Wake Up Blog

2007-10-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

Hello My Friend!

Hope this note finds you beeming like the sun, and as spacious as the vast blue sky on this glorious day!

Svadyaya is the yogic principle of 'Self-Study.' It involves reading sacred scripture, and also study of the self in all situations. More than ever I've been regarding physical yoga practice as a very ripe opportunity to study one's self, discovering that much of what 'happens' on the mat is a metaphor for life 'off the mat.'

For newer students, the sheer concentration necessary to figure out which is the left foot or where to place the right hand commands all of one's attention, a metaphorical example that one's energy has likely been scattered for quite some time. As we become more comfortable with the postures, and more confident in our ability to follow along, grace, elegance and ease are very natural expressions of the magnificent beauty of physical bodies dancing with consciousness and breath. However, I'm sure we've all confronted inner states that just don't feel graceful, elegant or easy. In the midst of a challenging sequence, we may feel ourselves thwarted by an inability to 'achieve' a depth in a pose, or irritated that the teacher isn't endorsing a deep variation of a posture, or competitive with our neighbor across the aisle. And while these seem to be very natural responses to stimuli, the dedicated yoga student is encouraged to take a step back from habitual responses - which seem obvious and normal, and instead inquire into the root causes of these reactions.

When you consider that the yoga studio is a sacred and neutral space, that the teacher is there to share personal passion for yoga with the entire class in the manner that s/he deems most appropriate given all the variables, and that the person near you also has difficulties, insecurities, and suffers dissatisfaction in life, then suddenly we're given an opportunity to witness ourselves and the unconscious motivators that are likely driving many of our actions in the world. With courage and a sense of humor, if we are willing, we have the opportunity to meet ourselves in some of our less attractive costumes. Suddenly we come face to face with our own impatience, greed, jealousy and fear, not as an opportunity to further condemn ourselves for our very humanity, but as a way to end self-deception. We can stop fooling ourselves that we're perfect and the whole rest of the world needs to change, and we can then begin, I believe, to cultivate compassion and tenderness. When you are willing to see and accept your own shadows, you will very likely find yourself more patient and accepting of other people. Harsh judgements and strong beliefs about the way things 'should' be become tempered by a deep and abiding appreciation for the way things are.

So the next time you notice your buttons getting pushed during a yoga class, create a little space between who you are and what you think/feel and notice if you gain some insight into something that had previously been a blind spot. And be grateful for this opportunity to begin to untangle who you truly are from what you perceive. Yoga is a path to freedom, and we all advance on any path one step at a time!

Following are details about some really wonderful, informative, enlightening events happening at both studios. Should you have questions, please email: Kelly@WakeUpYoga.com, or reach me directly at Corina@WakeUpYoga.com.

Also, in case you haven't heard yet, Lululemon is opening a showroom in Philadelphia. They make yoga and athletic apparel that is both practical and fun, and are excited about sharing their passion for good health and vitality with their customers, employees, and, now, all of Philadelphia. I've heard that their stores are AMAZING! Their grand opening is this Saturday, at 1704 Walnut Street, Suite 3F. The day is kicking off with a yoga class in the store (taught by yours truly!) from 8:30 - 9:30 am (if you'd like to participate, please RSVP to: Philadelpia-Community@lululemon.com ... the class is filling up; don't be disappointed if there's no space). at 10 am doors open for shopping, and from 5-6 pm there will be a celebratory champagne toast. Kira Licata has been quietly infiltrating the Philadelphia yoga scene for months, making friends with many students and teachers, and generating quite a buzz for their opening. If you can make it, stop by and congratulate her; she's worked very hard to make this happen!

In any case, happy breathing!

Sending Love, Light, and Laughter,

Corina Benner
Director, Wake Up Yoga, LLC

Global Mala and Philadelphia Ratha Yatra Festival

2007-09-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

We are gearing up for quite a full weekend in the yoga world here in Philadelphia ... and around the globe. This is the weekend of Global Mala, and a bevy of yoga local teachers have come together to create what we intend to be a powerful, challenging and fun fund-raising yoga event (details below). What you need to know is:
* The event is taking place between 12 - 4 pm, on Sunday, September 23, 2007
* We are gathering on North Georges Hill, behind the Mann Music Center, in Fairmount Park.
- Directions: From 76 West Bound, take the West River Drive/Montgomery Drive Exit, and turn LEFT
at the traffic light (away from West River Drive).
At the next traffic light (Belmont Avenue) turn Right.
At the next traffic light (Wynnefield Avenue) turn Left.
Take the next LEFT ( . 2 miles), which is North Georges Hill Drive. Find the group there!

* At 12 Noon, Shelley Hollaran from Habitat for Humanity will speak (they are the recipients of 100% of the profits raised!).

* Sometime around 12:10 or so, we'll begin 108 Sun Salutations, called a Yoga Mala, in sets of 9 taught by different area yoga teachers. We'll all be practicing together ... joining movement with breath, intention with compassion, laughter with sweat, as we weave our individual vibrations with everyone in the park, joining in a global initiative to BE the shift we'd like to see in the world. (Many of your favorite Wake Up Yoga teachers will be there ... come share in the glory!). Our intention is to offer a 5-minute child's pose after each 3rd teacher (27 sun salutations).

* A table will be set up from around 11:30 am, with volunteers ready and willing to register participants. We're asking people to sign a liability waiver, and to indicate if they feel comfortable with the possibility of their image (photo) being used in connection with Global Mala (should we decide to try this again next year!). There is no obligation to consent to a photo release, and we promise never to sell the photos to any service so that your image ends up in an embarrasing advertisement some years down the road. We just wouldn't do that! We hope to have wrist-bands in different colors so that any potential photographer could easily distinguish from those who consent to photos versus those who don't.

* We're asking for a $15 suggested donation to participate in the Yoga Mala (and you are not obligated to do all 108 salutations!). If that's too steep for you, offer what you can sincerely contribute.

* You are able to buy raffle tickets at the event. We have amassed an amazing list of prizes (see below) and, so far, haven't sold a whole lot of tickets. This means the odds are in your favor! Tickets will be $20, and the drawing will be held after the Yoga Mala. You needn't be present to win; if you'd like to buy a raffle ticket in advance, please see any Wake Up Yoga teacher (write your name, phone number and email address on the back, please).

