thoughts from annie
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope that
all of you had a very happy holiday season. At the Mahon household, we
have been having a wonderful few weeks filled with teenagers returning
from Peru, New York, and Florida, and departing for France, extended
family visits in person and by phone, presents, and a few relaxing
baths.
During the days before and after New Years Day, I like to spend
some time looking at areas in my life where I
want to make some changes. I like to read self-help,
organizational, and psychology books, and find places where I can
improve for the new year. This year I even asked for a special gift
from my closest family members - a list of what they saw as my three
greatest strengths and my three greatest weaknesses. This may have
been my favorite gift, because it gave me insights into my behaviors
that I couldn't have seen by myself.
This year, though, I have been drawn to reflect
more on my strengths than my weaknesses. Perhaps I have just maxed out
on how much I can focus on what is wrong with me, but it feels more like I am starting to view the world, and myself, in a more balanced way.
For as long as I can remember, I have had a very difficult time
accepting any kind of compliment -- it
literally went in one ear and out the other. The irony is that it's
only when I realize that "I" have very little to do with the
compliment,
that I can accept the compliment for what it really is -- someone's
need was met by something I did. As a Buddhist teacher once said, when
someone says that they don't like our face, why should we take that
personally? It's simply part of our nature. And it's the same with
our strengths and weaknesses, they aren't personal, just a result of
our nature and our conditioning.
So why shouldn't we focus more on our strengths,
encouraging ourselves on to greatness on the foundation of our innate
gifts? Instead of making New Years resolutions about what we want to change in ourselves, what if we created New Years
resolutions based on living fully into our strengths? It doesn't mean
we ignore the places where we aren't as strong, just that
our attention doesn't get stuck on what is wrong with us. Say we tend
to have an easier time doing forward bends than back bends. Focusing
on our weaknesses might lead us to make a New Years resolution to
practice only back bending. All of our attention would then be on what
we don't do naturally, and we may become discouraged. If we focus on
our strengths, our New Years resolution could be to include forward
bends in every practice and to celebrate and be present to how good
they feel to us. With our attention on what we do well, we will have
more confidence to start to play with back bending at a pace which is
more effortless and more likely to be fruitful.
Robert Gonazles, a long-time Nonviolent Communication (NVC) teacher, has a similar practice that he calls "dwelling in the beauty of needs." Instead
of always looking at what isn't working, we put our attention on what
is working, or what has worked, and we sit with that and fully
experience it. So for this new year, I have made a list of my
strengths, based on my own assessment and the input I got from my loved
ones. I then sit with each of these, and really notice what it feels like when I inhabit one of my strengths.
I stay with these sensations for several minutes. What does it feel
like when I am empathetic to others? What does it feel like when I
have the courage to try something new? By dwelling in my strengths, I
create the ability to be more present for my challenges when they
arise.
It's a different way of looking at New Years
resolutions. I would really enjoy hearing how you practice with your
strengths and weaknesses. If you try dwelling in your strengths, let me
know how it goes.
And you might like to know that Kate Miller, who we thought was moving to the West Coast, has decided to stay in DC. She will be teaching the Monday
9:30am Flow 1-2 class as well as two classes that are not listed on the
printed schedule: Monday 11am Prenatal Yoga and Thursday 6:15 Level 2
Yoga.
with much gratitude for another year of mindfulness, yoga, and love,
annie.
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workshops and events
special events
Mystic Mantra Music
with Sean Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band
Sunday, January 10, 7-9 pm
$20 advance registration, $25 at the door
**Please note that this event has been moved to Circle Yoga.** For more info about the band, visit www.seanjohnsonkirtan.com
Drumming is Back at Circle Yoga!
Join us for a Monthly Drumming Circle
with The Drum Lady, Kristen Arant
Saturdays, January 2, February 27, and March 10
6-7:30 pm, $15
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yoga & meditation workshops
Yoga Nidra: Cultivating Our Heart's Deepest Desire
with Karen Soltes
Friday, January 15,
7-9 pm, $35 ($30 if registered by January 8)
Mindful Eating Through Yoga
with Annie Mahon and Robin Mize
3-week series, Saturdays, January 16, 23, and 30
10:45 am - 12:30 pm, $135 ($125 if registered by January 9)
Taking a Good Seat: Hip Openers for All Levels
with Kate Miller
Saturday, February 6, 1-3 pm, $35 ($30 if registered by January 29)
Yoga for Anxiety
with Karen Soltes
Saturday, March 6, 1-4 pm, $80 ($75 if registered by February 27)
Befriending Your Backbend
with Naomi Gottlieb-Miller
Sunday, March 7, 1:30-3:30 pm, $35 ($30 if registered by February 28)
Restorative Yoga
with Jill Minneman
Friday, March 12, 7-9 pm, $35 ($30 if registered by March 5)
wellness
Couples Massage
with Eduardo Cortina and Jessica Sloane
Saturday, February 13, 12-4 pm, $220 ($200 if registered by February 6)
Therapeutic Movement and Bodywork for Self-Care
with Eduardo Cortina
Sunday, February 21, 1:30-3:30 pm, $40 ($35 if registered by February 14)
Ayurvedic Cooking with Multi-Grains
with Liz Chabra
Saturday, March 13, 10 am - 1 pm, $85 ($80 if registered by March 6). Workshop will take place in a nearby kitchen. Supplies included in workshop fee.
kids & families
Daddy & Me Yoga (Ages 5-10)
with Linda Feldman
Sunday, February 7, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, $25/pair ($20 if registered by January 31), $17 for each additional participant
Girls Nite Out (For women and girls age 10+)
with Linda Feldman and Eva Schulman
Friday, March 5, 7-9 pm, $25 per person ($20 if registered by February 26)
free and donation-based events
Free Introduction to Yoga Workshop
Thursday, January 7, 7-8:30 pm.
Free Yoga Classes
Saturdays, January 9, February 13, and March 13, 12:30-1:30 pm. All levels welcome, no advance registration. Space is limited, so please arrive early.
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation
with Annie Mahon
Saturday, January 23, 2-3:30 pm. Pay what you can, or come for free. *Registration is required.*
Meditation for Teens (12+)
with Annie Mahon
Saturday, January 23, 4-5 pm. Pay what you can, or come for free.
Saturday Sangha Day (sangha = community)
Saturdays, December 5, February 6, and March 6
Join us for a free community discussion on topics related to yoga, meditation, and mindfulness at 5-6:15 pm, and enjoy 10% off all merchandise in the shop all day.
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Circle Yoga & Budding Yogis
One Block South of the Chevy Chase Circle
202.686.1104
info@circleyoga.com
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Happy New Year!
Circle Yoga classes
begin this Monday,
Jan. 4th. Budding Yogis classes begin the
following week,
Jan. 11th.
Circle Yoga
Winter Schedule
Budding Yogis
Winter Schedule
Register Now!
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Join us for
Free and Donation-Based
Classes & Events
each month.
For dates and details, click here.
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Start the
New Year with
Thai Yoga Massage
What is Thai Yoga Massage?
Call the studio today
to schedule an appointment.
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Private Yoga
Sessions
Does your practice
need a little more
one-on-one attention? Most of our teachers
can offer private yoga
sessions at the studio
or in your home. Email
info@circleyoga.com,
or visit our website for
more information.
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