fowler said. "The clientele we're talking about, residents we're talking about, are making somewhere between 30 and 60 percent of the median income so on the lower end of the stratosphere, if you will."

According to Fowler, the units will vary in size from studio to 2-bedroom and range from $400 to $1,200 per month in rent for eligible renters.

Fowler said People's Self Help Housing plans to deliver about 700 affordable units to San Luis Obispo County over the next three to five years, with about 200 of the units slated for the City of San Luis Obispo.

See the original post:
Local News Funding for 2 affordable housing complexes to be requested from SLO City Council Aja - KSBY San Luis Obispo News

While most advice gets lost as the years go by, certain wisdom proves timeless. First published in 1936, Dale Carnegies How to Win Friends & Influence People is widely considered one of, if not the best self-help books to date. According to the New York Public Library, its one of 10 most-borrowed titles in the storied institutions history, and the only non-fiction book to make the list.

For decades, readers have taken the sentiment of the books subhead to heart: The only book you need to lead you to success. The librarys records show that 284,524 readers have scanned their library cards to snatch up Carnegies recommendationsand we can certainly understand why.The author writes that his mission is to help the reader navigate a mental rut, make friends quickly, avoid arguments, and improve public speaking skills, among others. In other words, his insight spans multiple topics, including work, criticism, relationships, and more.

In the realm of work, one of Carnegies most chattered about tips is to get the person youre trying to influence to say Yes to you immediately. If youre pitching a project at work, you can kick off a meeting on common ground so that your colleagues are already agreeing with you beforeyou get to your actual idea. That way, says Carnegie, theyll be saying Yes! Yes! Yes! before youve even divulged your idea.

To be sure, even a tactic as smart as this one may not score you the go-ahead from a higher-up. And in that case, youll need to get familiar with giving criticism in a kind, effective manner. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a persons precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment, writes Carnegie. That means that you should lead with what people have done right. And when you do acknowledge mistakes, make sure that you communicate the errors you made in a situation first. That way, you place yourself on level ground with the person (i.e, youre not talking down to them).

As for relationships, one auspicious piece of Carnegies advice stands out: Have a sincere and genuine interest in others. Some of the most magnetic, kind people Ive met are those who ask about me in way that surpasses How are you? or some version of What can you do for me? When people remember that you play a rowdy game of Catan with your friends on Tuesday, or that you have a particular interest in pottery, it makes you feel seen. And it makes you want to make others feel seen, too. Timeless advice indeed.

If youre not taking reading breaks at parties yet, Id highly recommend it. Heres a booklist to get you started.

Visit link:
A self-help book from 1936 is New York Public Librarys most-borrowed non-fiction title everheres why its still relevant today - Well+Good

(NAPSI)In a world that moves so quickly, people can sometimes forget to take time for themselves. Self-care is a way to slow down and focus on taking care of your own well-being. Regular self-care also can have a strong effect on mental health, preventing burnout, reducing the negative effects of stress and helping you refocus.

Self-care is less about treating yourself as popularized in pop culture and has more to do with creating sustainable and attainable wellness for your whole self. Taking the time to intentionally care for your whole selfbody, mind and soulcan keep you energized and can improve your mental health. And when you care for yourself, theres more you can offer to others and you can help create wellness for the community around you.

Here are five things you can do to take care of your well-being:

Incorporate your own activities and enjoy the journey as you engage in meaningful self-care practices. Visit http://www.eachmindmatters.orgfor more information about self-care and mental health.

The Town Line is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation, and all donations are tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Service code.

To help, please visit our online donation page or mail a check payable to The Town Line, POBox 89, South China, ME 04358. Your contribution is appreciated!

Continued here:
FOR YOUR HEALTH: Five Self-Care Tips To Enhance Well-Being - Town Line