* After the drawing, we will sit together and chant. We'll probably share a continuous OM (or a sea of OMs, as participants come into and out of the OM with their own breath ... maybe for 18 minutes or more!) to send the vibrations of the seed sound out into the park, the city, the country and the world. We may follow that with some recitations of a sacred mantra (to be determined). We're hoping to have musicians accompany the entire event, and we believe the sound will be just beautiful to hear as well as to feel.

* At the end of the event, we'll be cleaning up. If you have the time and inclination and would like to assist us with this job, your efforts will be tremendously appreciated.

In other yoga news, another event is happening on Saturday, September 22, from Love Park all the way down to the front of the Art Museum on the Benjamen Franklin Parkway. This is the Philadelphia Ratha Yatra Festival, otherwise called the "Parade of Chariots Festival of India." It runs from 12 noon - 7:30 pm, and features FREE vegan and vegetarian food, a craft market, exhibits, family fun and ... a Yoga Tent! Free yoga classes/demonstrations will be offered throughout the day, so dress to move. Wake Up Yoga is scheduled to have a presence there from ... I think it's 1:50 -2:30 pm (I better check on that!).

Ok, that's all you need to read about right here, right now. Tidbits of information about upcoming events follow ... some time next week I intend to have the time and presence of mind to add new information. In the meantime, celebrate the Harvest of the Autumn with Celebration, Gratitude and Love!

August 07

2007-08-06T16:32:00.000-04:00

Happy August! Hope this note finds you absolutely relishing the spicy, pungent, astringent, salty, bitter and sweet flavors of your beautiful life. When approached as tastes on the palate, perhaps even the most challenging of life's circumstances could be appreciated as necessary for a well-rounded experience!

Things at Wake Up Yoga (both studios) continue to thrive. The Fairmount community is flourishing in a way that almost feels like summer-camp. As people drift in and out of town, each class is a mini-reunion with plenty of giggles, sweat droplets, and shared good vibrations. And the current at West continues to gain momentum as we all work together to get the whirlpool spinning in the same direction. On a daily basis, it seems, students express genuine gratitude for Wake Up Yoga's presence in that neighborhood.

For me, personally, although running the studios can be stressful and challenging at times, it is an honor and a privilege. Many of you who practice here work in the 'real world' where honesty, compassion and tenderness are not always the most prized qualities, and where you are directly confronted with human suffering in its multitude of forms. That Wake Up Yoga allows you to decompress, stretch out, refresh your mind, challenge your perceptions, and connect with your spirit so that you can continue to do good work in the world (and enjoy yourself while you're at it!) ... well, this inspires all of the teachers here to invest even more heart in what we do. I'm reminded that, although many people appear to be motivated by what they can get from life, most of us find we are the happiest when we feel we have something to give. A hearty 'thank you!' to all who give us the opportunity to share our passion and love of yoga with you.

Following is news of Special Events happening at both studios, including our highly regarded Teacher Training Certification Program which begins in October of this year (!!!). Scroll through the offerings, let your heart guide you toward that which is for your own highest good, and stay engaged. Know that every effort you make moving toward the Source inspires the Source to move toward you!
Sending Love and Laughter,
Corina Benner

Summertime Class Changes

2007-05-30T21:54:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note (which I've been forgetting to relay) to let you know that we are taking two classes off of the schedule at Wake Up Yoga West: the 4 pm class on both Tuesday and Thursday will no longer be offered; 4 pm on Friday remains! This is not likely to be upsetting for many, as the reason for their disappearance is sparse attendance. If a demand builds for a class at this time (please let us know if you have such a request!) we will gladly make one available. Yoga is what we do, what we love, and we are so excited to share. We are so grateful to you for giving us this opportunity.

There have been some requests for a post-partum/Mommy & Me class at West, and we are ON IT! A couple of teachers are mulling the possibility around, and I have full faith and confidence that this is something we will be able to offer in that space very soon. As for a kids yoga class at either studio ... this remains a possibility as well. It's something we'd LOVE to offer, and, again, simply need the perfect teacher as well as a core group of committed students. If this is what you've been hoping to see, please email us this request, as well ... send to Kelly@WakeUpYoga.com.

Restorative Yoga on Sunday nights at Wake Up Yoga West is also being cancelled for the summer. Beatriz is spending much of her summer on the West Coast, absorbing rejuvenating ions from the surf and plants, and learning about the ancient healing art of Ayurveda. While she is gone, and throughout the expansiveness of the summer, we decided to remove the class for now, with the intention of reconvening this fall. We sincerely hope this news is just fine with you, but welcome your feedback if it's not (email to: Corina@WakeUpYoga.com).

Memorial Day Weekend

2007-05-23T21:03:00.000-04:00

As the Memorial Day holiday approaches, ceremoniously kicking off the summer, we thought you might like to know about some things happening at Wake Up Yoga this summer and into the fall. Circle these dates on your calendar, enroll early in the events that speak the loudest to your own heart, and plan to stay connected to your breath, your Self, and your source throughout the expansive days of summer. According to the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, the obstacles that arise and prevent us from practicing yoga (both on and off the mat) include: disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained (Y.S.1.30). In the summertime, I could certainly fall prey to carelessness, laziness and sensuality ... and, at the end of summer, feel deeply distressed by an awareness of how much I've slipped from ground previously gained. It's imperative to continue to watch how your mind operates and, with discipline and faith, work steadfastly toward your goal. And if your goal is lazy afternoons sipping on margaritas at an outdoor cafe ... well, we'll be here with open arms ready and willing to embrace you whenever you wander back in. You are always welcOMe here!

In Love and Light,

Corina

What a Glorious Day!

2007-05-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

I'm reminded of a college semester spent in Manchester, England. During that short time, for me and my classmates, every weekend demanded a day trip, or an overnight stay; every art museum and monument had to be visited, and I remember many conversations centered around where to view the sunset any night of the week. This time felt so precious to all of us, that our choices on how to spend time were made very carefully, as we knew this experience would not and could not last. How easy it seems to be to slip into a daily routine that takes so much of our world for granted! On a day such as today, as I plug away on this computer and plan events, contacting who needs to be contacted, and responding to emails, phone calls and requests of all kind, I'm reminded that days like this do not happen every day, and tomorrow is not a guarantee. I'm planning to get out there soon (if this attempt doesn't get swallowed up into cyber space!) to take a walk, breathing deeply, savoring this miraculous existence. Here's hoping you can claim some time for yourself, too, and enjoy your beautiful life!

