Blog Archives

We are going on the road!

12/27/2016

Tribe of love and peace,Just a quick reminder that we are NOT meeting this week (Dec 28th), and our next gathering is a special event! Join us at the Delta Plex to do yoga before the Grand Rapids Drive basketball game! This is a pay to join event if you'd like to do yoga with us. Please sign up and get your ticket ahead HERE.

With a ticket you get access to the yoga session from4:15-5:15 and then a discounted ticket to the bball game! Proceeds benefit EmbodyGR <3

*** REMINDER: Our next weekly gathering at Fountain Street is January 11, 6:30-8:00pm.
(We are off this week 12/28)

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

12/22/2016

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by Peri

If you are feeling anything like me you might be a little burnt out from the inevitable chaos of the holidays. Christmas is always a nostalgic time for me as tradition is strong in my family. There is something incredibly comforting about predictability isn't there? As the end of the year approaches I know that I will be doing A. B. and C with my loved ones. Occasionally there is the random awkward interaction or argument but overall its written in the history books time and time again as an enjoyable and loving experience. As soon as the trees went up, the baked goods were in ALL the ovens, and as consumerism began, I immediately started thinking of all my HQ family

We discussed their plans and most of them weren't anything relatable to my life experience. Many did not have any plans at all and everyone else that I talked to were going to see 'chosen' family or an Aunt and Uncle. The overall energy surrounding the holiday was one of indifference and sadness. I immediately began to contemplate my privilege as I often do in these situations. It can be so easy to take these moments for granted, we all have done it

A young man attempted to take his own life at HQ last month and then immediately after two young men declared that they were going to commit a crime against a young woman. It has become clear that most of them if not all are living from a place of survival. Getting them to sit for small increments of time has been the only way to access these small moments of peace. If we do longer periods of time they get incredibly uncomfortable, this is when we use the rest of the time for discussion and reflection. Their lives are anything BUT predictable, which leaves them in an almost constant state of unease.

The happiest moment I saw them this month was painting. They are all incredibly creative individuals and it has been a driving force behind the mission of bringing them yoga and meditation. Through music and creative expression we have built relationships and trust and therefore are able to have those more vulnerable quiet moments.

Love,
Peri

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Time to Decorate Some Cookies!

12/19/2016

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Dearest tribe...

What a year 2016 has been. Through its ups & downs I must sincerely offer my gratitude for you being part of EmbodyGR, the life of our greater Grand Rapids community, and a light in my life! Without YOU I could not do what I do and we could not impact our world, making it better for so many people. It is only in relationship that we can know "self", and it is together that we grow & navigate this journey called life.

As the darkest day of the year approaches let us remember the light that resides within. We are the ones who tend to the hearth fire. We are the ones who kindle the flame. We are the ones required to keep a last ember aglow. As BKS Iyengar said with his words and life's testimony, "Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame."

Let us take BKS's words seriously. This Wednesday join in community, in practice, in celebration of the light within. And please, please, please... I have but one request of you at the holiday. Give the gift of our community to a friend who may struggle, especially at this time of year. Isolation is a terrible burden, so invite them to Wednesday night and share the light of EmbodyGR. No financial cost is required so allow the gift of EmbodyGR be one that can keep giving all year long, each and every week, to the next new person in our circle of care.

Important Reminder: Carolyn Koebel will be our special musical guest at our solstice celebration Wednesday! What a way to wrap up 2016! Immediately following our gathering we will be decorating cookies while sharing in tea and conversation. Bring a dozen cookies or frosting & toppings if you are inspired.

With love and light,
Dana

Upcoming Events

Dec 21, 2016
**We have child care! Sign up on-line.

Who: YOU & all yo people
What: Winter Solstice Celebration w/ Carolyn Koebel
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed. Dec 21, 2016 6:30-8:00pm
Why: Celebrate the light within!

Bring: Cookies, frosting and/or toppings if inspired!

December 28- NO EmbodyGR

January

January 4th - Grand Rapids Drive Yoga Night!
Yoga before the basketball game! 4:15-5:15pm @ the Delta Plex. $15 discounted reserved tickets.

January 20-21- Women's March On Washington- cost $150 chartered bus through FSC March DC:

Quote for the Week

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” ~ Albert Camus

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Exploring Gratitude

12/15/2016

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November & December are difficult months for many due to the holidays, and this is especially true for those who struggle day to day on the streets of Grand Rapids.

Everyday our homeless in GR face challenges of basic needs survival, yet at the holidays there is an added element of isolation and stress.

Though I cannot personally change their situations, I offer them tools each week that assist them in coping with daily life.

One tool is gratitude. We discussed its importance as a practice and that is how we opened our circle each week. I asked every participant over 2 months for what or whom they are grateful which they then shared with the group.

The answers were similar:

‘I am grateful I woke up and took a breath.’

“Grateful for my relationship with God.’

‘Grateful for hot coffee.’

Simple, yet profound gratitude that unites people. From a place of gratitude, everyone was able to take a deeper breath in and a longer exhale out. People found a way to access inner peace amidst a chaotic outer environment. I taught them a meditation taught to me by Gabby Bernstein “peace begins with me.”

Utilizing the practices of gratitude, breath, mantra meditation, and simple movement people softened their edges, relaxed the furrow from their brow, and found a sense of ease in their bodies if only for a few moments. All participants reported feeling better. One man came out of meditation exclaiming “I am clean of mind and spirit.”