Just a reminder that we are celebrating Wake Up Yoga's 5th Year in Existence (Jai!) this Friday, May 4, from 6-9:30 pm. This means the 5:45 pm class will not be happening (which I'm sad not to be teaching), but please do plan to join us here. We'll have a Vegetarian Potluck Extravaganza (bring anything you'd like to share), have Thomas Flanagan on the Sitar and his friend Jeremy on the Table. We may even break into some spontaneous dancing, or weave our individual voices into a tapestry of sacred sound giving breath to delightful mantras. In any event, if you practice here regularly, used to come around before your daily life routed you to a different routine, trained to be a teacher here, or simply enjoy receiving these emails and feeling connected to a loving and nurturing community: your presence is sincerely requested. Perhaps you'll meet up with old friends, or actually get the chance to talk to that person whose mat is often near yours in the silence of yoga practice. Wake Up Yoga parties are always fun, and I do hope you will come.

In Love and Light,

Corina

Jagarata

2007-04-19T12:15:00.000-04:00

As some events are unfolding in our city/state/country/world with tremendous rage and violence, you may find comfort in remembering that there is at least an equal amount of love, tenderness, joy and peace more quietly revealing itself throughout this world. Strangers still smile at one another, unexpected generosity and kindness flouish in both likely and unlikely ways, the miraculous sun still rises, and we each have many opportunities to pause, reflect, count our blessings and consider our actions. By responding appropriately to circumstances, rather than reacting habitually, we begin to see that each one of us has the power to contribute in a positive way to this world we share.

Coming to your mat is a priceless opportunity for you to decompress, to breathe in spaciousness and clarity, while exhaling tension, resistance and fear. The yoga studio is a sacred space in which you can find the courage to really examine the inner workings of your mind, to dismantle any negative thought patterns and create instead powerful metaphors to live into. The word 'yoga' itself means union, and through this practice we unite disparate aspects of ourself, shining light on our own darkness (jealousy, anger, greed) so that they no longer have unconscious control over our actions. Through the breath we also find union between ourselves and everything living. Prana, breath, both ignites and unites everything vital, and we come to feel that we are all indeed connected. This jouney of union continues on deeper and deeper levels until, eventually, we come to see, as Hafiz has said, "... there is just one flesh we can wound."

The yoga studio is also a haven of warmth, safety and laughter. It is a place you can come to remember that people are good, that life is incredibly valuable, and that each one of us is on a mission of manifestation. We're here to help you find your way, and enjoy the ride!

Please take a moment to look at our very exciting Special Events. I hope to see you soon and often, and wish you all the clarity, compassion and humor you need to savor your experience of now.

With Love,

Corina Benner
Director, Wake Up Yoga, LLC

Restorative Yoga and Easter Schedule

2007-04-06T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hope this note finds you positively THRIVING as we collectively wait out the winter's last valiant effort to hang on, (mostly) confident that spring will soon prevail. At least the sky is still vast and clear, hinting at our mind's innate quality, and we can all relate with the delicate tree buds, so excited and hopeful to open, but needing the warmth and vibrancy of light to coax them out of their shells.

This note is to alert/remind you that tonight is our Once-a-Month Friday Evening Restorative Yoga Class from 7:30 - 9 pm, this month taught by the very lovely and joyful Jill Manning. This is a regularly priced offering, and a perfectly wonderful way to soothe yourself from the work week and prepare to open your heart to greet friends and family this weekend.

Speaking of which: in honor of Easter, we are happy to announce that our schedule at each studio will remain (mostly!) the same. The only difference this weekend is that the Sunday Evening Restorative Yoga Class at Wake Up Yoga West will NOT be happening. Please come on in to move and breathe and remember who you really are at either the 10 am class, or the 4 pm class at West.Of course, you could always get your Restorative Yoga Fix this evening in the Fairmount Studio!!!

And also, please save the date: on Friday, May 4, we will be celebrating Wake Up Yoga's 5th Anniversary with a most joyous celebration. We will have live music (sitar and tabla), a vegetarian potluck smorgasbord of really yummy food (bring anything you'd like to share), perhaps some chanting, dancing?, and a really good time. Please plan to come, to celebrate with your yoga teachers and friends all that this studio and this practice have brought into your life. And remember: it's really fun to see your yoga buddies in "real clothes." Dress for festivities! Hope to see you then ... and sooner!

That's it for now. Wishing you a beauty-full day in which you begin to discover the divine within everything manifest, and uncover the divine residing within your own heart! Jai!

Jagarata Newsletter

2007-03-18T18:08:00.000-04:00

Those of you who are on our email list have seen our new newsletter format! As Wake Up Yoga approaches our five year anniversary, and the studio(s!) continue to grow, I frequently need to expand my own ideas about who we are, who we affect, and how we can best present our offerings to the students who will most benefit from our efforts. The new newsletter has added graphics, color, and inspiration that I hope convey even more of the warmth, sincerity and passion we at Wake Up Yoga have for all things yoga, and that you will find within our offerings something to inspire you, to challenge you, and to spur on your own growth and transformation on this shared but individual journey toward Self knowledge! If you are not on our newsletter and would like to join, simply go to our home page and enter your email address in the sign-up form there.

Regarding the name of the newsletter: Manorama brought to my attention that Jagarata means "Wake Up!" in Sanskrit. In the Katha Upanishad, an earnest student is encouraged by Yama, the God of Death himself, to "Get up! Wake Up! Seek the Guidance of an illumined teacher and realize the Self!" It is our most profound wish that, through these offerings, each and every student will come ever-closer to that Self realization, the Awakened State, Enlightenment ... by any name, the experience of Heaven on Earth, of peace ... of laughter, happiness and joy.

And about that 5-Year Anniversary: Yes, we will have a party! Please save the date: Friday, May 11. Details to come, but please plan to come and celebrate this studio, this community, and the many ways in which your life (and the lives of your loved ones!) has been enhanced through what you learn and practice within these golden walls.

Jai (victory!) to you!

Jagarata: It Means Wake Up!

2007-03-01T16:24:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe February is over. Hope this note finds you secretly enjoying the darkness of winter with its introspective invitations, while mentally planting seeds to manifest in the Springtime!

And about Wake Up Yoga... (here's a shameless marketing ploy) there is a contest happening with Philadelphia Style Magazine, and it is an opportunity for people to vote for their favorite everythings. Wake Up Yoga is on the ballot this year in a run for the best Yoga Studio. If you'd like to go to their website and vote on your favorite businesses, bartenders and massage therapists, you can visit this website and click on the "Vote Now" tab to begin clicking options. You don't have to answer each one! It can be kind of fun to support restaurants and beauty parlors (and yoga studios!) if you have the time and believe in the cause.

In the meantime, please go to our workshops page and check out the new events we have planned for this month, including an Early Morning Retreat Week with Jill Manning; Nada Yoga: the Yoga of Sound, with Thomas Flanagan; and our Urban Yoga Mini-Retreat: Celebrate the Vernal Equinox and the Return of the Light, with Corina and Beatriz.

I hope that some of our offerings are calling out to your own heart, and that you will be able to join us for these spectacular events. If there are other workshops you would like to see presented here at Wake Up Yoga, please let us know. Also, if you are a workshop presenter in the healing/holistic/yoga traditions and would like to explore the possibility of conducting an event here, please submit a proposal to Corina@WakeUpYoga.com.

Hope to see you soon and often... and if our paths don't cross, here's hoping you give yourself the gift of your own attention, kindness and compassion, which will very naturally infuse your every interaction with others!

News and Gratitude

2007-02-14T21:21:00.000-05:00

How about this for a St. Valentine's Day? Wahoo! Hopefully lovers of all kinds are able to spend time safe and cozy with their beloved(s), as we are all slowed down and even humbled by the immense power of nature.

A reminder that this Friday we continue with our Once-a-Month Buddhism Dharma Talk with Michael Carroll. This week's topic: the Sharp Edge of Compassion. This topic will explore the unsentimental side of love and compassion, its more fierce edge. We meet from 7:30 - 9 p.m., sit in meditation for some time (with instruction given to anyone who needs it!), have the talk and Q&A. Suggested contribution: $10. This event takes place in Fairmount. For more upcoming events be sure to check out our workshops page.

In the meantime, I want to extend a heartfelt and sincere "Thank You!" to everyone in the community who has extended well wishes my way, dedicated a practice to my health and well being, and expressed concern for my 'condition.' I am happy to report that things are improving. I saw another surgeon for a second opinion, and, as things are improving, he's recommending physical therapy and a 6-week check back.

If you hadn't been by the studio lately, I was out for about 10 days with tear-inducing 'shoulder pain,' accompanied by an inability to sleep/get comfortable, and drastically reduced mobility. I couldn't even brush my teeth! An MRI revealed some disc concerns in my cervical spine, and the first doctor recommended a 3-level discectomy (removal of the discs) and spinal fusion. My husband and I were shocked by the severity, and rocked by the implications.

After many cranial sacral treatments, acupuncture, consultations with very smart, informed, dear friends, bubble baths and rest, I'm feeling more 'like myself.' There is still some pain and tingling in my right arm, but I'm feeling more and more confident that this body can be inspired and encouraged to heal without such drastic, invasive assistance.

There was no trauma immediately precipitating the 'event,' but during the course of my life time, I have 'totaled' four cars in accidents, before MRIs were available for consultation (and before yoga practice came into my life!). It's very likely that discs have been bulging for quite some time, I just unfortunately have an anatomically, genetically narrow spinal column, which seems to be further narrowing with trips around the sun, and results in infringement of a nerve root. We're hoping that an MRI of my brain will reveal that previous brain trauma (swelling of the brain and unconsciousness for 3 days after a particularly bad car accident when I was 17) will explain my hyper-relexivity. If not, the 2nd opinion doctor is concerned that my spinal chord is irritated, and would recommend surgery to relieve the pressure.

As with all injuries, alleged setbacks, and the things we generally regard as 'bad,' this is a ripe opportunity to inquire, investigate, surrender and receive. The lessons are rich as I am being invited to slow down, required to ask for help, and truly inspired by the amazing community we have to draw from at Wake Up Yoga. My husband, Paul, and I have never been closer, and our priorities/values have never been more clear. It's amazing to discover that beneath everything: minor irritations at work or crumbs on the counter or the occasional feeling that circumstances could still be better and need to be tweaked... that beneath all of this is simply a deep and abiding love that is so powerful it renders one speechless; so precious and beautiful I cry. Whatever it takes to remind me of how much I take for granted while still giving me the opportunity to feel gratitude and connect with grace I am grateful for. These gifts are truly the precious jewels that spur growth and connection.

Here's wishing you the wisdom and ability to find your jewels hidden in what appears to be piles of sorrow.

Updates and More!

2007-01-19T12:53:00.000-05:00

Well the New Year has been launched with tremendously warm and vibrant vibrations here at Wake Up Yoga — both locations! Our Brand New Beginner's Series are both overflowing with excited students, and the Pre- and Post- Labor Mamas have been easing their stress and increasing their connection with spirit and child, again at both studios. We have POWERFUL and TRANSFORMATIONAL workshops scheduled for the winter/spring and daily opportunities for you to drop into the depth of yourSelf, clear out the clutter, and restore/maintain your connection to the intention you hold for your life: perhaps to live powerfully, peacefully, with compassion and joy. For more details, click here to visit our workshops page.

Also, be sure to save the date for our Vernal Equinox One-Day Retreat on Saturday, March 17, from 9-5 at the Fairmount studio. Details to come... plan to be there! We will celebrate the beginning of springtime, when all the world feels ripe with possibility. The day will likely include: Pranayama, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Lunch and Snacks, Live Music and time to sit, calm the mind and cultivate gratitude in the heart. Promises to be rich and intoxicating!!!

We will also have a Vernal Equinox Morning Retreat in Fairmount, with Jill Manning, March 19—23. 6-8 am each day. Again, details to come; stay tuned! The week will include daily breath awareness/pranayama, asana practice, quiet contemplation and more.