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Are you making the right choice this holiday?

12/4/2016

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Happy December! As 2016 winds down, let your commitment to yourself and your personal work amplify. When the holidays tend to drain people, let your community and the practices of yoga, meditation & service fill you up! Let us not simply "survive" the holidays, let's "thrive" by giving ourselves the gift of experiences for body, mind and heart. Only then can we withstand any struggle that likely will come our way gracefully and fully celebrate & appreciate all the moments of goodness! Choose joy! As Larry Wilmore says, "Joy is an act of resistance." Let the flame of joy burn brightly! As the days shorten and become darker, may your soul's fire burn more brightly! Shine on!

Won't you choose YOU this holiday season?

With light & joy!
dana

Upcoming Events

Dec 7, 2016
**We have child care! Aubrey is back! Sign up on-line.

Who: YOU and your beloved
What: EmbodyGR FREE yoga, meditation & service
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed. Dec 7, 2016- 6:30-8:00pm
Why: Stoke the fire of joy!

Dec 14, 2016
**We have child care! Sign up on-line.

Who: YOU and friends
What: EmbodyGR FREE yoga, meditation & service
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed. Dec 14, 2016- 6:30-8:00pm
Why: Feel better do good

December

December 21- EmbodyGR Solstice Celebration with special guest musician Carolyn Koebel

December 28- NO EmbodyGR

January

January 4th - Grand Rapids Drive Yoga Night!
Yoga before the basketball game! 4:15-5:15pm @ the Delta Plex. $15 discounted reserved tickets.

January 20-21- Women's March On Washington- cost $150 chartered bus through FSC March DC

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Where Adele, yoga, and service collide

12/1/2016

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Our first week of outreach, Dana and I walked through the doors of HQ to find a beautifully designed room for recreational use. It included a library, a big screen television surrounded by modern couches where most of the young adults were gathering, a small kitchen where volunteers provide three free meals a day, a computer room, a private room to make phone calls, laundry, showers, a pantry full of free toiletries and clothing, and my favorite a music corner equipped with an upright piano and various guitars!

We began to make introductions and make our presence and mission known, we were there to teach YOGA! Many were unimpressed with the idea but a few were complimentary and inquisitive. A young lady Ari and I instantly connected over our love for music. Within minutes we were rocking out a duet to Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain." I told her we needed to start a band, and she happily agreed. I used this opportunity to share with her how much Yoga has made an impact on my ability to sing, and how significantly it helps support breath control. She was intrigued but mostly just concerned with adding more songs to our repertoire.:)

Our intention and initial focus we knew had to be on building relationships and trust. I made many connections through past life experiences spent at Forest View hospital and strangely felt very much at home amongst these individuals. Overall I left my first day feeling excited about the year to come and the journey that lay ahead.
The next week I spent most of my time re-introducing myself and learning their stories about where they came from, why they were at HQ, what they wanted to do with their lives, and what they liked to eat, smoke, drink and listen to. My six years of sign language was put to use with a young man name Chase. He couldn't have been more thrilled to sign with me and ask me questions about my life. Side note: This is a common response among the deaf community and I'll take this moment to encourage all of you to learn some sign language as it is an incredibly isolated group of people. A young man Maleek shared that he had done yoga before and enjoyed it, he agreed to do yoga with me at some point but today he had to watch his laundry. Ari and I had made an agreement that if she did 15 minutes of meditation and pranayama, I would in exchange sing with her for 15 minutes. Baby steps. She was most responsive to a 5 count breath in, hold 5, exhale 5, hold 5. When she opened her eyes she said with a clear eyed gaze and whisper voice, "that was niiiiiice."

The third week I was bound and determined to get people to Yoga with me and I called in the troops (Ari) to help me. After little interest we began to sing once again, this time "Diamonds" by Rhianna. A young man named Chris stuck his head in and began to sing with us, I quickly used the opportunity to ask him if he wanted to do meditate with us. Unfortunately he didn't have the time, but later as I sit in my car, he ran out in the ran to knock at my window and ask if we could do that again next week. I told him yes, if he would consider trying Yoga with me and he agreed. Baby steps.
The following week a young lady Sade was eager to try some yoga! On our way to the room a young man Roffo showed interest and followed us. We started discussing what brought us happiness in our lives. They shared their passion of sports and rap music and how it made them feel. I made various correlations to yoga and things that made us FEEL GOOD, and they nodded with agreement and understanding. We did some light stretching in our chairs, some standing poses, but primarily focused on pranayama and meditation. It is my belief that breath will ultimately be the gateway for them to start and or want to try asanas. As of right now the their idea of Yoga is a man or woman with their legs behind their head. By showing them the many limbs of yoga, I'm optimistic that we will eventually get there!
This month has offered much humility and self reflection as I learn to navigate this new adventure. I look forward to working with these strong, intelligent, sometimes sassy human beings. It is a sweet reminder of where we all come from as we embark on the new challenges of being a teenager or early adulthood. These humans have even more obvious challenges but it is my hope that with time they will become more and more open to the experience of yoga and all it can offer. I leave you with something that one of the social workers said to me: " I call them all bubble kids. They can go this way or they can go another, but whatever decision they make will have a powerful effect on their future."
With love and light,
Peri

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We are going on the road!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Time to Decorate Some Cookies!

Upcoming Events

Quote for the Week

Exploring Gratitude

Are you making the right choice this holiday?

Upcoming Events

Where Adele, yoga, and service collide

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