There is definitely more, but I'm currently out of time as it is time to teach. You may find it amusing to know that I came to the studio hours early this morning. My intention was to send this email and practice yoga for 2 1/2 hours. When I arrived, the heat wasn't working, I couldn't connect to the internet, and the toilet wouldn't flush. Practice for me this morning has been a trip to the Home Depot for space heaters (and a heated conversation with the landlord!), an hour on the phone with tech support, and the very easy linking of a chain to a bar (thank God the toilet was easy to fix!). I've been smiling the whole time (wearing a hat, a scarf, a sweater and a jacket) thinking to myself and repeating out loud, "That's a good one, God!"

This practice could be likened to what is referred to in the Yoga Sutra as Praktipaksa Bhavanam. Essentially it means: when plagued by negativities, cultivate the opposite. We've all ruminated in our own negativities, souring our mood and poisoning our very cells, and very likely felt miserable the entire time. The practice of Praktipaksa Bhavanam encourages the dedicated student to notice the negative turnings (the judgments of others and self, delight we may take in others misfortune, any thoughts of revenge or even nursing our own wounds) and literally find another perspective. Choose another interpretation, or even as Paul JJ Alix has offered, "Imagine giving that person flowers." The practice, when steadfastly employed, can immediately shift your whole world. I'll invite you to see if this helps you maintain calmness in your field of consciousness so that you may come to see and know who you truly are.

Sending Blessings and Love...

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T20:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2007! Here's hoping your holidays were filled with warmth, joy and grace, and that you now find yourself refreshed, focused, and ready to sink your teeth into life and take a really big bite! We have lots to snack on here at Wake Up Yoga so please peruse these offerings to whet your appetite: Ashtanga-Vinyasa Primary Series Monthly Intensive Classes, Couples Massage Workshop, Body Rolling and Vinyasa Yoga Workshop, Brand New Beginners Series (Fairmount and West Philly), Mommy & Me Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga (Fairmount and West Philly).

That's it for the moment regarding special events. I would like to take a moment to tell you about some new classes that are being offered at Wake Up Yoga West:

We've added a 12 noon Tuesday Vinyasa class with the very lovely Lisa Joy Young, who will also be teaching a Thursday morning 9 am $5 flow. Jill Manning, freshly returned from India, will be teaching a Thursday, 4 pm Vira Rasa Flow class. And Angela Boltz, transplanted back to Philadelphia from San Diego, will offer a $5 All Levels Vinyasa class on Saturdays at 12 noon. Also, Biz Magarity will be teaching a Sunday, 4 pm Sringara Rasa Flow class, a lovely way to close out the weekend. This class on Sundays will be followed by a 6 pm Restorative Yoga class being taught by our very own Beatriz Avalos. We're also tremendously excited to offer a Wednesday, 4-5:15 pm West Philly Teen Yoga Class, also taught by Beatriz. The contribution for this class is by donation, and the class is open to individuals between the ages of 12-18. A parental consent form required!

Also, at the Fairmount location, we will continue with our once-a-month Buddhism Dharma Talks with Michael Carroll, one Friday evening a month from 7:30-9 pm, for a $10 suggested donation. The dates we have secured so far are: February 16, March 16 and April 20.

And finally we are resurrecting the Once-a-Month Friday Evening Restorative Yoga Class in the Fairmount studio, being offered from 7:30-9 pm, beginning on January 19. I'll be teaching the first one... and maybe subsequent offerings as well. Future dates are: February 2, March 2, April 6 and May 4. The Restorative Class will be regularly priced, and offered without pre-registration. Restorative Yoga is a sublime opportunity to surrender the weight of your body, as well as the weight of your thoughts and feelings, into the ever supportive and generous earth, as represented by creatively arranged blocks and blankets. You will unwind, de-stress, and relax. Restorative Yoga is a gift you so deeply deserve!

So that's what our Yoga Smorgasbord is offering to kick off the New Year. Hopefully your Yogic appetite has been duly inspired and you will be able to nourish yourself in body, mind and spirit with our offerings. If you are planning to enroll in a series that starts next week, a gentle request: please call by Thursday this week (January 4). I'm heading out of town for a long weekend to rest up and prepare for our very exciting Teacher Training program which officially kicks off on the 10th. If you can register before I'm gone, things will progress much more smoothly! Thank you for understanding. We at Wake Up Yoga are looking forward to spending our time with you, cultivating peace and equanimity in our collective heart so we all have that to share with the world; ever in search of truth and deeper levels of understanding. We are grateful to each and every one of you who shares your spirit with us, and wish you and your loved ones a New Year ripe with Inspiration, Vitality and Joy!

Holiday Schedule and Winter Solstice Celebration

2006-12-21T20:49:00.000-05:00

This Weekend: Friday/Saturday: normal; Sunday, December 24: 10 am class at both studios; CLOSED Christmas Day.
Next Weekend: Friday/Saturday: normal; Sunday, December 31: 10 am class at both studios; 4-6 pm Open-Level Vinyasa class taught by Beatriz at Wake Up Yoga West; CLOSED New Year's Day.

The end-of-the year holidays are upon us. Ready or not, the 10-day slide to the end of the year has begun. If your schedule is anything like mine, at this moment you simply cannot take the time to read even an enjoyable (if lengthy!) post. I shall spare you that for the moment, and inundate you with opportunities to deepen your own practice next week, when hopefully you will have more time to reflect and plan for the New Year.

In the meantime, this is just a gentle reminder that tomorrow evening, December 22, we are having a Winter Solstice Celebration and Grand Opening Party at Wake Up Yoga West, at 4916 Baltimore Avenue. The evening will begin with a free yoga class being taught by Beatriz at 5:30 pm. We shall learn exactly how many mats will fit in this beautiful and bright new space! After the class, sometime around 7:30 we'll have a vegetarian potluck offering (bring whatever you'd like to share). There will be live music: Thomas Flanagan on Sitar, accompanied by his friends (to be announced!) on Tabla and perhaps some other instruments. Mike Mergen, the beloved Jill Manning's husband, is showing some of his photographs from their 6-week trip to India, which will be for sale (last minute holiday gifts?), and 20% of the funds generated will be offered to Operation Shanti, a non-profit organization caring for the welfare for the street children of India. We will also have some copies for sale of the Sringara Rasa Flow Audio CD recently 'released' featuring Corina Benner (me!) and accompanied by Craig Ebner on sitar. Students have already expressed excitement to be able to pop in the CD to feel the warmth, energy and love that we all generate here, while moving and breathing and even sweating a bit. At least one student told me that's she's taking me with her to Las Vegas for the holidays... I've never been to Las Vegas, so I hope we all have a good time! The CD sells for $15, including tax.

We'd also like to create an 'altar of intention' as an opportunity for students to write down: 1.) what they'd like to create in the New Year; 2.) what in their lives needs more attention and more love in order to fully thrive; 3.) what in their lives they are willing and ready to let go of, to create the space for this new growth. After the party, we may take these intentions and offer them to a sacred fire (not in the yoga studio!).

In any case, if you have the time to bless the space with your energy, please join us. If your dance card is already full, enjoy yourself thoroughly, and if you feel so inspired, please send us your blessing on the waves of a kind thought. Have a beauty-full holiday!

Dharma Talk Tonight and Holiday Party Tomorrow Night

2006-12-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

Just a sweet reminder that Michael Carroll will be here this evening for our once-a-month Dharma Talk in the Fairmount studio. Tonight's discussion is: "The Spiritual Wisdom of Dharma - How ordinary life can reveal the awakened state." Sounds like it ties in nicely with many of the week's class topics: Santosha/contentment. The talk is from 7:30-10 pm, and there is a $10 suggested donation. Hope you can make it! Michael Carroll will continue these talks in '07, but the next one isn't until February, so come get your fill tonight!

Also, a reminder that we're hosting a Holiday Party/CD Release party tomorrow night, Saturday, December 9 from 7:30-9:30, at Wake Up Yoga in Fairmount. It's a short little soiree, and all you have to bring is yourself (and if you'd like, your beloved, your friend, and/or your child/ren). There will be prosecco, a light Italian bubbly wine that is quite refreshing, and everyone's favorite preparer-of-spirit-infused food, Marla Wilner is making some hors d'oeuvres. I wouldn't recommend coming with a very hollow, hungry belly, but there will be some light snacks to tickle your tongue.

We are also launching an audio yoga class CD that I have created with the help of some very skilled friends. The offering is a sringara rasa flow class, appropriate for people who have some familiarity with yoga practice, names and postures. My friend Craig Ebner accompanies the class on sitar, and the CD really does seem to convey the energy, enthusiasm and soothing vocal patterns that many people say they appreciate in the classes I teach. The CD is a great tool to help jump-start your own home practice, and may help you connect deeply with yourself on those days when you can't get to the studio, or perhaps are traveling for business (or pleasure!).

Also, please remember that we are having a Winter Solstice Celebration/Grand Opening Party for Wake Up Yoga West at 4916 Baltimore Avenue on Friday, December 22. From 5:30-7 pm, Beatriz will teach an all-levels, FREE yoga class, and from 7:30-10 pm-ish, we'll have a vegetarian potluck party (bring anything you'd like to share!), Thomas Flanagan on sitar with some friends accompanying him on Tabla and maybe some other instruments, and we'll build an alter of intention for the new year, so that you can infuse your own dreams for 2007 with this inspired, group energy. Jill Manning will be back from India (I think she returns this weekend!), and her husband, Mike Mergen will be displaying many of his India photographs on the wall. I hope you can come!

That's it for now. I really hope to see you either this weekend at Fairmount, or in two weeks at WEST, or both! We do have so much to celebrate, and the more joy we collectively find, the more we have to share with the world. This may be the greatest gift we can offer!

An Invitation (Or Two!)

2006-11-22T15:18:00.000-05:00

On this Thanksgiving weekend, as each of us contemplates how to most effectively and efficiently 'get it all done' in order to arrive at the table surrounded by loved ones to give thanks, I wanted to share with you a musing offered by a dear friend and yoga student & teacher. Many of you know Julio Kuperman, a true renaissance man with a love of language that rivals (compliments?) my own. He shared with me a pondering on the root meanings of many familiar languages words for 'thank you.' In German, the way one offers gratitude is by saying "Danke," which Julio suggests come from a root meaning of "Thinking." In Spanish, "Gracias" stems from the root of "Grace." And in French, "Merci" has a root in "Mercy." So as you contemplate gratitude, and the richness that one experiences while being filled with gratitude, perhaps you, too, can spend the day "Thinking with Grace and Mercy." Thank you, Julio, for this very sweet lesson.

With that in mind, I want to personally invite you to not one, but two Wake Up Yoga events in December (with two studios, I don't want either to feel neglected!):j

On Saturday, December 9 from 7:30 - 9:30 pm at Wake Up Yoga in Fairmount (2329 Parrish Street) we're having a Pre-Holiday Celebration and CD Release Party!!! I'm really excited about the celebration, and rather nervous about the CD release! It is a Sringara Rasa Flow class, with me teaching and my friend Craig Ebner accompanying on Sitar. If the universe conspires with the duplicating company and UPS, we should have the shipment by December 6 or 7... just in time to pop open some champagne and toast the amazing team of professionals who made the cd possible, and the wonderful students who share their practice here at Wake Up Yoga; you truly are my greatest inspiration! This event will feature Craig on the sitar, and hors d'oeuvres by the Super Spectacular Amazing Earth Mama Marla Wilner of Food Practice. There will be some bubbly (avec et sans alcohol!) and, of course, the CDs will be for sale. Dress for fun... and it is fun to see your yoga buddies in 'real clothes.' We'll have a Barefoot Ball!!! Please plan to come... I do hope to see you there!

And Friday, December 22, from 7:30 - 10 pm, we'll be celebrating the Winter Solstice as well as having a Grand Opening Celebration for Wake Up Yoga West (4916 Baltimore Avenue)! Thomas Flanagan will play the sitar (perhaps with some friends accompanying), and this party will be a vegetarian potluck (bring anything you'd like to share!). Also, Jill Manning and her husband Mike will be recently returned from their trip to India, and Mike (a professional photographer) will be showing many of his photos. We will build an altar of intention for the year ahead, possibly join our voices for some sacred chanting, share some food, and raise a glass to toast each other, friendship, love and life. Please share your own vibrant energy with the burgeoning studio and bless the space with your presence! This is likely to be a very popular night for holiday parties; I hope you'll put Wake Up Yoga West on your Party Train!

Please know that your children are always welcome at Wake Up Yoga parties, and we love it when you bring friends!

Also, be sure to check our Workshops Page for information about upcoming events: The Yoga Playground: Family Yoga in West Philly; Brand New Beginner's Series in Fairmount and West Philly; a once-a-month Sunday Ashtanga Primary Series Tune-Up Class (2 1/2 hours!) with Heather Marie; Prenatal & Mommy and Me yoga classes... and more!

In the meantime, continue to count your blessings, remembering to be grateful for your own sweet self and all you do for those you love and the communities you serve!

Thanksgiving!

2006-11-12T19:20:00.001-05:00

On the morning of this festive holiday, we will offer our normal $5 vinyasa flow class (clear out some space for the big feast and prepare to enjoy time with your family!). The evening classes will not happen. My question is this: Friday. Are you planning/hoping to come to class this day? Please let me know. Thanks!

Oh, and Wake Up Yoga West has softly opened... students have been to every scheduled class so far! We're working out the kinks... hoping to have the credit card machine functioning soon, and work out the class card system. If you have a class card at Wake Up Yoga Fairmount, and would like to use it at both locations, please ask a teacher to transfer your classes to a punch card that you take with you. Or, you could have a class card at each location on file. We will have a Grand Opening Celebration soon! In the meantime, keep coming to class (at both studios!), tell your friends ... together we're building a community that spans many generations, cultures, socio-econonomic strata ... finding peace, compassion and joy, and feeling really good in the process. Yoga Rocks!!!

WUY West Opening Monday!

2006-11-03T19:04:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder: tonight is our once-a-month Buddhism Dharma Talk with Michael Carroll, from 7:30 — 9 pm. There is a $10 suggested donation; if that's too much for you right now, please make us an offer! Tonight's topic: Karma in Everyday Life - Understanding the Vision of the Boddhsattva. Intriguing!!! Don't miss this one!

Also, Once-a-Month Saturday Yin Yoga is being cancelled for now, which means we are NOT having the class tomorrow. This offering hasn't been well attended, and it seems unfair to ask a teacher to be here if students aren't going to be! If this news is devastating to you, please email me at: Corina@WakeUpYoga.com to let me know. With enough interest, we may look into beginning this offering again in a pre-registration format to gauge interest. In any case, it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend, so drink it up! Remember Kate is here Saturday morning at 8 am, Biz is here at 10 am, and Sunday morning we've got Nicole at 10 am, and Tina at 5:30 pm. Get Your Breath On!!!

And now, I am so pleased and delighted to announce the official soft opening of Wake Up Yoga West, Monday, November 6. Hurray! Thank you to everyone who pitched in, offered to help, and/or wrote an email or left a phone message voicing your support. Just wait 'till you see the space!!! It has great Bhava (mood/vibe) ... the walls are the same golden color you've come to call home here in Fairmount, and there is this interesting loft with a railing at the back that feels almost like a castle or something equally theatrical (in a very non-distracting sort of way). A beautiful sign is being built and we'll soon have the logo on the gorgeous display windows. There's also another display being created which, hopefully, will convey the spirit and joy that we intend to spread in West Philly. Still picking up the last of the immediately necessary supplies and figuring out how the systems will work ... but this is just the placing of the last pieces into the puzzle. Anyway, please plan to come practice with us next week! For the opening schedule, click here!

Boy it has been a whirlwind: running the one studio and teaching, while working to get the next one up and running. A labor of love for sure, and when you walk in those doors I hope you'll agree it has all been worth it!

Wake Up West Update!

2006-10-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Wow! Autumn's late afternoon sky often leaves me breathless and almost giddy. The glow of our distant sun reflecting off of buildings and highlighting the fading glory of so many lifesaver-candy-colored leaves often startles me into moments of pure, vivid aliveness, complete with wonder, awe, and the bittersweet recognition of how precious and fleeting everything truly is. Winter sometimes feels like he will drag on forever, and summer has her timeless frivolity, but the autumn insists you realize his days are numbered; the autumn wants your appreciation and attention. Here's hoping that your days have moments of properly paying homage to this wondrous season, which surely will enhance your relationships and your experience of being alive. You, too, just might shed a tear for the miracle of it all!

I am so excited to report that, barring unforeseen challenges, Wake Up Yoga West will be open next Monday, November 6! Hurray! Thank you to everyone who emailed and phoned to offer your support and encouragement and services to help. The West Philadelphia community has really extended itself to welcome this new studio into the neighborhood, and we look forward to spreading our passion for yoga to all who are drawn to practice at 4916 Baltimore Avenue. Our first class that day will be a $5 flow at 9 am with Beatriz. Next we'll have a 12 noon Vira Rasa Flow with Renata. And at 6 pm, I will teach a Vira Rasa Flow class (I'm just filling in at Wake Up Yoga West until Jill returns from India; while I'm there, Jeremy K. will be taking over the Vira Rasa Flow class at Wake Up Yoga, Fairmount). We're hoping to have the full opening schedule on the website very soon. In the meantime, there are some tentative schedules in the door, and hopefully they will be distributed throughout the neighborhood this week.

The general operations of each studio will be very much the same. We'll keep a card file on premise for those students who want to house their class card at only one location. However, for students who are excited about utilizing both locations, we'll give you a 'punch card,' that you'll bring with you to class to be signed in. The good news about keeping your card at one spot is that it will never be lost. The good news about using both locations is that, depending on where your day's travels take you, you have more options. Both have benefits and both have drawbacks so you'll just make the decision that works best for you. I looked into getting swipe cards, like they use at Mugshots to keep track of how many cups of coffee you've bought, but that seems like an unnecessary expense right now (although it seems cool!). We'll work it out. And, after all, it's really about the yoga!

And speaking of Yoga - boy do we have some fine offerings for you! I'd like to just bring your attention to two of them right now. To find out more about these events and others, please visit the workshops page.

We will begin advertising some series at the new space (Brand New Beginners, Prenatal, and Mommy & Me) to start in the New Year. And I anticipate having a Grand Opening Party sometime in December (details soon!). Also, please save the date: Friday, December 22. Here at the old original Wake Up Yoga we'll be having a Winter Solstice and Holiday Celebration. This will be a potluck, with some live music and an opportunity to see your yoga friends in party clothes! I hope you will be able to share with us in reflecting upon the year past, and setting an intention for the year ahead.

The Juice!!!

2006-10-13T21:14:00.000-04:00

Things are certainly cooking around here, what with a bouncing baby yoga studio on the way. The lease has been signed and there are posters in the windows at 4916 Baltimore Avenue announcing the pending arrival of Wake Up Yoga West. This weekend we'll be there painting the walls and devising how to best utilize the space, as well as determine the system for operation. The space is very much like Wake Up Yoga: there is no foyer, one enters directly into the space, and there's a good vibe already present in the room. We're sticking with the vibrant, golden squash color and are on the lookout for just the right shelving and stereo. It's very exciting, and feels very sudden, although the idea for a West Philly space had been planted years ago. Many West Philadelphians have already written and phoned expressing their excitement and enthusiasm, all of which has been deeply appreciated! A modified November/December schedule is being created, with a full scale Yoga Assault planned for the New Year! If you live in West Philly and would like to register a vote for classes at particular time slots, please email me at: Corina@WakeUpYoga.com. We'll definitely have 6 pm classes, and hopefully expand into 7:45 pm classes as well. A few 7 am classes could be offered, along with 9 am and maybe 12 noon. I'd be really excited to see if a 2 pm or 4 pm class would serve the needs of this thriving community; if any of this appeals to you and your own unique schedule, please let me know!

In the meantime, there is so much happening right here at home! Don't forget to review our upcoming events and workshops. If you're interested in enrolling in an event, please call the studio: 215.235.1228. You can enroll with a credit card or send a check, but do let us know you are planning to attend!

Exciting News!

2006-10-05T15:47:00.000-04:00

Whew! It's been a whirlwind journey toward autumn, and there is some exciting news on the horizon. It looks like Wake Up Yoga will have a little sister in West Philadelphia. Plans are still being finalized for Wake Up Yoga West, but a very sweet space has been offered and the lease should be signed tomorrow morning. If all goes as planned, we'll be painting next weekend, and heading toward a 'soft-opening' at the start of November. We'll begin with an abbreviated schedule to gauge interest and get a feel for how to best serve the community. Our intention (if the demand is there) is to offer $5 morning yoga classes (both Yin & Flow), early evening prenatal yoga (in addition to Vira Rasa Flow, Sringara Rasa Flow and Yin Yoga), Brand New Beginner's Series', and weekend classes; we'd also love to offer Mommy & Me Postpartum Yoga, and even Family, Kids and Teen Yoga (let us know if any of this tickles your fancy!). Over the years quite a few West Philadelphians have expressed a strong desire to have Wake Up Yoga closer to home; if this news makes you really happy, OM three times and hug the first person you see!

The possibility of a second location really excites me with the realization that we will be able to hire more teachers! Many trainees have graduated from our certification program with so much to share and few opportunities to do so. And I believe much of what makes Wake Up Yoga so special is the warmth, the heart and the sense of community that is palpable in this space. To create yet another haven in this city for people to breathe together, to discharge toxicity and nourish their entire being body to spirit surely will do no harm and may even help stem the tide of violence, anger and aggression which has been widely reported and perhaps directly experienced this year.

Of course, the same quality of love and dedication will be lavished upon the old original Wake Up Yoga. To that end, click here to see our newly added events and workshops!

Beet Dip Recipe!

2006-10-01T17:22:00.000-04:00

For anyone who attended the Fall Equinox Retreat and wanted the recipe for the amazing Beet, Chickpea and Almond Dip that Marla brought, it can be found here on epicurious.com. It was delicious... and vegan!

Yin Yoga Tomorrow Night

2006-09-21T23:50:00.000-04:00

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful journey into the autumn. Sunlight reflecting off of leaves, sculpture and beautiful buildings this time of year is, to me, evocative, whistful and painfully beautiful. It's so lovely it hurts! Hope you, too, find wonder and awe in these crisp, cool days.

Just a quick reminder that we have our Once-a-Month Yin Yoga happening tomorrow night. The irrepressible, enthusiastic, sweet-natured Jill Cummings is teaching, which will surely send you into your weekend, and the autumnal equinox feeling balanced, nurtured, and grateful for this amazing experience of being alive.

Our Equinox retreat day is fully enrolled, and please remember that the Saturday morning 8 & 10 am classes (this week only!) are not happening. There is, however, a big event happening on the parkway. A parade and celebration from Love Park to the Art Museum Circle, complete with free vegan food, is beginning at 12 noon. If you are interested, find out more details at: Ratha Yatra Parade in Philadelphia.

Have a beautiful weekend, and we hope to see you soon!

Upcoming Events

2006-09-14T19:00:00.000-04:00

When I was in junior high school the song, "See You in September..." was always played over the loudspeaker on the last day of school, carrying with it the mildest form of sadness for the parting... and hinting at the excitement that the fall would bring.

I'm feeling that excitement here at Wake Up Yoga, as faces who were sunning themselves somewhere else this summer have started showing themselves back in classes this week. There is a reunion-like feeling with everyone (I hope) enjoying the sense of 'returning home': home to this studio, home to your breath and body, and home to the challenge of diving back into your work with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Here's wishing you an autumn filled with moments to savor the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures, and the cozy sense of being at home, of belonging, wherever it is you happen to be!

As for events, boy do we have a veritable plethora of offerings for you this fall. You can find out details on our Special Events and Workshops Page.

While perusing the offerings we have on tap here at Wake Up Yoga, I'll encourage you to consider the notion of the 'Purusharthas,' which means 'that for which a person strives,' and essentially refers to our goals in life. According to this methodology, we need to spend equal energy in our lives toward: Artha: earning a living and having material needs met; Kama - pleasure and enjoying life; Dharma - conscientious, right living and the fulfillment of our individual purpose; and Moksha: liberation, the efforts we make toward our spiritual lives. If you realize that you spend too much time at work, or in chasing evasive pleasures, perhaps you will be inspired to tend to your spirit as well. It is our intention to provide you ample opportunities to tend to your Moksha here, which we believe will greatly enhance your own experience of being alive.